Andres Bonifacio and Jose Rizal--these names and many more are immortalized in history as our National Heroes. We know them because of our school textbooks. Since we were young, we have a bit of knowledge about their lives, achievements, and death.

But little do we know about their aspects that make them human just like you and me. They also have their favorite food, little quirks and habits, and anecdotes that we never knew from our school textbooks.

Read on and know more about the interesting and unlikely qualities of our National Heroes:

Andres Bonifacio:

1. Our Supremo ng Katipunan is a fan of delicious home-cooked meals. His favorite meal was "Nilitsong Manok sa Zaha". The preparation for this dish was done by wrapping the chicken in banana and sampaloc leaves, then grilling it in charcoal. This is served together with a sauce or sarsa made from chicken liver and lemongrass combination (Source: Milagros S. Enriquez, "Kasaysayan ng Kaluto ng Bayan”).

2. Before he founded the Katipunan, Bonifacio worked as a part-time theater actor, appearing in several moro-moro plays and even playing the titular leading role of Bernardo Carpio, a fictional character popular in Tagalog Folklore.

Jose Rizal:

1. Here are just some of the Pambansang Bayani's favorite food: lanzones and mangoes for fruits, rice, sardinas secas (known as "tuyo"), and hot chocolate for breakfast. Since he grew up in Calamba, Laguna, he also loves Laguna cheese, or more popularly known as "Kesong Puti".

2. Rizal also believes in the paranormal. During his Dapitan exile, he wrote a Jesuit priest about a poltergeist haunting the house he stayed in. Josephine Bracken, his significant other, believed it was her dead father's spirit making "paramdam" by breaking all her saucers, cups, and tea kettles.

Emilio Jacinto

1. In his "Recuerdos de Patay" photo, the "Brains of the Katipunan" is seen lying on a bier and holding his rifle. There is a woman, seated third from the left side looking at his lifeless face, and obviously pregnant. This woman is known as Catalina de Jesus, and believed to be Jacinto's wife. No one knows what happened to her afterwards.

Melchora Aquino

1. During her youth, Tandang Sora was often asked to be Reyna Elena during "Santacruzan”. This is an event commemorating the discovery of Christ's cross used during the crucifixion by Empress Helen of the Roman Empire.

2. Melchora Aquino's married name is Ramos. Her husband was Fulgencio Ramos, who worked as a cabeza de barrio. This was the Spanish-era equivalent of barangay captain nowadays.

3. They were blessed with 6 children but Tandang Sora was widowed at an early age. She did all she can to support her children.

Graciano Lopez-Jaena

1. Author Ambeth Ocampo shared this interesting anecdote about Lopez-Jaena, one of the writers for El Solidaridad. Friends loved to bribe him with drinks just to let him finish his editorials.

2. Lopez-Jaena was also a spontaneous orator who loved to create grandiose facts, just to give more life to his speeches.

There you have it, some little-known info about our National Heroes. Let us not forget their extraordinary deeds for our country while acknowledging their humanity.

Sources:

https://filipiknow.net/facts-about-andres-bonifacio/

https://filipiknow.net/jose-rizal-facts/

https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/3450/jose-rizal%E2%80%99s-favorite-dishes-as-gleaned-from-his-dapitan-letters/

From Filipinknow (Emilio Jacinto):

https://www.filipiknow.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/emilio-jacinto-recuerdos-de-patay.jpg

From PFLCW Secreatariat Facebook Page (Melchora Aquino):

https://web.facebook.com/pflcw.secretariat/posts/five-facts-about-tandang-sora-melchora-aquino-you-might-want-to-know-at-the-age-/487725138074196/?_rdc=1&_rdr

https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/graciano-lopez-jaenas-lost-remains-a00293-20190918-lfrm