Bantayan Southern Institute

Bantigue, Bantayan, Cebu

THE LIFE AND WORKS, AND WRITINGS OF JOSE RIZAL

REFLECTION PAPER
(Chapter 1 and 2)

PREPARED BY: GLENA MAE LAWAS

BSED-2D

SUBMITTED TO: MRS. ROSELIE MASONG

MARCH 3, 2023
CHAPTER SUMMARY 1

Are you willing to sacrifice your own happiness and life for your country? I
guess not, because you are not Rizal. He died pursuing what he started and
believed that he did not wrong and face the enemy who killed him with pride
and patriotism. And that’s when Rizal’s book are born together with his
kindness and contributions, it spread to the country and became one of the
most important book in all. At first, their are barriers upon approving Rizal’s law
or the Republic Act 1425 - AN ACT TO MAKE NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL
FILIBUSTERISMO COMPULSORY READING MATTER IN ALL PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
The policy-makers did not waste any time and submitted the Senate bill no.
438 or the Rizal law to the Senate Committee on education. Thanks to Senator
Jose P. Laurel, the Chairman of the Committee who sponsored and presented
the bill to the Upper House on April 17, 1956. The purpose of submitting the bill
is to disseminate the ideas of Jose Rizal through reading his book.

Furthermore, this law is controversial in the eyes of the Catholic Church, they
contradict the idea of it becoming a law, for the reason that compulsion to read
something against one’s faith is a sin. And they also argue that Noli Me
Tangere has a 170 lines and El filibusterismo has 50 lines that is offensive to
the Church doctrine. Therefore the bill was attacked based on it’s
constitutionality and religiosity. It is hopeless to pass the bill and so the
policy-maker Senator Jose P. Laurel did not stop there. He changed the word
compulsion to appease the opposition. With that, for the second reading the
bill was approved by President to make it a law. That’s giving birth to Republic
Act 1425 also known as the Rizal Law.

Moving on, What is your concept of hero? Is it something that we see on a

television? Those with super powers? We do have different concept of hero
but in this part we will focus on Jose Rizal as our national hero. Jose Rizal is
the only one who passes the criteria of hero. He use nothing more but a pen, a
peace of paper and his skills. He dedicate himself to work on his writings and
spread the ideas of equality. Why do you think our ancestors freed from the
manipulative and aggressive colonizers way back? Because of the heroes that
we have in the country. The one that fear no one, and thanks to them because
today, in this generation, we are free to express our own opinion and rights.

In addition, Why do you think Jose Rizal was put in a peso coin? Is it because
of the fact that he is our national hero? Well, that is one of the reason but the
main reason for this is that, value. One hundred(100), and One thousand(1000)
will be nothing without a peso coin. In other words, we will be nothing without
our parents. The value of peso is not high but it is valuable. That is the reason
why he is put in the peso coin instead of a hundred peso.

Moving on to the crucial part of this paper. Are you afraid of deaths? Maybe
yes and maybe no. In this part, Rizal was executed on December 30, 1896,
Rizal has a dying wish which nothing has been achieved. According to him, he
should be buried to Paang Bundok with stone and a cross on top. But people
put him in a luneta park beneath his monument. He is indeed the best for he is
willing to be ashes in return to our freedom.

In conclusion, we should love our country and honor our resources because
this will serve as our only memory to our heroes who fight for the freedom and
freed us from colonizers. As what Rizal wrote, he stated there that: The youth
is the hope of our country, so from now on let us empower our individual
uniqueness and have courage to stand up alone.

SYNTHESIS

I want to be a hero, but as I’ve read Jose Rizal’s book. I changed my mind.
Why? Because the hero that I have in my mind is the one that I’ve seen in a
television, not real. But in reality, being a hero is within a person. Being a hero
is someone like Rizal, courages, in ways that will never use deadly weapons
but instead he uses pen and paper only, nothing more.

Dr. Jose Rizal is a role model to the country and it’s people. Indeed, he was
honored and he is the pride of our country. As a student and a future teacher,
now I understand why we take this course, for it will brought enlightenment to
our life and the hopelessness become hope-full because nothing is impossible
in this world.

REFLECTION

Who is Rizal as a, person, son, husband and hero? Jose Protacio Mercado
Rizal Alonzo Y Realonda is a person who love to write books and poems, a
son who loved his parents and studied the course of ophthalmology to cure his
mother’s eyesight, a husband who indeed has a lot of past lovers but only one
catches his attention and entered the world of marriage, and a hero who is
willing to sacrifice his own life for his country.

How lucky we are today, we were born with enough resources and technology
that makes our life more easier. We haven’t experience slavery and we are
free to express our individual opinion. Education today has a lot of
opportunities that we can grab in order to fulfill our dreams in life. I want to be
like Jose Rizal, it is between the world and his passion, but still he continuously
impart his ideas even though it cost him so much.

RECOMMENDATION

Learning about the life of Jose Rizal is essential to anyone who has ever
experienced colonialism and how the imperialist country that dominates the
colony exerts rules and regulations that are not always fair. In Rizal's case, his
country (the Philippines) was once a colony of Spain. It is essential to not just
study but also appreciate Rizal, his writings and contribution, including his
books which may teach us how life is before our independence. Owing the fact
that the contribution he gave to the country is priceless. Jose Rizal’s love for
the country led him to his execution. It was such a heroic act of sacrificing his
own life for an accusation and being a role model in the rebellion of the
Filipinos. Studying Rizal may prove us and give us a different view of him as
we study and dig in to his life, aside from this, studying his works may also lead
us to a better perception of life. Rizal also inspires us to be a major contributor
that can help our land succeed, just like his objectives and aims we also need
to fight for our freedom, fight for our justice and fight for our rights to achieve
the triumph of all the people who are regardless and to cultivate the weapon of
writing.
CHAPTER SUMMARY 2

The second half of the 19th century – the time when Rizal lived (from 1861 to
1896) – saw Spain experience its continuing decline. A long war of succession
in the kingdom after the Napoleonic era had weakened it. Spain was highly
dominated by Church influence in government. Jose Rizal had many beautiful
memories of childhood in his native town.

THE CHILDHOOD YEARS IN CALAMBA JOSE RIZAL

Grew up in a happy home ruled by good parents bubbling with joy sanctified
with gods blessings lived in Calamba ( natal town ) spent the happiest period in
the lakeshore town CALAMBA Hacienda owned by the Dominican Order. A
picturesque town nestling on a verdant plain covered with rice fields and sugar
land South: Mount Makiling East: Laguna de bay Middle of the lake towers:
Island of Talim North: Antipolo. Rizal loved Calamba with all his heart and soul
In 1876, he remembered his beloved town. He wrote a poem entitled Un
Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In memory of my town) He was 15 years old at that
time and was studying at Ateneo de Manila.

EARLIEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

First memory: happy days in the family garden when he was 3 yrs. Old He was
given the tenderest care by his parents He had a nurse maid and called her
Aya His Aya would tell him many stories about fairiesand other fabulous stories
He also remembered the daily Angelus prayer by nightfall.
Another memory of his infancy: Nocturnal Walk in the town with his Aya
especially when there was a moon Recounting this childhood experience in his
student memoirs, Riza wrote: Thus my heart fed on sombre and melancholic
thoughts so that even while still a child, I already wandered on wings of fantasy
in the high regions of the unknown.

FIRST SORROW

Of his sisters, Jose loved most the little Concha (Concepcion) He was a year
older that Concha Unfortunately, Concha died of sickness in 1865 He cried
bitterly at losing her First time he shed his tears caused by love and grief
DEVOTED SON OF THE CHURCH. Grew up a good Catholic At the age of 3,
he began to take part in the family prayers At the age of 5, he was able to read
the bible Called as Manong Jose by the Hermanos and Hermanas Terceras
Father Leoncio Lopez, one of the men he esteemed and respected in
Calamba.
Used to visit and listen to his stimulating opinions on current events and sound
philosophy June 6, 1868, Jose and his father left Calamba to go on a
pilgrimage to Antipolo First trip of Jose across Laguna de bay After praying in
the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, they went to Manila.

STORY OF THE MOTH

A story told by Doña Teodora to her favorite son, Jose to sacrifice ones life for
it He justified the noble death of the moth
ARTISTIC TALENTSAt age of 5, he began to make sketches with his pencil,
mold in clay and wax objects which attracted his fancy He painted in oil colors
a new banner that delighted the town folks because it was better than the
original one Had the soul of a genuine artist Loved to ride on a spirited pony
and take long walks in the meadow and lakeshore with his dog, Usman.

ANECDOTE

All right laugh at me now! Someday when I die, people will make monuments
and images on me!

FIRST POEM BY RIZAL

He possessed a God-given gift for literature At the age of 8, he wrote his first
poem in the native language entitled Sa aking mga Kababata (to my fellow
children) Poem reveals Rizals earliest nationalist sentiment.

FIRST DRAMA

Tagalog comedy Staged in Calamba festival and was delightfully applauded A

gobernadorcillo from Paete purchased the manuscript for two pesos an
brought it to his hometown
Religious nature, spirit of self sacrifice and passion for arts and literature
(mother) Environmental Influence Scenic beauties of Calamba Beautiful
garden of the Rizal family Religious atmosphere at his home Love for freedom
and justice (Paciano) Courteous and kind to women (sisters) He was inspired
to develop his artistic ability b his Tio Jose Alberto.
SYNTHESIS

At the closing years of the nineteenth century the Philippine Islands became a
territorial part of the United States. For this “imperialist” domination of another
people, the latter government, being based on the principle of popular
sovereignty, had to find a justification. Philippine Studies at the University of
the Philippines, gave a glimpse of Rizal's psyche growing up using the national
hero's diary aptly titled “Memorias de un estudiante de Manila” or “Memories of
a student in Manila,” written by Rizal when he was between 17 and 20 years
old. The hero's extensive scope of knowledge makes him a polymath - a
learned individual who is intelligent in numerous subjects. For example, Rizal
was a sculptor, a painter, and an innovator. He also exemplified skills in many
fields of sciences such as medicine, ophthalmology, and biology.

REFLECTION

The life of Jose Rizal was a truly inspiring story. Not just as an ordinary story of
a Filipino but a story of a very intelligent and talented Filipino, who is ready to
sacrifice his whole life just to give freedom and peace to his family, and own
nation. For one semester, I’ve known who really Rizal is. It might not all about
him, but those learning’s and knowledge I learned, is enough to say to myself
and to other Filipino and even not, that he deserves to be what he have known
for today. And that is, the National Hero of the Filipino. His life was truly
amazing and colorful for the hero’s experiences mold him to what God
purposely do to him.

Jose Rizal, for my own insights, tells me the value of certain things which is
important for the success of his life. That is God, Family, Country and Self. He
could not reach as that far without God. The Lords is the most important one
who could determine our success, just like as Rizal feared God and in return,
he have been bless abundantly not by material things only but a spiritual one.
That is intelligence, skills, love, and compassion. Also the role of family is next
important for Rizal had been blessed with a family who could guide him to what
he really aims. Even nowadays, family is one of the foundations of a person’s
character.

RECOMMENDATION

For Rizal's portrayal of love of country as a means of loving his fellow Filipino,
thus assisting them in obtaining justice from the evil and corrupt priests and
Spaniards who are mistreating them in their own land, God has created us to
extend our help with our fellow as a symbol of glorifying Him. Last but not least
is Self. Rizal's life has taught me that you should make the most of yourself. He
cultivates wisdom and knowledge in order to use them for God's purposes. He
did not tell himself that he was not valuable enough, and he did not live in
denial about what was going on around him.