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After years and years of learning about Rizal, Bonifacio and other personalities who have fought for Philippine independence, it turns out that none of those heroes have been officially acknowledged by Congress as National Heroes. This discovery was revealed by Camarines Norte Representative Liwayway Vinzons Chato during a privilege speech.

Is there need?

Should there really be a law proclaiming these heroes as “heroes”? As expressed by Quezon City Representative Matias Defensor during a News Forum, a hero is made because the “Filipino people in all generations will consider a hero a hero.”

House Joint Resolution

Organized by Chato, the House Joint Resolution No.42 is to publicly state former President Corazon Aquino as a National Hero because of her sterling contribution to Philippine independence. Subsequent to this is House Joint Resolution No. 43 officially proclaiming Rizal, Bonifacio, Mabini, Aguinaldo, Gabriela Silang, Melchora Aquino, Juan Luna, Gregorio del Pilar and others as National Heroes. Rodolfo Plaza, Agusan del Sur Representative seems to have the same idea as he also filed House Joint Resolution No. 41 in favor of Mrs. Aquino. Another representative, this time Rodolfo Antonino of Nueva Ecija vows to support the resolution as long the assassinated icon, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino would be included in the national hero roster.

Each author and co-author of the said resolutions are advising their colleagues to take on the said proposals while continually citing the contributions of Mrs. Aquino in regaining Philippine democracy.

The numbers seem reversed as it would look like Mrs. Aquino would be declared a hero first before the proclamation of Rizal and company.

Response

Amid the House Joint Resolutions, Senator Richard Gordon advises that the outpouring of grief and loss should first be allowed to run its course before ultimately deciding whether or not to declare the former president as a national hero.

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The biggest bite in news today, Arroyo and her delegations alleged $20,000 dinner at Le Cirque during the president’s stay at New York City. In case you’re wondering that’s roughly 1 million dollars in Philippine money. Critics are outraged by the lavish spending for one night of sustenance and are relentlessly expressing their disapproval over the luxury.

The president and her entourage spending spree has been first read at an article in New York Times and has since fanned the flames that has been continuously growing under the Philippine president. Questions as to who has spent for the dinner were asked by critics such as the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).

In their defense, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde commented that the report was “grossly exaggerated”, calling it an “agitation propaganda” to induce the people into anger. Adding to that, Remonde maintained that the dinner was a “simple, late night dinner” and was hosted by Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez. Remonde added that the source of the $20,000 amount was a blog based on individual calculations of what consists the meal, instead of the “set” that Remonde claims. The list includes caviar and bottles of expensive champagne which the Press Secretary maintains was not part of the “simple” dinner. Others claim that the dinner was a treat to celebrate Mr. and Mrs. Arroyo’s wedding anniversary.

Questions as to whether or not it is Romuldez who picked the $20,000 tab arises. To clear the rumors, Senator Francis Escudero suggests that the receipt for the lavish dinner be exposed for the public’s discretion. Transparency would not only help determine who paid for the dinner but also if the amount reached the rumored $20,000 (1 million pesos).

According to Remonde, since the dinner was not ostentatious as critics claim, no apology would come from the Palace.  
 

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Philippines – Black seems to be the new motif as protests regarding the newly declared seven national artists of the country arise amid the congratulations. It seems not everyone is in favor of some of the choices as critics – sporting dark clothes – express disapproval on the pick for National Artists for Visual Arts and Film, Magno Jose “Carlo” J. Caparas.

According to critics, Caparas is undeserving of the title as he may have given life to one of Philippines most famous comic book characters including the immortal “Panday” – Caparas was not the one who drew these personas.

Another protest regarding the choice for the National Artist for Theater, Cecil-Guidote Alvarez is brought up. Alvarez is the head of the agency tasked to put together the prestigious award, namely the National Commission for Culture and Arts (NCCA), making her an inadequate choice as she herself is part of the judges. The NCCA together with the Cultural Center of the Philippines puts up the list of probably candidates for the National Artists Award.

Caparas replies to his detractors, one of which is singer and composer Jim Paredes, naming them as “elitists” who rebuff the value of his works.

“…sectoral artists who refuse to see the merit of my work only because I came from the masses…” he said during an NCCA news conference held at Intramuros.

At the same symposium, Vilma Labrador, Chair of NCCA expresses the qualification of the two for the award, stressing that the “masa” is also eligible for the title of National Artist.

It was also noted the support of Imee Marcos in the protest saying that the family is “saddened” by the event especially since the person who first thought of the National Artists concept was her mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos.