Charissa Mae G. Amper P.I.

100, TF 1:00 – 2:30pm

BS in Management - IV Prof. Ronald A. Pernia

The Past: The Gateway to Our Future

Republic Act No. 1425, or simply the Rizal law, commands the teaching of Dr. Jose
Rizal’s life, works and writings for all public and private schools, colleges, and universities and
the printing and distribution of his biography and works [ CITATION Rep56 \l 13321 ] . Debates
about this act have followed between the senators Recto and Laurel who respectively, authored
and sponsored the act, and the senators Rodrigo, Cuenco, and Rosales, who thought that this act
was another attack to the Catholic Church.

It is noticeable that the act was published on June 12, the date of our independence. I
think that this aimed to awaken the real, dedicated Filipino in each of us. It was written in 1956,
the year when our country was still recovering from the Japanese colonization and was
depending on United States for support. Despite the absence of invaders during this time, the
Filipinos still needed another revolution to fight for freedom. The Filipinos needed not to depend
on other nations but to stand up on their own, as what Rizal did before in fighting for freedom.
The Filipinos needed to bring back their nationalism and their belief in their country. Although
the Filipino identity is slowly fading, Recto showed through this act that the Filipinos could still
undo this.

The sponsors of the Rizal law claimed that through Rizal’s works, we would not only be
able to see our strengths and virtues but also our weaknesses and vices as well [ CITATION Nol \l
13321 ]. Recto and Laurel believed that once we recognize our flaws, we will be ready for the
sacrifices we have to do to achieve our freedom and identity again. The purpose of this act is not
to attack the Catholic Church but to make us value our heroes’ fight for freedom during the
Spanish rule. The intense debate and fight over the Rizal law tells us that we Filipinos believe
that knowledge of history make us better citizens, despite the opposition of the Catholic Church.

At the present time, our Filipino nationalism is fading. We Filipinos, especially the youth,
are inclined to embrace other cultures in this globalized world. We lack love for our own country
and we tend to adapt foreign culture, otherwise known as colonial mentality. Dr. Jose P. Rizal,
our national hero, is a fine role model of nationalism and patriotism, especially to the youth. His
life, works and writings would inspire us and make us brave and determined which would then
underpin our Filipino identity and nation building [ CITATION San \l 13321 ] . Through studying our
national hero’s writings, we would also be able to value the freedom we achieved years ago
which was made possible by our heroes. They sacrificed their own lives to achieve not only our
freedom but our national identity as well, so the latter is treated as a very important legacy that
we should cherish and protect. We could also relate the ideals and teachings of Rizal to the
present conditions and situations happening in our country. Colonial mentality is very rampant in
our society today so we should be proud of our own culture and identity, not of another
country’s.

As students in particular, we would also be able to understand better what Jose Rizal did
for our country. This is also really important to us because it is during our educational years
when we choose our own priorities and career paths. Through this act, the educational
institutions will make us realize that the Philippines is a critical part of our priorities and serving
it is an inborn duty of each one of us [ CITATION Wha \l 13321 ]. I believe that the past is the
gateway to our future and as what most of us believe, “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng ating
bayan.” The past, partly written in Rizal’s works and writings, will embed strong discipline and
genuine moral character in us youth. We will then become selfless, true Filipinos who will make
our beloved country rise up and smile again and transform it from a poor country to a globally
competitive nation in the future.

References
Noli-Fili/Rizal Bill: One of the most controversial bills in Phil History. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Teamcrisostomo's Blog: https://teamcrisostomo.wordpress.com/noli-filirizal-bill-one-of-
the-most-controversial-bills-in-phil-history/

Republic Act No. 1425. (1956, June 12). Retrieved from Official Gazette of the Republic of the
Philippines: http://www.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-1425/

Santos, A. (n.d.). The Rizal Law. Retrieved from All About J.P. Rizal:
https://angbuhaynijprizal.wordpress.com/the-rizal-law/

What is the Rizal Law? (n.d.). Retrieved from Teamcrisostomo's Blog:

https://teamcrisostomo.wordpress.com/what-is-the-rizal-law/