For Filipinos, it is the birthday of Jose Rizal, a national hero. The Filipinos now have the distinction of celebrating Jose Rizal Day twice a year. Growing up in the Philippines, we always celebrated Rizal Day on December 30th. As we commemorate Philippine Independence Day and Rizal Day, this month we might want to look beyond Jose Rizal for a more diverse and inclusive pantheon of heroes. ————————————–*Portions of this essay were originally part of a talk given during a recent Rizal Day celebration at the City of Carson, California.