History has it that it was the Filipino people who hailed Rizal as their guide to nationhood, the prophet of their independence, their honored leader, their cry for war and liberty, their most beloved countryman, and their greatest patriot—their national hero.
Sources
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. The Revolt of the Masses: The Story of Bonifacio and the Katipunan. 1996 edition. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press, Inc., 1956.
Agoncillo, Teodoro A. The Writings and Trial of Andres Bonifacio. Manila, 1963.
“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.
June 12, 1898 and Other Related Documents. Manila: National Historical Institute, 1998.
Rizal’s Correspondence with Fellow Reformists. Centennial Edition. Manila: National Heroes Commission, 1963.
Rizal’s Poems. Centennial Edition. Manila: Jose Rizal National Centennial Commission, 1962.
Robinson, Albert G. The Philippines: The War and the People. New York: McClure, Phillips & Co., 1901, cited in Teodoro A. Malolos: Crisis of the Republic. 1996 edition. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press, Inc., 1960.
Villadez, P. P. “Notas de la semana.” La Independencia (Manila) December 31, 1898, p. 1.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A native of Catarman, Northern Samar, now living in Metro Manila. He graduated with an AB History degree from a college in Makati City. He writes in Filipino and English, and since 2000 has been publishing short stories, historical fiction for children, and essays in Liwayway, Junior Inquirer, Philippine Panorama, and The Modern Teacher.
About Jon E. Royeca
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.
Why 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?
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).
Thanks for the comments Pepe Alas and Rocky Sarmiento.
It 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.
The 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.
This is so interesting insofar as it puts to rest the notion that Rizal was an inspired plot by the Americans to dredge up a National Hero to temper the American Occupation of the Philippines.
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
just 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.
i 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
Here’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.
What can you say about the following account?
“In 1901, Taft, with other American colonial officials and some conservative Filipinos, chose him (Rizal) as a model hero over other contestants — Aguinaldo too militant, Bonifacio too radical, Mabini unregenerate.”
– Theodore Friend, “Between Two Empires,” New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1965, p. 16.
@ Nic
Such alleged selection for the national hero in 1901 never took place. It is just a pure conjecture. There are no official documents supporting it — like minutes of the proceedings of the Second Philippine Commission which Taft chaired, or newspaper, magazine, and even personal accounts.
If it did happen, then Taft and the others must have not used their brains because:
1. Aguinaldo and Mabini were still alive then, and so how could they be contestants for the national hero title?
2. Aguinaldo had just been captured by the Americans on March 23 that year, and so for the American colonial authorities, he was a former bandit who had just been recently pacified. How could the Americans consider to be a candidate for the national hero the supreme leader of those whom they considered fanatical bandits?
3. And Mabini was still an irreconcilable, who on January 7, 1901, was deported to Guam as an exile. How could a recalcitrant rebel be selected for the national hero candidacy?
Perhaps, what the book’s author, Theodore Friend, had in mind was that during the alleged selection of the national hero, all the contestants for the title must have already been dead — a product of poor historical research effort.
It was the Filipinos themselves who hailed Rizal as their greatest patriot and established December 30 as a public holiday. While the American authorities only continued what the Filipinos had already started.
Wealthy or poor Filipinos did already consider Rizal as their hero, even when he was still alive:
“Alas, Jose! All the people here ask about you and pin their hopes on you. Even the poorest people of the mountains are asking me about your return. It seems they consider you the second Jesus who will liberate [them] from misery.”
–Mateo Elejorde, Calamba, Laguna, May 26, 1889
“Our excited people always trust in you, considering you their redeemer and savior.”
–Ildefonso Laurel, Manila, September 3, 1892
Source:
Rizal’s Correspondence with Fellow Reformists, Centennial Edition, Manila: National Heroes Commission, 1963, pp. 344, 708.
By the way I am a Knight Commander of Rizal Sydney Chapter
Thank you, Sir Geoffrey. I am really glad that a Knight of Rizal, a Commander at that, has read this article. Many Knights of Rizal I know don’t even bother.