Life and Works of Rizal (Chapter 10: JOSE RIZAL AND PHILIPPINE NATIONALISM)

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

·   defines "hero" as "a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability.an illustrious warrior; a person admired for achievements and noble qualities; one who shows great courage."

Vicassan's Dictionary

- hero, patriot ("taong makabayan'), cooperative endeavor, mutual aid, a person who volunteers or offers free service or labor to a cooperative endeavor, to prevail, to be victorious, to prevail ("mamayani), leading man in a play  (often referred to as the "bida"- from the Spanish word for life, "vida"—who is contrasted with the villain or "kontrabida" from the Spanish "contra vida," against life).

·   UP Diksiyionaryong Filipino (2001) gives 3 meanings for bayani:

"(a) a person of extraordinary courage and ability;

(b) a person considered to possess extraordinary talents or someone who did something noble("dakila");

(c) a leading man in a play “The reference adds that heroes (mga bayani) in the context of mythology refer to those who had the qualities of the gods, extraordinary strength, bravery, or ability.”

Vocabulario de la lengua Tagala by the Jesuits Juan de Noceda and Pedro de Sanlucar

- "someone who is brave or valiant, someone who works toward a common task or cooperative endeavor ("bayanihan')" .

Ambeth Ocampo

concludes that "hero" and bayani the same meaning. Bayani is a richer word than hero because it may be rooted in bayan as place or in doing something great, not for oneself but for a greater good, for community

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)

Filipinos who are working in foreign countries. They basically travel abroad in pursuit of better employment to provide for the needs of their respective families in the Philippines. OFWs are often referred to as mga bagong bayani.

5 Iba’t Ibang Antas ng Bayani

Maniklad

Hanagan

Kinaboan

Luto

Lunugum

Maniklad

ang pinakamababang uri ng bayani na nakapatay ng isa o dalawang kaaway, karaniwang siya ay nakasuot ng putong na pula at dilaw;

Hanagan

ang nasa ikalawang antas, siya ay sumasailalim sa ritwal na kung saan ay dapat siyang sapian ni Tagbusaw, ang diyos ng pakikidigma at kainin ang atay at puso ng mga kaaway. Karaniwang nagsusuot ang mga ito ng pulang putong;

Kinaboan

ang makakapatay ng 20 - 27 at karaniwang nakasuot ng pulang pantalon;

Luto

makakapatay ng 50- 100 na kaaway at karaniwang nagsusuot ng pulang jacket;

Lunugum

pinakapaborito ng diyos na si Tagbusaw dahil dito maipakikita niya ang kanyang katapangan sa pakikipagdigma kung saaan napatay niya ang kanyang kaaway sa sarili nitong tahanan. Itim ang karaniwang suot ng mga ito.

Dr. Zeus A. Salazar

Filipino historian and Pantayong Pananaw proponent, believes that mga bayani are different from "heroes."

Esteban A. de Ocampo's

·   denies the claim that Rizal is a made-to-order national hero manufactured by the Americans, chiefly by then Civil Governor William Howard Taft.

Cong. Henry Allen Cooper of Wisconsin

In 1902, delivered a eulogy of Rizal and even recited the hero's last poem at the U. S. House of Representatives to justify the capacity of the Filipinos for self-government.

The appeal resulted in the approval of what is popularly known as the Philippine Bill of 1902.

Dr. Frank C. Laubach

(an American biographer of Rizal)

Rafael Palma and Dr. Frank C. Laubach

describes Rizal's noble self-denial, heroism, moral courage, and complete abandonment of his personal interests to think only of those of his country

Dr. Rost

distinguished Malayologist and librarian of the India office of London, called Rizal "una perla hombre,"

early part of 1899

rizal was unanimously elected by the Filipinos in Barcelona and Madrid as honorary president of La Solidaridad.

January 1891

Rizal was again unanimously chosen Responsable (chief) of the Spanish-Filipino Association.

July 3, 1892

Rizal was also the founder and moving spirit in the founding of La Liga Filipina in Manila

December 29,1897

Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and the other revolutionary chiefs exiled to Hong Kong held a commemorative program there on the occasion of the first anniversary of the hero's execution and martyrdom.

Of utmost significance in the public's appreciation for Rizal's patriotic labors in behalf of his people were the tributes paid by the revolutionary government in his memory. In his opening address at the congress assembled in Malolos, Bulacan

September 15, 1898

o Pres. Aguinaldo invoked the spirits of the departed heroes of the fatherland primarily Rizal.

December 20, 1898

the revolutionary capital of Malolos. Pres. Aguinaldo issued the first official proclamation making December 30 of that year "Rizal Day."

Dr. Camilo Osias and Wenceslao E. Retaña

both spoke of the universal homage accorded to Rizal immediately after his Among the scientific necrological services held especially to honor Rizal

Anthropological Society of Berlin

sponsored the universal homage on November 20, 1897 at the initiative of Dr. Rudolph Virchow, its president.

Dr. Ed Seler

recited the German translation of Rizal's "My Last Farewell" on that occasion. The newspapers, magazines, and some other periodicals throughout the civilized world published accounts of Rizal's martyrdom to render homage to his greatness.