Filipino Culture

It might seem outlandish but a quick factual comparison yields the inescapable conclusion that Manny Pacquiao is a bigger hero than Jose Rizal.  Jose Rizal has, since American colonial days, the default “hero” for every Filipino schoolkid to emulate.  Historical facts show otherwise.  In fact, it is Manny Pacquiao who exhibits more “heroic” virtues than Rizal ever could.

Rizal became a “hero” when Americans selected him as a hero and indoctrinated young Pinoys in American-run schools.  American colonial officials needed to select a “local hero” for pacification and colonial purposes.  Rizal’s story is exactly what they needed to keep the Pinoy “in his place.”

Pacquiao initially met Pinoy skepticism but won their grudging respect by actually winning boxing fights.  He earned his respect.  It wasn’t imposed or promoted for him.

Rizal was an illustrado.  Meaning he viewed himself as higher than the “indio” or masa filipino.  In fact, his life’s work was more about gaining spanish respect for illustrados than for equality and dignity for indigenous non-mestizo filipinos.

Pacquiao is as purely indigenous Filipino as it gets.  From his appearance to his behavior, he exemplifies the true filipino majority in the Philippines that he neither traces his bloodline from other countries or feels particular pride for such mixed race origins

Rizal wasn’t particularly loyal to the Philippines.  Rizal wanted to remain part of Spain.  In fact, he wanted to volunteer as a doctor in their colonial administration.

Pacquiao is always proud to be Filipino, anytime, anywhere.  You can see it in how he carries himself, the language he speaks, his humility, his subscription to the Pinoy tradition of “balato.”  He doesn’t talk down to Filipinos but relishes being ONE of them.  That’s one element many Pinoy “heroes” like Quezon, Rizal, etc (except maybe Magsaysay) sorely lack.

Jose Rizal’s heroism reflects the middleclass and elite background of his supporters.  Rizal’s many academic and intellectual interests (many of them amateur interests) are foisted upon the poor “masa” of indigenous Filipinos as proof of ilustrado superiority and worthy of emulation.

Pacquiao’s herosim reflects his diverse personal history of working with his hands: he worked from warehouse hauler to delivery man.  In essence, his work experience and his lack of disdain for hard physical labor reflects the majority of Filipinos’ experiences.  Over 70% of Filipinos can be classified as “poor.”  Pacquiao’s experience speaks to and reflects the experiences of this majority.

Our modest proposal is this:  Unless today’s Filipino youth research their history with as much thoroughness as they do the recent releases for the PS3, we will always easily be swayed by recent formulations of “heroism” and personal virtue rather than drawing real strength from the values of our ancestors.  We have a rich history, no amount of appeals to “modern relevance” (made amazing ly cheap by mass media’s hero worship of sports stars), practical expediency and “anticolonial” fads will dissipate the real value we can take from Rizal’s work.