Filipinos are known for a lot of things, but what stands out the most is our enthusiastic and unrelenting pride when it comes to our heroes. Numerous heroes have bravely fought for the rights, freedom, and dignity of the Philippines and its people. And as Filipinos, we will always be quick to celebrate and commemorate their lives and achievements.
The typical citizen will know names like Lapu-Lapu, Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio from the top of their heads—after all, their stories are woven into the fabric of Philippine history.
But despite this, so many heroes often go unsung and are only known by a minority of our fellow countrymen.
So as the Philippines celebrates National Heroes Day, let’s also recognize some of these unsung heroes. Here are SEA Wave’s High Five Filipino heroes that you should know about.
Edilberto Evangelista
Edilberto Evangelista was a talented civil engineer who fought against the Spanish during the Philippine Revolution. Born in Sta. Cruz, Manila, Evangelista was widely known for his intellect, having graduated at Colegio de San Juan de Letran in 1878 and having been awarded a medal of excellence in Mathematics. He later went on to study at Madrid where he would meet other Filipinos, including Jose Rizal, who encouraged him to continue his studies in Belgium.
After his time studying in Belgium, he returned to the Philippines in 1896, where he was arrested upon his arrival because he was carrying copies of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. His imprisonment would not be the end of his story as he later escaped, which would subsequently lead him to joining Emilio Aguinaldo’s forces in Cavite.
Evangelista proved to be invaluable for the KKK, as he quickly rose through the ranks and was later elected to the position of Lieutenant General. As a statesman, he was among the people who drafted a constitution for the Imus Assembly, and as a revolutionary, he was able to use his engineering prowess to support the cause by building forts and barricades throughout Cavite that not only impressed Aguinaldo, but also impressed the Spaniards.
Evangelista was known for his intellect, boldness, and bravery, which would ultimately lead to his untimely demise during the Battle of Zapote-Bridge in 1897. Some sources have even indicated that had Evangelista survived, there was a very good chance that he would’ve been the first president instead of Aguinaldo. Through his contributions, we are reminded of how ingenuity and grit can help prop up our country and fellow countrymen.
Teresa Magbanua
In times of war, many become heroes, but for the remarkable few, they become legends. Teresa Magbanua was a housewife, schoolteacher, and military leader that not only participated in the Philippine Revolutionary War against Spanish forces, but also joined in numerous battles during the Philippine-American War, and even became part of the Philippine Resistance during World War II.
Teresa Magbanua came from an affluent background, being born from an influential family and later marrying a rich landlord. Because of this, she had the opportunity to develop uncommon skills that she would later utilize in support of the Philippine revolution such as pistol shooting and horse riding.
As war entered the Iloilo region, Magbanua became a fervent supporter and member of the Visayan branch of the KKK. Despite strong resistance from her husband, Teresa Magbanua and her brothers would join the revolutionary effort where she would lead her forces to victory in the battles of Barrio Yating and Sapong Hills.
Affectionately known by her troops as “Nanay Isa,” she would also be known by the moniker of “The Visayan Joan of Arc”—a nickname she earned after leading her troops on horseback during the Battle of Barrio Yating.
Her military prowess was further proven in the Philippine-American War, defending Iloilo City during the Second Battle of Iloilo City, and even defeating the Americans in the Battle of Balantang. And despite her advanced age during World War II, she still did everything she could to support local guerilla forces against the Japanese, selling her belongings to provide food, and shelter to the soldiers fighting for their freedom. A true veteran of the war, Magbanua shows us that being on the right side of history often means facing uphill battles and continuing to fight for freedom.
Mariano Ponce
A precursor to the armed conflicts of the Philippine Revolution was the intellectual conflict initiated by The Propaganda Movement, a group of intellectual Filipinos studying abroad who wrote a series of texts, books, letters, and other literary pieces to criticize the Spanish government and call for political reforms for the Philippines, while also aiming to bring awareness to the situation of the Philippines and educating the Filipino people of the struggle against the Spanish.
While prominent members of the movement are widely known such as the likes of Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, and Graciano Lopez-Jaena, someone who is often overlooked is Mariano Ponce. He is even included in one of Jose Rizal’s most iconic photos. But despite being relatively unknown, Ponce contributed greatly to the Propaganda Movement, as he was among the founders of both La Solidaridad and Asociación Hispano-Filipino.
He was also a co-writer of Efemerides Filipinas, a column on folklore, history, current events, and artistic events with the aim of developing Filipino consciousness and promoting interest in Philippine history. Ponce became a prominent member of Emilio Aguinaldo’s First Philippine Republic, and would later become its representative in Japan and a member of the Philippine Assembly in Bulacan, where he is also credited for the passing of the law that created the National Library. Ponce reminds us that in times of war, our national culture, identity and history is worthy of being preserved and celebrated.
Trinidad Tecson
In 1897, upon the recommendation of Apolinario Mabini, the Malolos Republic approved the Constitution of the National Association of the Red Cross. While Hilaria Aguinaldo was appointed as the head of the association, its formation would not have been possible without the contributions of Trinidad Tecson.
Trinidad Tecson was a soldier that participated in both the Philippine Revolution War and the Philippine-American War. During the revolution, she participated in battles against the Spanish army under generals Llanera, del Pilar, and Soliman. Despite being a woman, Tecson was also known for fighting side-by-side with her fellow soldiers wearing the full uniform of the Katipuneros.
During the revolutionary war in a fierce battle against the Spanish in Biak-na-Bato in Bulacan, while her husband and two other soldiers fought to defend the fort, Tecson instead set-up a makeshift hospital and tended to the wounded soldiers. She would later be known as “The Mother of Biak-na-Bato” and also went on to create nursing stations on the battle sites of the southern Philippine provinces, organizing and training women to serve in her hospitals, essentially laying the groundwork for the Philippine Red Cross. Her efforts highlight that even in the midst of war, compassion is one of the most important traits you can embody and impart to the people around you.
Rosa Sevilla de Alvero
In modern times, women have constantly served a crucial role when it comes to elections to the point that it’s difficult to imagine a time where women could not participate in the democratic processes of their country. In the Philippines, a woman’s ability to vote would not have been possible without the contribution of Rosa Sevilla de Alvero.
Sevilla was born in Tondo in 1879, where she grew up in a house full of nationalists and intellectuals. This would influence her path to becoming an educator and the first female Dean of the University of Santo Tomas. She also established the Instituto de Mujeres, one of the first women’s schools in the Philippines.
In 1916, she was a leading figure in the women’s suffrage movement in the Philippines and founded the Liga Nacional de Damas Filipinas, an organization that sought Philippine Independence and better working conditions for Filipina factory workers. 21 years later, her work and the work of so many women would finally be given their fruit when a referendum was granted in favor of letting women vote.
As the years go by, more and more heroes will emerge from different walks of life to contribute to the betterment and prosperity of their countries. As citizens, it is up to us to acknowledge and continue the efforts of our heroes, for the sake of a better today and an even brighter tomorrow.
Are there any more heroes whose stories you would like to share? Let us know in the comments below!