15 Filipino icons who shaped the nation

August 25, 2025, is celebrated in the Philippines as National Heroes Day, a regular public holiday. In Tagalog it is known as Pambansang Araw ng mga Bayani, observed on the last Monday of August.

The day honours the bravery and sacrifices of Filipino heroes who fought for the nation’s freedom and independence. The holiday commemorates both well-known figures like José Rizal, Andress Bonifacio, and Apolinario Mabini, as well as countless unsung heroes who contributed to the country’s struggle for sovereignty against Spain, the United States, and Japan.

These are 15 influential Filipino heroes, to know:

Born in Calamba, Laguna, US. A polymath and national hero, his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo exposed Spanish colonial abuses, inspiring the Philippine Revolution. His writings advocated peaceful reform, earning him reverence as a symbol of Filipino nationalism. He died by execution (musketry) in Luneta in Manila (present day Rizal Park) following a show trial.

Born in Tondo, Manila, Bonifacio was inspired by the ideals and books about the French Revolution, which included works like Victor Hugo's Les Miserables and The Ruins, Or Meditation on the Revolutions of Empires by Volney. He was a self-taught avid reader who absorbed liberal philosophies which fuelled his desire for the Philippines to overthrow colonial rule and achieve liberty and equality. Known as the “Father of the Philippine Revolution,” he founded the Katipunan, a secret society that ignited the 1896 revolution against Spain. His leadership mobilised Filipinos for independence, emphasising collective action. He was executed by rival revolutionaries.

Silang (full name: Maria Josefa Gabriela Cariño Silang) is the first Filipino woman to lead the revolt against Spainish colonial government. She is the first Filipino female martyr because of the courage she demonstrated against the Spanish forces. Born in Ilocos Sur on March 19, 1731, she was married off at a young age. Her father's wishes were granted when Gabriela was widowed and got her husband's wealth. Gabriela later married Diego Siland in 1757. Diego fought the Spandiards and freed Vigan (now a historic city). She was again widowed in 1762, when Diego died. She continued the fight until she was captured by Spanish forces in the North. She died by hanging on Setyembre 20, 1763.

Melchora Aquino de Ramos, known as “Tandang Sora,” is honoured as the “Mother of the Katipunan” and “Grand Woman of the Revolution.” Born on January 6, 1812, in Banlat, Caloocan, she grew up the daughter of peasants but was literate, fond of singing, and active in her community. She married village chief Fulgencio Ramos and raised six children, managing their farm after his death. At 84, during the Philippine Revolution, Aquino opened her home to sick and wounded Katipuneros, offering food, care, and refuge. She also allowed her house to serve as a meeting place for Andrés Bonifacio’s secret society. Arrested by Spanish authorities, she was exiled to the Marianas until 1898. Returning home, she lived until 1919, reaching 107.

Born in Tanauan, Batangas, he was called the “Sublime Paralytic,” and was considered the brains of the revolution. He was an educator, lawyer, and statesman who served first as a legal and constitutional adviser to the Revolutionary Government drafting the Malolos Constitution and advising Emilio Aguinaldo. His writings, like La Revolucion Filipina, analysed the fight for independence, shaping revolutionary ideology. He was the Philippines' first foreign minister. Mabini died of cholera.

Born in Manila, Jacinto was known as the “Brains of the Katipunan,” and was a general during the Philippine revolution. He went to Colegio de San Juan de Letran, and spoke fluent Spanish and Filipino. He later read law at the University of Santo Tomas. He wrote the Kartilya ng Katipunan (Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan), outlining the group’s principles. He was elected Secretary of State for the Tagalog region (Haring Bayang Katagalugan, a revolutionary government). Jacinto was at the "Cry of Balintawak", alongside Andres Bonifacio, the leader of the Katipuneros. That cry signalled the start of the fight against the colonial government of Spain. Jacinto died of malaria.

Luna was a Filipino painter, sculptor, and revolutionary who achieved international recognition in the European art world, winning a gold medal for his painting Spoliarium at the 1884 Madrid Exposition of Fine Arts. His life was marked by artistic success. Luna continued his work as a political activist, serving in government positions. In 1892, he was tried over the murder of his wife and mother-in-law, for which he was acquitted on grounds of temporary insanity. He was jailed for his revolutionary activities and died of a heart attack in 1899. 

A renowned painter (born in Manila), his masterpiece La Barca de Aqueronte won international acclaim, showcasing Filipino artistic talent. His works, alongside Juan Luna’s, elevated Filipino culture during the Propaganda Movement, fostering national pride. His masterpiece La barca de Aqueronte (The Boat of Charon) is an allegorical oil painting created in 1887 and displayed at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila. Inspired by Dante Alighieri's Inferno, the painting depicts Charon, the ferryman of the dead in Greek mythology, transporting souls across the River Acheron. The work earned a gold medal at the 1887 Exposicion General de las Filipinas in Madrid and holds significant cultural value as a representation of Filipino artistic excellence and a symbol of enduring themes of struggle and oppression. Hidalgo died of natural causes.

A fierce general, Luna led Filipino forces during the Philippine-American War. Trained as a pharmacist, he developed the “Luna Defence Line” that held US colonial forces at bay. Co-founder of La Independencia, his strategic brilliance and fiery patriotism made him a revolutionary icon. Luna also established the first military academy in the Philippines under the First Republic. He's considered one of the most effective military strategist during the independence war, forming a professional military force. Luna was assassinated by fellow revolutionaries.

Born in Manila, Villa is a celebrated poet, his innovative “comma poems” and works like Footnote to Youth revolutionised Filipino literature in English. He attended the University of the Philippines, but was suspended in 1929 after publishing a series of poems, titled “Man-Songs,” in the Philippines Herald Magazine. It was then deemed unacceptable. That same year, he won a short story contest through the Philippines Free Press and used the prize money to travel to the US, where he pursued his studied. In New York City, he became the only Asian poet in a community that also consisted of E. E. Cummings, W. H. Auden, and other modernist poets. In 1933 his Footnote to Youth: Tales of the Philippines and Others (Charles Scribner’s Sons) became the first book of fiction by a Filipino author published by a major US-based press. His international recognition elevated Filipino voices in global literary circles, inspiring future writers. Villa died in 1997 of natural causes.

Vicente Lim, Lim was the Commanding General of the 41st Division, Philippine Army, during the Battle of Bataan. Lim was the first Filipino graduate of the prestigious West Point Military Academy in the US, blazing a trail for generations of Filipino soldiers. During World War II, he led troops under the US Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), bravely fighting Japanese forces. Despite being captured, Lim refused to betray Filipino positions — a stand that cost him his life. He wasn’t just a hero in the Philippines — he was a global hero in the fight for freedom. His famous quote: "If we desire the respect of other nations, we must show them that we are exerting all efforts to build a nation not only strong in arms but unconquerable in spirit." His capture and subsequent execution by the Japanese, showed his courage and loyalty, a legacy that lives on. Today, General Lim is honoured both at the Philippine Military Academy and in US military archives as a symbol of valour, leadership, and patriotism.

Born in Pampanga, Abad Santos was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and, briefly, as Acting President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. He was sent to the US as part of the first generation of Filipinos to study in American universities and returned with a law degree and a formidable legal mind. He was later appointed to various positions, especially as Secretary of Justice, Chief Justice, and Acting President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. As Chief Justice, he upheld justice during World War II, refusing to pledge allegiance to Japan. His steadfast loyalty to the Philippines made him a symbol of resistance and sacrifice. While acting president of the Philippines, Abad Santos was executed by the Japanese on May 1, 1942.

Born in Bulacan and a key propagandist, he was a Filipino writer, lawyer, journalist, and freemason. He edited La Solidaridad, advocating reforms in Spain. His writings exposed colonial injustices, galvanising Filipino nationalism and laying groundwork for the revolution. He is also known by his nom de plume Pláridel. Del Pilar, along with José Rizal and Graciano López Jaena, became known as the leaders of the Reform Movement in Spain. He died of tuberculosis.

In the late 1800s, three Filipino diocesan priests were arrested on allegations of involvement in the failed January 20, 1872 "Cavite Mutiny". Despite their pleas for a fair trial, their defence was never heard by the military tribunal. Instead, they were immediately imprisoned and sentenced to death by Governor-General Rafael Izquierdo. On February 17, 1872, the three (also known as GomBurZa) – were publicly executed by strangulation, a method known as garrote vil, at Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park). Their execution marked a significant turning point in the Filipinos' fight for freedom from Spain. Their martyrdom served as a catalyst, igniting the flames of resistance and fueling the growing sentiment for independence.

Aguinaldo, born in Cavite, wass the first president of the Philippine Republic. He declared independence in 1898 in Cavite, south of Manila. Leading the fight against Spain and later America, his leadership shaped early Philippine statehood. He was mired in significant controversies, notably the execution of Bonifacio in 1897 and the assassination of Antonio Luna, which is attributed to Aguinaldo's leadership and regime.  The "Pact of Biak-na-Bato" and his exile, following Aguinaldo's agreement with the Spanish to go into exile in Hong Kong is seen by some as a betrayal of the revolutionary cause. He died of coronary thrombosis.