CHAPTER 12
Jose
Jose Rizal
Rizal and
and Philippine
Philippine
Nationalism
Nationalism -- National
National Symbol
Symbol
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this chapter, the student is
expected to:
1. Examine the values highlighted by the
various representations of Rizal as a
national Symbol;
Chapter Outline:
1. Executive Order No. 75, 1993
2. Selection and Proclamation of National Heroes
And Laws Honoring Filipino Historical Figures
a. Selection and Proclamation of National Heroes
b. Laws Honoring/ Commemorating Filipino
Historical Figures
Executive Order No. 75,
CREATING1993
THE NATIONAL
HEROES COMMIT TEE UNDER
THE OFFICE OF THE
PRESIDENT
Executive Order No. 75,
WHEREAS, the 1993
State is mandated to foster
patriotism and nationalism among the
citizens, especially the youth,
pursuant to Article II, Sections 13 and 17, of
the Constitutions;
WHEREAS, the State, through its educational
system, is also mandated to inculcate
patriotism and nationalism, and the
appreciation of the role of national heroes in
Executive Order No. 75,
WHEREAS, Almighty
1993 God has gifted the
sovereign Filipino people with National
Heroes, the men and women of sterling
character and remarkable achievements that
directed, and continue to direct, the historic
destiny of the country;
WHEREAS, it is timely and appropriate to
proclaim these National Heroes, the renowned
achievers of their generations and the
shinning exemplars of these times;
Executive Order No. 75,
NOW, THEREFORE, 1, FIDEL V. RAMOS,
1993
President of the Philippines, by virtue of the
powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:
SECTION 1. A National Heroes Committee is
hereby created, composed of the Secretary of
Education, Culture and Sports as Chairman,
and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the
Secretary of National Defense as Members, to
study and recommend the proclamation of
National Heroes.
Executive Order No. 75,
SEC. 2. All departments, bureaus,
1993 and instrumentalities
offi ces, agencies
of the Government, including
government-owned or controlled
corporations, are hereby directed to
extend the fullest support to the
National Heroes Committee in the
performance of its functions.
Executive Order No. 75,
SEC. 3. The private sector is hereby urged to
1993
assist the National Heroes Committee in
the performance of its functions.
SEC. 4. The National Historical Commission
shall act as Secretariat of the National Heroes
Committee.
SEC. 5. This Executive Order shall take effect
immediately.
Selection And
Proclamation Of
National Heroes And
Laws Honoring Filipino
Historical Figures
by National Commission for
Culture and the Arts
May 18, 2015
Republic of the Philippines Office of
the President National Commission
for Culture and the Arts
Executive Summary
No law, executive order or proclamation
has been enacted or issued officially
proclaiming any Filipino historical figure as a
national hero. However, because of their
significant roles in the process of nation
building and contributions to history, there
were laws enacted and proclamations issued
Even Jose Rizal, considered as the
greatest among the Filipino heroes,
was not explicitly proclaimed as a
national hero. The position he now
holds in Philippine history is a tribute
to the continued veneration or
acclamation of the people in
recognition of his contribution to the
significant social transformations that
took place in our country.
Aside from Rizal, the only other hero given an
implied recognition as a national hero is Andres
Bonifacio whose day of birth on November 30 has
been made a national holiday.
Despite the lack of any official declaration
explicitly proclaiming them as national heroes, they
remain admired and revered for their roles in
Philippine history. Heroes, according to historians,
should not be legislated. Their appreciation should
be better left to academics. Acclamation for heroes,
they felt, would be recognition enough.
1. Selection and Proclamation of
National Heroes
National Heroes Committee
On March 28, 1993, President Fidel V. Ramos
issued Executive Order No.75 entitled "Creating
the National Heroes Committee Under the Office of
the President".
1. Selection and Proclamation of
National Heroes
The principal duty of the Committee is to
study, evaluate and recommend Filipino
national personages/heroes in due
recognition of their sterling character and
remarkable achievements for the country.
1. Selection and Proclamation of
National Heroes
Findings and Recommendations of the National
Heroes Committee
In compliance with Executive Order No. 75
dated March 28, 1993, the National Heroes
Committee submitted its findings and
recommendations.
1. Selection and Proclamation of
National Heroes
Criteria for National Heroes
The Technical Committee of the National
Heroes Committee held a series of meetings on June
3, 1993, August 19,1993, September 12, 1994 and
November 15, 1995, defining, discussing and
deliberating upon the merits of the various
definitions and criteria of a hero. The Committee
adopted the following criteria as basis for historical
researchers in determining who among the great
1. Selection and Proclamation of
National Heroes
Criteria for National Heroes
(Adopted by the Technical Committee of the
National Heroes Committee on June 3, 1993,
Manila Members of the Committee included Drs.
Onofre D. Corpuz, Samuel K. Tan, Marcelino
Foronda, Alfredo Lagmay, Bernardita R. Churchill,
Serafin D. Quiason, Ambeth Ocampo, then known
as Dom Ignacio Maria, Prof. Minerva Gonzales and
1. Selection and Proclamation of
National Heroes
Criteria for National Heroes
1. Heroes are those who have a concept of
nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for
the nation's freedom. Our own struggle for
freedom was begun by Bonifacio and finished
by Aguinaldo, the latter formally declaring the
revolution's success. In reality, however, a
revolution has no end. Revolutions are only
1. Selection and Proclamation of
National Heroes
Criteria for National Heroes
2. Heroes are those who define and contribute
to a system or life of freedom and order for a
nation. Freedom without order will only lead to
anarchy. Therefore, heroes are those who
make the nation's constitution and laws, such
as Mabini and Recto. To the latter,
constitutions are only the beginning, for it is
1. Selection and Proclamation of
National Heroes
Criteria for National Heroes
3. Heroes are those who contribute to the
quality of life and destiny of a nation. (As
defined by Dr. Onofre D. Corpuz)
Additional Criteria for Heroes
(Adopted by the Technical Committee of the National
Heroes Committee on November 15, 1995, Manila)
1. A hero is part of the people's expression. But the
process of a people's internalization of a hero's life
and works takes time, with the youth forming a part
of the internalization.
2. A hero thinks of the future, especially the future
generations.
3. The choice of a hero involves not only the recounting
of an episode or events in history, but of the entire
Historical Figures Recommended as National
Heroes
On November 15, 1995, the Technical
Committee after deliberation and careful study
based on Dr. Onofre D. Corpuz and Dr. Alfredo
Lagmay's criteria selected the following nine
Filipino historical figures to be recommended as
National Heroes:
Historical Figures Recommended as National
Heroes
a. Jose Rizal
b. Andres Bonifacio
c. Emilio Aguinaldo
d. Apolinario Mabini
Historical Figures Recommended as National
Heroes
e. Marcelo H. del Pilar
f. Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
g. Juan Luna
h. Melchora Aquino
i. Gabriela Silang
1.2.3 Status of the Report/Recommendations
Submitted by the National Heroes Committee.
Since the submission of the
report/recommendations by the National Heroes
Committee to then Secretary Ricardo T. Gloria of the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports on
November 22,1995, no action has been taken. This
was probably because this might trigger a flood of
requests for proclamations. Another possibility is
that the proclamations can trigger bitter debates
involving historical controversies about the heroes.
2. Laws Honoring/
Commemorating Filipino
Historical Figures
Heroes
Jose Rizal
Decree of December 20, 1898, issued by General
Emilio Aguinaldo, declared December 30 of every year
a day of national mourning in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal
and other victims of the Philippine Revolution
Act No. 137, which organized the politico-military
district of Morong into the Province of Rizal, was the
first official step taken by the Taft Commission to honor
our greatest hero and martyr.
Andres Bonifacio
Act No. 2946, enacted by the Philippine
Legislature on February 16, 1921, made
November 30 of each year a legal holiday to
commemorate the birth of Andres Bonifacio.
Act No. 2760, issued on February 23, 1918,
confirmed and ratified all steps taken for the
creation, maintenance, improvement of national
monuments and particularly for the erection of a
monument to the memory of Andres Bonifacio.
Other Heroes
Act No. 3827, enacted by the Philippine Legislature
on October 28, 1931, declared the last Sunday of
August of every year as National Heroes Day.
Proclamation No. 510, issued by Pres. Fidel V.
Ramos on November 30, 1994, declared the year 1996
as the year of Filipino Heroes as a tribute to all Filipinos
who, directly and indirectly, gave meaning and impetus
to the cause of freedom, justice, Philippine
independence and nationhood.
R.A. No. 9070, April 8, 2001, declaring the
eighteenth of December of every year as a special
working public holiday throughout the country to be
Other Historical Figures
R.A. No. 6701, February 10, 1989, declaring
September One of every year, the death
anniversary of Gregorio Aglipay y Labayan, as
Gregorio L.. Aglipay Day and a special non- working
holiday in the Municipality of Batac, Province of
Other Historical Figures
R.A. No. 7285, March 24, 1992, declaring February
Nineteen of each year as Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon
Day a special nonworking holiday in the Province of
Aurora in order to commemorate the birth anniversary
of Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon, the first President of
the Philippine National Red Cross, and Foundation Day
Other Historical Figures
R.A. No. 7805, September 1, 1994, declaring
January 28 of every year as a non-working special
public holiday in the City of Cavite to be known as
Other Historical Figures
R.A. No. 7950, March 25, 1995, declaring December
Eighteen of every year as "Araw ng Laguna" and a
special working day in the Province of Laguna and the
City of San Pablo to commemorate the memory and
Other Historical Figures
R.A. No. 9067, April 8, 2001, declaring April 15 of
every year as President Manuel A. Roxas Day which shall
be observed as a special working public holiday in the
