A TV campaign that asks, Why is Rizal your hero?

Why is Jose Rizal your hero? Editorial cartoonist Jess Abrera considers Rizal his hero because as an artist, Rizal awakened the nation's consciousness through his literature and works of art. GMA News Online editor and documentarist Howie Severino considers Rizal his hero because, like journalists, Rizal fought for the truth by exposing society's ills in his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. GMA News and Public Affairs pays tribute to the national hero on his 150th birth anniversary (June 19) through its "Hero Ko Si Rizal" campaign, which features the many reasons why Rizal is the most revered Filipino hero. The plugs, which air on GMA-7, offer a fresh visual treatment, using a combination of live action, stop motion and motion graphics. "We actually created a mini-set complete with props," says Sheila Paras, who headed the team that conceptualized the campaign. Two more plugs will air this week, featuring model and host Isabelle Daza, and award-winning actor Cesar Montano, who starred in the 1998 Marilou Diaz-Abaya film "Jose Rizal."

YouScoopers are also invited to share why they consider Rizal their hero. To join the "Hero Ko Si Rizal" campaign, visit the GMA News official Facebook or Twitter page. — Candice Montenegro, GMA News