Philippine Independence Day was declared on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite and has been commemorated ever since. This year marked its 121st observance, and I count myself blessed to be one of the many heirs to the freedom that Filipino revolutionaries, our heroes sung or unsung, had fought for. Now the fourth Monday of August is National Heroes Day in the Philippines. Do you know your Philippine national heroes?
Once upon a time, I made a bet
with myself that I can go at least once around the 12 signs of the zodiac and
be able to name a Philippine national hero who was born under that Sun sign. I
was thinking: National Heroes Day, 12 signs of the zodiac, at least one
national hero or heroine per sign. Easy peasy. Let’s do this!
Aries:
General Emilio Aguinaldo, born on March 22, 1869 in Kawit, Cavite, was the
President of the First Philippine Republic. Being an Aries, he’s just got to be
the first! After the defeat of the Spaniards by Cmdr. George Dewey, Aguinaldo
declared independence on the special date and location we mentioned above.
However, the Americans refused to recognize the Aguinaldo regime and this led
to the Philippine-American War. Aguinaldo would be captured and retire as a
farmer. He died at age 95 in the mid-1960s.
Taurus:
Gregoria de Jesus, also known as the “Lakambini” (First Lady) of the Katipunan
and the wife of Andres Bonifacio (whom we will meet in the Sagittarius section),
was born on May 9, 1875 in Kalookan City. Gregoria was doing revolutionary work
by 18 years old, going through extreme danger in doing tasks that only women
can do undetected by the guardia civil. The Filipino revolutionary leaders
spoke in awe of her courage and daring. After the Revolution, she married
another patriot, Julio Nakpil, and raised their children on the ideals they
fought for.
Gemini:
Born June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna, the Philippine National Hero, Dr. Jose
P. Rizal was a Renaissance man of the sciences and the arts. He was a
physician, a novelist, a sculptor, a poet, and an intellectual. His two novels,
“Noli Me Tangere” (Touch Me Not) and “El Filibusterismo” (The Rebel), written
during his long stay in Europe are believed to have inspired the revolution
against Spain. Despite having nothing to do with the armed uprising (his
writings advocated peaceful means of reform), he was tried for rebellion and
sedition. Dr. Rizal was imprisoned in Fort Santiago and executed by firing
squad at Bagumbayan (now Luneta) on Dec. 30, 1896, which Filipinos now
commemorate as Rizal Day. Of course, the night before his execution, he wrote
his last poem, “Mi Ultimo Adios” (My Last Farewell).
Cancer:
Apolinario Mabini, a lawyer, born July 22, 1864, was called the “sublime
paralytic” for his guidance, sound counsel, and good judgment to Pres. Emilio
Aguinaldo. He wrote the Malolos Constitution and most of the decrees of the
revolutionary government. Despite his disability which is polio, he planted the
seeds of greatness and heroism in other men’s hearts at a critical time in
Philippine history.
Leo:
Princess Purmassuri of Jolo, Sulu has an unknown birthdate but she exemplifies
the Leonine concepts of royalty, being the princess of her clan, and a fierce
fighting spirit, being able to defend the entire Muslim Mindanao region against
the Spanish onslaught. She had a fighter’s, courageous heart!
Virgo:
Marcelo H. Del Pilar, born August 30, 1850 in San Nicolas, Bulacan, is the
greatest journalist and the moving spirit of the Propaganda Movement during the
Philippine Revolution against Spain. He used his powers of logic and analysis
to fight the good fight!
Libra:
Gen. Miguel Malvar, born Sept. 27, 1865 in Santo Tomas, Batangas, was the last
Filipino general to surrender to the Americans during the Fil-Am war. Well,
what can I say but that this is what you get when cross a Batangueño and a
Libran. Their motto becomes: I will never surrender for as long as I can!
Scorpio:
Called the “Visayan Joan of Arc,” Teresa Magbanua, born Nov. 4, 1871 in
Pototan, Iloilo, is the first woman fighter in Panay Island. An intense, fierce
Scorpio co-ruled by Mars and Pluto, Teresa’s mantra might have been: I dig the
revolution, man! In fact, I started it for women in my province.
Sagittarius:
Born on November 30, 1863 in Tondo, Manila, Andres Bonifacio is known as the
Great Plebeian because even if he was from the middle-class himself, he
sympathized with the grudges of the common people against the Spaniards. He was
also called the Father of the Katipunan which was the highest-level secret
organization formed by Andres Bonifacio, fellow revolutionary Emilio Jacinto
(also a Sagittarius) and others whose aim was to overthrow Spanish rule in the
Philippines. August 23, 1896 marked the so-called “Cry of Balintawak” when
Bonifacio and his assembled men tore their “cedulas,” raised the Katipunan
flag, and engaged the enemy forces. It was unfortunate that subsequent events,
especially the power struggle between Bonifacio and Aguinaldo, are still the
subject of speculation. Bonifacio died by assassination on May 10, 1897 in
Cavite.
Capricorn:
Melchora Aquino (“Tandang Sora,” literally “Old Sora”) is considered the Mother
of the Philippine Revolution. Tandang Sora was the oldest living soul in the
revolutionary movement at that time, being born on January 6, 1812 in Banilad,
Kalookan, so by 1896-1898, she was already 88-90 years old! But did that stop
her from contributing her share in the movement? No way! It’s worth mentioning
at this point that Capricorns, being blessed with sturdy constitutions, do
usually go on to live long, productive lives.
Aquarius:
Padre Jose Ma. Burgos is a priest-reformist and one of Dr. Jose Rizal’s
teachers at the Ateneo de Manila. He died by execution in Bagumbayan, Manila as
part of the Gomburza triumvirate of martyr-priests on suspicion of rebellion
against the Spanish government. Born Feb. 9, 1837 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Fr.
Burgos was the champion of the cause of the Filipinization of the clergy, to
which the Spanish priests did not take kindly. Along with Fathers Gomez and
Zamora, Fr. Burgos died by garrote after a mock trial on trumped-up charges.
Pisces:
Gabriela Silang, born on March 19, 1731 in Santa Caniogan, Ilocos Sur, is the
first Filipino woman to lead a revolt against Spanish colonization, taking over
after her husband, Diego Silang perished during the fighting.
So
there we go. We all made it through the zodiac, one Philippine national hero or
heroine at a time. Wasn’t that fun? Being a hero is not the monopoly of any one
sign. There is a hero within all of us. You know, just as there are
microclimates, so there are micro-communities. Then please let’s be heroes in
our respective micro-communities. THAT would be fun!
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