3. • No law, executive order or proclamation has been enacted or
issued officially proclaiming any Filipino historical figure as a
national hero. However, because of their significant roles in the process
of nation building and contributions to history, there were laws enacted
and proclamations issued honoring these heroes.
• Even Jose Rizal, considered as the greatest among the Filipino heroes,
was not explicitly proclaimed as a national hero. The position he now
holds in Philippine history is a tribute to the continued veneration
or acclamation of the people in recognition of his contribution to
the significant social transformations that took place in our
country.
• Aside from Rizal, the only other hero given an implied recognition as
a national hero is Andres Bonifacio whose day of birth on November
30 has been made a national holiday.
4. CRITERIA FOR NATIONAL HEROES
(Adopted by the Technical Committee of the National Heroes Committee on
June 3, 1993 , Manila . Members of the Committee included Drs. Onofre D. Corpuz,
Samuel K. Tan, Marcelino Foronda, Alfredo Lagmay, Bernardita R. Churchill, Serafin
D. Quiason, Ambeth Ocampo, then known as Dom Ignacio Maria, Prof. Minerva
Gonzales and Mrs. Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil)
1. Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle
for the nation’s freedom. Our own struggle for freedom was begun by Bonifacio and
finished by Aguinaldo, the latter formally declaring the revolution’s success. In reality,
however, a revolution has no end. Revolutions are only the beginning. One cannot
aspire to be free only to sink back into bondage.
5. 2. Heroes are those who define and contribute to a system or
life of freedom and order for a nation. Freedom without order
will only lead to anarchy. Therefore, heroes are those who
make the nation’s constitution and laws, such as Mabini and
Recto. To the latter, constitutions are only the beginning, for it
is the people living under the constitution that truly constitute a
nation.
3. Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and
destiny of a nation. (As defined by Dr. Onofre D. Corpuz)
6. ADDITIONAL CRITERIA FOR HEROES
(Adopted by the Technical Committee of the National Heroes
Committee on November 15, 1995, Manila)
1. A hero is part of the people’s expression. But the process of a people’s
internalization of a hero’s life and works takes time, with the youth
forming a part of the internalization.
2. A hero thinks of the future, especially the future generations.
3. The choice of a hero involves not only the recounting of an episode or
events in history, but of the entire process that made this particular
person a hero. (As defined by Dr. Alfredo Lagmay)
7. HISTORICAL FIGURES RECOMMENDED AS
NATIONAL HEROES
On November 15, 1995 , the Technical Committee after deliberation
and careful study based on Dr. Onofre D. Corpuz’ and Dr. Alfredo
Lagmay’s criteria selected the following nine Filipino historical figures to be
recommended as National Heroes:
a. Jose Rizal
b. Andres Bonifacio
c. Emilio Aguinaldo
d. Apolinario Mabini
e. Marcelo H. del Pilar
f. Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
g. Juan Luna
h. Melchora Aquino
i. Gabriela Silang
8. DR. JOSE RIZAL
FULL NAME: DR. JOSE PROTACIO MERCADO
RIZAL Y ALONZO REALONDA
• Doctor- completed his medical course in Spain and was conferred the degree of Licentiate in
Medicine by the Universidad Central de Madrid
• Jose- was chosen by his mother who was a devotee of the Christian saint San Jose (St.
Joseph)
• Protacio- from Gervacio P. which come from a Christian calendar
• Mercado- adopted in 1731 by Domingo Lamco (the paternal great-great-grandfather of Jose
Rizal) which the Spanish term mercado means ‘market’ in English
• Rizal- from the word ‘Ricial’ in Spanish means a field where wheat, cut while still green,
sprouts again
• Alonzo- old surname of his mother
• Y- means “and”
• Realonda- it was used by Doña Teodora
9. DR. JOSE RIZAL
The seventh of eleven children born to a middle-class family in the town of Calamba, Laguna, Rizal
attended the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree sobresaliente.
He enrolled in the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and the University of Santo
Tomas Faculty of Philosophy and Letters and then traveled alone to Madrid, Spain, where he studied
medicine at the Universidad Central de Madrid, earning the degree of Licentiate in Medicine.
He attended the University of Paris and earned a second doctorate at the University of Heidelberg. Rizal
was a polyglot conversant in at least ten languages.
He was a prolific poet, essayist, diarist, correspondent, and novelist whose most famous works were his
two novels, Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. These are social commentaries on the Philippines
that formed the nucleus of literature that inspired dissent among peaceful reformists and spurred the
militancy of armed revolutionaries against 333 years of Spanish rule.
As a political figure, Rizal was the founder of La Liga Filipina, a civic organization that subsequently
gave birth to the Katipunan led by Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo.
He was a proponent of institutional reforms by peaceful means rather than by violent revolution.
10. DR. JOSE RIZAL
Rizal was a 6th-generation patrilineal descendant of Domingo Lam-co (Chinese: 柯仪
南; pinyin: Ke Yinan), a Chinese immigrant entrepreneur who sailed to the Philippines
from Jinjiang, Quanzhou in the mid-17th century.
Lam-co married Inez de la Rosa, a Sangley native of Luzon. To free his descendants from
the anti-Chinese animosity of the Spanish authorities, Lam-co changed the family
surname to the Spanish surname "Mercado" (market) to indicate their Chinese merchant
roots.
In 1849, Governor-General Narciso Claveria ordered all Filipino families to choose
new surnames from a list of Spanish family names. José's father Francisco adopted the
surname "Rizal" (originally Ricial, the green of young growth or green fields), which was
suggested to him by a provincial governor, or as José had described him, "a friend of the
family".
However, the name change caused confusion in the business affairs of Francisco, most of
which were begun under the old name.
After a few years, he settled on the name "Rizal Mercado" as a compromise, but usually
just used the original surname "Mercado".
11. DR. JOSE RIZAL ROMANTIC ATTACHMENTS
1. Julia. FIRST WOMAN TO CATCH RIZAL’S EYES. From Dampalit, Los Baños, Laguna
2. Segunda Katigbak
• Rizal first romance that was then sixteen years old
• a pretty fourteen-year old Batangueña from Lipa
• In Rizal’s own words: “She was rather short, with eyes that were eloquent and ardent at times and languid at
others, rosy-cheeked, with an enchanting and provocative smile that revealed very beautiful teeth and the air of
a sylph; her entire self diffused a mysterious charm.”
• she was the sister of Rizal’s friend, Mariano Katigbak
• close friend of Rizal’s sister Olimpia, was a boarding student in La Concordia College
• engaged to be married to her town mate, Manuel Luz
• *The love of Rizal and Segunda was indeed “a Love at first sight”
• *The last time they talked to each other was on Thursday in December, 1877 when the Christmas vacation was about
to begin
• *Rizal returned home, dazed and desolate, with his first romance “ruined by his own shyness and reserve.”
12. DR. JOSE RIZAL ROMANTIC ATTACHMENTS
3. Miss L (Jacinta Ibardo Laza)
• young woman in Calamba
• Rizal describe her as ‘fair with seductive and attractive eyes’
• After visiting her in her house several times, Rizal suddenly stopped his wooing,
and the romance died a natural death
• Rizal gave two reasons for his change of heart namely
(1) the sweet memory of Segunda was still fresh in his heart
(2) his father did not like the family of “Miss L”
13. DR. JOSE RIZAL ROMANTIC ATTACHMENTS
4. Leonor Valenzuela
• During Rizal sophomore year at the University of Santo Tomas, he boarded in the
house of Doña Concha Leyva in Intramuros wherein the next-door neighbors of Doña
Concha were Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela
• charming daughter of Capitan Juan and Capitana Sanday Valenzuela from Pagsanjan,
Laguna
• a tall girl with a regal bearing
• Rizal sent her love notes written in invisible ink—ink consisted of common table
salt and water—the secret of reading any note written in the invisible ink by
heating it over a candle or lamp so that the words may appear
• Orang was her pet name
• Rizal stopped short of proposing marriage to Orang
14. DR. JOSE RIZAL ROMANTIC ATTACHMENTS
5. Leonor Rivera
• Rizal’s cousin from Camiling, Tarlac
• In 1879, at the start of his junior year at the university, Rizal lived in “Casa Tomasina”
at No. 6 Calle Santo Tomas, Intramuros owned by his uncle Antonio Rivera
• a student at La Concordia College, where Soledad, youngest sister, was then
studying
• born in Camiling, Tarlac on April 11, 1867
• she was a frail, pretty girl ‘tender as a budding flower with kindly, wistful eyes’
• in her letters to Rizal, she signed her name as “Taimis” in order to camouflage their
intimate relationship from their parents and friends
• died on August 28, 1893
15. DR. JOSE RIZAL ROMANTIC ATTACHMENTS
6. Consuelo Ortiga y Perez
• a young woman in Madrid
• prettier of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey’s daughters
• Rizal was attracted by Consuelo’s beauty and vivacity
• Rizal composed a lovely poem on August 22, 1883 dedicated to her, entitled A La Señorita
C.O.y.P (to Miss C.O.y.P) expressing his admirations for her
• Before Rizal romance with Consuelo could blossom into a serious affair, he suddenly backed out
for two reasons:
(1) he was still engaged to Leonor Rivera
(2) his friends and co-worker in the Propaganda Movement, Eduardo de Lete, was madly
in love with Consuelo and he had no wish to break their friendship because of a pretty girl
16. DR. JOSE RIZAL ROMANTIC ATTACHMENTS
7. Seiko Usui
• Rizal affectionately called her O-Sei-San
• a pretty Japanese girl that Rizal saw walking past the legation gate
• Rizal was attracted by her regal loveliness and charm
• a lonely samurai’s daughter of 23 years old and had never yet experienced the ecstasy of true love
• Rizal saw in her the qualities of his ideal womanhood—beauty, charm, modesty and intelligence
• The beautiful romance between Rizal and O-Sei-San inevitably came to a dolorous ending. Sacrificing his
personal happiness, Rizal had to carry on his libertarian mission in Europe, leaving behind the lovely O-
Sei-San
• married Mr. Alfred Charlton, a British teacher of chemistry, and was blessed by only one child—Yuriko 29
• died on May 1, 1947 at the age of 80
17. DR. JOSE RIZAL ROMANTIC ATTACHMENTS
7. Gertrude Beckett
• oldest of the three Beckett sisters
• called Gettie or Tottie by her friends
• a buxom English girl with brown hair, blue eyes, and rosy cheeks
• Rizal affectionately called her “Gettie”, in reciprocation; she fondly called him
“Pettie”
• Rizal suddenly realized that he could not marry Gettie for he had a mission to
fulfill in life
18. DR. JOSE RIZAL ROMANTIC ATTACHMENTS
8. Petite Suzanne Jacoby
• pretty niece of his landladies
• Rizal found certain bliss in the company of this pretty Belgian girl
• Rizal might flirted with Petite Suzanne, but he could not stoop low to a deceptive amorous
relationship
• she fell in love with Rizal and cried when Rizal left toward the end of July, 1890 for Madrid,
stopping for a few days in Paris
19. DR. JOSE RIZAL ROMANTIC ATTACHMENTS
9. Nellie Boustead
• the prettier and younger daughter of Eduardo Boustead
• Rizal found her to be a real Filipina, highly intelligent, vivacious in temperament, and morally
upright also called Nelly
• Rizal wrote to his intimate friends, except Professor Blumentritt, of his love for Nellie and his
intention to propose marriage to her
• Rizal’s marriage proposal failed for two reasons:
(1) he refused to give up his Catholic faith and be converted to Protestantism, as Nelly
demanded
(2) Nelly’s mother did not like Rizal as a son-in-law
20. DR. JOSE RIZAL ROMANTIC ATTACHMENTS
10. Josephine Bracken
• an Irish girl of sweet eighteen, “slender, a chestnut blond, with blue eyes, dressed with elegant simplicity, with an
atmosphere of light gayety.”
• born in Hong Kong on October 3, 1876 of Irish parents—James Bracken, a corporal in the British garrison and Elizabeth
Jane Macbride
• she was adopted by Mr. George Taufer, who later became blind
• Rizal and Josephine fell in love with each other at first sight. After a whirlwind romance for one month, they agreed to
marry but Father Obach, the priest of Dapitan, refused to marry them without the permission of the Bishop of Cebu
• Since no priest would marry them, Rizal and Josephine held hands together and married themselves before the
eyes of God. They lived as man and wife in Dapitan
• Rizal wrote a poem for Josephine
• In the early part of 1896, Rizal was extremely happy because Josephine was expecting a baby
• Unfortunately, Rizal played a prank on her, frightening her so that she prematurely gave birth to an eight-month baby
boy who lived only for three hours
• The lost son of Rizal was named “Francisco” in honor of Don Francisco (hero’s father) and was buried in Dapitan
21. DR. JOSE RIZAL WRITINGS
• José Rizal's most famous works were his two novels, Noli me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo. (MAKAMISA – third unfinished novel)
•These writings angered both the Spaniards and the hispanicized Filipinos due to
their insulting symbolism.
•They are highly critical of Spanish friars and the atrocities committed in the name
of the Church. Rizal's first critic was Ferdinand Blumentritt, a Sudetan-German
professor and historian whose first reaction was of misgiving.
•Noli was published in Berlin (1887) and Fili in Ghent (1891) with funds
borrowed largely from Rizal's friends.
•As Blumentritt had warned, these led to Rizal's prosecution as the inciter of
revolution and eventually, to a military trial and execution.
22. DR. JOSE RIZAL EXECUTION
• Moments before his execution by a firing squad of Filipino native infantry,
backed by an insurance force of Spanish troops, the Spanish surgeon
general requested to take his pulse; it was normal. Aware of this, the
Spanish sergeant in charge of the backup force hushed his men to silence
when they began raising 'vivas!' with the partisan crowd. His last words
were that of Jesus Christ: "consummatum est",--it is done.
• He was secretly buried in Paco Cemetery in Manila with no identification
on his grave. His sister Narcisa toured all possible gravesites and found
freshly turned earth at the cemetery with civil guards posted at the gate.
Assuming this could be the most likely spot, there being ever no ground
burials there, she made a gift to the caretaker to mark the site "RPJ."
23. ANDRES BONIFACIO
Historians call him by several titles of distinction: The Great
Plebeian, Supremo of the Katipunan, often known also
Father of the Philippine Revolution, the Unofficial First
President of the Independent Philippines.
But how well do we really know Andres Bonifacio?
Andres Bonifacio was a revolutionary leader and the
President of the Tagalog Republic. He was the supreme
leader of the nationalist Katipunan society, who provoked
the revolt of August 1896 against the Spanish.
24. WHO REALLY KILLED
ANDRES BONIFACIO??
• It will be surprising to know for some that
while Aguinaldo denied having anything to do
with Luna’s murder until his dying day, he
readily confessed to having ordered
Bonifacio’s execution.
• On March 22, 1948 (the day before his
birthday), Aguinaldo released a letter saying
he was indeed the one who ordered the
execution of Bonifacio and his brother
Procopio (the letter was certified authentic by
Teodoro Agoncillo and published in his
book ‘Revolt of the Masses’).
1
25.
26. • In his letter bearing his signature, Aguinaldo said that while he
initially commuted the brothers’ death sentence to banishment,
he was prevailed upon by his generals Mariano Noriel and
Pio del Pilar who were part of his Council of War to carry out
the execution for the country’s sake.
• “Kung ibig po ninyong magpatuloy ang kapanatagan ng
pamahalaang mapanghimagsik, at kung ibig ninyong mabuhay
pa tayo, ay inyo pong bawiin ang iginawad na indukto sa
magkapatid na iyan,” they told him.
• In reply, Aguinaldo said: “Dahil dito’y aking binawi at inutos ko
kay Heneral Noriel na ipatupad ang kahatulan ng Consejo de
Guerra, na barilin ang magkapatid, alang-alang sa
kapanatagan ng bayan.”
27. SO DO YOU THINK,
AGUINALDO WAS TO BLAME
FOR EVERYTHING?
28. • According to historian Xiao Chua, while Miong may indeed have had his
faults, the blame should be also placed on his inner circle especially the elite
for their negative influence on the country’s youngest president who was
undeniably a greenhorn in the world of politics.
• Remember, the only offices Aguinaldo held before becoming president
was cabeza de barangay of Binakayan and gobernadorcillo capitan
municipal of Cavite el Viejo.
• “We have to consider that he was 28 or 29 when he became president,” Chua
said. “He was surrounded by traditional politicians.”
• “It was the elite system—“elite democracy” that killed the Supremo,” he
added.
29. BONIFACIO WAS HACKED
TO DEATH WITH A BOLO.
Accused of treason, Andres and his brother, Procopio Bonifacio, were
sentenced to die in the hands of Aguinaldo’s men. On May 10, 1897,
the execution team led by Lazaro Makapagal brought the Bonifacio
brothers to the bushy mountain of Maragondon. There, several
gunshots instantly killed the two (or so we were told).
But according to Gen. Guillermo Masangkay, one of Makapagal’s men
admitted that while Procopio was shot to death, Andres was stabbed
using a bolo (large Filipino machete).
In 1918, skeletal remains–allegedly of Andres Bonifacio–were
exhumed in Maragondon. It included a fractured skull which
supported Masangkay’s version of story. The “death by bolo” theory
has long been supported by several historians as well as the hero’s
great-great-grandnephew himself, Atty. Gary Bonifacio.
2
30. HE MADE HIS FIRST DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE INSIDE A CAVE.
While the image of Andres Bonifacio and his followers
tearing up their cedulas in the Cry of Balintawak
(Pugadlawin) is undoubtedly etched in the minds of
Filipinos, little-known is the fact that the Supremo
made his first declaration of independence a more
than a year before the actual outbreak of the
Revolution.
Compared to the fiery Cry of Balintawak
(Pugadlawin), Bonifacio’s declaration of
independence inside Pamitinan Cave in Montalban,
Morong province (now Rodriguez, Rizal) could be
described as more solemn, simple, and restrained.
3
31. The Pamitinan Cave at Sitio Wawa, Barangay San Rafael,
Rodriguez, Rizal. Photo Credit: Rizal Provincial Government Official
Website.
32. • Together with 7 other Katipuneros including Emilio Jacinto,
Restituto Javier, Guillermo Masangkay, Aurelio Tolentino,
Faustino Manalak, and Pedro Zabala on April 12, 1895, which
fell on a Good Friday, Bonifacio made the trek to the province
to find a suitable meeting place and avoid the watchful eyes of
increasingly-suspicious Spanish authorities.
• After discovering the cave at the foot of Mt. Tapusi (also
known as Mt. Pamitinan), Bonifacio and his followers went
inside and initiated new members into the Katipunan. After
the ceremony was over, the Supremo then scribbled the
words Viva la Independencia Filipinas on the cave walls
using a piece of charcoal. The writings can still be seen
33. Aside from being used by Bonifacio as his hideout, Pamitinan
Cave is famous in folkloric circles for being the prison of
Bernardo Carpio, a mythological figure who is said to cause
earthquakes whenever he shrugs his shoulders. During World
War II, Japanese soldiers also supposedly made use of the
cave as their base.
So now you know: before there was Bruce Wayne and his
Batcave, there was Maypag-asa (Bonifacio’s pseudonym) and
his “Boncave” (also, our hero actually existed, making him
infinitely more awesome).
34. BONIFACIO’S “SOKA” (STATE OF
THE KATIPUNAN ADDRESS).
• The State of the Nation Address (SONA), simply put, is a
once-a-year event wherein the President of the Philippines
addresses both Houses of Congress and updates the Filipino
people on the current socio-economic status of the country.
This is when the Chief Executive would outline his
administration’s accomplishments and programs for the
country—a mission and vision if you will.
• While there have been many fun facts and trivia about the
different SONAs made by different presidents (the
late President Marcos had the most SONAs and gave the
longest one in 1969 while former President Gloria Arroyo
gave the shortest with only 1,551 words in 2005), none
appear as shrouded in mystery as the “State of the
Katipunan Address” (SOKA) purportedly made by Andres
Bonifacio at the Tejeros Convention on March 22, 1897.
4
35. • Quoted several times in legit spreadsheets, online sites, and even books,
Bonifacio—as the national council president of the Katipunan—
supposedly recounted the accomplishments of the Katipunan from the
time it was founded in 1892 until the start of the Revolution in August
1896. Additionally, he also reportedly laid out the future direction the
revolutionary group will take by giving an outline of his programs.
• While it may sound too good to be true, unfortunately, it is. According to
historian Michael Charleston “Xiao” Chua, there is a general consensus
among the members of the academe that Bonifacio never made a speech
resemble anything like the one given in today’s SONAs.
• As one may guess, the convention—which was originally supposed to be
a gathering to discuss the defense of Cavite against the Spaniards—
turned exactly into the kind of political circus Filipinos are all-too-familiar
with. Tempers flared as the delegates—instead of discussing military
matters—argued back and forth whether to let the Katipunan stay as the
incumbent government or altogether replace it with a new revolutionary
government.
36. • In place of him making a SOKA, Bonifacio instead debated the
merits of his Katipunan before finally conceding to the request
that an election should be held for the new officials of the new
government on the ground that the decision would be
respected by everyone.
• As written in the history books, the elections didn’t turn out
too well for Bonifacio as he saw himself swept from power by
Emilio Aguinaldo who became President while he was
relegated to the Director of the Interior.
• If there’s any consolation to the fallen Supremo, Aguinaldo
himself never made a SONA as president since his speech
before the Malolos Congress was not mandatory and merely
congratulatory.
37. HE FOUGHT WITH A
REVOLVER, NOT A BOLO.
While undoubtedly badass, Bonifacio in his lifetime
preferred to fight with a revolver and was not known
to use a bolo at all.
It showed in many instances, such as during the
Battle of San Juan, or during the time when he tried to
kill Daniel Tirona at the Tejeros Convention. In fact,
Bonifacio—in his correspondence with other high-
ranking Katipunan members—repeatedly mentioned
and emphasized the use of firearms.
5
38. ‘Ang Unang Trapo’
‘First Filipino Quisling’
FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE
PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC
EMILIO AGUINALDO
39. Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy is the
youngest President of the
Philippines at the age of 29, and
the oldest ex-president so far
because he passed at the age of
94.
EMILIO AGUINALDO
40. Quoting national artist Nick Joaquin, Angara
asserted,
“Hindi sa pagpunit ng cedula naengganyo ang mga
Katipunero sa mga karatig na probinsya. Naudyok
sila sa balita na noong Agosto 31 at Setyembre 1,
1896, pinalaya ng mga hukbong pinamumunuan ni
Heneral Aguinaldo ang mga bayan ng Kawit at Imus.
At pagdating ng Nobyembre, nabatid nila na
napatalsik ang pwersa ng mga Kastila at buong
probinsya ng Cavite ay ganap na hawak na ng mga
Pilipino.”
EMILIO AGUINALDO
41. What you’re picturing: Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed
independence on a balcony of his mansion while
waving the Philippine flag in the early morning of
June 12, 1898.
The reality: Actually, it was Jose Rizal’s distant
relative, a lawyer named Ambrosio Rianzares
Bautista, who read the Act of the Declaration of
Independence in the late afternoon in front of an
open window. In fact, Aguinaldo added the balcony
only sometime in 1919 to 1921.
EMILIO AGUINALDO NEVER WAVED THE
PHILIPPINE FLAG, NOR WAS IT DONE ON A
BALCONY.
42. • Also, while it was Aguinaldo who unfurled the
flag, it was Bautista who ended up waving it
in front of a jubilant crowd.
• Lastly, contrary to popular belief, the flag had
already flown twice before its official
unfurling—at Cavite Nuevo’s Teatro
Caviteño after the Filipino victory at the
Battle of Alapan, and again at the Spanish
barracks after another Filipino win in
Binakayan.
EMILIO AGUINALDO NEVER WAVED THE
PHILIPPINE FLAG, NOR WAS IT DONE ON A
BALCONY.
44. APOLINARIO MABINI
Apolinario Mabini y Maranan was born the second of
eight children around 43 miles south of Manila on July
23, 1864. His parents were very poor: His father
Inocencio Mabini was a peasant farmer and his mother
Dionisia Maranan supplemented their farm income as a
vendor at the local market.
As a child, Apolinario was remarkably intelligent and
studious. Despite his family's poverty, he studied at a
school in Tanawan under the tutelage of Simplicio
Avelino, working as a houseboy and tailor's assistant to
earn his room and board. He then transferred to a
school run by the famed educator Fray Valerio
Malabanan.
45. APOLINARIO MABINI
He proposed the first constitution of the
Philippine Republic
Mabini was most active in the revolution in
1898, when he became the chief adviser of
Gen. Aguinaldo during the revolution. He
drafted decrees and proposed a constitution
for the Philippine Republic. He made the
plans for the revolutionary government.
46. MARCELO H. DEL PILAR
Marcelo H. del Pilar was born in Kupang, San Nicolas, Bulacan, on
August 30 1850. His parents were Julian H. del Pilar and Blasa
Gatmaitan. He grew up to be one of the greatest propagandists who
sought Philippine freedom through his pen. In 1882, he became
editor of the newspaper Diariong Tagalog which strongly criticized
the way the Spaniards ran the government and treated the people.
Using his pen name, Plaridel, he wrote satires against the Spanish
friars, notably "Dasalan at Tuksuhan" and "Kaiingat Kayo."
In Spain, he took the place of Graciano Lopez Jaena as Editor of the
La Solidaridad, the mouthpiece of the propagandists working for
reforms for the Filipinos. But illness kept his from holding the
position for a long time. Soon tuberculosis weakened him. He died
on July 4, 1896 in Barcelona, Spain, away from his fam
47. SULTAN MOHAMMAD
DIPATUAN KUDARAT
Sultan Kudarat, A Mindanao Hero, Mindanao's
Most Powerful Ruler
Nine years after the coming of the Spanish colonizer
and Captain General Miguel Lopez de Legazpi to the
Philippines, precisely, in the year 1580, Sultan
Mohammad Dipatuan Kudarat was born.
(This great Muslim leader ruled over his Sultanate of
Maguindanao (now Mindanao) in a span of 52 years
(1619-1671). His career as a ruler was considered one of
the most colorful in Philippine history. He was married
to one of the daughters of Sultan Mawallil Wasit of the
Sulu Archipelago, who ruled over his sultanate during
the early part of the 17th century. Sultan Kudarat was
the contemporary of both Raha Bongsu and the latter's
son Sultan Salah Ud-Din Bakhtiar. Sultan Kudarat died at
the ripe age of 91 years.
48. SULTAN DIPATUAN
KUDARAT
• On January 13, 1975, Sultan Mohammad Dipatuan
Kudarat (also spelled Qudarat) of Maguindanao was
hailed as national hero of the Filipino people and not just
of Muslim Filipinos. Following Letter of Instruction 126,
which then President Ferdinand Marcos issued in
September 1973, Sultan Kudarat commemorative stamps
were presented to descendants of the hero to help
highlight Muslim Filipinos’ contribution to Philippine
struggle against 400 years of foreign domination.
• The hero was a Sultan of Maguindanao and a direct
descendant of Shariff Kabungsuan, a Muslim missionary
who spread the Islamic faith in 14th century Mindanao.
• During his reign, Sultan Kudarat successfully thwarted
Spanish efforts to conquer his sultanate.
• He also hindered Mindanao’s conversion into Christianity.
49. • Juan Luna de San Pedro y Novicio Ancheta (October 23, 1857
– December 7, 1899) was a Filipino painter, sculptor and a
political activist of the Philippine Revolution during the late
19th century. He became one of the first recognized
Philippine artists.
• Born in the town of Badoc, Ilocos Norte in the northern
Philippines, Juan N. Luna was the third among the seven
children of Joaquín Luna de San Pedro y Posadas and
Laureana Novicio y Ancheta. In 1861, the Luna family moved
to Manila and he went to Ateneo Municipal de Manila where
he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree. He excelled in
painting and drawing, and was influenced by his brother,
Manuel N. Luna, who, according to Filipino patriot José Rizal,
was a better painter than Juan himself.
JUAN LUNA
50. • Juan Luna was not just an artist. He was also a diplomat
serving the Philippine Republic. He also designed the
uniforms of the Filipino Army. That was until he heard
that his brother Antonio was murdered by Aguinaldo’s
men. He withdrew from public participation. He died from
a heart attack in December and it was triggered by
extreme depression.
• But being a diplomat and a uniform designer does did
not necessarily made Juan Luna into a hero. It was in his
art which proved that the Filipino can be as good as any
Spaniard or European. This was why he and Felix
Resurreccion Hidalgo were praised by Rizal himself and
he told all natives of the Philippines to be proud of their
race and their ability to succeed.
JUAN LUNA
51. Melchora Aquino, also known as Tandang Sora, was
born on January 6, 1812. Her parents, Juan Aquino
and Valentina de Aquino were peasants residing in
Pasong Tamo, Kaloocan. When Melchora Aquino
became an adult, she married Fulgencio Ramos.
Ramos was a cabeza de barangay, or leader/chief of
a barangay. Together they had six kids: Juan, Simon,
Epifania, Saturnina, Romualdo, and Juana. She was
later widowed and left to take care of her six children.
MELCHORA AQUINO
52. • In 1896, the Philippine revolution began as Spaniards invaded the
Philippines and attempted to take it for themselves. At the time
Melchora was 84 years of age.
• She used her store as a means to provide medical care to the
soldiers who were fighting in the war. She not only provided them
medical care, but she also provided them encouragement through
prayer.
• Her store was also used for secret meetings. Due to her behind
the scenes heroics during the revolution she became known as
Mother of the Katipunan, which was the Philippine word for
revolution. She also became known to many of the Philippine
revolutionary soldiers as Tandang Sora.
MELCHORA AQUINO
53. • When the Spaniards learned that she was providing this
medical care and encouragement to their enemies, they
arrested Melchora and questioned her on where they might
find the Katipunan leader, Andres Bonifacio.
• Melchora refused to tell the Spaniards anything and for that
she was deported to the Mariana Islands.
• When the United States took control of the Philippines in
1898, Aquino was permitted to return to her home and store.
• Tandang Sora passed away at the age of 107 in her
daughter’s home on March 2, 1919.
MELCHORA AQUINO
54. GABRIELA SILANG
• Maria Josefa Gabriela’s story is one that dismantles the
idea that women are only victims of war. She rose to
become the very first female leader of the Philippine
revolution. Over 300 armed revolts led by Filipinos rose
against the Spanish regime and Gabriela Silang led one
of those armies after her husband, resistance
leader Diego Silang, was assassinated.
• She earned the title of “Henerala” which meant “woman
general” and possessed the fighting spirit and
determination of her husband, maybe greater. She led
her troops for four months before being captured and
executed in 1763.
55. GABRIELA SILANG
Her deeds inspired the creation of the
country’s leading grassroots women’s
alliance, the General Assembly Binding
Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality,
Leadership and Action
(GABRIELA) which seeks to wage a
struggle for the liberation of all oppressed
Filipino women and the rest of the country.
It’s now spread to countries around the
world and continues to have a strong
56. LAWS HONORING/ COMMEMORATING
FILIPINO HISTORICAL FIGURES
A. Jose Rizal
Decree of December 20, 1898 , issued by General Emilio Aguinaldo, declared December 30 of every year a
day of national mourning in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal and other victims of the Philippine Revolution.
Act No. 137, which organized the politico-military district of Morong into the Province of Rizal , was the first
official step taken by the Taft Commission to honor our greatest hero and martyr.
B. Andres Bonifacio
Act No. 2946, enacted by the Philippine Legislature on February 16, 1921 , made November 30 of each year a
legal holiday to commemorate the birth of Andres Bonifacio
Act No. 2760, issued on February 23, 1918 , confirmed and ratified all steps taken for the creation,
maintenance, improvement of national monuments and particularly for the erection of a monument to the
memory of Andres Bonifacio
57. C. Other Heroes
Act No. 3827, enacted by the Philippine Legislature on October 28, 1931 ,
declared the last Sunday of August of every year as National Heroes Day.
Proclamation No. 510, issued by Pres. Fidel V.Ramos on November 30, 1994 ,
declared the year 1996 as the year of Filipino Heroes as a tribute to all Filipinos
who, directly and indirectly, gave meaning and impetus to the cause of freedom,
justice, Philippine independence and nationhood.
R.A. No. 9070, April 8, 2001, declaring the eighteenth of December of every year
as a special working public holiday throughout the country to be known as the
Graciano Lopez-Jaena Day
58. D. Other Historical Figures
R.A. No. 6701, February 10, 1989, declaring September One of every year, the death
anniversary of Gregorio Aglipay y Labayan, as Gregorio L. Aglipay Day and a special non-
working holiday in the Municipality of Batac, Province of Ilocos Norte
R.A. No. 7285, March 24, 1992, declaring February Nineteen of each year as Doña Aurora
Aragon Quezon Day a special nonworking holiday in the Province of Aurora in order to
commemorate the birth anniversary of Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon, the first President of
the Philippine National Red Cross, and Foundation Day of the Province
R.A. No. 7805, September 1, 1994, declaring January 28 of every year as a non-working
special public holiday in the City of Cavite to be known as Julian Felipe Day
R.A. No. 7950, March 25, 1995, declaring December Eighteen of every year as “Araw ng
Laguna” and a special working day in the Province of Laguna and the City of San Pablo to
commemorate the memory and death of the late Governor Felicisimo T. San Luis
R.A. No. 9067, April 8, 2001 , declaring April 15 of every year as President Manuel A.
Roxas Day which shall be observed as a special working public holiday in the Province of
Capiz and the City of Roxas
60. LAPU-LAPU
He was the King of Mactan Island and was known as the first Filipino
hero. When Ferdinand Magellan, a Spaniard who "discovered" the
Philippines, landed in Cebu, he ordered Filipinos to honor the king of
Spain.
Chief Lapu-Lapu refused his demand. Magellan, along with 48 soldiers,
met Lapu-Lapu in Mactan Island for a battle. During the battle, Magellan
and 15 of his men were killed. For 54 years thereafter, no Spaniard set
foot in the Philippine soil.
61. GREGORIO DEL PILAR
He is remembered as the "Hero of Tirad Pass" and to the Americans as
an "Officer and a Gentleman." Pilar, at 24, was the youngest general in
the Revolutionary Army, who fought bravely against the Americans, with
only 60 men.
On December 2, 1899, he was killed in the Tirad Pass while commanding
Aguinaldo's rearguard. Before his death, he wrote, "I am surrounded by
fearful odds that will overcome me and my gallant men, but I am
pleased to die fighting for my beloved country." The Tirad Pass has
been declared a national shrine.
62. EMILIO JACINTO
Emilio Jacinto was born on December 15, 1875 in Trozo, Manila. He
joined the Katipunan in 1894. Even though he was only 19, he became
the Supremo’s trusted friend and adviser.
He wrote the Kartilya ng Katipunan, the primer which embodied the
doctrines of the Katipunan. Jacinto edited the organization’s
newspaper, Kalayaan. He also supervised the manufacture of
to be used against the Spaniards. He died of malaria on April 16, 1899.
Emilio Jacinto was only 23 years old. Because of his numerous and
significant contributions as a Katipunero, he was called “the Brains of
the Katipunan.”
63. GRACIANO LOPEZ JAENA
Graciano Lopez Jaena was born on December 18, 1856 in Jaro, Iloilo.
His parents were poor but very religious. His mother wanted him to
be a priest but he chose to be a doctor. He gave free services to the
poor and this brought him closer to the people’s hearts.
Jaena knew about the terrible abuses the Spaniards inflicted against
the Filipinos. In 1874, he wrote the satire Fray Botod, in which he
exposed the evils of the friars. He founded the newspaper of the
Propaganda Movement, La Solidaridad and worked closely with Dr.
Jose Rizal and Marcelo del Pilar. When the authorities found out
about his activities, he fled to Hongkong and then to Spain. He died
on January 20, 1896.
64. ANTONIO LUNA
October 29, 1866 in Binondo, Manila. He studied at the Ateneo de
Manila, then at the University of Santo Tomas. His brother, Juan Luna,
then invited him to Europe. There he pursued further studies at the
University of Barcelona and the Central University of Madrid. He became
a Doctor of Pharmacy in 1890.
He shared the belief of La Liga Filipina that the Philippines should be
made a province of Spain so Filipinos could enjoy the rights and
privileges of Spanish citizens. He was a contributor of La Solidaridad
and one of the propagandists who worked for political reforms in the
Philippines. He served as Chief of War Operations in the army, and was
assassinated in Cabanatuan City on June 5, 1899.
