We can learn a lot from our national heroes. Their stories teach us about facing tough times, making sacrifices, fighting against challenges, and overcoming difficult situations. These brave people lived inspiring lives and made their country proud, even risking their lives.
As National Heroes’ Day approaches in the Philippines, let’s take a look at some valuable lessons we can learn from these courageous individuals.
What is National Heroes Day in the Philippines?
National Heroes Day, the last Monday in August, is recognised as a regular national holiday. In Tagalog, it is known as “Araw ng mga Bayani.”
National Heroes Day, held since 1931, honours and respects all Filipino national heroes, particularly those without special anniversaries or commemorations.
Despite its prestigious-sounding title, National Heroes Day honours not only prominent Filipinos from the past and present, but also anonymous Filipinos who have made major contributions to the fight for freedom, justice, and Philippine identity.
What makes someone a national hero?
Although no laws exist to name a Filipino a national hero, some variables decide if a historical figure satisfies the criteria.
Former President Fidel Ramos formed the National Heroes Commission on March 28, 1993, to recommend national heroes to be recognised for their character and contributions to the country.
The group was also tasked with assessing and formulating criteria for determining whether a historical figure is a national hero.
The committee established the following criteria:
- Heroes are persons who have a strong sense of national identity and work to liberate their country.
- They define and contribute to a country’s freedom and stability.
- Heroes improve a nation’s quality of life.
On November 15, 1995, the National Heroes Committee’s technical committee established the following further criteria:
- The hero is part of the national consciousness.
- Heroes think about the future, namely future generations.
- The selection of heroes encompasses the entire process of creating a hero.
- On November 15, 1995, the National Heroes Commission’s technical committee approved nine Filipino historical figures as recognised national heroes.
National heroes of the Philippines
José Rizal
José Rizal (full name José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda) was a Filipino physician, poet, and writer who influenced the Philippine independence movement. Born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Philippines, he died on December 30, 1896, in Manila.
Rizal was born to a wealthy landowner and attended both Manila and the University of Madrid. He was an accomplished medical student who dedicated himself to changing Spanish rule in the Philippines, yet he never advocated for independence. He wrote most of his works while living in Europe from 1882 to 1892.
Rizal’s first novel, Noli Me Tangere (“The Social Cancer”), was published in 1887 and exposed the ills of Spanish authority in the Philippines. A sequel, El Filibusterismo (1891, “The Reign of Greed”), established his place as the most prominent voice in the Philippine reform movement.
He rose to become the Propaganda Movement’s head, penning multiple essays in the publication La Solidaridad, which is situated in Barcelona. Rizal’s goals included the Philippines becoming a province of Spain, representation in the Cortes (the Spanish parliament), the replacement of Spanish friars with Filipino priests, freedom of assembly and expression, and legal equality for Filipinos and Spaniards.
In 1892, Rizal returned to the Philippines. He founded the Liga Filipina, a nonviolent reform organisation in Manila, and was sent to Dapitan, northwest Mindanao. He spent the following four years in exile. In 1896, the Katipunan, a covert Filipino nationalist group, rose against Spain.
Despite having no ties to that organisation and playing no role in the revolt, the soldiers seized Rizal and tried him for sedition. He was found guilty and killed in Manila by a firing squad. José Rizal’s death convinced Filipinos that independence from Spain was their only alternative. While imprisoned in Fort Santiago on the eve of his execution, Rizal composed the poem “Ultimo Adiós” (“Last Farewell”), a 19th-century Spanish poetic classic.
Andres Bonifacio
Andres Bonifacio (1863-1897) founded and commanded the nationalist Katipunan organisation, which led the revolution against the Spanish in August 1896.
Bonifacio received no formal schooling and worked as a messenger and warehouse keeper before becoming active in revolutionary activities. Nevertheless, he was a passionate reader. Unlike José Rizal, who worked to improve Spanish rule in the Philippines, Bonifacio advocated for complete independence. In 1892, he established the Katipunan in Manila, which was organised for a ceremony similar to the Masonic order.
Bonifacio led the long-planned uprising in Luzon in August 1896, but his soldiers were defeated by Spanish troops, forcing him to flee to Montalban in the north, where one of his lieutenants, Emilio Aguinaldo, resumed the struggle.
As the Spanish defeated the insurgency, it became clear that Bonifacio was an ineffective military commander. In March 1897, a convention at Tejeros named Aguinaldo, not Bonifacio, as president of a new Philippine country. Bonifacio tried to organise his rebel government after refusing to accept the decision. In April 1897, Aguinaldo apprehended Andres Bonifacio and tried him for treason, after which he was executed by firing squad.
Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
Sultan Kudarat, also known as Muhammad Kudarat, was renowned in Mindanao for his courage and leadership. Between 1619 and 1671, the Muslim Filipinos of Mindanao were not under Spanish control. Sultan Kudarat was in charge of keeping Mindanao united while Filipino Muslims fought the invaders.
Sultan Kudarat’s leadership motivated his people to battle and eventually defeat the Spaniards. Kudarat died of old age in 1671 and never surrendered to the Spanish authorities. In appreciation of his accomplishments, the Philippine government named sections of Mindanao after him, notably the Sultan Kudarat province.
Melchora Aquino (Tandang Sora)
Melchora Aquino, also known as Tandang Sora, was regarded as “The Mother of the Revolution.” Her nickname is derived from the Tagalog word for “old,” and she was 84 years old when the revolution began.
In 1896, she risked her life to help Andres Bonifacio and other Katipuneros by feeding them and nursing the wounded. Her bravery was demonstrated when she was apprehended by Spanish officials, who tortured and interrogated her in the hopes of obtaining information about the Katipunan hideout. She refused to surrender and was deported to Guam on Governor General Ramon Blanco’s orders.
Gabriela Silang
Gabriela Silang was a formidable Ilocano warrior who, after her husband died in 1763, seized command of rebel forces. She organised armed forces, including native Itnegs, to continue the battle against Spain in Ilocos, launching guerrilla raids on Spanish garrisons.
In her final fights during the liberation of Vigan, she led over 2,000 troops against an army of over 6,000 Spanish soldiers. Silang lost the battle, so she and her 80 remaining warriors fled to undiscovered terrain in Abra, where they were finally apprehended.
Before publicly hanging the General in September 1763, the Spanish forced her to witness the public executions of her soldiers. Despite her failure, Gabriela Silang is recognised for her remarkable bravery in battling for Ilocos’ freedom.
Inspiring Stories of Filipino National Heroes
José Rizal: Words carry weight
Few uphold the adage “the pen being mightier than the sword” better than iconic Filipino nationalist José Rizal. Through his impassioned, fiery writings, which cautioned fellow citizens against the ills of Imperial Spanish rule, Rizal sowed the seeds of the movement for Philippine independence. While you do not have to be a revolutionary wordsmith to be a revolutionary, it does help to be articulate and passionate when expressing oneself.
All of Rizal’s literature communicates his love for his motherland and expresses his distaste for colonial Spanish rule. His words spurred an entire generation of activists and freedom fighters to resist and defy their oppressors. As a leader, your words carry immense power. They build up, encourage and motivate your followers to go forth and achieve great things. They convey and communicate your beliefs and intentions regarding crucial matters. When deployed with care and thought, words have the power to orchestrate great change.
Gabriela Silang: Staring in the face of adversity
A woman as the face of an armed rebellious faction was almost unheard of in 19th century Philippines, but Gabriela Silang was an exception.
Shortly after the assassination of her husband at the hands of the Spanish, she assumed leadership of the rebel group he led when no other male mutineers dared to take his place. She bravely faced her adversaries head-on and did not flinch from her goal of liberation from Spanish control, despite being heavily outnumbered.
Dealing with certain challenges can seem like an uphill battle, especially if one is strapped for time and does not have access to many resources to complete the task.
The lack of military resources and the absence of her husband did not stop Gabriela from pursuing her objective. Similarly, leaders should rally their teams to remain calm and focus on delivering quality work in times of difficulty.
Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat: Fighting off negative influence
A skilled swordsman, the Sultan was successful in keeping Imperial Spanish and subsequently, Roman Catholic influence at bay for centuries by engaging in a combination of offensive and defensive warfare against colonial forces.
Despite waging several wars and fending off scores of Spanish armies, the Sultan refused to admit defeat and even rallied other states to create alliances to protect their land.
Allowing your team to fall prey to toxic ideas, thoughts and behaviours would be catastrophic. Just as the Sultan was committed to protecting his motherland from colonialism, you must also do your best to prevent negative external influences from maligning your team’s working culture.
Melchora Aquino: Lending a helping hand
Being an octogenarian did not prevent Melchora Aquino from fulfilling her duties as a participant in the Philippine Revolution. Though she could not actively engage in combat, she assisted the insurgents by providing them with food, shelter and medical supplies.
Aquino didn’t allow her age to limit her charitable acts, and neither should you hold yourself back from acting as a source of guidance and reliability.
As a leader, you must always look out for your teammates and pitch in to help wherever necessary. Be as hands-on as possible, and act as a steady source of support for your colleagues.
Andrés Bonifacio- Pioneering colossal change with a single action
A founding father of the Philippine Revolution, Andrés Bonifacio was responsible for mobilizing thousands of disgruntled citizens, thus forming a nationalist society which would later take up arms against colonial tyranny.
Despite lacking formal military expertise, Bonifacio led his armies into battle against Spanish overlords-an effort which would later give rise to a full-blown insurrection.
Do not doubt the effects of your actions. It’s okay to be overwhelmed by your circumstances and feel as though your actions do not bring about change.
While it may be daunting to lead a team to success and carry the enormous burden of responsibility on your shoulders, you must maintain faith in yourself and in the abilities of your colleagues to achieve great results.
FAQs on lessons from Filipino National Heroes:
Q1: Who are the Filipino National Heroes?
A: Filipino National Heroes are those who played important roles in the Philippine revolution against Spanish colonisation and in moulding the country’s history and identity. Some of the most well-known heroes are Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo, and Apolinario Mabini, among others.
Q2: What can we learn from the leadership of Filipino national heroes?
A: The leadership of Filipino national heroes teaches us the power of intellectual leadership, grassroots mobilization, strategic decision-making, and compassionate leadership. These lessons highlight the importance of knowledge, inclusivity, foresight, and empathy in effective leadership.
Q3: How can the leadership lessons from Filipino national heroes be applied in modern contexts?
A: The leadership lessons from Filipino national heroes are timeless and applicable in modern contexts. They emphasize the significance of critical thinking, empowering marginalized groups, making strategic decisions, and leading with compassion. These lessons can inspire and guide leaders in various fields and industries.
Q4: Can anyone become a leader by applying these lessons?
A: Absolutely! Leadership is not limited to specific individuals or positions. Anyone can become a leader by embodying the lessons imparted by Filipino national heroes.
These lessons emphasize personal growth, community empowerment, strategic thinking, and empathy, which are qualities that can be cultivated by anyone aspiring to become a leader.
Q5: What are some notable quotes or writings from Filipino National Heroes?
A: Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo” are classic works that exposed injustices and atrocities during Spanish authority, instilling nationalist sentiment in Filipinos. His renowned phrase “The youth is the hope of the nation” has continued to inspire generations.
Andres Bonifacio’s “Kartilya ng Katipunan” (Primer of the Katipunan) outlined the revolutionary society’s beliefs and goals, with an emphasis on equality, freedom, and patriotism.
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