GEN ED 9 - RIZAL
UNIT V. JOSE RIZAL AND PHILIPPINE NATIONALISM: BAYANI AND KABAYANIHAN
Bayani vs. Hero
The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines ‘hero’ as “a mythological or legendary figure often of divine
descent endowed with great strength or ability; an illustration warrior; a person admired for achievements and
noble qualities; one who shows great courage.”
 The Filipino counterpart Bayani has a similar meaning but with some contextual distinctions.
Vicassan’s dictionary (1978), gives the following:
 hero, patriot (“taong makabayan”), cooperative endeavor, mutual aid, a person who volunteers or offers free
service or labor to a cooperative endeavor, to prevail, to be victorious, to prevail (“mamayani”), a leading
man in a play (often referred to as the “bida”—from the Spanish word for life, “vida”—who is contrasted
with the villain or “kontrabida” from the Spanish “contra vida,” against life). These words help us better
understand the word for the lifesaver, the inflatable rubber tube, or “salbabida” from the Spanish “Salva
Vida” to save a life.
UP Diksyunaryong Filipino (2001) gives three meanings for 'bayani':
 a person of extraordinary courage and ability;
 a person considered to possess extraordinary talents or someone who did something noble (“dakila”);
 a leading man in a play (Ocampo,2016)
The reference adds that heroes (mga bayani) in the context of mythology refer to those who had the qualities of the
gods, extraordinary strengths, bravery, and ability.
 AmbethOcampo – history professor, sees it significant that bayani comes to a few words under bayan,
which is also defined as the space between here and the sky.
 Nolasco (1997), further emphasized in his essay, Pinagmulanng Salitang Bayani:
o The term bayani had an Austronesian origin and was brought to our country. This term refers to
warriors who led in defending their communities against invaders and any form of danger.
Derivatives include bajani, majani, bagani, bahani.
The Changing Forms and Definitions of Bayani and Kababayan
 When tied down on the definitions given by ancient dictionaries, Mga bayani may truly (and significantly)
allude to those who contributed to the birth of a country.
 Modern-day bayani- refers to someone who contributes to a nation in a global world. One case in point is our
Abroad Filipino Worker's (OFWs) –Filipino, who are working in outside countries.
o OFWs are frequently alluded to as mga "[57] Bagong Bayani."
o Working overseas may be a way of taking dangers (pakikipagsapalaran) for them as it entails
sacrifice and likely dangers, such as loneliness, anxieties, trauma, fatigue, culture shock, and even
exploitation.
o OFWs also play a vital role in the progress of the Philippines' economic condition.
o By transmitting their cash back to the nation, they help the administration pull up the nation's
monetary status with the general dollar hold.
o The cash they send gives the truly necessary hard money, sparing the nation from defaulting on an
outside obligation commitment.
OFWs also help stabilize the Philippine peso concerning the peso-dollar exchange and contribute to the
country's GNP growth.OFW is, thus, called "Bagong Bayani" (Modern-day Heroes), and the Philippines celebrates
December as the month of Overseas Filipino Workers. It only goes to show that our concept of kabayanihan and
bayani do shift and evolve. The online article, "Ang Salitang Bayani sa Pilipinas," explains its etymology:
o Ang salitang “bayani" ay isang Austronesian na salita na dinala ng ating mga katutubo sa atin bayan.
Ang mga bayani ay ang mga mandirigma kung saan sila ay naununa sa pagtatanggol ng pamayanan
laban sa mga kinahaharap na mga kaaway at mgapanganib.

In Filipino culture, heroism is measure by the courage and the number of enemies killed. The said levels of
heroism are divided into:
o Maniklad, ang pinakamababang uring bayani na nakapatay ng isa o dalawang kaaway, karaniwang
siya ay nakasuot ng putong na pula at dilaw;
o Hanagan, ikawalang antas, siya ay sumasailalim sa ritwal na kung saan ay dapat siyang sapian ni
Tagbusaw, ang diyos ng pakikidigma at kainin ang atay at pusong mga kaaway. Karaniwang nag
o
o
o
susuotang ng itong pulang putong.
Kinaboan naman kung tawagin ang makakapatay ng dalawampu hanggang dalawamputpito at
karaniwang nakasuot ng pulang pantalon.
Luto naman kung tawagin ang makakapatay ng limampu hanggang 100 na kaaway at karaniwang
nagsusuot ng pulang Jacket;
Lunugum naman ang pinakapaboritong diyos na si Tagbusaw dahil ditto maipakita niya ang
kaniyang katapanagan sa pakikipagdig na kung saan na patay niya ang kanyang kaaway sa sarili
nitong tahanan. Itim ang karaniwang suot ng mga ito.
(“Ang Salitang Bayani sa Pilipinas”)
 Dr. Zeus A. Salazar(Filipino history specialist and PantayongPananaw
defender) –offers a both another sense of the term bayani and accepts that
mga bayani are distinctive from "heroes."
Zeus A. Salazar: Filipino Historian and proponent of
Pantayong Pananaw, credit to bing.com
“The summary of all of these differences could be distilled from the individualism and preoccupation of the
heroes with his own "persona," as compared with bayani, who belongs to his group and focused and distinctly on
advancing the interest of the group.…The action of the bayani is based on the character of bayan, wherein humility
and being equal with others are valued more.” (Salazar 1997, 3-4)
Who Made Rizal Our Foremost Bayani?
 Esteban A. De Ocampo's article "Who Made Rizal Our Foremost National Hero,"
 Has become well-known in defending Jose Rizal's being the Philippines ' foremost hero.
 Essentially, it denies the claim Rizal is a made-to- order national hero
manufactured by the American chiefly by then civil governor William
Howard Taft.
 Rizal said to have taken an "admirable part" in the Propaganda
Campaign (1882-1896), and his Noli Me Tangere (Berlin 1887) was
supposed to be far superior and more significant than published by
Pedro Paterno, Marcelo Del Pilar, Graciano Lopez, and Antonio Luna.
 Cong. Henry Allen Cooper of Wisconsin (in 1902)
Cong. Henry Allen Cooper:
delivered a eulogy of Rizal and even recited the hero's last poem at
Recited
Rizal’s last poem in the
the U.S House of Representatives to justify Filipinos' capacity for
U.S.
House
of Representatives in
self-government.
1902. Credit to bing.com
Utilizing the moment cited meaning of “hero" – Dr. Ocampo claims that no Filipino has yet been born
and can be equal to Rizal as an individual recognized. De Ocampo employs as legitimization the depiction
by Rafael Palma and Dr. Straight to point C.
Laubach (an American biographer of Rizal) of Rizal's respectable self- denial, courage, ethical
boldness. Tying down on the third cited definition of "legend" – De Ocampo proposes that Rizal could be a man
honored after passing by open adore, since of the remarkable benefit to humankind.
Other nationalities who recognized Rizal as the leading Filipino of his time were F. Blumentritt, Napoleon M.
Kheil, Dr. Rheinhold Rost, and Vicente Barrantes.
 Prof Blumentrit–told Dr. Maximo Viola in May 1887 that Rizal was the best consequence of the
Philippines. He's heading off to the world, resembled the nearness of another cornet, whose unique
magnificence appears each other century.
 Napeleon Kheil of Prague, Austria– wrote to Rizal and said “admiro en Vd. a un noble representante
de la España colonial”.
 Don Vincente Barrantes – had to admit that Rizal was the first among Filipino. Indeed, even before
the episode of the upheaval against Spain in 1896, numerous examples can be referred to demonstrate that this
century here and abroad perceived Rizal's initiative. In early 1899, Rizal was unanimously elected by the Filipino
in Barcelona and Madrid as honorary President of La Solidaridad in January 1891. Rizal was again
unanimously chosen as the responsible(Chief) of the Spanish Filipino association; he was also the founder and spirit
in the foundation of the La Liga Filipina on July 3, 1892, in Manila. History also tells us that The
Revolutionary Society Known as Katipunan likewise acknowledged Rizal's leadership and greatness by making
him its honorary President and using his Family name – Rizal as the password for the third-degree members. A year
after Rizal's execution – Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and the other Revolutionary Chiefs exited to Hong Kong– held a
commemorative program there on December 29, 1897, on the association of the first anniversary of the heroes
execution and martyrdom of utmost significance in the public appreciation for the Rizal's patriotic labor in behalf of
his people were the tributes paid by the Revolutionary Government in his memory.

On September 15, 1989, in his opening address at the Congress assembled in Malolos, Bulacan. Pres.
Aguinaldo –Involved the spirit of the departed heroes of the fatherland (Primarily Rizal).
December 20, 1898, at the Revolutionary Capital of Malolos – President Aguinaldo issued the first official
proclamation making December 30 of the year of the Rizal' Day. The same proclamation ordered the hosting of
Filipino flag of half-mast from noon on December 30, 1898, and the closing of all offices of the government during
the whole day of December 30 the impressive Rizal's day program sponsored by the club Filipino was held in Manila
on December 30, 1898. The Filipino was not the only one in lamenting the less than ideal demise of their legend and
symbol for the scholarly and logical circles of the world. That felt acutely the free of Rizal, who was their regarded
associate, and companion Dr. Camilo Osias and Wenceslao E. Retaña both talked about the general respect concurred
to Rizal quickly of his demise.
On November 20, 1897, the most significant scientific neurological services to honor Rizal happened by the
initiative of Dr. Rudolph Virchow, President of Anthropological Society of Berlin. Rizal's work “My Last Farewell” was
recited in German translation by Dr. Ed Seler. Dr. Ocampo stated that Andres Bonifacio deserves the title to become
the first national hero because Jose Rizal did not hold any gun or sword to fight for freedom contrary to the
comment of Rafael Palma in the debate of Bonifacio vs. Rizal. Who made Rizal the foremost hero of the Philippines?
The answer is: no single person or groups of persons were responsible for making the Greatest Malayan the No. 1
Hero of his people. Rizal himself, his people, & the foreigners all together contributed to make him the greatest hero
& martyr of his people. No amount of adulation & canonization by both Filipinos & foreigners could convert Rizal
into a great hero if he did not possess in himself what Palma calls "excellent qualities & merits." (Ocampo, 2016)
Who made Rizal the preeminent saint of the Philippines? The answer is: no single individual or group of
people were capable of making the Greatest Malayan the Legend of his individuals. Rizal himself, his possess
individuals, & the foreigners all together contributed to form him the most noteworthy legend & saint of his
individual's sum of idolization & canonization by both Filipinos & foreigners might change over Rizal into an
awesome saint if he did not have in himself what Palma calls “excellent qualities & merits.” (Ocampo, 2016)
 Suggested Reading
Joaquin, N. (1997). “A Question of Heroes.” Other Epics/Stories of Kabayanihan in Philippine
history/mythology