Name: PAMINTUAN, Jose Paulo A.
Course/ Year/ Section: BSA-2A Subject: Rizal 203
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) released some of the criteria
for recognizing a hero. The criteria are listed below:
I. The extent of a person’s sacrifice for the welfare of the country.
It is evident to Filipinos how vast and impactful the revolutionary actions our
heroes executed in order for the Philippines to achieve its independence. They
sacrificed so many things for that to be experienced by the Filipinos, from
cultivating their skills in writing articles about the evil actions of the colonizers to
putting their lives on the line in numerous bloodbath battles against them. I
believe that this is one of the most important criteria for recognition of a hero
because it sets forth how many lives were affected and changed by his
praiseworthy and valorous actions. In today's world, we, humans, can perform so
much things in order for us to be heroes as well even in the smallest ways we can,
such as caring for the environment, offering a helping hand, and so much more in
which love and passion is always incorporated.
II. The motive and methods employed in the attainment of the ideal.
To be a hero, we should not be the perpetrator, but rather be the enforcer of
good. I think that in every action a human does, their motive or intention behind
such action is very significant. It is also through that motive that we can be able to
have a sight of the methods through which the action was executed. And just like
our heroes, their intention was good, which was to achieve what the Philippines
must possess in the first place, to take back what is rightfully ours. Yes, most
partook in merciless killings because that was their last choice to attain their goal
and to not let the enemies inflict much more harm and cause painful death to our
fellow Filipinos. Rizal's method though was exceptional as he was one of the
heroes who used their intellectual abilities in literature to awaken the sleeping
spirit of patriotism of the Filipinos.
III. The moral character of the person concerned.
A part of the criteria for recognition of a hero is his moral character. Such
takes into account factors such as sincerity, reliability, diligence, observance of
compassion towards others, respect for the law, integrity, absence of bias and
hatred, responsibility, and mental and emotional fortitude. Someone with a good
moral character relies on truth and what is right, therefore not allowing anybody to
taint someone's dignity which was what the colonizers did to the Philippines and
its citizens. Our heroes did not just sit back and watch how the Philippines would
have been under the control of the enemies, but took necessary actions in
accordance with their morality, what they thought to be rightfully done, for the
Philippines to possess the colors it has now. They did not let fear get in the way of
their execution of fair and virtuous deeds.
IV. The influence of the person concerned on his/her age and or the succeeding age.
It has been ages since the attainment of the Philippine independence due to the
heroism of our ancestors. Up until now, such success is still being enjoyed by
today's generations. Many lives of the youth are influenced and inspired by their
heroic acts, as evident to how vocal and active they are in the political state of the
country, aiming to protect such independence and the whole nation from the so-
called "crocodiles" in the Philippine government. That fact is a testament of how
vast the influence of our heroes is to the Filipinos up until now that they do not let
someone who tends to put their personal interest first have an opportunity to
turning the government into whole circus. There were laws that have been passed
concerning the education of the youth regarding the heroism of our numerous
heroes, targeting the youth to be like them in terms of their love towards the
country.
V. Those who have a concept of a nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the
nation’s freedom.
As someone defined, "a nation is a specific political, social, economic and
cultural community, often with a common language, culture and history, living in
neighbouring territories, with ‘independent’ political institutions and social
organisations; it presupposes a politically sovereign people, master of its own
territory, with its own economic life and its state or, failing this, which aspires
strongly to these things.” This definition of nation should also be the center of a
hero's mindset. I believe that every good deed our hero performed in the past
started from this definition, their strong belief that a nation should be the dictator
of its own rules and regulations, and not just a follower of another. With that
strong belief of theirs, they hiked mountains and crossed oceans with full bravery
and courage for the rightful reality of the Philippines to transpire.
VI. Those who define and contribute to a system of life of freedom and order for
nation.
In the preceding criteria, the general idea of the heroism of our heroes is
already stated. Before the colonizers came, Filipinos have already enjoyed their
own freedom and established their own rules and regulations. When the enemies
came, they took advantage of the Filipinos' indigenous way of life and
successfully put the country under their control for so many years. There came our
heroes who aimed to gain what was rightfully ours and prolong such. Not only did
they want to achieve our independence, but also seek for the Philippines to have
its own laws to govern our freedom, as such are vital for the Filipino people to be
governed and united, especially in times that another party attempts to take what is
rightfully ours.
VII. Those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of nation.
Imagine if our heroes did not step forward when the foreign power was
prominent in the Philippines. Think about how our lives would be if our country
was fully controlled and absorbed by the colonizers. Will we enjoy the freedom
we have today if that's the case? Would our culture be colorful and dynamic as it
is in this present time? Well, salute to our heroes as they did not bow their heads
before the colonizers, but rather held their heads high in fighting for our freedom.
For that particular reason, their heroism, our country is in this state and our quality
of life does not rely on aliens' belief systems. Now, the destiny of our nation
hugely depends on its citizens, and no more on an outlandish's hands.
VIII. A part of people expression.
As discussed in some of the previous criteria, the deeds of our heroes had
made a significant influence on the people of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
One example is today's generation, the youth. They now are taking part in
determining the nation's future state. They actively voice out their concerns and
opinions on the vitality of rightfully choosing the leaders of our country. Behind
this form of expression is their spirit and mind that were touched by the patriotism
of our heroes.
IX. Person who thinks of the future, specially the future generations and;
This criterion is related to the 6th as it also talks about the lasting impact of a
hero's deed should be. That it does not only take into account the future of his
generation, but of the next as well. Rizal's life and works is a testament to that as
his literary works continue to set the nationalism of the youth on fire. Such effect
inspires them to be like Rizal, to be someone who's patriotic, and not only a
mediocre Filipino in terms of upholding our independence.
X. The choice of a national hero involves not only the recounting of an episode or
events in history, but of the entire process that made this particular person a hero.
By merely hearing the deeds of our Filipino heroes from someone else, we will
not be able to fully appreciate what they had to go through just for them to
carefully and successfully execute their plans. Part of their judgment as heroes
was their initial and subsequent plans, their micro efforts to get through the
enemies' needle that we can only be able to feel gratitude towards by having a full
grasp of them. Rizal had to visit different places for him to be able to stimulate
himself in starting the revolution against the Spaniards. With these small plans of
our heroes, they were able to carry out their intention successfully. And so, such
are to be recognized as well
