Filipinos should seriously consider replacing Jose Rizal as the national hero. Writing books and dying a dramatic death at the Bagumbayan does not make one a hero. It’s like what our politicians did to Ninoy Aquino. Being assassinated at the MIA tarmac is not heroism. Worst, the politicians who are sip-sip (sucker) to the then President Cory Aquino renamed MIA into NAIA and made Ninoy Aquino a hero.
Going back to Rizal, we’ve been celebrating Rizal day every 30th of December since time immemorial. Rizal doesn’t deserve any of our celebration. Rizal never fought in battlefield and that makes him a coward. Andres Bonifacio, the real national hero fought and won in battles. There were reports before that Americans specifically selected Rizal to be the Filipino national hero not because he’s intellectual but because he never fought in battlefield. Rizal’s cowardice would not inspire rebellion to the occupying power (U.S.). If they (U.S.) selected Andres Bonifacio, it would be another story.
Rizal comes from a rich family and is highly educated. He could even be called a snub. Andres Bonifacio on the other hand comes from a working class family, poor and is less educated. He represents 80% of the Filipinos today who are mostly poor, exploited and marginalized. He’s like every ‘Juan’ of us. His bravery is amazing! He’s truly an amazing freedom fighter. He established the Katipunan and fought against the Spanish using his bolo.
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