Directions: 

Read the items carefully and provide an argument or stand for each. Type in
your answers here (8 items x 10 points).
 

1. In no more than three (3) sentences, answer the following questions:

a. Why did the Catholic Church actively oppose the passing of the Rizal Bill? When Recto's
bill was discovered, the Catholic Church in the Philippines mobilized its forces to prevent it from
becoming law. Despite the fact that Noli Me Tangere was published nearly 70 years ago, the
Church still considered Rizal's novels to be blasphemous. The Catholic Church used the same
influence 120 years ago to prevent Filipinos from reading novels.
b. What provision from the Rizal Bill allowed the government to approve it that answers the
arguments provided by the Catholic Church?
c. Did the Church's views on the study of Jose Rizal's life and works changed over the years?
Why or why not?
2. In no more than three (3) sentences, answer the following questions:
a. What is the Rizal Law all about? The Rizal Law is about enforcing rules to educate people
about our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal's Life, Works, and Writings, particularly his novels Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. This is to provide us and future generations with a thorough
background and to help them understand how Jose Rizal sacrificed his life for our country.
b. Why do we need to study the Rizal Law? To gain a better understanding of why Rizal fought
and died for what he did. As we must recognize the significance of Rizal's ideals and teachings in
relation to current societal conditions and situations. Finally, such ideals should be encouraged to
be applied to current social and personal problems and issues.
c. What can you benefit from studying Jose Rizal's life and works? We will be able to
understand and be aware of the people's ambition or desire to defend their country as we study
Rizal's Life and Works. We learn about the struggles they have to endure for our country as we
read his works.
3. Why did Rizal consider Cervantes "the best writer of art and virtue" in his literary piece,
"The Council of the Gods (El Consejo del los Dioses)?" Justify your answer in no more
than three (3) sentences.
 As a nineteen-year-old student, Jose Rizal won first place in an essay-writing contest in Manila.
His purported the winning piece, El Consejo de los Dioses (The Council of the Gods), includes
Homer, Virgil, and Ovid. Cervantes' reputations are being questioned by the Greek gods on
Mount Olympus. They were arguing about who the best in terms of art and virtue among the
three (3) literary figures, whose musings led to them Cervantes, whose works centered on social
reform and the rule of reason, was declared the winner.

4. What drove the Filipinos to actively pursue Rizal's literary works in their quest for
national identity? Justify your answer in no more than three (3) sentences.
The Filipinos were motivated to actively seek Rizal's literary works in their quest for national
identity in order to reawaken Filipino nationalism and to free Filipinos from colonial mentality.