Why Jose Rizal is the Philippine National Hero

Posted on June 2, 2011 by admin

This coming June 19 marks the

sesquiscentennial year of the birth of Dr. Jose P. Rizal. Events highlighting the 150th

year of his birthday have been going on earlier this year and there are more to come as

part of the continuing celebration of the Philippine National Hero’s legacy to our social

and political heritage.

The great part of Dr. Rizal’s relevance to the lives of Filipinos is, ironically, the fact that

the social problems that our hero had fought for in his lifetime are tragically still

plaguing our homeland today.

The violation of human rights, the iniquity between the ruling class and the majority of

the masses, the medieval practice of the Christian faith, the corruption in the

government and its bureaucracy and those controlling economic production are just as

bad now, if not worse, more than 114 years after Dr. Rizal had sacrificed his life for his

country.

We owe it to ourselves as Filipinos to revisit the writings of Dr. Rizal and try to gain an

understanding of his ideals and hope for the Philippines. Dr. Rizal is a great gift of God

to us, if we are to see it in a Christian perspective. But Dr. Rizal may be like a precious

gift left unopened in the closet of our lackadaisical minds.

Participating in the events being held this year is a good way to open our hearts and

minds to the dreams of Rizal for a progressive and enlightened Filipino nation. Reading

and understanding his works will be another way for us to reach the goal of a truly free

and independent Philippines.

Meanwhile, here is a reprinted portion of an article on Dr. Rizal that will start us on our

journey to know more about our National Hero.

—

Why Rizal is the National Hero

By Ambeth R. Ocampo

In June 1892 Rizal left two sealed letters with a Portuguese friend “to be opened and

published after my death.” In these letters Rizal explained to his family and his

countrymen that he was returning to the Philippines to show by example that Filipinos

knew how to die for principles.

This is the letter he wanted us to read, a letter that will illustrate to anti-Rizal advocates

why Rizal is our national hero:

The step that I have taken, or am about to take, is undoubtedly very risky, and it is

unnecessary to say that I have pondered on it a great deal. I know that everyone is

opposed to it but I realize also that no one knows what goes on in my heart. I cannot

live knowing that many are suffering unjust persecution because of me; I cannot live

seeing my brothers [hermanos] and their large families persecuted like criminals. I

prefer to face death and gladly give my life to free so many innocent persons from this

unjust persecution.

I know that, at present, the future of my country gravitates in part around me; that with

my death, many would rejoice, and that, consequently, many are longing for my

end. But what am I to do? I have duties of conscience above all else; I have moral

obligations toward the families who suffer, toward my aged parents whose sights pierce

my heart; I know that I alone, even my death, can make them happy by returning them