The Rizal Cult: On How Filipinos Created Their National Hero
WHEN Jose Rizal was still alive, his countrymen had already looked up to him as their guide towards reforms, revolution, and independence from Spanish rule. And when he had died, it was also the Filipino people who eventually recognized him as their greatest national hero.
In the 1880’s, the Filipino propagandists in Spain and other countries in Europe claimed that Rizal was the only one capable of uniting them, a model Filipino, the personification of Spanish Oceania, the titular head of the Filipinos, their illustrious countryman, a distinguished Filipino literary man, and author of various works that had merited general applause.
They also elected him unanimously as the honorary president of their society, Asociación La Solidaridad (Solidarity Association), founded on December 31, 1888, in Barcelona, Spain. Marcelo Del Pilar, his main rival, had to salute his moral and intellectual leadership.
Rizal Cult
In the Philippines, Andres Bonifacio established the Rizal cult or the tradition of venerating Rizal.
As the supreme leader of the Katipunan, he ordered that the word Rizal be used as the password of Bayani (Patriot), the highest-grade Katipunero; that Rizal’s pictures be hung in the meeting hall of the Katipunan Supreme Council and in other meeting places; and that Rizal’s name be used as a Katipunan cry for unity and liberty. He also elected Rizal as the Katipunan honorary president, and solicited Rizal’s views regarding their plans against Spain.
In early 1897, while in Cavite trying to reconcile the local Katipunan factions, Bonifacio issued a proclamation condemning the Spanish atrocities against Filipinos, and “the brutal execution of our most beloved countryman, the Honorable Jose Rizal.”
Greatest Filipino Hero
On March 22, 1897, General Emilio Aguinaldo was elected president of the revolutionary government that replaced the Katipunan. In December 1897, after signing a peace treaty with the Spanish rulers, he and his companions left for Hong Kong; but since the Spaniards had no intent of honoring the treaty, they decided to return to the country. In April 1898, their comrades issued a proclamation, whose concluding part said:
“Our unworthy names are as nothing, but one and all of us invoke the name of the greatest patriot our country has seen, in the sure and certain hope that his spirit will be with us in these moments and guide us to victory¾our immortal Jose Rizal.”
Signed by the members of the Central Filipino Committee in Hong Kong, this document hailed Rizal as the greatest patriot of the Filipino people. The revolutionary leaders knew that he was their inspiration, their rallying cry, and their unparalleled countryman, hence the greatest patriot ever to come out of their native land.
It was the Filipino people who felt, recognized, and hailed that the most beloved Filipino and the most famous Filipino martyr was the greatest Filipino hero.
Other articles by Jon E. Royeca
- Why Is the Philippines A Poor Country? - January 19, 2010
- Defend the Filipino - January 19, 2010
- Wrong Perceptions of Americans - January 19, 2010
- Gossips are everywhere - January 19, 2010
- Copycats? - January 19, 2010
- Colonial Mentality - January 19, 2010
- The Real ‘Filipino Time’ - January 19, 2010
- On Our Sense of History - January 19, 2010
- Crab Mentality Is Universal - January 19, 2010
- It’s Not Lack of Discipline - January 19, 2010
11 Responses to “The Rizal Cult: On How Filipinos Created Their National Hero”
It is true that Filipinos already “venerated” Rizal even before Taft’s declaration. However, the declaration of the Central Filipino Committee in Hong Kong hailing Rizal as the greatest patriot of the Filipino people wasn’t made known throughout the whole archipelago. Theirs was purely a Tagalog revolution (as evidenced by the first eight provinces which rebelled against Spain). The whole country didn’t approve of their rebellion. Thus when they declared Rizal as the greatest hero of the country, the rest of the Filipinos weren’t even aware of it. But the American Occupation did all possible dissemination of its declaration of Rizal as the national hero.
Comment made on November 23rd, 2009 at 11:34 amWhy the Spanish Government called the Philippine revolution a “Tagalog War” was understandable. One, the seat of the Spanish Government in the Philippines was located in a Tagalog-speaking region. Two, perhaps they did not realize that the revolution was already widespread. Three, even if they realized the magnitude of the “rebellion”, still it was politically expedient for the Spanish Government to call it as a “Tagalog War” in order to give the impression that the revolution was only a mutiny and a revolt and did not involve other parts of the country.
More than 100 years later and after all the history lessons taught to us, to still claim that the Philippine revolution is a “Tagalog revolution” is an insult to the intelligence and to the patriotism of the non-Tagalogs and to those in other parts of the Philippines who took part in the revolution. The first eight provinces were not all Tagalog-based. Have a look at this list: Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Manila, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Tarlac. And then, you can also ask: Didn’t the Ilocos region participate in the revolution?
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Comment made on November 26th, 2009 at 9:21 amIt was Bonifacio and the Katipunan that started the tradition of making Rizal as their principal idol and hero. They used Rizal’s name as a password and war-cry; they had pictures of Rizal in their meeting places; and Bonifacio declared Rizal as “our most beloved countryman” right after Rizal’s execution.
Comment made on November 29th, 2009 at 12:56 pmThe Central Filipino Committee’s declaration of Rizal as the country’s greatest hero was made under the auspices of Aguinaldo’s government; was made official with Aguinaldo’s declaration on Dec. 20, 1898, making Dec. 30 a National Day of mourning (national — throughout the archipelago), in honor of Rizal and other Filipino patriots; and was celebrated on Dec. 30, 1898, in various parts of the country — not just in the Tagalog provinces.
The American Occupation just continued what the Filipinos had already begun.
I agree with you, Rocky. The Spaniards called it a Tagalog uprising to also diminish it, but history has it that it was not only a Luzon activity. The Visayans also fought under the Katipunan ideals and then under Aguinaldo’s government, while those in Mindanao joined later on, during the Fil-Am War (which was the grand continuation of the 1896 uprising).
Comment made on November 29th, 2009 at 1:02 pmThanks for the comments Pepe Alas and Rocky Sarmiento.
hmmm … am i learning new but why? they call it rizal cult.
is this the beginning of sacred devotion to rizal. honestly,
this is my first time to read about rizal cult. pardon me
but is this a sign that the writer is “rizaliana”?
i was under the impression that rebellion is triggered by
taxation but organizers used “spanish abuses” to get the
the symphaty of the people…also andres bonifacio like
land reforms but hacienderos supporting emilio aguinaldo
doesn’t like land reform… you know what happened.
after revolution same people own the land and katipuneros
do same before revolution that is work in the farm.who are the officers of revolution?…is it not sons of hacienderos.
i guess he knew this coming that’s why he chooses to die with spanish bullet than pinoy’s machete. his stay in dapitan could have spark sentiments to young ones he tutored in his brief stay.
compare that to this day. any similirarity? peace be with us
Comment made on February 14th, 2010 at 2:38 amjust a thought … no offense intended. “ilawnawa”
“Rizal cult” means the tradition of honoring Rizal as our country’s greatest and national hero. It is not new. It has been around since the 1880′s, and it was Andres Bonifacio himself who founded it.
What do you mean by “rizaliana”? A Rizalist? A “Rizalist” means a student of “Rizaliana” (writings and other things related to Rizal). While a “Rizalista” is a member of one of those many religious groups that deify Rizal as the “Brown Jesus.”
The Philippine Revolution of 1896-98 was a revolution of the Filipino people, and since it was so, it nurtured many principles and causes, like land reform; expulsion of the Spanish officials, friars, and soldiers; civil liberties; and of course, absolute independence. It was the final argument of the Filipinos then, because after pleading for reforms in the government, the clergy, education, the military, and other sectors of society, the Spanish colonial government answered by exiling, imprisoning, or executing all those who sought any new and bold ideas.
Rizal did not want to die in 1896. As a matter of fact, he fought for his survival by condemning before the Spanish military court the Revolution, although he knew very well that his writings were the ones which inflamed that uprising.
Comment made on February 18th, 2010 at 2:11 pmi am conducting a research about rizal’s day can you give me more information about it? because i am having a hadr time looking for infos regarding it… thank you
Comment made on March 18th, 2010 at 12:52 amHere’s the very first law on Jose Rizal, in its English and Tagalog versions:
TAGALOG VERSION
Ginoong Emilio Aguinaldo at Famy, Presidente nang Gobierno Revolucionario nang Filipinas at Pañgulong General nang Caniyang Hocbo. Sa paglingap sa ninanasá nang bayang Filipinas, at paghahayag nang mahal at dalisay niyang adhica, ay iniuutos co:
Una. Alang-alang sa manga daraquilang filipinong uagás magsilingap sa tinubuang bayan na si Dr. Rizal at iba pa, na pinasaquitan nang lumipas nang capangyarihang castila, ay itinuturing na arao nang paglulucsa nang boong sangcapuluan ang ica 30 nang Diciembre.
Icalaua. Dahil dito’y mulá pa sa tanghali ng ica 29, hangang sa tanghalian ng ica 30, ay ilaladlad ang ating bandila hangang calahatian lamang ng tagdang, pinacatandá nang pag lulucsá.
Icatlo. Sa maghapon ng ica 30 ng Diciembre ay ualang pasoc ang lahat ng sacop nang Gobierno Revolucionario.
Icalat at ihayag ito upang matahó nang lahat.
Lagda sa Malolos nang ica 20 nang Diciembre nang 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo.
– Republica Filipina, Dec. 24, 1898, p. 2
ENGLISH VERSION
Mister Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy, President of the Revolutionary Government and Captain General and General-in-Chief of his Army. In attending to the aspirations of the Filipino people and in interpreting their noble and patriotic sentiments, I decree the following:
Article 1. In memory of the great Filipino patriot Dr. Rizal and others who faithfully loved the native land and were martyred by the former Spanish domination, December 30 is hereby declared a day of mourning throughout the archipelago.
Article 2. Because of this, from noon of the 29th until noon of the 30th, the national flag shall be flown at half-mast as the symbol of mourning.
Article 3. Throughout December 30, all dependencies of the Revolutionary Government shall be closed.
Distribute and publish this for general knowledge.
Signed at Malolos, this 20th day of December 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo.
There are many sites discussing the first Rizal Day in 1898. Just “google-search” them.
You can also go to your library and find in the periodical section the following news items:
“La Velada del 30 Diciembre de 1898.” Republica Filipina (Mandaloyon) January 1, 1899, p. 3.
F. G. “El Luto Nacional.” La Independencia (Manila) December 31, 1898, p. 2.
Villadez, P. P. “Notas de la semana.” La Independencia (Manila) December 31, 1898, p. 1.
Comment made on March 25th, 2010 at 7:37 pmLeave a Comment