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Life and Works of Rizal 6 PDF Free
Life and Works of Rizal 6 PDF Free
The bill was eventually passed, but with a clause that would allow
exemptions to students who think that reading the Noli and Fili
would ruin their faith. In other words, one can apply to the
Department of Education for exemption from reading Rizal’s novels
—though not from taking the Rizal subject. The bill was enacted on
June 12, 1956.
The Rizal Bill became the Republic Act No. 1425, known as the ‘Rizal
Law’. The full name of the law is “An Act to Include in the Curricula
of All Public and Private Schools, Colleges and Universities Courses
on the Life, Works and Writings of Jose Rizal, Particularly His
Novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Authorizing the
Printing and Distribution Thereof, and for Other Purposes.“
The first section of the law concerns mandating the students to read
Rizal’s novels. The last two sections involve making Rizal’s writings
accessible to the general public—they require the schools to have a
sufficient number of copies in their libraries and mandate the
publication of the works in major Philippine languages.
Jose P. Laurel, then-senator who co-wrote the law, explained that
since Jose Rizal was the founder of the country’s nationalism and
had significantly contributed to the current condition of the nation,
it is only right that Filipinos, especially the youth, know about and
learn to imbibe the great ideals for which the hero died.
Accordingly, the Rizal Law aims to accomplish the following goals:
2. To pay tribute to our national hero for devoting his life and works
in shaping the Filipino character
Not known to many, there is another republic act that concerns the
national hero. Republic Act No. 229 is an act prohibiting
cockfighting, horse racing, and jai-alai on the thirtieth day of
December of each year and to create a committee to take charge of
the proper celebration of Rizal day in every municipality and
chartered city, and for other purposes.
The academic subject on the life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal
was not mandated by law for anything. Far from being impractical,
the course interestingly offers many benefits that some
contemporary academicians declare that the subject, especially
when taught properly, is more beneficial than many subjects in
various curricula.
There is a dictum, “He who controls the past controls the future.”
Our view of history forms the manner we perceive the present, and
therefore influences the kind of solutions we provide for existing
problems. Jose Rizal course, as a history subject, is full of historical
information from which one could base his decisions in life. In
various ways, the subject, for instance, teaches that being educated
is a vital ingredient for a person or country to be really free and
successful.
We can learn much from the way Rizal faced various challenges in
life. As a controversial figure in his time, he encountered serious
dilemmas and predicaments but responded decently and high-
mindedly. Through the crucial decisions he made in his life, we can
sense his priorities and convictions which manifest how noble,
selfless, and great the national hero was. For example, his many
resolutions exemplified the aphorism that in this life there are
things more important than personal feeling and happiness.
People love fiction and are even willing to spend on books or movie
tickets just to be entertained by made-up tales. But only a few
perhaps know that Rizal’s life is full of fascinating non-fictional
accounts.
For instance, it is rarely known that (1) Rizal was involved in a love
triangle with Antonio Luna as also part of the romantic equation; (2)
Rizal was a model in some of Juan Luna’s paintings; (3) Rizal’s
common-law wife Josephine Bracken was ‘remarried’ to a man from
Cebu and had tutored former President Sergio Osmeña; (4) Leonor
Rivera (‘Maria Clara’), Rizal’s ‘true love’, had a son who married the
sister of the former President of the United Nations General
Assembly Carlos P. Romulo; (5) the Filipina beauty queen Gemma
Cruz Araneta is a descendant of Rizal’s sister, Maria; (6) the
sportscaster Chino Trinidad is a descendant of Rizal’s ‘first love’
(Segunda Katigbak); and (7) the original manuscripts of Rizal’s
novel (Noli and Fili) were once stolen for ransom, but Alejandro
Roces had retrieved them without paying even a single centavo.
Explanation:
Rizal Day
Mangubat gave three reasons explaining why Rizal's death served
as a turning point to the nationalistic hopes of the countrymen: First
is that it served as a signal to the Katipunan to raise up arms
against the Spaniards and begin the revolution. It is important to
note that it was not formed after the death of Rizal, rather, the
event at Bagumbayan on December 30 crystallized the motives of
the organization. Second, his execution also served as a realization
to the elite that they weren't an exemption to the despotism of the
Spanish rule. Many other sectors joined in the Katipunan as the
revolutionary and nationalistic mind began to settle on them. Lastly,
because the event happened at the turn of the century, it was also
significantly considered as a "New Beginning" for the country.
Emilio Aguinaldo gave the first decree to declare December 30 as
"national day of mourning" and as anniversary of Jose Rizal's death.
To observe this, he ordered that all flags must be hoisted at half-
mast on December 29 and on the following day, there would be no
government offices. The first ever monument of Rizal erected was
on Daet, Camarines Norte and its unveiling is simultaneous to the
first observance of Rizal Day on December 30, 1898 by the Club
Filipino. February 1, 1902, the Philippine Commission ordained Act
no. 345 which issues December 30 as Rizal Day and as national
holiday observed each year.
According to Ambeth Ocampo, oftentimes, heroes are remembered
more on their deaths than their births. However, Mangubat
mentions that the death of Rizal would not have that been more
meaningful were it not for birth and life spent for the betterment of
our country. There are many moves that wish to change the date of
Rizal Day to June 19 because it has a more positive sense and that
it is close to June 12 and May 28 which are the Philippine
Independence Day and the National Flag Day, respectively. On the
other hand, December 30 is nearer to the much more celebrated
holidays of Christmas and New Year which often overshadow the
hero's celebration. For me personally, although his birth date is a
much more joyous celebration, his death can be a better
perspective to look at the entirety of Rizal's life and why he was
willing to die for the sake of his love for the country.
MEMORANDUM ORDER No. 247
DIRECTING THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND
SPORTS AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER
EDUCATION TO FULLY IMPLEMENT REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425
ENTITLED "AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC
AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, COURSES
ON THE LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS OF JOSE RIZAL,
PARTICULARLY HIS NOVELS, NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL
FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING AND
DISTRIBUTION THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES"
DONE in the City of Manila, this 26th day of December in the year of
Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Four.
THE PHILIPPINES IN THE 19th CENTURY
SOCIAL STRUCTURE:
The Philippine society was predominantly feudalistic- the result of
the Spanish land holding system imposed upon the country with the
arrival of the conquistadores. An elite class exploited the masses,
fostered by the “massive slave” relationship between the Spaniards
and the Filipinos. The Spaniards exacted all forms of taxes and
tributes, and drafted the natives for manual labor. Consequently,
the poor became poorer and the rich wealthier.
The Pyramidal structure:
APEX (TOP) - peninsolares – spanish-born took the highest
position in the society and (b) friars
MIDDLE CLASS – favored rich natives, mestizos (half breed),
criollos (Philippine-born Spaniards)
BASE – indios were looked down upon
Racial discrimination was prevalent as the
Spanish born peninsulares were given the highest offices
and positions in society. While the criollos, the Philippine-born
Spaniards, the half breed or mestizos, enjoyed second priority and
the native or indios were look down upon.
This shows the structure of the Philippine government and its
function. Unluckily, there were abuses of the officials in their power
to hold public office. So, below are the specified sources of abuses
and sometimes corruption by the officials in the administrative
system.
The main cause of the administrative system was the
appointment of officials with inferior qualifications, and without
dedication to duty, and moral strength to resist corruption for
material advancement.
These officials were given duties and powers and privileges.
Another is the Union of the Church and the State.
The principal officials of the Administrative system obtained their
position by royal appointment, while the rest of the position were
either filled by the governor general himself or were sold to the
highest bidder.
POLITICAL SYSTEM:
Spain governed the Philippines through the Ministro de
Ultramar (Ministry of the Colonies) established in Madrid in 1863.
This body helped the Spanish monarch manage the affairs of the
colonies and govern the Philippines through a centralized machinery
exercising:
Executive
Legislative
Judicial and
Religious powers
The Governor General appointed by the Spanish monarch headed
the central administration in Manila, He was the king’s
representative in all state and religious matters and as such he
exercised extensive powers. He issued executive orders and
proclamation and he had supervision and disciplinary powers over
all government officials. He was the commander in chief of the
armed forces of the Philippines. He had supreme authority in
financial matters until 1784. He also exercised legislative powers
with his cumplase. CUMPLASE is the power of the Governor-General
to disregard or suspend a Royal decree if the condition in the colony
does not warrant it.By which he could disregard or suspend any law
or royal decree from Spain. An ex-officio president of the Royal
Audiencia until 1861. He enjoyed religious duty gave him the
prerogative to nominate priest to ecclesiastical positions and control
the finances of the missions.
In terms of its Political Structure, Spain governed the Philippines
through the Ministro de Ultramar
Ministry of the Colonies established in 1863
It helped the Spanish monarchs manage the affairs of the colonies
Governed the Philippines through a centralized machinery
Exercising executive, legislative, judicial and religious powers
The Governor General
Appointed by the King of Spain, headed the central administration
in Manila. He served as the King’s representative.
He issued executive and administrative orders over all
government officials
Responsible for all government and religious activities
He was assisted by Lieutenant General (general segundo cabo)
Alcaldes Mayores
Civil Governors
Led the provincial government (alcaldias)
Alcaldes en ordinario
City mayor and vice mayor
Ruled the city government (ayuntamiento)
Gobernadorcillo
Town mayor
Ruled the town government (principalia)
Cabeza de Barangay
Barangay captain
Ruled the barrio
The Guardia Civil
Headed by alferez (Second lieutenant)
Performed police duties
Helped in the maintenance of peace and order
The system of courts was a centralized system
It was a pyramidical organization
Headed by the Royal Audiencia
Served as highest court for civil and criminal cases
Together with the Governor General, they made laws for the
country called autos acordados
SOURCES OF ABUSES IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM
The main cause of weakness of the administrative system was the
appointment of officials with inferior qualifications -without
dedication to duty, no moral strength to resist corruption. The kind
of officials sent in the Philippines were corrupt, abusive and
unqualified officers. They were not equipped to any public office.
This was the reason why instead of focusing on their role as public
officers to form a good and well nation, they focused on getting
wealth through corruption. The worse thing was that, they became
brutal and abusive to native Filipinos to the extent that they
executed most of our fellow native Filipinos who fought and resisted
against them.
There was also complication in the situation between the union of
the church and state. The priest or what we call the “Friars” also
became powerful, cruel and corrupt. FRIARS. The missionaries or
the friars as they were known, played a major role not only in
propagating the Christian faith but also in the political, social,
economic and cultural aspects of the Filipinos. Aside from spreading
the word of God, they helped in pacifying the country.The checks
adopted by Spain to minimize abuses either proved ineffective or
discouraged the officials appointed by the King of Spain were
ignorant of Philippine needs. This was the reason behind their bad
motives to our Philippine nation.
The most corrupt branch of government was the alcaldias.
Dishonest and corrupt officials often exacted more tributes than
required by law and pocketed the excess collections. They also
monopolized provincial trade and controlled prices and business
practices. The parish priests could check this anomaly but in many
cases they encouraged the abuses in exchange for favors.
Participation in the government of the natives was confined to the
lowest offices. They participate only as gobernadorcillo of a town
and cabeza de barangay of a barrio. The position of gobernadorcillo
was honorary entitled to two pesos/month. The natural and
constitutional rights and liberties of the indios were curtailed.
Homes were searched without warrants. People were convicted and
exiled for being filibusteros Books, magazines and other written
materials could not be published without the approval of the Board
of Censors
THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
There was no systematic government supervision of schools. The
teaching methods was obsolete. There was a limited curriculum and
poor classroom facilities and there was an absence of teaching
materials.
The friars inevitably occupied a dominant position in the Philippine
educational system. Religion was the main subject in the schools.
Fear of God was emphasized and obedience to the friars was
instilled.
Indios were constantly reminded that they had inferior intelligence
and were fit only for manual labor. These practices resulted in a
lack of personal confidence and a development of inferiority
complex.
Students memorized and repeated the contents of books which they
did not understand. Teacher discrimination against Filipinos was
present.
The friars were against the teaching of Spanish in the
Philippines. They believed that the knowledge of the Spanish
language would encourage the people to oppose Spanish
rule. Indios might be inspired by the new ideas of freedom and
independence, so they isolate Filipinos in the light of intellectual
attainment.
Since racial discrimination is rampant Indios were not allowed to
study and they are only good for manual labor and students/pupils
before were only to memorize and repeated the contents of books,
religion also was the main subject in the schools in order for them
to inculcate in their mind the Fear of God. As seen above the
educational system Filipinos were left behind because of
discrimination, after sometime the Filipinos allowed to study in the
Philippines and in abroad.
Ateneo de Manila / Escuela Pia and College of San Juan de Latran
Only school offering secondary education in the Philippines
At the end of the Spanish period, the College of San Juan de Letran
was the only official secondary school in the Philippines although
secondary education was offered at the Ateneo de Manila. Seven
provinces had private colleges and Latin schools for general studies,
and Secondary Education for girls was furnished by five colleges in
Manila. These are:
Santa Isabel
La Concordia
Santa Rosa
Looban
Santa Catalina
Up the end of the Spanish regime, the University of Santo Tomas
was the only institution in the University level of Manila. Initially
established solely for Spaniards and mestizos, it opened its doors to
Filipino students for decades before the end of the Spanish rule.
Felipe Buencamino
In 1820, he led the petition criticizing the Dominican methods of
instruction in UST, clamored for better professors and demanded
government control their University thru anonymous letters.
One cannot fully understand Rizal’s thought without understanding
the social and political context of the 19th century. Social scientists
marked the 19th century as the birth of modern life as well as the
birth of many nation-states around the world. The birth of
modernity was precipitated by three great revolutions around the
world: the Industrial revolution in England, the French Revolution in
France and the American Revolution. This will be discussed in
module 3.
This however did not stop him from continuing his plans for
reform. While in Dapitan, Rizal built a school, hospital, and water
system. He also taught farming and worked on agricultural projects
such as using abaca to make ropes.
Rizal was granted leave by then Governor-General Blanco,
after volunteering to travel to Cuba to serve as doctor to yellow
fever victims. But at that time, the Katipunan had a full-blown
revolution and Rizal was accused of being associated with the secret
militant society. On his way to Cuba, he was arrested in Barcelona
and sent back to Manila to stand for trial before the court martial.
Rizal was charged with sedition, conspiracy, and rebellion – and
therefore, sentenced to death by firing squad.
Days before his execution, Rizal bid farewell to his
motherland and countrymen through one of his final letters, entitled
Mi último adiós or My Last Farewell. Dr. José Rizal was executed on
the morning of December 30, 1896, in what was then called
Bagumbayan (now referred to as Luneta). Upon hearing the
command to shoot him, he faced the squad and uttered in his final
breath: “Consummatumest” (It is finished). According to historical
accounts, only one bullet ended the life of the Filipino martyr and
hero.
His legacy lives on after his death, the Philippine Revolution
continued until 1898. And with the assistance of the United States,
the Philippines declared its independence from Spain on June 12,
1898. This was the time that the Philippine flag was waved at
General Emilio Aguinaldo’s residence in Kawit, Cavite.
Hymn to labor
Noli Me Tángere
El Filibusterismo
Filipino Nationalism
Filipino Nationalism is an upsurge of patriotic sentiments and
nationalistic ideals in the Philippines of the 19th century that came
consequently as a result of more than two centuries of Spanish rule
and as an immediate outcome of the Filipino Propaganda Movement
(mostly in Europe) from 1872 to 1892. It served as the backbone of
the first nationalist revolution in Asia, the Philippine Revolution of
1896.
The Creole Age (1780s-
1872)
The term 'Filipino' in its earliest sense referred to Spaniards
born in the Philippines or Insulares (Creoles) and from which Filipino
Nationalism began. Traditionally, the Creoles had enjoyed various
government and church positions—composing mainly the majority
of the government bureaucracy itself. The decline of Galleon Trade
between Manila and Acapulco and the growing sense of economic
insecurity in the later years of the 18th century led the creole to
turn their attention to agricultural production. Characterized mostly
in Philippine history as corrupt bureaucrats, the Creole gradually
changed from a very government-dependent class into capital-
driven entrepreneurs. Their turning of attention towards gild soil
caused the rise of the large private haciendas.
The earliest signs of Filipino Nationalism could be seen in the
writings of Luis Rodriquez Varela, a Creole educated in liberal
France and highly exposed to the romanticism of the age. Knighted
under the Order of Carlos III, Varela was perhaps the only
Philippine Creole who was actually part of European nobility. The
court gazzette in Madrid announce that he was to become a Conde
and from that point on proudly called himself 'Conde Filipino'. He
championed the rights of Filipinos in the islands and slowly made
the term applicable to anyone born in the Philippines. However, by
1823 he was deported together with other creoles (allegedly kn own
as HijosdelPais), after being associated with a Creole revolt in
Manila led by the Mexican Creole Andres Novales.
Varela would then retire from politics but his nationalism was
carried on by another Creole Padre Pelaez, who campaigned for the
rights of Filipino priests and pressed for secularization of Philippine
parishes. The Latin American revolutions and decline of friar
influence in Spain resulted in the increase of the regular clergy
(friars) in the Philippines. Filipino priests were being replaced by
Spanish friars and Pelaez demanded explanation as to the legality of
replacing a secular with regulars—which is in contradiction to the
Exponinobis. Pelaez brought the case to the Vatican almost
succeeded if not for an earthquake that cut his career short and the
ideology would be carried by his more militant disciple, Jose Burgos.
Burgos in turn died after the infamous Cavite Mutiny, which was
pinned on Burgos as his attempt to start a Creole Revolution and
make himself president or 'reyindio'. The death of Jose Burgos, and
the other alleged conspirators Mariano Gomez and Jacinto Zamora,
seemingly ended the entire creole movement in 1872. Governor-
General Rafael de Izquierdo unleashed his reign of terror in order to
prevent the spread of the creole ideology—Filipino nationalism.
But the creole affair was seen by the other natives as a simple
family affair—Spaniards born in Spain against Spaniards born the
Philippines. The events of 1872 however invited the other colored
section of the Ilustrado (intellectually enlightened class) to at least
do something to preserve the creole ideals. Seeing the impossibility
of a revolution against Izquierdo and the Governor-General’s brutal
reign convinced the ilustrado to get out of the Philippines and
continue propaganda in Europe. This massive propaganda upheaval
from 1872 to 1892 is now known as the Propaganda Movement.
Through their writings and orations, Marcelo H. delPilar, Graciano
Lopez Jaena and Jose Rizal sounded the trumpets of Filipino
nationalism and brought it to the level of the masses. Rizal’s Noli
me tangere and El filibusterismo rode the increasing anti-Spanish
sentiments in the islands and was pushing the people towards
revolution. By July 1892, an ilustrado mass man in the name of
Andres Bonifacio established a revolutionary party based on the
Filipino nationalism that started with ' los hijos del pais'—Katipunan
ng mga Anak ng Bayan. Ideology turned into revolution and gave
Asia its first anti-imperialist/nationalist revolution by the last week
of August 1896.
Causes of the Awakening of the Filipinos’ National
Consciousness
The opening of Manila (1834) and other parts of the Philippine
to foreign trade brought not only economic prosperity to the country
but also a remarkable transformation in the life of the Filipinos. As
the people prospered, their standard of living improved. They came
into contact with foreign ideas and with travelers from foreign
lands. They read periodicals and books, including those brought in
from abroad. As a result, their mental horizons were broadened.
They became discontented with the old order of things and wanted
social and political changes that were in harmony with the freer
spirit of the times.
Economic prosperity produced a new class of Filipinos–the
intelligentsia–educated, widely read, and enlightened individuals.
Many Filipinos had learned Spanish, and some knew other Western
languages such as French, English, and German. Boldly patriotic,
they discussed social and economic problems and advocated
reforms to remedy the evils of colonialism. Many of them sent their
children to colleges and universities not only in Manila but in Europe
too. From the intelligentsia came patriotic leaders who sowed the
seeds of Filipino nationalism. Among these were Father Pedro
Pelaez, Father Jose Burgos, Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. delPilar, the
Luna Brothers (Juan and Antonio), Jose ma. Panganiban, Mariano
Ponce, Graciano Lopez Jaena and Pedro A. Paterno.
Through the newly opened ports of the Philippines streamed
liberal and modern idea. These ideas were contained in books and
periodicals brought in by ships form Europe. These included ideas of
freedom of the American and French revolutions and enlightened
thoughts of Montesquieu, Rousseau, Voltaire, Locke, Jefferson, and
other philosophers of freedom. The Filipinos began to wonder at the
deplorable situation in the Philippines. In their minds sprouted the
aspirations for reforms, justice, and liberty.
The opening of the Suez Canal which was built by Ferdinand
de Lesseps to world shipping on November 17, 1869, linked the
Philippines closer to Europe. It promoted the flow of ideas of
freedom into the Philippines.
Opening of the Philippines to world trade from 1834 to 1873
This stimulated the economic activities in the country which
brought prosperity to some of the Filipinos but most of all to the
Chinese and the Spaniards. It resulted to the rise of a new social
class referred to as “Middle Class” or the “Illustrados”.
Acquired material wealth
Improved their social stature and influence
Clamored for social and political equality with the
colonial masters
Influx of Liberal Ideas
With the opening of the Philippines to world trade, European
ideas freely penetrated the country in form of printed books,
newspapers, and treatises made available to the natives as they
participated in the process of exchange of goods and products. The
new knowledge and current events they learned and acquired
outside affected their ways of living and the manner of their
thinking.
The Rise of the Middle Class
The middle class or the Illustrado family sent members of
their family particularly male children to study abroad. These
students would be exposed to European thoughts and would later
lead in call for reforms Filipino patriots and propagandist mostly
came from this class.
Opening of Suez Canal
The Suez Canal was created by a French engineer named
Ferdinand de Lesseps
This man-made canal made transportation easier, making the
transfer of goods and ideas better and faster. With the opening of
this canal, the distance of travel between Europe and the Philippines
was significantly shortened and brought the country closer to Spain.
With this canal, the trip was reduced to only 32 days. The opening
of the Suez Canal facilitated the importation of books, magazines
and newspapers with liberal ideas from Europe and America which
eventually influenced the minds of Jose Rizal and other Filipino
reformists. Political thoughts of liberal thinkers like Jean Jacques
Rousseau (Social Contract), John Locke (/two Treatises of
Government), Thomas Paine (Common Sense) and others entered
the country (Maguigad & Muhi 2001; 62).
The opening of this canal in 1869 further stimulated the local
economy which give rise—as already mentioned above--to the
creation of the middle class of mestizos and illustrados in the
19th century. The shortened route has also encouraged
the ilustrados led by Rizal to pursue higher studies abroad and learn
liberal and scientific ideas in the universities of Europe. Their social
interaction with liberals in foreign lands has influenced their thinking
on politics and nationhood.