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.