The story of Heroes was inspired by the life of the Philippine national hero, Andres Bonifacio, one of the founders of the nationalist Katipunan movement, and an outstanding leader of the 1896 revolution against the Spanish colonisers. Bonifacio was the central figure of his party, but his position was endangered by betrayals, blackmail and power struggles. He decided to launch the revolution himself, and the result was confusion and divided political loyalties. Unable to unify the entire revolutionary army, Bonifacio left the campaign with his men. The soldiers of the opposing party attacked them, and Bonifacio was executed. Heroes exposed the vanities and rivalries of Filipino politics. Its importance lay in opening the door for other avant-garde experimental filmmakers in the Philippines.