The Importance of Celebrating National Heroes Day

National Heroes' Day is a national holiday of Philippines, celebrated to pay

homage to the National Heroes of the country. Every year this day falls on the
fourth Monday of August.
Initially National Heroes' day was celebrated on 30th of November as it was the
birthday of Andres Bonifacio, founder of the Katipunan. Later this day moves to
the fourth Monday of August, to pay tribute to all other known or unknown men
and women who sacrificed their lives for Philippine freedom.
Philippines achieved its identity due to the noble deeds made by numbers of
people, known as National Heroes. People of Philippines celebrate this day with a
great enthusiasm. This is a perfect day to remember the life and work of all these
great people.

The Contributions of Our National Heroes

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.
Dr. Jose Rizal - Jose Rizal, our national hero, was born in Calamba, Laguna. His
parents were Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso. He was educated in
Europe and obtained his license in opthamology and philiosphy in France. He
wrote Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not) and El Filibusterismo (The Rebel) in
Europe, which told about the oppression of Spanish colonial rule. In 1892, when
Rizal returned to the Philippines, he formed La Liga Filipina, a forum for Filipinos
to express their hopes for reform and freedom from the oppressive Spanish
colonial administration. He was arrested as a revolutionary and was exiled in
Dapitan, Mindanao. His writings and La Liga Filipina were banned. Later, he was
imprisoned in Fort Santiago, Manila after a trial. On December 30, 1896, he was
executed by a firing squad at Bagumbayan, now known as Luneta, in Manila for
spreading ideals of revolution.
Gregoria 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.
Tandang Sora - She is a famous heroine in Philippine history. She was married to
Fulgencio Ramos with whom she had six children. Her husband died early, and
she supported her children on the produce of rice and sugarcan from their 25
acres of land. In 1896, the Katipuneros of Andres Bonifacio declared war on her
land against the Spaniards. Secret meeting of the Katipuneros were held at her
house, and she tended Filipinos who managed to escape by dressing their
wounds, feeding them, and hiding them from the Spaniards. Soon, the Spaniards
learned about her cause and the underground meetings, and she was exiled to
Marianas along with 171 Filipinos charged with rebellion. In 1903, she came back
under the American regime. On March 2, 1919, she died, at the age of 107. She
was called the "Mother of the Philippine Revolution."
Andres Bonifacio - He is the founder the Katipunan, a secret organization aimed
to overthrow Spanish sovereignty in the Philippines. Its full name was
Kataastaasan Kagalanggalangang Katipunan ng Mga Anak ng Bayan (Highest and
Most Respected Association of the Sons of the Country), and was known by its
intitials K.K.K. Bonifacio is also known as the "Great Plebian." He and Emilio
Jacinto issued stirring literature to arouse people to revolt against the Spaniards.
On August 23, 1896, Bonifacio assembled his men at Balintawak, tore their
cedulas (poll tax), and declared the start of rebellion. However, a conflict of
leadership developed between he and Emilio Aguinaldo, who was leading the
struggle in his home province of Cavite. After this power struggle, on May 10,
1897, Bonifacio was shot and killed in Cavite.
Marcelo del Pilar - He established the newspaper, Diaryong Tagalog, which
published criticisms on the way the Spaniards ran the government and treated its
people. In Spain, he became editor of La Solidaridad founded by Graciano Lopez
Jaena. For six years, he wrote articles on the theme of liberty and equality for the
Filipinos. Copies were smuggled into the Philippines in Tagalog and were read by
the revolutionists. On July 4, 1896, he died of tuberculosis in Barcelona, a pauper,
away from his family.
Francisco Baltazar - He was born in Bigaa, central Bulacan. Balagtas labored under
strict friar supervision. Themes had to fall under the constraints of official
religious themes in recommended meter and structure. He took all obstacles on,
settling on allegorical poetry as the medium to carry his message. With meter and
metaphor approval, he ushered Tagalog into the realms of protest against
tyranny. The friars thought that Florante at Laura, his best known work, was
about Christians and Moors duelling in mythical kingdoms to the correct ending.
The metre was fine; there was even music to it. In reality, he depicted the
injustices Filipinos suffered in the hands of the Spaniards, and the evils that beset
them during the Spanish regime. This poem contained ideals from which people
of today can deduce morals. Thus, it is considered one of the best poems, and
Balagtas is known as the "King of Tagalog Poems."
Emilio Aguinaldo - As the revolutionary, he defeated the army of Governor
General Blanco in Cavite when the revolution had started. He is also the leader of
revolutionaries in Cavite for your information. As the president, he ordered the
creation of the Philippine flag and composition of the national anthem, and
declared the nation’s independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. After that he
spent 2 years running away from pursuing American forces until his capture in
1901 with the help of some traitors from Pampanga.
Juan Luna - Juan Luna is considered one of the greatest Filipino artists in
Philippine history with masterpieces such as Spolarium, The Death of Cleopatra
and Blood Compact. Not only did he excel in artistry, but he was also a political
activist during the time of the Philippine Revolution during the late 19thcentury.
His close friendship with National Hero Jose Rizal has sparked Philippine
nationalism and pride. Juan Luna was mostly known for his works as being
dramatic and dynamic, focusing on romanticism and realism styles of art.
Apolinario Mabini - dedicated his life so that Filipinos could attain independence
from the Spanish government. Known as "the Brains of the Revolution," Mabini
was born on July 22, 1864 in Tanauan, Batangas, and is considered a great Filipino
revolutionary hero. Mabini was also the right hand and very close friend of
President Emilio Aguinaldo, who appointed him as the first Prime Minister of the
Philippines in his newly formed government. He created decrees and revised the
first Constitution called the Malolos Constitution for the First Philippine Republic.
Apolinario Mabini died at the age of 38 in Manila, on May 13, 1903.