Philippine National Heroes

Orator, statesman,

Dr. Jose P.
Rizal
(1861-1896)

The Philippines'
national hero. Born in
Calamba, Laguna, on
June 19, 1861.
Published his
masterpieceNoli Me
Tangere in
Berlin(Germany) in
1887 and his second
novel El
Filibusterismo in
Ghent(Belgium) in
1891. His two novels
stirred the conscience
of his people. He
contributed various
literary works to La
Solidaridad. For his
leadership in the reform
movement and for his
incendiary novels,
Rizal was arrested and
later killed by musketry

scholar, educator, and

writer. Born in Tondo,
Manila, on October 24,
1874. He was involved
in the propaganda
campaign against the
Spaniards. He
cofounded with Gen.
Antonio Luna the
revolutionary
newspaper, La
Independencia. Later,
he also founded El
Nuevo Dia, Cebu's first
daily. Died in Manila
on May 24, 1939.

Marcelo H.
Del Pilar
(1850-1896)

Political analyst of the

Filipino colony in
Spain. Born in Kupang,
Bulacan, Bulacan, on
August 30, 1850. In
1882, he founded the
nationalistic
newspaper, Diariong
Tagalog. In December
1889, he became the
editor of La
Solidaridad and
became the moving
spirit behind the
propaganda movement.
Died on July 4, 1896.

in Bagumbayan,
Manila, on December
30, 1896. His execution
was the last straw for
other Filipinos who
called for a bloody
revolution against
Spain.

Pedro Paterno
(1858-1911)

Statesman, poet, writer,

and peacemaker. Born
in Manila on February
27, 1858. He was the
negotiator/mediator of
the Pact of Biak-naBato. He helped
prepare the Malolos
constitution. Died on
April 26, 1911.

Andres
Bonifacio
(1863-1897)

He founded the secret

society, Katipunan, on
July 7, 1892, to fight
Spain. He was also
president of the
Tagalog republic from
August 24, 1896 to
May 10, 1897. Born in
Tondo, Manila, on
November 30, 1863.
He grew up in the

Leona
Florentino
(1849-1884)

slums and never knew

the benefits of a
prosperous life. He
married Gregoria de
Jesus in 1892. He was
killed on May 10, 1897,
near Mount Buntis,
Maragondon, Cavite.

General
Gregorio del
Pilar
(1875-1899)

Hero of Tirad Pass.

Born on November 14,
1875, in Bulacan,
Bulacan. Died on
December 2, 1899, in
the battle of Tirad Pass,
to enable Aguinaldo to
escape from the
Americans. One of the
youngest and bravest

First poetess of the

Philippines. Born in
Vigan, Ilocos Sur, on
April 19, 1849. Her
poems were given
international
recognition at the
Exposicion in Madrid
in 1887 and in Paris in
1889. Died on October
4, 1884.

Isabelo delos
Reyes
(1864-1938)

Last of the
propagandists. Gifted
son of Leona
Florentino, first poetess
of the Philippines. Born
in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, on
July 7, 1864. He
aroused the hostility of
the friars and
government officials

generals ever produced

by the Philippines.

when he openly
criticized the evils of
the Spanish rule and he
advocated reforms. He
was the founder of the
first Philippine labor
union, as well as the
first independent
Filipino Catholic
church. Died on
October 9, 1938.

General
Emilio
Aguinaldo
(1899-1964)

He officially
proclaimed the
Philippine
independence in
Malolos, Bulacan, on
January 23, 1899, with
him as the first
president. It was the
first republic in Asia.
Born in Kawit, Cavite,
on March 22, 1869.
Died at the Veterans
Memorial Hospital,
Quezon City, on
February 6, 1964.

Artemio
Ricarte
(1866-1945)

The unconquerable
hero of the revolution.
Born in Batac, Ilocos
Norte, on October 20,
1866. Known as
Viborra, he was a
gentle public school
teacher who became a
dashing revolutionary
general. Died in the
jungles of Sierra Madre
on July 31, 1945.

Apolinario
Mabini
(1864-1903)

Sublime paralytic and

the brain of the
revolution. Born in
Talaga, Tanauan,
Batangas, on June 22,
1864. He joined La
Liga Filipina in 1892
and Aguinaldo's
revolutionary
government from June
1898 to May 1899. He
was captured by the
American forces in
December 1899 and
deported to Guam in
January 1901. He died
in Manila on May 13,
1903.

Jose Palma
(1876-1903)

Poet and soldier. Born

in Tondo, Manila, on
June 3, 1876. Younger
brother of Dr. Rafael
Palma. He was a staff
member of La
Independencia. He
wrote Filipinas, a
patriotic poem in
Spanish, which became
the lyrics of the
Philippine National
Anthem. Died in
Manila, on February
12, 1903.

Father Mariano Gomez

(1799-1872)

Rajah
Lakandola
( -1575)

One of the most

illustrious ancient
Filipinos. Chief of
Tondo, when Legazpi
came to Manila in
1571. He became a
Christian and took the
name of Carlos, after
the king of Spain. He
made the blood
compact with Goiti. He
fought alongside the
Spaniards against the
Chinese pirate,
Limahong. Died in
1575.

GOMBURZA
Three intellectuals
who crusaded for
Father Jose Burgos
reform. Father
Jose Burgos Killed
(1837-1872)
by garrote in

Bagumbayan, Manila
on February 17,
1872, for allegedly
instigating the
Cavite mutiny.

Rajah Soliman
( -1571)

The last rajah of

Father Jacinto Zamora
(1835-1872)

Emilio Jacinto
(1875-1899)

Brain of the
Katipunan. Born in
Trozo, Manila, on
December 15, 1875. He
joined the Katipunan in

Manila, noted for his

daring and bravery.
Nephew of Rajah
Lakandola. Of all of the
early rulers of Manila,
he was feared most by
the Spaniards. He was
killed on June 3, 1571,
in the Battle of
Bangkusay.

1894 and became

Bonifacio's trusted
friend and advicer. He
wrote the Kartilya ng
Katipunan, theprimer
of the Katipunan which
embodied the teachings
of the organization. He
founded and edited the
Katipunan newspaper;
Kalayaan, whose first
issue came out in
January 1896. Died on
April 16, 1899. He was
one of the heroic
figures in the Phillipine
history.

General
Antonio Luna
(1866-1899)

The greates general of

the revolution. Younger
brother of juan Luna,
the famous painter.
Editor o La
Independencia, whose
first issue came out on
September 3, 1898.
Born in Binon, Manila,
on October 29, 1866.

Leonor Rivera
(1867-1893)

Cousin and fiancee of

Jose Rizal. She was the
Maria Clara in
Rizal's Noli Me
Tangere.

Marcela
Mario
Agoncillo
(1859-1946)

Maker of the first

Philippine flag. Born in
Taal, Batangas, on June
24, 1859. Married to
Felipe Agoncillo. She
labored to make the
Filipino flag in Hong
Kong with the help of
Delfina Herbosa de
Natividad, a niece of
Rizal. Died on May 30,
1946 in Taal, Batangas.

He was one of the

propagandists in Spain
who were working for
piliticalreforms in the
Philippines. He
contributed articles to
La Solidaridad. He
assassinated in
Cabanatuan City, on
June 5, 2899.

Galicano
Apacible
One of the founders
of La Solidaridad.

Melchora
Aquino
(1812-1919)

B etter known as
Tandang Sora. Born in
Banlat, Kalookan City,
on January 6, 1812. She
helped the Katipuneros
under the leadership of
Andres Bonifacio by
providing them food,
shelter, and other
material goods. She is
recognized as the
Grand Woman of the
revolution and the
Mother of Balintawak.
She died on March 12,

1919.

Jose Ma.
Panganiban
(1863-1890)

Avenger of Filipino

Graciano
Lopez-Jaena

honor. Born in
Mambulao, Camarines
Norte, on February 1,
1863. A good friend
and co-worker of Rizal.
He was Bicolandia's
greatest contribution to
the historic campaign
for reforms, more
popularly called the
Propaganda Movement.
He wrote articles for La
Solidaridad, under the
pen names Jomapa and
J.M.P. Died in
Barcelona, Spain, on
August 19, 1890.

(1856-1896)

Founder and first

editor of the
newspaper La
Solidaridad, which
became the vehicle of
expression for Filipino
propaganda in Spain.
Together wtih Jose
Rizal and Marcelo H.
Del Pilar, he undertook
propaganda campaigns
in Spain. Born in Jaro,
Iloilo, on December 18,
1856. He died on
January 20, 1896, in
Barcelona, Spain.

Diego Silang
(1730-1763)

He led the revolt of the

Ilocanos in opposition
to the tribute and

abuses of the Spanish

officials. Born in
Aringay, La Union, on
December 16, 1730.
The revolt started in
Vigan, Ilocos Sur. He
was killed by Miguel
Vicos, a Spanish
mestizo who bore
grievances against
Diego Silang.

Panday Pira
(1483-1576)

First Filipino cannonmaker. He forged the

cannons which Rajah
Sulayman used in
defending the Muslim
Kingdom of Manila
against the Spanish
invaders. Born in one
of the islands in
Southern Philippines in
1483. He died in 1576.

Maria Josefa
Gabriela
Silang
After the death of
Diego Silang on May
28, 1763, the fight was
carried on by his wife,
MARIA JOSEFA
GABRIELA SILANG,
and his uncle, Nicolas
Cario. She too lost her
life for freedom's sake
on September 30, 1763.

Mariano
Ponce
(1863-1918)

Researcher, historian,
bibliographer,
propagandist, diplomat,
physician, folklorist,
and an outstanding
reformist. Born in
Baliwag, Bulacan, on
March 23, 1863. While
in Spain, he joined the
propaganda movement
and became one of the
initiators of La
Solidaridad, later
becoming its managing
editor. Died in
HongKong on May 23,
1918.

Lapu-Lapu
(c. 16th century)

Chief of Mactan who

led the first successful
Filipino armed
resistance against
Spanish aggression. He
fought and killed
Magellan in a battle in
Mactan, on April 27,
1521.

Gregoria de
Jesus
(1875-1943)

One of the brave and

patriotic women who

played a heroic role in

the Philippine
revolution. Born in
Kalookan City, on May
9, 1875. Wife of Andres
Bonifacio and
Lakambini of the
Katipunan. She actually
fought alongside her
husband during the
revolution, aside from
being the custodian of
the Katipunan
documents. She
organized the
Katipunan's Women
Chapter. She died on
March 15, 1943.

Fernando Ma.
Guerrero
(1873-1890)

Musician, journalist,
politician, and lawyer.
Considered the greatest
lyric poet in Spanish.
Born in Ermita, Manila,
on May 30, 1873.
When the revolution

Francisco
Baltazar
(1788-1862)

More popularly known

as Balagtas, he is
considered the prince
of Tagalog poets. Born
in Panginay, Bigaa,
Bulacan, on April 2,
1788. He
wroteFlorante at
Laura, a masterpiece of
local versification,
upholding moral and
social values; it served
as the basic foundation
of the Philippine
literature. Died in
Orion, Bataan, on
February 20, 1862.

broke out, General

Antonio Luna invited
him to join the editorial
staff of La
Independencia, the
organ of the revolution.
Thus, he fought for the
Filipino cause with his
pen. Died in Manila
June 12, 1929.

Epifanio delos
Santos
(1871-1928)

Lawyer, journalist,
historian, philosopher,
bibliographer,
biographer, painter,
poet, musician, literary
critic, antique collector,
and librarian. Born in
Malabon, Rizal, on
April 7, 1871. Died on
April 28, 1928, in
Manila.

Felipe
Agoncillo
(1859-1941)

Outstanding diplomat
of the Philippine
revolution. Born in
Taal, Batangas, on May
26, 1859. Gen. Emilio
Aguinaldo appointed
him as Minister
Plenipotentiary to the
peace conference in
Washington and Paris.
Died on September 29,
1941, at the Manila
Doctor's Hospital.

Fr

ancisco
Dagohoy
(c. Mid-18th century)

He led the longest revolt

Juan Luna
(1857-1899)

in Bohol against the

Spaniards. The
immediate cause of the
revolt was the refusal of a
Jesuit priest to give a
Christian burial to
Dagohoy's brother. The
Spaniards needed 85
years before they were
able to suppress the
rebellion. It was only in
1829 that they finally
succeeded in bringing to
end the revolt started by
Dagohoy.

A genius of the brush

and a patriot of the
highest order. Creator
of the world-famous
painting,
SPOLARIUM, which
was awarded the gold
medal in the
Exposicion Nacional de
Bellas Artes in Madrid
in 1884. It is also
known as the greatest
painting of all times.
Born in Badoc, Ilocos,
Norte, on October 23,
1857. He was closely
associated with the
Reform Movement,
together with Rizal,
Lopez-Jaena, Ponce,
etc. He died in
Hongkong on
December 7, 1899.

Teresa
Magbanua
(1871-1947)

The first woman in

Panay to fight in the
Philippine revolution.
Known as the Visayan

Joan of Arc. Born in

Pototan, Iloilo, on
November 4, 1871. Died
in August 1947.

Rafael Palma
(1874-1939)

Trinidad
Tecson
(1848-1928)

Mother of Biak-na-Bato.
Born in San Miguel,
Bulacan, on November
18, 1848. Even though
women-members of the
Katipunan were
exempted from the pact,
she participated
in Sanduguan(blood
compact). She fought
fearlessly in 12 bloody
battles of the revolution in
Bulacan, including the
famous Battle of Biak-naBato. Later, she became
known as The Mother of
the Philippine Red Cross.
Died on June 28, 1928.

Agueda
Esteban
Katipunan member who
later married Artemio
Ricarte. She commuted
from Cavite to Manila to
buy saltpeter, lead, and
copper which where used
to make ammunitions.
She also carried secret
messages about the
planned offensives
against the Spanish
posts.

Julian Felipe
(1861-1941)

Composer of the
Philippine National
Anthem. Born in Cavite
City on January 28, 1861.
A dedicated music
teacher and composer,
he was appointed by
Aguinaldo as Director of
the National Band of the
Philippine Republic. Died
in Manila on October 2,
1941.

Marina Dizon
(1875-1950)

Daughter of a Katipunan
leader in Cavite, who was
one of the Trece Martirez,
executed by the Spanish
officials in 1896. Born in
Trozo, Manila, on July 18,
1875. She joined the
Katipunan in July 1893,
one of the first women to
have done so. She also
kept important documents
of the Katipunan. Died on
October 25, 1950.

General
Francisco
Makabulos
(1871-1922)

Leader of the revolt in

Tarlac. Born in La Paz,
Tarlac, on September 17,
1871. He was the first
patriot in Tarlac, who
joined the Katipunan.
General Aguinaldo
appointed him as one of
the brigadier generals of
the Central Luzon area.

He established the
Central Executive
Committee, which had a
constitution called the
Constitution of
Makabulos. Died in La
Paz, Tarlac, on April 30,
1922.