Neil Bryan DC. Ramos Prof.

Chen
4APL RIZAL

REFLECTION/ ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

Studying the works and life of Jose Rizal in the contemporary world shows just how much of
Rizal’s history influence the minds of Filipinos. His novels, Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo are two of his notable work that is deemed to be controversial because it provides
a critical assessment on how Spain treat the common Filipinos. His notable acts of heroism
manifested through time. His death in Bagumbayan on December 30, 1896, sparked a revolution
against the Spanish government (Abinales, 2019). His acts of heroism were commemorated by
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo where he issued a decree that proclaims Dec 30 to be a National Day of
Mourning in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal (Almario, 2012)

The passage of Republic Act No. 1425 or commonly known as the Rizal Law, shows a different
way on how to commemorate the national hero. In the said law, it directs all public and private
schools in the Philippines to include the life, works, and writings of Dr. Jose Rizal in the school
curriculum. The passage of the law was controversial in itself because of the intervention of the
catholic church. Essentially speaking, the main objective of the Rizal law is to ensure that the
legacy of Rizal would not be forgotten, and his message in his novels must be instilled in the
younger generations.

In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with learning the history of a national hero, especially his
works. However, we need to critically assess just how we will teach the work and life of Jose Rizal
in a way that will strengthen the sense of nationalism and value the principles of liberty. We must
learn Rizal in a way of just how he died for the country and how his sense of nationalism can be
applied in the modern generation. Studying a national hero is like looking at a mirror, when we
study them, we find ourselves in them. As a student, when I read and watch films of various
national heroes who fought for our country, it brings out the sense of pride, nationalism, and
patriotism in me as a Filipino. I do agree with the conception of most scholars that we should not
limit our studies of national heroes to Jose Rizal we should also include other various national
heroes that also fought for our independence like Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, and many
more.
Pagbalangkas ng panukalang batas bilang pagsusog sa RA 1425 at pagbabago
sa Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR)

The passage of RA 1425 is controversial in of itself, because of the intervention of the Catholic
church which according to Teodoro M. Locsin that the Catholic hierarchy in the Philippines during
1956 was under attacked by high government officials. The Rizal Law is of vital importance in
understanding and honoring Dr. Jose Rizal. However, we must keep in mind that the Law was
passed in 1956, where technology was limited. In this case, let us take a look at several provisions
in RA 1425 that can be altered in today’s standard.

• Sec 2 of the law is cited as follows:

“Sec. 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and universities to keep in their
libraries an adequate number of copies of the original and unexpurgated editions of the
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal's other works and
biography.”
- The requiring of schools, colleges, and universities to keep an adequate number of Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo is a vague provision. First of all, how do we compute
an adequate number of copies of the work of Jose Rizal and secondly we should also
keep in mind that a copy the work of Jose Rizal in the form of an e-book is sufficient
enough to satisfy the said provision because most, if not all, students has access to
cellphone devices.
• Sec 3 of the law is cited as follows
“Sec. 3. The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of the Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose Rizal into English,
Tagalog, and the principal Philippine dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap,
popular editions; and cause them to be distributed, free of charge, to persons desiring
to read them, through the Purok organizations and Barrio Councils throughout the
country”.
- There are other agencies that could be in charge on translatting the two original work
of Jose Rizal. First is the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) and the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED), these two agencies could work hand-in-hand to ensure that
the appropriate translations of the two original work of Rizal is appropriate to the
 Filipino students. The distribution of Rizal’s works should also be specifically
identified because it is not being followed by most, if not all, barangay councils. There
are no copies of Rizal works in the baragays, in my opinion, these part of the provision
should be amended, in lined to modern standard. Instead of having rizal’s work to be
placed in barangays, the Department of Education (DepEd) and CHED must conduct a
program to distribure the works of rizal to be given to all pupils in the elementary level,
students in the secondary level, and college students. In this way, the approriate
distribution of his work is in the hands of learners.

• Citing the provision of the act it follows:

“WHEREAS, all educational institutions are under the supervision of, and subject to
regulation by the State, and all schools are enjoined to develop moral character,
personal discipline, civic conscience, and to teach the duties of citizenship”
- The provision is an indicator of a breech of academic freedom, the state should not
interfere to how school instutions implement the rizal law, as long as, it teaches the
subject that is meant to be teached. This provisioin is a panoptical statement that
tends to regulate on how school to teach the Rizal subject, which is a clear violation
of academic freedom.
 SANGUNIAN

ONLINE SOURCES

ABS-CBN News. (2017, December 30). Pag-aaral ng buhay ni Rizal, dapat pang palalimin:
mga eksperto. ABS-CB News. Retrieved from https://news.abs-
cbn.com/focus/12/30/17/pag-aaral-ng-buhay-ni-rizal-dapat-pang-palalimin-mga-eksperto

Chua, X. (2016, June 14). Rizal law @60: Anyare?! GMA News Online. Retrieved September
14, 2021, from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/opinion/content/569896/rizal-law-60-
anyare/story/

Abinales, P. (2020, December 29). [OPINION] remembering RIZAL'S DEATH. Rappler.

Retrieved September 17, 2021, from https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-
leaders/remembering-rizal-death

Almario, M. F. (2012, December 31). Rizal planted seed of revolution; Bonifacio watered it.
INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 17, 2021, from
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/332557/rizal-planted-seed-of-revolution-bonifacio-watered-it.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS

Third Congress of the Philippines (June 12, 1956). Republic Act No. 1425: Rizal Law. The
Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. 52(6), p. 2971

Locsin, T. M. (1956). The Church Under Attack, May 5, 1956.