1.

Explain Rizal's Trip to America *

Based on the first-hand information gathered by our Filipino historian Mr. Ambeth
Ocampo, it seems that Rizal is a very observant fellow setting the fact aside that his
diary entries are full even of the smallest details like his supper in Sacramento. It
seems that Rizal is on urgency to leave the American soil based on his writing to
Mariano Ponce. On April 28, 1888, Rizal arrived in America for the first time and was
already annoyed by porters and bellboys. It seems that his travel is not impressed by
what he encountered in America. His advent in this wonderful country was tarnished
by racial discrimination, with white Americans treating the Chinese and the Negros
unfairly. Because of a suspected cholera epidemic, American health officials
prohibited the passengers from landing for one week. Rizal was aware that there was
no cholera outbreak at the time. He was allowed to go ashore that day and registered
at the Palace Hotel, which was regarded a first-class hotel in the city at the time. On
the other hand, Rizal also noted that the stowage that they travelled with are not even
disinfected after it was unloaded. Based on the observations of Rizal, it seems that
he’s impressed of the land but not on the people living on it just like the hambugero
americano he met on the train.

2. Explain the Recto's Rizal Bill *

Senator Claro M. Recto, an ardent nationalist, introduced the Rizal Law or Recto’s Bill as a way to
encourage the growth and sense of national devotion by requiring the study of José Rizal's Noli Me
Tángere and El Filibusterismo. Senator Recto's efforts to carry the bill in Congress were greeted with
intense resistance from the Catholic Church of the Philippines, which sought to prevent the reading of
Rizal's works. The main point was that Rizal had presented the Catholic Church in both books in a
negative light, and that the students' obligatory reading and study would further tarnish the Church's
good name and acts. Alberto J. (2021) stated that it is about enacting guidelines to spread awareness
about our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal's life, works, and publications, particularly his books Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo. This is to provide students and future generations with a thorough history
and to help them comprehend how Jose Rizal sacrificed his life for our nation. The main point was
that Rizal had presented the Catholic Church in both books in a negative light, and that the
students' obligatory reading and study would further tarnish the Church's good name and
acts. Only university students would just have access to full version of Rizal's works, while
elementary and secondary school students would have access to the abbreviated version.