Selection of National Heroes in the Philippines Flashcards
Has there been any law, executive order, or proclamation officially declaring any Filipino historical figure as a national hero?
No, there has not been any law, executive order, or proclamation officially declaring any Filipino historical figure as a national hero.
How did Jose Rizal come to be considered the greatest among Filipino heroes?
Jose Rizal’s position 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 the country.
Aside from Rizal, who else has been given implied recognition as a national hero?
Andres Bonifacio is the only other hero given an implied recognition as a national hero because his day of birth on November 30 has been made a national holiday.
What is the role of historians in the selection of heroes?
Historians believe that heroes should not be legislated and that appreciation should be better left to academics. They felt that acclamation for heroes would be recognition enough.
What was the purpose of Executive Order No. 75, issued by President Fidel V. Ramos on March 28, 1993?
Executive Order No. 75 created the National Heroes Committee under the Office of the President. The principal duty of the Committee was to study, evaluate, and recommend Filipino national personages/heroes in due recognition of their sterling character and remarkable achievements for the country.
What were the criteria for National Heroes adopted by the Technical Committee of the National Heroes Committee?
- Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nation’s freedom.
- Heroes are those who define and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order for a nation.
- Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation.
- A hero is part of the people’s expression, and the process of a people’s internalization of a hero’s life and works takes time.
- A hero thinks of the future, especially the future generations.
- The choice of a 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.
Who were the nine Filipino historical figures recommended as National Heroes by the Technical Committee on November 15, 1995?
The nine Filipino historical figures recommended were:
a. Jose Rizal
b. Andres Bonifacio
c. Emilio Aguinaldo
d. Apolinario Mabini
e. Marcelo H. del Pilar
f. Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
g. Juan Luna
h. Melchora Aquino
i. Gabriela Silang.
What was the status of the report/recommendations submitted by the National Heroes Committee?
Since the submission of the report/recommendations on November 22, 1995, no action has been taken, possibly because it might trigger a flood of requests for proclamations or bitter debates involving historical controversies about the heroes.
What laws have been enacted to honor Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio?
Laws enacted to honor Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio include:
- 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.
- 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.
What is National Heroes Day?
Act No. 3827, enacted on October 28, 1931, declared the last Sunday of August of every year as National Heroes Day.
What was declared the “Year of Filipino Heroes?”
Proclamation No. 510, issued 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.
What is the Graciano Lopez-Jaena Day?
R.A. No. 9070 declared the eighteenth of December of every year as a special working public holiday throughout the country to be known as the Graciano Lopez-Jaena Day.
What are some examples of commemorative days for other historical figures and what do they celebrate?
- Gregorio L. Aglipay Day: R.A. No. 6701 declared September 1 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 Ilocos Norte.
- Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon Day: R.A. No. 7285 declared February 19 of each year as Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon Day, a special non-working holiday in the Province of Aurora, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon, the first President of the Philippine National Red Cross, and Foundation Day of the Province.
- Julian Felipe Day: R.A. No. 7805 declared January 28 of every year as a non-working special public holiday in the City of Cavite to be known as Julian Felipe Day.
- “Araw ng Laguna”: R.A. No. 7950 declared December 18 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 death of the late Governor Felicisimo T. San Luis.
- President Manuel A. Roxas Day: R.A. No. 9067 declared April 15 of every year as President Manuel A. Roxas Day, which shall be observed as a special working public holiday in the Province of Capiz and the City of Roxas.
