MODULE 1 virtues as well as our vices.
Only then would we
Trials of the Rizal Bill
Senator Claro M. Recto’s Arguments
“Rizal did not pretend to teach religion or
theology when he wrote those books. He aimed
at inculcating civic consciousness in the Filipinos,
national dignity, personal pride, and patriotism,
and if references were made by him in the
course of his narration to certain religious
practices in the Philippines in those days and to
the conduct and behavior of erring ministers of
the church, it was because he portrayed
faithfully the general situation in the Philippines
as it then existed. Nobody can dispute that the
situation described by Rizal in those days,
political, social and religious, was the one
actually obtaining in the Philippines; but while
he criticized and ridiculed the unworthy
behavior of certain ministers of the Church, he
made exceptions in favor of the worthy ones,
like the Dominican friar, Padre Fernandez, and
the virtuous native priest, Padre Florentino, and
the Jesuits in general.”
Senator Francisco Rodrigo’s Arguments
(Nationalism and Religion)
“A vast majority of our people are at the same
time Catholics and Filipino citizens. As such, they
have two great loves: their country and their
faith. These two loves are not conflicting loves.
They are harmonious affections, like the love for
his father and for his mother.
This is the basis of my stand. Let us not create a
conflict between nationalism and religion;
between the government and the church.”
Senator Jose P Laurel’s Arguments
(Sponsorship Arguments)
“Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be
read by all Filipinos. They must be taken to
heart, for in their pages we see ourselves as in a
mirror; our defects as well as our strength, our
become conscious as a people, and so learn to
prepare ourselves for painful sacrifices that
ultimately lead to self-reliance, self-respect, and
freedom.”
Jose P. Laurel’s Explanatory Note
“In my substitute bill, I have included not only
Noli and the Fili but all the works and writings of
Rizal and even those written by other people
about him. I eliminated the compulsion idea,
although deep in myself, considering my own
information, my own knowledge of the history
of mankind, however poor and however
incomplete, notwithstanding my own personal
conviction that the state can properly require, in
the case of Filipinos, the compulsory reading of
the Fili and the Noli. After consulting my own
religious conscience as one belonging to own
church, I removed the idea of compulsion. You
will no longer find the word ‘compulsory’ or
‘compulsion’ in the substitute bill that I have
filed. But there is one thing on which there could
be no compromise so far as I am concerned. I
have reached the saturation point. I have
reached the dead end of a blind alley. I can go
no farther; and this I say: If Rizal was a hero,
and on that there could be no debate, if Rizal is
a national hero, these books that he has
written, whenever read, must be read in the
unexpurgated, original form. Otherwise, I would
prefer to have this bill defeated, defeated
ignominiously if you wish, but then I shall have
fulfilled my duty.”
Senate Bill 438
 Also known as the “Rizal Bill”
 Authored by Senator Claro M. Recto
 Sponsored by Senator Jose P. Laurel
 Requiring the inclusion in the curricula
of all private and public schools,
colleges and universities the life, works,
and writings of Jose Rizal particularly
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
  One of the most controversial bills in
the Philippines
 Strongly opposed by the Legislative Arm
and Catholic Church
Republic Act No. 1425 (Rizal Law)
Section 1. Courses on the life, works, and
writings of Jose Rizal particularly his novels Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their
English translation shall be used as basic texts.
Section 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools,
colleges and universities to keep 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 said
unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo or their translation in
English as well as other writings of Rizal shall be
included in the list of approved books for
required reading in all public or private schools,
colleges and universities.
Books: Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
Signing of the Bill
May 17, 1956 – the bill was passed.
June 12, 1956 – the bill was signed into law
(Republic Act No. 1425) by President Ramon
Magsaysay at the Malacañang Palace.
MODULE 3
The Philippines in Rizal Times
Social Ills in the 19th century in the Philippines
 Instability of Colonial Administration
 Corrupt Colonial Officials
 Philippine Representation in Spanish
Cortes
 Human Rights to Filipinos
 No Equality Before the Law
 Maladministration of Justice
 Racial Discrimination
 Frailocracy
 Forced Labor
 Haciendas Owned by the Friars
 The Guardia Civil
GOMBURZA
 Father Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos,
Jacinto Zamora
 Three priests who were executed by
garrote on February 17, 1872 on
charges for leading the Cavite mutiny.
Governor General Fernando Primo de Rivera
(1880-83 & 1897-98)
 For two terms enriched himself by
accepting bribes from gambling casinos
in Manila which he scandalously
permitted to operate
Governor General Rafael de Izquierdo (1871-
73)
 Boastful and ruthless governor who
ordered the execution of GOMBURZA.
Governor General Valeriano Weyler (1888-91)
 A cruel and corrupt governor general of
Hispanic-Germany ancestry, arrived in
Manila a poor man and returned to
Spain a millionaire
Governor General Camilo de Polavieja (1896-
97)
 Able militarist but heartless governor
general, widely detested by the Filipino
people for executing Dr. Rizal.
Governor General Anda’s Proposal
 Realized the danger of the friar-owned
haciendas to Filipino-Spanish relations
 Strongly recommended to the Madrid
government the sale of the friar estates
 His recommendation was ignored
  Filipino odium towards the friars
(hacienda owners), persisted unabated
until the end of the Spanish rule.
Spanish Penal Code
 Enforced in the Philippines
 Heavier penalties for Filipinos or
mestizos ≠ white-complexioned
Spaniards
 Legal inequality resented by Filipinos
Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt to Dr. Rizal
(1887) “The provision of the Penal Code that a
heavier penalty will be imposed on the Indio or
mestizo irritates me exceedingly, because it
signifies that every person not born white is in
fact latent criminal. This is very great injustice
that seems enormous and unjust for being
embodied in law.”
Spanish Cortes
Cortes – the Philippine was granted
representation by Spain to win the support of
the overseas colonies during the Napoleonic
Invasion
1810-1813 – the Philippine’s first period of
representation in the Cortes
Constitution of 1812 – Spain’s first democratic
constitution
 Extended to the Philippines
Ventura de los Reyes (1810-13)
 First Philippine delegate who took
active part in the framing of the
Constitution of 1812 (one of the 184
signers)
 Abolition of the galleon trade
 1820-1823 – the Philippine’s second
period of representation
 1834-1837 – the Philippine’s third
period of representation
 Both were less fruitful than the first
Graciano Lopez Jaena – one of the Filipino
patriots who pleaded for the restoration of the
Philippine representation in the Cortes
- On October 12, 1883, during the 391st
anniversary of the discovery of America
by Columbus in Madrid, he implored:
“We want representation in the legislative
chamberso that our aspirations may be known
to the mother country and its government.”
- Spain ignored his fervent plea
Cuba and Puerto Rico
- Granted representation in 1876
- Until the end of Spanish rule in 1898,
the Philippine representation was never
restored
Propaganda Movement
- Launched by Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. Del
Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena, and other
patriots.
- Paved the way for the Philippine
Revolution of 1896
Polo – during the Spanish regime, all male
Filipinos from 18 to 60 years of age were
required to give their free labor, called polo, to
the government.
 40-15 days – this labor was for 40 days
a year, reduced to 15 days in 1885
 It was in various forms, such as building
roads and bridges, constructing public
buildings and churches, cutting timber
in the forest, working in shipyards, and
serving the Spanish military expeditions.
Polista – one who rendered forced labor.
The Guardia Civil
 Created by the Royal Decree of
February 12, 1882 as amended by the
Royal Decree of March 24, 1888 and
was patterned after the Guardia Civil in
Spain.
  Guardia Civil had rendered meritorious
services in suppressing the bandits in
the provinces, they later became
infamous for their rampant abuses
 Rizal witnessed the atrocities
committed by the Guardia Civil in
Calamba
Elias
 The character that Rizal used to expose
the wrong doings of the Guardia Civil in
the Philippines
 Rizal’s Noli, exposed the Guardia Civil
through Elias as bunch of ruthless
ruffians, good only for disturbing the
peace and persecuting honest men
No Equality before the Law
16th Century
 Spanish missionaries taught all are
children of God regardless of color and
race
 Most Filipinos are mesmerized by the
concept = Christians
 Luzon and Visayas hinterlands,
Mindanao, Sulu
Actions of Spanish Christian authorities ≠
Christ’s commandment of brotherhood
 Emphasized during last decades of
Hispanic rule
 Brown skin = inferior, different, not
brothers
 Not protected but exploited
Imperialist way of thinking
 Filipinos and Spaniards may be equal
before God, but not in law and in
practice
Leyes de Indias (Laws of the Indies)
 Promoted by Christian monarchs of
Spain
 Protection rights and promotion of
welfare; natives in Spain’s overseas
colonies
 Good colonial laws; Christian charity
and justice ≠ distant colonies;
Philippines
 Abused, brutalized, persecuted, and
slandered
 Law is only for Spaniards
Sinibaldo de Mas
 Spanish economist and diplomat
 Acknowledge the lack of freedom of
Filipinos
 “Why do we fall into anomaly, such as
combining our claim for liberty
ourselves, and wish to impose our law
to remote peoples? Why do we deny to
others the benefit which we desire for
our fatherland?”
MODULE 4
Rizal’s Childhood and Life
Rizal’s Name
Jose – chosen by his mother who was a devotee
of St. Joseph (San Jose)
Rizal - “racial” which means “new pasture” and
“green field”
Rizal’s Siblings
(11 children; 9 girls, 2 boys)
Saturnina – oldest of the Rizal children
- Neneng (nickname)
- She married Manuel T. Hidalgo of
Tanawan, Batangas
Paciano – older brother and confidant of Jose
Rizal
- Joined the Philippine Revolution and
became a combat general
- Died on April 13, 1930, an old bachelor
aged 79
 - Had two children by his mistress,
Severina Decena
Narcisa – Sisa (petname)
- Married Antonio Lopez, a school
teacher of Morong
Olimpia – Ypia (petname)
- She married Silvestre Ubaldo, a
telegraph operator from Manila
Lucia – she married Mariano Herbosa of
Calamba
Maria – Biang (nickname)
- She married Daniel Faustino Cruz of
Biñan, Laguna.
Jose – the greatest Filipino hero and peerless
genius
- Pepe (nickname)
- During his exile in Dapitan he lived with
Josephine Bracken, Irish girl from Hong
Kong
- Had son with her, but the baby boy died
a few hours after birth; Jose named him
“Francisco” after his father and buried
him in Dapitan
Concepcion – Concha (petname)
- Died of sickness at the age of three
- He death was Rizal’s first sorrow in life
Josefa – Panggoy (petname)
- Died an old maid in 1951 aged 83
Trinidad – Trining (petname)
- Died in 1951
Soledad – youngest of the Rizal children
- Choleng (petname)
- Married Panteleon Quintero of Calamba
Donya Teodora’s Case and Imprisonment
- Rizal’s mother was unjustly arrested
and jailed on flimsy grounds
- She poisoned the wife of Jose Alberto
(not true)
Rizal’s Hereditary Influence
 From his Malayan ancestors, Rizal
inherited his love for freedom, his
innate desire to travel, and his
indomitable courage.
 From his Chinese ancestors, he derived
his serious nature, frugality, patience,
and love for children.
 From his Spanish ancestors, he got his
elegance of bearing, sensitivity to insult,
and gallantry to ladies.
 From his father, he inherited a
profound sense of self-respect, the love
for work, and the habit of independent
thinking.
 And from his mother, he inherited his
religious nature, the spirit of self-
sacrifice, and the passion for arts and
literature.
Rizal’s Environmental Influence
 The scenic beauties of Calamba and the
beautiful garden of the Rizal family
stimulated the inborn artistic and
literary talents of Jose Rizal.
 The religious atmosphere at his home
fortified his religious nature.
 His brother, Paciano, instilled in his
mind the love for freedom and justice.
From his sisters, he learned to be
courteous and kind to women.
 His three uncles, inspired him to
develop his artistic ability, to develop
his frail body and intensified his
voracious reading of good books.
 Father Leoncio Lopez, fostered Rizal’s
love for scholarship and intellectual
honesty.
  The death of his sister Concha and the
imprisonment of his mother,
contributed to strengthen his character,
enabling him to resist blows of adversity
in later years.
 The Spanish cruelties and abuses
awakened his spirit of patriotism and
inspired him to consecrate his life and
talents to redeem his oppressed people.
Rizal’s Aya, Tio Manuel, Tio Gregorio, Tio
Alberto’s Influences
 The fairytales told by his aya during his
childhood, awakened his interests in
folklore and legends.
 Tio Manuel, a husky and athletic man,
encouraged him to develop his frail
body by means of physical exercises,
including horse riding, walking, and
wrestling.
 Tio Gregorio, a book lover, intensified
his voracious reading of good books.
 Tio Alberto, who studied for eleven
years in a British school in Calcutta,
India, and had traveled Europe inspired
him to develop his artistic ability.
Family’s Maxim
“Spare the rod, spoil the child”
Pilgrimage to Antipolo
 On June 6, 1868, Jose and his father left
Calamba to go on a pilgrimage to
Antipolo, in order to fulfill his mother’s
vow which was made when Jose was
born.
 Donya Teodora cannot join because she
had given birth to Trinidad.
 It was Rizal’s first trip across Laguna de
Bay and his first pilgrimage to Antipolo.
They rode a casco (barge).
 He was awed by “the magnificence of
the watery expanse and the silence of
the night”
 He said: “With what pleasure I saw the
sunrise; for the first time I saw how the
luminous rays shone, producing a
brilliant effect on the ruffled surface of
the wide lake.”
 After praying at the shrine of the Virgin
of Antipolo, Jose and his father went to
Manila.
 It was the first time Jose saw Manila.
They visited Saturnina, who was then a
boarding student at La Concordia
College in Sta. Ana.
Rizal’s Private Tutors
 1st tutor was Maestro Celestino
 2nd tutor was Maestro Lucas Padua
 Later, an old man named Leon Monroy
became the boy’s tutor. He lived in
Rizal’s home and instructed Jose in
Spanish and Latin.
 After Monroy’s death, Rizal’s parents
decided to send their gifted son to a
private school in Binan.
Painting Lessons in Binan
 Their teacher in painting is named
“Juancho”, he was the father-in-law of
the school teacher.
 Rizal spent many leisure hours in the
painter’s studio because of his love for
painting.
 Old Juancho freely gave him lessons in
drawing and painting, because he was
amazed by Rizal’s artistic talent.
 Rizal and his classmate named Jose
Guevarra became apprentices of
Juancho.
 They both became “the favorite
painters of the class” after they have
improved their art.
First School Brawl
 In the afternoon of Rizal’s first day in
school, Jose Rizal met the bully, Pedro.
 He was angry at this bully for making
fun of him.
 Then Jose challenged Pedro to a fight
which Pedro accepted readily thinking
he could beat the little Jose.
 They fought and wrestled furiously but
Jose won thanks to the training he had
from his Tio Manuel, for his feat he
became popular among his classmates.
 Soon after, his classmate Andres
Salandanan challenged him to arm-
wrestling match, wherein Jose
accepted, they moved to a sidewalk of a
house and wrestled. Jose, having the
weaker arm, lost and nearly cracked his
head on the sidewalk.
 In the following days he had other fights
with the boys of Biñan.
 He was not quarrelsome by nature, but
he never ran away from a fight.