BAYANI
Old
heroes were those who contributed to the birth of a nation. Maybe the modern
bayani is one who pushes the envelope further by contributing to a nation in a
global world.
—Ambeth R. Ocampo, “‘Bayani’
a richer word than ‘hero’,” Philippine
Daily Inquirer (September 2, 2016)
TATLONG BAYANI
Old
heroes:
New
heroes:
WHAT MAKES A HERO?
Through
Executive Order No. 75 issued on March 28, 1993, former president Fidel Ramos
created the National Heroes Commission, which is tasked to study and recommend
national heroes to be recognized for their character and contributions to the
country.
The
commission was also tasked to evaluate, recommend, and come up with the
criteria to determine how a historical figure qualifies as a national hero.
The
committee came up with the following criteria:
-
Heroes are those who have a concept of nation, and aspire and struggle for the
nation’s freedom
-
Heroes define and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order for a
nation
-
Heroes contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation
Additional
criteria were adopted by the Technical Committee of the National Heroes
Committee on November 15, 1995:
-
Heroes are part of the people’s expression
-
Heroes think of the future, especially of the future generations
-
The choice of heroes involves the entire process that made a particular person
a hero
On
November 15, 1995, the technical committee of the National Heroes commission
chose 9 Filipino historical figures to be considered national heroes:
-
Jose Rizal
-
Andres Bonifacio
-
Emilio Aguinaldo
-
Apolinario Mabini
-
Marcelo H. Del Pilar
-
Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
-
Juan Luna
-
Melchora Aquino
-
Gabriela Silang
Link: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/180016-fast-facts-filipino-national-hero-criteria-heroes-day-philippines?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social
—Hannah Mallorca, “FAST
FACTS: What makes a Filipino historical figure a national hero?” Rappler.com, August 28, 2017
MARCOS NOT A HERO
In
a 26-page pamphlet entitled, “Why Ferdinand E. Marcos Should Not Be Buried at
the Libingan ng mga Bayani”, the NHCP disputed Marcos’ record as a soldier
during World War II, saying that it is “fraught with myths, factual
inconsistencies, and lies.”
The
commission said that Marcos “lied about receiving the Distinguished Service
Cross, Silver Star, and Order of the Purple Heart,” a claim he supposedly made
as early as 1945.
The
NHCP earlier said it was the US Medal of Honor that Marcos claimed he received,
but the commission on Monday, August 8, clarified it was the Distinguished
Service Cross, along with the two other awards.
Marcos’
supposed guerrilla unit, Ang Mga Maharlika, was also “never officially
recognized and neither was his leadership of it,” said the NHCP.
US
officials, added the NHCP, “did not recognize Mr. Marcos’ rank promotion,” from
major in 1944 to lieutenant colonel by 1947.
The
former president’s actions as a soldier during WWII were likewise “officially
called into question” by the US military.
Along
with other sources, the NHCP referred to two documents from the Guerrilla Unit
Recognition Files (1942-1948) in the Philippine Archives Collection.
The
Ang Mga Maharlika file “contains letters, memoranda, reports, and accounts
relating to the guerrilla unit Maj. Marcos claimed to have founded and led.”
Meanwhile,
the Allas Intelligence Unit file “pertains to the organization led by Cipriano
Allas, which claimed to be the intelligence unit of Ang Mga Maharlika.”
When
a historical matter is doubtful, like Marcos’ WWII record, the NHCP wrote in the
study’s executive summary that it “may not be established or taken as fact.”
“A
doubtful record also does not serve as sound, unassailable basis of historical
recognition of any sort, let alone burial in a site intended, as its name
suggests, for heroes,” the NHCP added.
…Published
on July 12, the pamphlet was the result of NHCP’s study as part of its mandate
under Republic Act 10086 “to conduct and disseminate historical research and
resolve historical controversies.”
Link:
https://www.rappler.com/nation/142145-nhcp-objects-marcos-burial-libingan-bayani
—Michael Bueza, “NHCP
objects to Marcos burial at Libingan ng mga Bayani,” Rappler.com, August 6, 2016
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| Indio Bravo (1880) by Juan Luna |
