Life, Works, and Writing of Rizal 5.

To develop an understanding and

appreciation of the qualities, behavior, and
UNIT I – PRELIMINARIES character of Rizal.
 Note: The bill was passed with a clause that would
Topics: give exemptions to those who feels that reading
I. Rizal Law (R.A. No 1425) Rizal’s novel would damage their faith. Thus, the law
II. The Qualities of a Hero provides exemption of students for reason of
III. Rizal’s Time religious belief as stated in a sworn written
a. The World statement/affidavit attesting to their brittle faith and
b. The Philippines apply an exemption, - not from Rizal Course which
you still have to take – but from reading the Novels
of Rizal.
 No recorded instances of students applying for
Republic Act No. 1425 (Rizal Law) exemption from reading the novels.
 In 1994, when President Fidel Valdez Ramos learned
that some Colleges and Universities has not
 House Bill No. 5561
implemented the said law (RA 1425), he issued
 Senate Bill No. 438
Memorandum No. 247 ordering directly the Secretary
 It was Claro M. Recto who authored the bill, while of the Department of Education Culture and Sports
Senator Jose P. Laurel, who was then the Chairman (DECS) and the Chairman of the Commission on
of the committee on Education sponsored the bill in Higher Education (CHED) to take steps to
the Senate. immediate and fully implement the letter, intent
 Both of the, were known for their great sense of and spirit of R.A. 1425.
Nationalism.

Rizal Law
 Rizal Act was sponsored by Senator Claro M.
Recto. He was the main proponent of Rizal Bill. Hero Defined
 The Senate Bill was headedly opposed by the three
Senators; namely:  Hero – defined as a person who, in the opinion of
1. Senator Francisco Rodrigo others, has heroic qualities or has performed heroic
2. Senator Mariano cuenco act and is regarded as a model or ideal.
3. Decorose Rosales  Hero – a man of distinguished courage or ability,
 Date of Effectivity: Rizal Law (R.A. No. 1425) was admired for his brave deeds or noble qualities.
singed/approved into law on June 12, 1956 by  Hero – a person of distinguished valor or enterprise
President Ramon Magsaysay (to honor not only Jose in danger, or fortitude in suffering.
Rizal but all other heroes).  Hero – a man honored after death by public worship
 Claro M. Recto was considered the father of Rizal because of exceptional service to mankind.
Law.
Qualities of a hero (in general):
Batas Rizal 1. Sacrifice – forfeiture of something highly
 R.A. No 1425 – An act to include in the Curricula of valued for the sake of one considered to
all Public and Private Schools, Colleges and have a greater value.
Universities courses on the Life, Works, and Writing 2. Determination – a firmness of purpose or
of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me resolve.
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, authorizing the 3. Loyalty – feeling of allegiance.
printing and distribution thereof and for other 4. Dedication – self-devotion.
purposes. 5. Valor – courage exhibited in war, and
cannot be applied to single combat.
Batas Rizal – Aims/Objectives of Rizal Law – RA 1425 6. Intrepidity – is firm, unshaken courage.
1. To rededicate the lives of the youth to ideals 7. Selfless – unselfish concern for the welfare
of freedom and nationalism. of others.
2. To pay tribute to our national her for 8. Gallantry – adventurous courage, which
devoting his life and works in shaping the courts danger with a high and cheerful spirit.
Filipino character. 9. Perseverance – is a persistent
3. To gain inspiring source of patriotism determination.
through Rizal’s life, works, and writing. 10. Fortitude – has often been “passive
4. To recognize the relevance of Rizal’s ideal, courage” and consist in the habit
thoughts, teaching, and life values to present encountering danger and enduring pain with
condition in the community; and a steadfast and unbroken spirit.
 11. Bravery – daring and impetuous courage, 6. Maria (1859 -1945)
one who has the reward continually in view, 7. Jose (1861 -1896)
and displays his courage in daring acts. 8. Concepcion (1862 -1965)
12. Courage – firmness of the spirit and 9. Josefa (1865 -1945)
“mettle” of the soul to stare at danger and 10. Trinidad (1868 -1951)
trouble right in the eye; or stand to signify 11. Soldedad (1870 -1929)
the valor it takes to overcome adversities
and adversaries. Queries (Quite number of detractors asked the following
questions).
 Why Rizal is our national hero? Had it not been for
the Americans, Rizal would not be our National
Hero?
Rizal’s Time  Why Rizal? ... “He was not the leader of the
revolution,” writes another. “In fact, he repudiated
 Dr. Jose Rizal is a unique example of a many-
revolutions – (did he renounce revolution?)”
splendored genius who become the greatest hero of a
nation.
 Endowed by GOD with versatile gifts, he truly Justifications:
ranked with the world’s geniuses.  Based on manifesto dated December 15, 1896, it is
 He was a physician (Ophthalmic surgeon), poet, most unfair not only to Rizal but also to his comrades
dramatist, essayist, novelist, historian, architect, who knew Rizal deeper and better.
painter, sculptor, educator, linguist, farmer,  As early as June 19, 1887 at the age of 26, nine (9)
economist, businessman, philosopher, engineer, long years before the manifesto of 1896, Rizal
magician, musician, inventor, prophet, etcetera. confided to his faithful friend Ferdinand
 Above and beyond all of these he was a hero and a Blumentritt – “I can assure you that I have no desire
political martyr who consecrated his life for the to take part in Conspiracies which seem to me
redemption of his oppressed people. No wonder, premature and risky in the extreme. “But if the
he’s now acclaimed as the National Hero. Government drives us to it, that is to say, when there
remain to us other hope than to seek our ruin in war,
Birth of a Hero when the Filipinos shall prefer to die, rather than to
endure their miseries any longer, then I too shall
 Born on the moonlit night on Wednesday, June 19,
advocate violent means.”
1861 in the lakeshore town of Calamba, Laguna
between eleven (11) and midnight and his mother  Another justification: Rizal’s reaction on learning
almost died during the delivery. about Lopez Jaena’s decision to go to Cuba. In a
letter to Mariano Ponce, where he openly expressed
 Baptized Catholic on June 22, aged three (3) days old
his own preference to return to Philippines.
by the Parish Priest Fr. Rufino Collantes, a
Batangueno.  “He should go to the Philippines”, wrote Rizal
referring to Lopez Jaena, - “and let himself be killed
 His godfather was Fr. Pedro Casanas, friend of the
in support of his ideas, one dies only once and if one
Rizal family.
does not die well, a good opportunity is lost which
 His name was chosen – Saint Jose (St. Joseph).
will not come again…—
 “If one must die, let one die as least in his country,
Rizal’s Parents
and in the name of his country.”
 Jose P. Rizal was seventh of the eleven children of
 Rizal as may be gleaned from his writings, favored
Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonzo
violence, BUT ONLY, when such become an
Realonda.
ABSOLUTE NECESSITY. Rizal said that:
 The hero’s father Francisco (1826 – 1898) was born
o We must win our freedom by deserving it
in Binan, Laguna on May 11, 1818.
o By improving the mind
 Dona Teodora (1826 – 1911), the hero’s mother was
o Enhancing the dignity of the individual
born in Manila on November 8, 1826 and was
educated at the College of Santa Rosa, a well-known o Loving what is just, what is good and what
College for girls in the city. is great to the point of dying it.
 Died in Manila on August 16, 1911 at the age of 85.  When people reach those heights, “GOD provides
 God blessed the marriage of Francisco Mercado Rizal the weapon, the idols and tyrants fall like house of
and Teodora Alonzo Realonda with eleven (11) cards, and freedom shines in the first dawn.”
children: Two (2) boys and nine (9) girls. They are as  There can be no doubt that Rizal was acknowledge
follows: leader of the Filipinos long before his death on
1. Saturnina (1850 -1913) December 30, 1896.
2. Paciano (1851 -1930)
3. Narcisa (1852 -1939)
4. Olimpia (1855 -1887)
5. Lucia (1857 -1919) Rizal’s Time [The World]
 o They arrogantly regarded the browned-
Historical background of the World and of the Philippines skinned Filipino as inferior being, not their
during his times: Christian brothers to be protected but rather
 February 19, 1861 – four (4) months before Rizal’s as their majesty’s subject to be exploited.
birth in Calamba, the Liberal Czar Alexander II o To their imperialist way of thinking, brown
(1855 – 1881) issued proclamation to appease the Filipinos and White Spaniards may be
rising discontent of the Russian masses, emancipating equal before God, but not before the Law,
22,500,000 serfs. and certainly not in practice. Heavy
 When Rizal was born on June 19, 1861, the penalties for Filipinos (Penal Code).
American Civil War (1861 – 1865) was raging 6. Maladministration of Justice
furiously in the U.S. over the issue of Negro Slavery. o Corrupt, notoriously they were Court of
This titanic conflict which erupted April 12, 1861 Injustice.
compelled President Lincoln to issue his 7. Racial Discrimination
emancipation proclamation on September 22, 1862 o They treat us unfairly because of our race,
freeing the Negro slaves. color, descent, or ethnic origin.
 June 1, 1861, just 18 days before Rizal’s birth, Benito 8. Frailocracy
Juarez, a full bloodied Zapotec Indian, was elected o So named because it was a “Government of
President of Mexico. Friars”. The friars (Augustinian, Dominican,
 April 1862, a year after Juarez election, Emperor and Franciscans) controlled the religious and
Napoleon III of the 2nd French empire, in his educational life of the Philippines. The friars
imperialistic desire to secure colonial state in Latin were so influential and powerful that they
America, sent French troops which invaded and practically rules the country.
conquered Mexico. 9. Forced labor (a.k.a. Polo)
 After the end of American War, Juarez with US o Compulsory labor imposed by Spanish
support defeated Maximillans French forces in the colonial authorities or adult Filipino males
battled of Queretaro (May 15, 1887). in the construction of churches, school,
 In Rizal’s time to (2) European Nations (Italians and hospitals, etcetera.
Germans) succeeded in underlying their own 10. Hacienda own by friars
countries. 11. The Guardia Civil
 The times of Rizal saw the flowering of Western o The last hated symbol of Spanish tyranny
Imperialism. was the Guardia Civil (constabulary) which
 England emerged as the world leading imperialist was patterned after the famous Guardia Civil
power. Thus, British people during the glorious reign in Spain.
of Queen Victoria (1837 – 1901) proudly asserted:
Britannia rules the waves.

Rizal’s Time [The Philippines]

During the times of Rizal, the sinister shadow of
Spain’s decadence darkened Philippine skies. The Filipino
people organized beneath the yoke of Spanish misrule, for
they were unfortunate victims of the evils of an unjust,
bigoted, and deteriorating colonial power. Among these evil
were as follows:
1. Instability of Colonial administration
o The Spanish government underwent
frequent changes – it brought frequent
periodic shifts in colonial policies and a
periodic rigodon of colonial officials (term-
serve one year only).
2. Corrupt Officialdom
o Unlike their predecessors of the 16th, 17th,
and 18th centuries. They were corrupt, cruel,
incompetent or venal.
3. No Philippine Representation in Spanish Cortes
o (Spanish Parliament) but later representation
was granted also (1810 -1813).
4. Human Rights denied to Filipinos
o (freedom of speech, of the press, association
and other human rights except religion.)
5. No equality before the law