Rizl

Aseniero, Carezza Marie P. BS Architecture Is Rizal a hero, saint or martyr?

Life and Works of Rizal MWF | 4:00-5:00

Who is Rizal? Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines and pride of the Malayan race, was born on June 19, 1861, in the town of Calamba, Laguna. He was the seventh child in a family of 11 children. Both his parents were educated and belonged to distinguished families. His father, Francisco Mercado Rizal, an industrious farmer whom Rizal called "a model of fathers," came from Biñan, Laguna; while his mother, Teodora Alonzo y Quintos, a highly cultured and accomplished woman whom Rizal called "loving and prudent mother," was born in Meisic, Sta. Cruz, Manila. Jose Rizal is to the Philippines as George Washington is to the United States. He was the "Founding Father" of the Republic of the Philippines.

The question stem from the fact that our usual understanding for a person to be a hero is probably a strong, courageous man that can lead a group of militia into war against a colonial foe. People like Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo. This notion did change in our time when even the smallest deeds can be considered as heroism. Now, for a person to be called a saint he must have a contact with God and a life that is so devoted to him. And for a person to be called a martyr, he must be somebody who suffers persecution for advocating a belief. Judging from the three choices, we can factor that Rizal can’t be a saint. Due to the fact that Rizal did not have a legitimate contact with God nor live a life that is devoted only to God. I do know that the Philippine Independent Church did consider Rizal as a saint. But as a Catholic, I can say that he didn’t have the qualification to be considered as one. We all know that

Rizal is the “Tony Stark” of the Spanish occupation era. A genius, playboy – philanthropist. So basically, he’s out in the sainthood topic. Rizal is undoubtedly our greatest national hero. We cannot deny the fact that a...