TOPIC 1: INTRODUCTION TO RIZAL

COURSE

Sir Edge Besmonte

Instructor 1/Affiliate Faculty, BUCSSP
Technical Staff, BUCTE
OBJECTIVES
• Discuss the reasons in studying the Life and Works of
Jose Rizal.
• Discuss the relevance of the ideals of Jose Rizal to
the contemporary society.
• Explain the history of the Rizal Law and its important
provisions.
• Recognize the value of differing narratives and
interpretations of Rizal’s life and works
• Relate issues to the present conditions of our times.
Dr. JOSÉ PROTACIO RIZAL MERCADO ALONSO Y REALONDA
•Rizal believed that the youth is the hope of
our future.
•His sense of patriotism that showed the
world what a Filipino like him can do amidst
tyranny and abuse.
•Pen is mightier than the sword
 Why is Jose Rizal
the National Hero?
•Jose Rizal’s heroism was recognized first
by the colonizing Americans and later on
by General Emilio Aguinaldo.

•Recommended by the US Governor Taft

According to Renato Constantino, when the
American government conquered the island of the
Philippines from the Spanish government in 1896,
the American government established a
commonwealth government after the Spanish
revolutionary government ceased to govern the
country. At this time of the Philippine history,
Filipinos under the commonwealth government
started to frame up Filipino national
identities.
•Unlike Andres Bonifacio whose desire to
achieve independence for his native land
required armed approach.

•The Americans deemed this approach to

independence of Andres Bonifacio to be
unacceptable and may inspire other
Filipinos to rebel against American rule.
This is why Jose Rizal was chosen over
him as the national hero.
Dr. Rizal was considered to be his inspiration
by Bonifacio himself. Even without the
assistance of US propaganda, Rizal would
have been honoured as a hero in the
Philippines.
The Philippine revolution led by Andres
Bonifacio was fueled by the writings of Jose
Rizal, the Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, which made a more lasting
impression. This is one of the best
arguments of those who believe that Rizal is
rightfully the national hero.
Rizal believed that only an army
that was well prepared and had
enough arms would ensure
victory
Jose Rizal founded the La Liga Filipina, a
civic organization that led to the creation of
the Katipunan headed by Andres Bonifacio.
This fact may already substantiate that
Rizal’s title was deserving since without the
La Liga Filipina, Andres Bonifacio and his
army would have been non-existent.
WHY STUDY
RIZAL?
The teaching of the Life and Works of Jose Rizal,
has become a mandatory subject in the Philippine
Tertiary Education pursuant to Republic Act 1425
otherwise known as, The Rizal Law. Hence, the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) mandates
all the Higher Education Institutions (the teaching of
Philippine History and Rizal course as part of the
General Education Curriculum.
• The life of Jose Rizal could be an opportunity where we
could learn valuable lessons.

• He also exemplified critical thinking skills through his

arguments in his essays, novels, and speeches.
Therefore, a course on Rizal’s life, works, and writings is
an opportunity for academic and scholarly discussion.
•More than ever, this course could make us
fully understand that nation building did not
end when our heroes died and when our
nation was liberated from various foreign
oppressors but it is a continuing
project that every Filipino especially
the youth must work for
It is through this course that young
people must continue to preserve and
develop the sense of nationalism and
patriotism to which our heroes like Dr.
Jose P. RIzal lived and died in the hope
to see emancipation of Filipinos from
the foreign colonizers.
Other reasons for
teaching the Rizal
course in Philippine
schools
•To recognize the importance of Rizal’s
ideals and teachings in relation to present
conditions and situations in the society.
•To encourage the application of such ideals
in current social and personal problems and
issues.
•To develop an appreciation and deeper
understanding of all that Rizal fought and
died for.
•To foster the development of the Filipino
youth in all aspects of citizenship.
THE RIZAL BILL
Points for Discussion
• How did Republic Act 1425 become a law?
• What are the provisions of this law?
• What are the major arguments of the Nationalists or the
Pro-passage of the bill?
• What are the major arguments of the Conservatives or the
Anti-passage of the bill?
• Can a student be exempted from taking up Rizal Course?
Prove your answer by citing provisions of the RA 1425
• Who do you think won in the passage of the bill, the
Nationalists or the Conservatives? Justify your answer
THE RIZAL BILL: ONE OF THE MOST
CONTROVERSIAL BILLS IN THE
PHILIPPINE HISTORY

• The Rizal Law (RA No. 1425)

• House Bill No. 5561
• Senate Bill No. 438
Arguments of the Opposition or
Conservatives
1. The oppositions argued that the bill would
violate freedom of conscience and religion.
According to the letter submitted by the
CBCP, Rizal violated the Church’s laws
specifically Canon Law 1399, which forbids
books that attack or ridicule any of the
catholic dogmas or which defend errors
condemned by the Holy See.
2. They argue that among the 333 pages of
Noli Me Tangere, only 25 passages are
patriotic while 120 passages are
anti-catholic. Rizal admitted before that in
these passages he did not only attack the
friars that acted falsely on the Filipinos but
also attacked the Catholic Faith itself.
3. They also stated that it is not necessary to
attack the Faith of the church to imbue
nationalism on the Filipinos.

4. They suggest a Rizalian Anthology, where

a compilation of all his works which contains
the nationalistic philosophy will be provided
as reading material for the students instead
of his two novels.
5. Francisco Rodrigo even said in a statement that Filipinos
can still venerate Rizal without having to read his works.
Rizal would still be a hero even if he didn’t write these two
novels.
Amendments to the original bill
or the Noli-Fili Bill (Senator
Laurel )
• In this bill, Senator Laurel included other books, poems, and
other works written by Rizal and works written by other
authors about Rizal other than Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo.

• In addition to that, the reading of the unexpurgated version

of the novels would no longer be compulsory to elementary
and secondary levels due to the issues it had with the
Catholic Church.
• Finally, the bill also included that the works done
by Rizal should be read strictly in the original and
unexpurgated form in the college level.

• Senator Primicias, in accordance to the previous

suggestion of student exemption by Senator Lim
also presented an additional amendment on the
substitute bill proposed by Senator Laurel that
promulgates rules and regulation for the
exemption of students in reading the two books,
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, settled in
a written statement but not from taking the
course.
The Rizal Law, enacted in 1956,
seeks to accomplish the
following goals:
1. To rededicate the lives of youth to the ideals of
freedom and nationalism, for which our heroes
lived and died.

2. To pay tribute to our national hero for devoting

his life and works in shaping the Filipino character.

3. To gain an inspiring source of patriotism through

the study of Rizal’s life, works, and writings.
Activity:

• Do you think RA 1425 is still a relevant law? What present

issues are addressed by the said law? Write a
reaction/thought paper on RA 1425 or the Rizal Law.
References:

• http://drjoserizal.weebly.com/the-choosing-of-rizal-as-our-
national-hero.html
• http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2011/08/why-st
udy-rizal.html
http://www.joserizal.com/jose-rizal-national-hero/
• http://www.joserizal.ph/bg01.html
•