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Module Title: LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL

Course Title: Life and Works of Rizal

Course Number: GEM 101

Course Description:
This course will give tertiary learners a glimpse and overview of the life and times of
Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero. But more than an autobiographical narrative, this
subject aims to increase the literacy awareness and appreciation of Filipino college students
about the works and accomplishments of Jose Rizal including his attributes and virtues that
made him a national hero. It bears pointing out too that, in fact, this course shall begin with an
introduction about the “criteria of heroes standard” set by the National Historical Commission
of the Philippines.
Moreover, this course shall also tackle the legal history and background of the Rizal
Law or Republic Act 1425, the bill that promulgated the creation of Rizal as a mandatory
subject for college Filipino students.
Finally, this course shall likewise explore Jose Rizal’s literary works consisting of his
two influential novels (Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo) and his various poems, essays,
and correspondences.

Total Leaning Time: (3 hours lecture/week) 54 hours

Pre-requisites: None
Overview:
This course will provide knowledge to students to better understand the life, times,
ideas, and ideals of Jose Rizal. Among the Philippine heroes, many works have been written
about him. Some of these praises him while others paint him in a somewhat controversial
image. While not totally ignoring the paeans and the criticisms by various writers or authors
portrayed Rizal as a man in the context of history. Heroes, according to a saying, are not born;
they are made. Rizal and his contemporaries are products of their time. They are molded by
their environment and situations which constitute the call of history. They simply responded to
this call at the cost of ignoring their personal welfare and proceeded to put the nation toward
its historical path.
This course contains a brief story of Rizal’s life and an outline of his works. It puts
Rizal in the context of history and what he means to us in the present time. It answers issues
regarding his life and his place in the pantheon of heroes. It designed some exercises intended
to develop positive values based on Rizal’s experiences. Hopefully, these values would become
part of the character of our students whom Rizal called “the fair hope of the motherland”.
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Learning Outcomes:
1. To better understand the life, times, ideas, and ideals of Jose Rizal and how all of these
influenced Philippine history, society, and culture.
2. To appreciate the attributes that make one a hero.
3. To see with equal light the points of view of contending groups arguing for or against
the issue of Jose Rizal as the Philippine national hero.
4. To be able to identify and appreciate the contributions, influence, and significance of
Jose Rizal’s works and accomplishments.
5. Gain appreciation of applicable and integrative positive values that can be gleaned from
the lessons imparted by the lives and works of Philippine heroes

Indicative Content
Module I- INTRODUCTION
1. Rizal in the Eyes of the Filipinos
2. The Humanity of Heroes
3. The Criteria of Heroes
Module II- THE CONDITION OF EUROPE, AMERICA, AND SPAIN
1. Rizal’s Century: The 19th Century
2. The Need for Reforms: Representation
3. Conditions in Asia in the 19th Century
4. Conditions in the Philippines in the 19th Century
Module III- The Religious Front: Secularization
Course Facilitator:
PROF. MA. CHERRY M. BASENCE, LPT, MAT
Facebook: Ma Cherry Basence
Email: macherrybasence@gmail.com
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MODULE 1

INTRODUCTION

Rizal in the Eyes of the Filipinos

We begin this lesson with a question: Who is the greatest hero of the Philippines? When
asked this question, a Filipino might answer: “Jose Rizal.”

Who was Jose Rizal and why he was well-known among Filipinos? Why are there so
many monuments in his honour and why we’re may streets named after him? To many
Filipinos, their answers might be varied. He was a martyr who died for Filipinos. Many
Filipinos admire him as a man of many talents-a poet, doctor, anthropologist, sculptor,
surveyor, farmer, novelist, essayist, historian, teacher, and a polyglot with a knowledge of,
some authors say, 22 languages. Historians consider him as the one who inspired a nation.
Rizal also had his share of detractors. Some writers depict him as an agitator, a
wanderlust, a man hungry for power, and an unpredictable person. Some denigrate him and
question his motives. There can be no Emilio Aguinaldo without Andres Bonifacio. It was
Bonifacio who helped found the Katipunan, the organization that launched the 1986 Philippine
Revolution and recruited Aguinaldo into its ranks. There will be no Bonifacio without Rizal-it
was Rizal’s achievements which helped inspire the foundation of the Katipunan. Even his name
is one of the passwords of one of the ranks in the organization. Going further, there will be
Rizal without the GOMBURZA priests. It was the unjust execution of these Filipino secular
priests, Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, that inspired Rizal to
embark on his national quest. The trio was his inspirational for his second novel, El
Filibusterismo.
The Humanity of Heroes
In the study of the life of heroes, it is important to put in mind that a hero is a human
being. Heroes are made. Heroes, like ordinary human beings, are product of their time. Heroes
are product of their environment, which includes their society, surroundings, and the conditions
prevalent at that time. Heroes are made because they responded to the call of the times and
their response to this call had a decisive effect on the lives of their countrymen.
Heroes are actually ordinary human beings who faced challenges with an
extraordinary response. In the end, their humanity will be unveiled through scholarly study.
In closely studying the humanity of heroes, some of their frailties might surface. There may be
some writers who may wish to denigrate his achievements by capitalizing on these frailties.
They may even question their motives by making malicious conclusions about their
achievements. These frailties should not distract a serious student in studying the life of a hero.
On the other hand, the students should be guided on the contribution of heroes to the betterment
of their country rather than on their shortcomings. It is also important to consider how the
hero’s achievements outweighed his deficiencies in serving the nation.
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The Criteria for Heroes

Who declares if anyone is a hero? How did Rizal become a hero? There is no law or
proclamation which directly made Rizal a hero. Rizal’s hero status was made by acclamation
of the Filipino people. This becomes the object of public worship and accolades are heaped
upon him. This could be seen in singular tributes to his honor and it may even be manifested
physically of a person’s heroism becomes stronger if the person is acclaimed long after his
death and by people who are not his generation. This means the appreciation of his life and
achievements spans beyond his life.
The National Historical Institute (NHI; presently the National Historical Commission
of the Philippines), the country’s agency in charge of historical matters, prescribes the passage
of 50 years before a person in finally confirmed as a hero. If the person is still admired after
that period and his ideals are still invoked and appreciated, the person has passed the test of
time and is considered a hero. The NHI also laid down the definition of a hero. In 1965, its
predecessor office, the National Heroes Commission, released the criteria on the definition of
a national hero. It was approved by a committee headed by Director Carlos Quirino of the
National Library. According to their definition, a hero is defined as “an admirable leader
towering over his peers, who serves a noble cause, possessing exceptional talent,
distinguished valor and/or hold enterprise, exercising a determinative influence over the
spiritual life of his people in a particular remarkable event.” The criteria also mentioned
that “the hero must, during extreme stress and difficulties, project himself by his own
fortitude, by his own sacrifices to be the inspiration of his countrymen in leading them to
their rightful destiny. He must exhibit self-denial and abandon his personal interests to
place those of his country before any other, and whose deeds and acts are proudly
emulated by a grateful people that , after his death, render him singular tribute, honor
him with public worship, and acknowledge his meritorious services to mankind by
spontaneous national recognition.” Moreover, criteria specified, “a hero must exercise a
determined influence over the spiritual life of his people in an event of great significance.”
It further says that in order to qualify for the distinction of a national hero, “one must project
himself by his own fortitude, effort, and sacrifices to be the beacon light of his oppressed
countrymen to their rightful destiny.”
The historical committee of the National Heroes Commission came out with the
characteristics of a person to be examined before he could be considered a hero. These are the
extent of the person’s sacrifices for the welfare of the country.
1. Motives and methods employed in the attainment of the ideal (e.g., welfare
of the country). In the attainment of the ideal, did the person concerned
sacrifice purely and exclusively for the welfare of the country or were there any
selfish or ulterior motives in the making of such sacrifices? Were the methods
employed in the attainment of the ideal morally valid?
2. The moral character of the person. Did he do anything immoral to taint his
personal character? If there was any immorality, did it affect his work, society,
or ideal?
3. The influence of the person to his age or epoch and the succeeding eras.
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Judging from these criteria, the considerations for heroism are very stringent and would
subject the person concerned to intense scrutiny. It is aimed to confer the mantle of being
considered a hero to those who are truly deserving, as the word “hero” is overused and abused
nowadays.
Presently, the Philippines has set aside four days to honor its heroes. Rizal Day is
commemorated every December 30. The origin of this commemoration came from the decree
issued by General Emilio Aguinaldo on December 20, 1898. It declared the 30 th day of
December as a national mourning day in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal and other victims of the
Philippine Revolution. Though Aguinaldo’s decree did not specifically declare Rizal as a
national hero, it was a tribute to his heroism.
In Daet, Camarines Norte, Filipino masons erected a simple monument dedicated to
Rizal on December 30, 1898. The monument bears the words “A Jose Rizal; “Noli Me
Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo,” the titles of his two prominent novels; and the word “Morga”
which refers to the book Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas which Rizal annotated in 1890. The
monument in Daet antedated the Rizal Monument which was constructed at the Luneta Park in
Manila in 1911. The monument in Luneta was constructed through public subscription by
Filipinos.
The other dedicated to a single Filipino hero is Bonifacio Day which is celebrated every
November 30. It honors Andres Bonifacio, the founder of the Kataas-taasan, Kagalang-galang
na Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK ANB) which launched the Philippine Revolution
of the 1896. The celebration of Bonifacio Day was made possible by the issuance of Act No.
2946 by the Philippine Legislature of February 16, 1921.
The third day set aside for commemoration the Filipino heroes is the National Heroes
Day, celebrated every last Sunday of August. The celebration of this holiday became possible
in accordance to Public Act No. 3827 passed by the Philippine legislature on October 28, 1931.
National Heroes Day honors all the heroes of the Philippines including those who are unknown.
A fourth holiday was created by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on December 25,
2004, when she signed into law the Republic Act No. 9256, which created Ninoy Aquino Day.
This holiday is commemorated every August 21, the anniversary of the assassination of then-
Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. Ninoy was the leading symbol of the anti-dictatorship
struggle against then-President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
As for who should recognize heroes, this should be better left to the people through
their popular acclamation. The people are the final judge to the heroes’ achievements and they
would subscribe to the heroes’ ideals as long as these are relevant and classic. Popular
acclamation should be sustained and should withstand the test of time. The role of the
government and other authorities is to continue to keep the memory of these heroes alive to
confirm their heroism after a long period of study and reflection. In the case of Rizal, more
than a hundred years have passed and we can now say that Rizal has passed the test of time and
is a true Filipino hero. Other national heroes include Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto,
Apolinario Mabini, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and all those who helped guide the Philippines to
being a nation-state.
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Activity 1.
Answer the following questions thoroughly.
1. In your point view, how can you see and describe Rizal as a hero.
2. What is Rizal’s attributes and values that you want to possess as a Filipino College
student? Record your answer (audio) and send it directly to my account in messenger.
3. Reflect from this saying and Expand. “Heroes are not born, they are made”.