Defining a Hero

Defining a Hero

Who is your hero? The question perhaps is easy to answer; this is because each one of us may have our own definition of a hero. My mother is one of the people I look up to, she does not have mental telepathy nor does she have the capacity to lift a building, but she is a hero to me. She has her own superpowers that recharges everyday and love that asks for no return. In our present time, different people can be called heroes in their own little way. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s) are new breeds of heroes, their sacrifices and labor helps our economy to survive. Through these examples, we can say that our personal choice is a proof that our perspectives in life defines and determines the qualification we set for our personal hero. In a more profound context, personal choices may have helped us to determine who our hero is, but what does it take to be a National Hero?

                The Philippines through the years of fighting for its freedom and sovereignty discovered heroism. MelchoraAquino helped the Katipuneros by feeding them and aiding them during the war. Her house served as sanctuary for wounded soldiers. Apolinario Mabini, the “brain of the Katipunan” served as the thinking weapon and asset during their strategic arm-struggle. The late President Corazon Aquino or simply Tita Cory is the epitome of a modern hero and a freedom-fighter. She earned her title “Mother of Democracy” as she led the EDSA Revolution in 1986 and ended the Dictatorship of the Marcos Regime. Having said all these qualities, the examples given all qualified for the title hero. But what set of standards do we give before one is recognized as the Philippines’ National Hero?

                Dr. Jose Rizal has been declared as the Philippines National Hero. Perhaps, during our elementary days, we dare not question why Dr. Rizal is our national hero. We simply believed it as a general fact that we must whole-heartedly accept and bare in mind. However, growing up, we are introduced to several concepts and point of views that somehow antagonizes Rizal’s being the national Hero of the Philippines. For some, they would argue on how Rizal does not deserve the title because of his Western influences and ideological background as he has studied in Europe. His primary contribution is his fight for freedom not using a sword, but a pen to awaken and educate the people of the truth and provoke the patriotism in their heart, but because of his Western influence, his contribution did not seem to be as pure as he intended. This leads to an augmenting argument on who deserves the title better. Andres Bonifacio, founder of the Katipunan is the closest and most popular choice of some to have deserved Rizal’s title. Andres Bonifacio is considered as a true-blooded Filipino who has no foreign stain in his ideology. He led the Katipunan and actively fought in his arm-struggles to oust the colonizer and earn the Philippines’ freedom. Both men, Rizal and Bonifacio exemplified their love for the country, in two opposite ways.

Rizal has great passion and unending love for the country. His works of novels and poems are now used not just for the academic purposes but it is a tool used to sharpen the minds of the people. Through writing you can best shed light on your point of view. True enough, he did not led arm struggles and battles of warfare, but he did his own fight through his knowledge. In this we can say, violence is not the only answer. Despite his passivity he made a great impact through educating the people and informing them of the ills and malevolence of Spanish colonizers, especially the Friars. Through his writing, he gave birth to Filipinos who are not afraid to express their feelings. They need not guns to fight for their freedom they are simply aided with witty insights and their gift of words to let others know what they believe in, Rizal through his actions promoted writing scholarship, peace and patriotism. People may argue that Bonifacio was the one who had lead his way to recapture our sovereignty, but to me, Rizal did something that reiterated to the minds of the people up to this very generation, he nourished our minds of his knowledge. I can therefore say that Rizal deserves his title because he did not just help free the country, he freed the minds of the people, and one way or the other, he liberated us into the truth that we all are privileged now.