Discussion Paper on Rizal Law

The Rizal Law as mandated has only come to my knowledge at this present time as the
course on Life and Works of Rizal has been incorporated into the present curriculum. The mere
fact that I, among others is unaware of this certain law is quite jarring, as for my judgement alone.
Again, the ignorance of the law is never an excuse, yet it seemingly came as a new knowledge not
just to me that there is such a law, but also among my peers. This subtle observation seems to pose
an inference to the question on its effectiveness and relevance to today’s youth. As of December
30, 2011, a commentary on the Philippine Daily Inquirer even questioned how the national hero is
permeating and leaving its dent in the lives of the Filipino. It was profoundly stated in the article
that the Rizal Law was ineffective because of how Filipinos, particularly students deem Rizal as
the person found in the one peso coin, and one for whom certain cities, streets and places have
been named after. On the most obvious note, Rizal seemed to have been watered down into the
one standing on a monument at Luneta. It was even expressed that because of certain factors such
as the Internet, the youth have grown more and more distant from fully comprehending who Jose
Rizal is even in the onset of having Rizal courses in the curriculum. Some students even deem the
Rizal course as a waste of time and energy in the academe, especially in medicine, science and
engineering as they feel as if this has no particular relevance to their respective programs (Quizon
2011). It is as if the huge contributions of Jose Rizal are slowly being estranged. Him who once
was celebrated, revered and remembered has been slowly morphing into an image known to many,
yet can simply be subject to indifference and ignorance.

On a lighter note, while the Rizal Law is vague in the knowledge of many especially the
youth, Jose Rizal remains to be known by a number of Filipinos from different generations and
from different demographics. One may observe how the rippling effect of the person of Jose Rizal
today still continues to embed and leave a dent on the identity of the Filipino people. One of the
evidences of how Jose Rizal and the Rizal Law is still relevant to the youth today is the Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo. In the field of literature, it may be inevitable to discuss these two
magnum opus even without the presence of a formal mandate in the nation. These two pieces of
art may even be deemed as classic literature. Classic literature are books and pieces of literature
that keeps instep with time and retains its timelessness without compromising the quality of the
work of art (Lombardi 2019). With this said, these two novels written by Rizal can be profoundly
recognized as classics. And as literary classics, these create a humongous impact on the literary
world. As a creative writing majors, we have been called forth to tie our writings with the reading
of history. And with this call, we must be able to look into classic literature and among these are
the two novels Rizal put forth. With us looking into these said novels, the question on relevance
cries a resounding positive note. His writings shall continue to transcend time and will continue to
make its presence felt in Filipino literature.

Veering back into the Rizal law, what is it geared towards, really? Based on the Official
Gazette of the Philippines, the Rizal Law proposes that, “there is a need for a re-dedication to the
ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our heroes lived and died;” and that his works, “are a
constant and inspiring source of patriotism with which the minds of the youth, especially during
their formative and decisive years in school, should be suffused;” ("Republic Act No. 1425:
GOVPH"). Gleaning from these statements, the Rizal law is geared towards building a sense of
nationalism and patriotism among Filipinos. While this may somehow be said to be achieved in
the perception of others, I believe that is not merely Jose Rizal who can bring forth a sense of
nationalism among the Filipino people. But this goes to show a particular moment in history and
how the person of Rizal was intentionally used to achieve such an end. According to a journal
published in Ateneo De Manila’s Philippine Studies, the Filipinos hold a particular value and
importance towards Jose Rizal as a national hero, yet fail to come into the full knowledge of what
truly makes him a national hero. It was expressed in the journal article that the Filipinos seemed
to have come into a certain indoctrination as to how Filipinos have been taught about Rizal, leading
to a very minimal enlightenment on how he really is considered a national hero. The people back
then, particularly the elite have been manipulating how Rizal is perceived in order to serve their
own intentions and benefit. They wanted Jose Rizal to be a unifying symbol for the country
(Fernandez "The Originary Filipino: Rizal and the Making of León Ma. Guerrero as Biographer"
2009 462-463).

With these laid down, I believe that the Rizal Law holds a certain amount of futility as this
time and age. While it is true that on the one hand, Rizal’s works continue to impact the literary
world, the Rizal law on the other hand is failing to accomplish instilling nationalism in the youth
of today. While it once worked that Jose Rizal was maneuvered to become a national unifying
symbol, I perceive that this symbol is not as necessary as it once was before. I believe that there
are so many avenues as to how Filipinos could foster a certain sense of nationalism and patriotism
today without having to fully dig into the Rizal courses any longer. Jose Rizal’s contributions and
his sense of being a national hero would continue to persist as he has already been long instilled
in the identity of the Filipino. There would always be a sense of remembering and looking back to
history, as this has also been taught to the youth in a great manner.

But in all this, the truth of the matter is that the Rizal Law exists and it will still probably
remain and persist through time. House Bill 6753 was even introduced in order to broaden the
existing Rizal Law and still with the same objective of inculcating patriotism and nationalism
("Republic Act No. 6753: GOVPH"). With this mandated, even as we express our perceptions on
its relevance, Rizal Law may continue to break through time and generations- no matter how futile
it may already seem.

References:

Fernandez, Erwin S. The Originary Filipino: Rizal and the Making of León Ma. Guerrero as

Biographer, vol. 57, no. 4, 2009, pp. 461–504.,

http://www.philippinestudies.net/files/journals/1/articles/2992/submission/copyedit/2992-

3219-1-CE.pdf.

Lombardi, Esther. “Is That Book a Classic, or Is It Classical?” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 19

Aug. 2019, https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-classical-literature-739321. Accessed 7

Sept. 2019.

Quizon, Mona Lisa H. “Do We Really Know Rizal? Rizal Law Ineffective.” Inquirer Opinion

Do We Really Know Rizal Rizal Law Ineffective Comments, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 30
 Dec. 2011, https://opinion.inquirer.net/20093/do-we-really-know-rizal-rizal-law-

ineffective. Accessed 7 Sept. 2019.

“Republic Act No. 1425: GOVPH.” Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines,

Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines,

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-1425/. Accessed 7 Sept.

2019.

“Republic Act No. 6753: GOVPH.” Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines,

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1989/08/11/republic-act-no-6753/.