Heroes

Every nation has its heroes. The Philippines have José Rizal and Andrés Bonifacio. Although there is some discussion about who deserves it most, Rizal is commonly regarded as national hero number one. Of course there are more heroes in the country’s history. Some people would call Lapu Lapu, who was responsible for the death of Ferdinand Magallan one, or general Aguinaldo , who declared the first republic of Asia in 1899 and who became the first President, but on the other hand he was responsible for Bonifacio’s execution, or Gomburza (Gomez, Burgos and Zamora) , the three intellectuals (all priests) that were killed by garrote in 1872 because they crusaded for reforms and allegedly instigated the Cavite mutiny (Rizal dedicated his Filibusterismo to them) or the Trece Martires (thirteen martyrs) of Cavite, who were executed by a firing squad in 1896 for cooperating with the Katipunan, the famous revolutionary society, or Apolinario Mabini, the first Prime Minister of the Philippines, who opposed to the Spanish and later to the American colonial rule. Without any doubt there are many more. But for this strange foreigner the first two names that were brought to my attention were those of Rizal and Bonifacio.

Visits to Intramuros, Rizal Park (also called Luneta Park), the house, where Bonifacio was trialed in Maragondon, Cavite and also the reading of ‘Noli me Tangere’ (the Noli) and ‘Filibusterismo’ (The Fili) brought me a little bit closer to the country’s history of occupation, resistance and sacrifice.

José Rizal was executed on December 30^th 1896 (now Rizal Day). Andrés Bonifacio faced the same ordeal on May 10^th 1897. The first one influenced the resistance with his ideas and writings, the second one kicked off the revolution by – together with many of his followers – tearing up their community tax certificates (cedulas), by declaring independency on August 23^rd 1896 and by calling all towns for a simultaneous attack on Manila. June 19^th and November 30^th, the birthdays of both men, are national holidays in The Philippines.