LIFE AND WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL

Historical context of the Rizal Law

Welcome to the first lesson on the course on the Life and Works of
Jose Rizal. This lesson provides a discussion on the historical context
and contents of the Rizal Law and examines the social, political and
economic conditions in the Philippines in the 19th century. Studying
the historical context of the Rizal Law allows us to better understand
the contents, rationale and importance of the law. Similarly, studying
the 19th century is helpful in studying the life, works and ideas of Dr,
Jose Rizal because this puts him in the appropriate context.

Objectives:
The following are the learning outcomes we are expected to achieve at
the end of the lesson:

 Explain the rationale of the Rizal Law

 Discuss the historical context of the Rizal Law
 Describe the Spanish colonial government by reading excerpts
from selected works of propagandists
 Relate the passage of Rizal Law to nation-building, patriotism
and nationalism.
 Examine the economic and socio-political milieu of the 19th
century Philippines
 Compare the reactions of Filipinos to the passage of the Rizal
Law

Activities/Exercises

Accomplish the module execises. Read the fultext of the Rizal law and the
works of propagandists.

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I. The Rizal Law

Many Filipino students are curious why they are still required to study the
life and works of Jose Rizal in college despite having studied the biography
of Jose Rizal and his two novels in their high school years. They believe that
it might just be a repetition of the things they have learned and that it would
be a waste of their time. Little did they know that they are mandated by the
law to study the life and works of Jose Rizal not only in high school but also
in college and they might not even have an idea what this law had gone
through in order to be passed and approved.

On June 12, 1956, Philippine Independence Day, the Republic Act 1425
(R.A. 1425) also known as the Rizal Law was passed. It 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”.

Read the contents of the law and answers to the following questions:

a. Why was it passed at time of the Philippine Independence Day?

b. Why only Jose Rizal was selected to be studied?

c. What are the goals or purpose of this law?

d. How will it be implemented?

II. Reactions to the Passage of Rizal Law

At present, the passage of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive
Health Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10354) or popularly known as the
R.H. Law was probably one of the most controversial laws passed due to the
opposing reactions of Filipinos to its passage. There were that anti and pro
RH Law who rallied for or against its implementation. Half a century ago,
similar thing happened to the Rizal Law. According to the historian Ambeth
Ocampo (1990), the debate was so intense that it ended in a fist fight between
two hot –headed lawmakers. The strongest opposition came from the
Catholic Church, arguing that the law would violate the freedom of
conscience and religion. They argued that “Rizal violated the Church’s laws
specifically Canon Law 1399, which forbids books that attack or ridicule any
of the catholic dogmas or which defend errors condemned by the Holy See.”

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They also argued that only 25 passages of the Noli Me Tangere were patriotic as
compared to the 120 passages that were anti-catholic. Furthermore, they pointed out
that Rizal retracted his ‘attacks’ on the Catholic Church before he was executed.
They maintained that Filipinos could still venerate him as a national hero even
without reading the two novels and that Filipino students could read other works
done by Rizal instead of the two Novels. The Catholic Church’ opposition went up
to the extent of threatening religious sanctions to all the supporters of the law. A
bishop wrote a letter to Rafael Palma a biographer of Rizal, saying that “we prohibit
under the pain of sin and canonical sanctions the reading, keeping or retention of
the same [Noli and El Fili] whether in original or in translation in the Archdiocese
of Manila and Cebu.”

Among the prominent ‘defenders’ of Rizal Law was Sen. Claro M. Recto who
was the author of the law and fought hard for its passage despite the threat of losing
votes and religious sanctions. He assailed the people who opposed the law by saying
that fighting against the law is like fighting Rizal and attempting to “blot out his
memory”. The supporters of the bill maintained that law would uplift Filipino sense
of identity and nationalism especially during that time when Filipino sense of
identity and nationalism was dwindling and the prevalence of American
neocolonialism in the Philippines.

After long and divisive debates, the Rizal Law was passed with certain provisions
that served as compromise between two opposing sides. One of these compromises
is the exemption given to those who feel that their faith is damaged by reading of
Rizal’s novels provided, that they file a sworn statement stating as such as stated in
Sec. 1o f the Rizal Law.

III. Historical Background of the 19th Century: Spain and

Philippines
Jose Rizal’s ideas and philosophies in life could be better understood in
the context of his time. The historical context of Jose Rizal allows us to see
the prevailing social, economic, political and cultural conditions of Spanish
colonial regime in the Philippines and how these influenced Rizal.

Conditions in Spain

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During the first three quarters of the 19th century, Spain has been in
turmoil especially when it was conquered by France. When the monarchy
was restored in 1814, Fernando VII returned to absolutism [absolute power is
vested in the monarch e.i. the king]. When he died he passed his crown to his
infant daughter Isabel, under the regency [ a government or period in which a
person /regent rules in place of the king/queen] of her mother Maria Cristina.
Civil war broke out when Don Carlos, the king’s younger brother was
claiming the throne. As a result, revolts between the Liberals (supporters of
Maria Cristina) and Carlists (supporters of Don Carlos) ensued. In 1886,
when Isabella became queen, a revolution against her took place and she was
forced to abdicate. Alfonso XII of Spain became king, which finally brought
Spain into a period of stability and reform.

Social Condition in the Philippines

Events in the Spain had implications on her colonies. The Philippines and
Cuba are two of the colonies that had waged a revolution for total
emancipation from Spain. The political, social, religious and economic
changes in Spain during the latter part of the 19th century have repercussions
in the colonies. In the Philippines Spain has no clear program in uplifting the
country’s economy. The Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade only served the
Spanish and Chinese people in the country but it did not help the colony as a
whole. It only served as a trans-shipment point between China and Mexico
thus benefiting very few Filipinos. Governor-generals initiated reforms in
commerce and agriculture but were not enough to boost economic growth.

In terms of political development, Governor-generals who were assigned

in the Philippines for a short period of time have failed to implement policies
that will promote development, yet they returned to Spain richer. In the
cultural and religious aspects, the colonizers failed to implement effective
policies of cultural and educational advancements. Catholicism was still used
as tool for subjugation of the Filipinos and friars were very influential and
powerful that made them de facto administrators of the colony. Inequalities
among social classes, discrimination, injustices, corruption and slavery were
very rampant. These injustices and social ills suffered by Filipinos became
the subject of protest of the Propaganda movement and served as the
‘unifying cause’ of the Philippine Revolution initiated by the Katipunan.

The social conditions in the Philippines during the 19th century were
discussed by the propagandists. The Propaganda Movement was organized

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by Filipinos in exile or studying in Europe. They came from wealthy middle-

class families in the Philippines. The Propaganda movement aimed to expose
the worsening conditions in the Philippines and ask reforms needed to
improve the lives of the Filipinos. Three of the works done by the
propagandists exposed the ‘social ills’ that were perennial and extensive.
These works are:

1. Monarchism in the Philippines by Marcelo H. Del Pilar

2. The Distressing Situation of the Philippines by Graciano

Lopez-Jaena

3. On the Indolence of the Filipinos by Jose Rizal

References
 Coates, Austin. 1969. Rizal: Philippine Nationalist and Martyr. Quezon City:
Malaya Books
 Craig, Austin. Lineage Life and Labors of Jose Rizal Philippine Patriot
 Ocampo, Ambeth R, 2000. Rizal Without The Overcoat. Pasig City: Anvil Pub.
 Ocampo, Nilo S. 1995. Rizal: Makabayan at Martir. Diliman, Q.C.: University
of the Philippines Press
 Schumacher, John SJ. 1996. The Making of a Nation. Quezon City: Ateneo de
Manila Press

Internet Sources:
 http://informalreadings.weebly.com/uploads/6/3/1/9/6319049/propaganda_readings.p
df
 http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno1425.html#.VBagW8KSz-A

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