R. A.

1425- AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND

PRIVATE SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COURSES ON THE LIFE,
WORKS AND WRITINGS OF JOSE RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HIS NOVELS NOLI
ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING AND
DISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

- it was passed on June 12, 1956

Main proponent: Senator Claro M. Recto

Co-writer:

President Jose P. Laurel

1st Section:

- Mandates the students to read Rizal’s novels.

Last 2 Sections:

- States that Rizal’s works should be accessible to the public.

- Require schools to have sufficient copies of his biography, and works in
their library

Goals

1. To rededicate the lives of the youth to the ideas of freedom and

nationalism for which our heroes lived and died.
2. To pay tribute to our national hero in 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.

Memorandum Order No. 247

- The secretary of Education, Culture and Sports and the chairman of

Commission of Higher Education to fully implement the R.A. 1425.

1995, CHED Memorandum order no. 3- strict implementation of

Memorandum order no. 247.

R.A. 229- an act prohibiting cockfighting, horse racing and jai alai on the 30 th
of December and to make committee to take charge on the proper celebration
of Rizal Day.

IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING RIZAL

- Provide insights on how to deal with the current problems.

- Help us understand better ourselves as Filipinos.
- Teach nationalism and patriotism.
- Provides essential life lessons.
- Help in developing logical and critical thinking.
- Can serve worthwhile model and inspiration for every filipinos.
- Rich source of entertaining narratives.

19th Century Philippines in Rizal Context

SOCIAL CONTEXT

1. EDUCATION IN 19TH CENTURY

- Parochial schools were first school in the land.
- Schools were run by Catholic missionaries
- Converting natives into catholics.
- King Philip mandate the officials to educate the Filipino natives, teach
them how to read and write in Spanish.
- They did not seriously taught the Filipinos due to threat of co- equality.
- Augustinians, Franciscans, Jesuits and Dominicans.
- Children were taught how to read, write, vocational and arithmetic.
- Latin ( official language of the Catholic schools)
- Corporal Punishment (strict discipline)
- 17th century- universities only for mestizos.
- 19th century- native filipinos were allowed to study.
- 1863- royal decree that establish public schools.
- Ilustrados- aim to become equal with the Spaniards.
- Barcelona and Madrid has a huge influence.
2. THE RISE OF THE CHINESE MESTIZOS
- Owned hacienda- plantations of hemp, sugar and tobacco.
3. THE RISE OF THE INQUILINOS
- Known as Tenants
- Right to use farmlands in exchange for rent.
- Peasant protest movement- abused of power by Dominicans. Jesuits,
recollects, and Augustinians.

ECONOMIC CONTEXT

1. THE GALLEON TRADE

- Manila – Acapulco trade
- 1565-1815
- 250 year trade
- Intercultural exchange between Asia, Spain, America Europe and Africa.
 - Manila (Trading Hub)
- The Spanish feared the Chinese therefore they sent them out to Parian
- Tension rose and Chinese were massacred.
- End of Galleon trade- september 14, 1815 due to Mexican war of
independence,
2. OPENING SUEZ CANAL
- Created by the Suez Canal Company (1859-1869)
- Connects the Red Sea to Mediterranean Sea through Isthmus of Suez.
- Before- Barcelona to Manila takes 3 months of voyage, after Suez Canal,
the voyage takes 32-40 days.
- Huge advantage for commercial entrerprises.
3. RISE OF THE EXPORT CROP ECONOMY
- Sugar, coffee and Manila hemp
- Chinese moved to provinces expanding their population.
- Southeaster Luzon and Eastern Visayas (hemp)
- Western Visayas (sugar)
- Northeastern Luzon (tobacco)
4. MONOPOLIES
- Tobacco- March 1, 1782
- Governed by Givernor General Jose Basco
- End of monopoly 1882

POLITICAL CONTEXT

1. LIBERALISM
- Freedom and equality.
- Government can impose threat to liberty.
- French revolution ( 1789-1799)
- “ Having Liberty, Equality and Fraternity
- Catholic church was considered as enemy of reforms.
- Thinkers:
- John Locke
- Voltaire
- John Jacques Rousseau
- Thomas Paine
- Thomas Jefferson
- Montesquieu
2. GOVERNOR GENERAL CARLOS MARIA DELA TORRE
- Appointed by the government ( 1869-1871)
- Most beloved Spanish governor general
- Avoid luxurious life
 - Recognized freedom of speech and freedom of the press
- Abolished censorship.
- He inspired Father Jose Burgos
- Greatest achievement was fixing land problem in Cavite without
bloodshed.

Rizal’s family, childhood and early childhood.

Full name: Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda
Born: June 19,1861
Place of birth: Calamba, Laguna
- 7th out of 11 children.
- Lived and died during the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines
- Mastered the alphabet at the age of 3, can read and write
Early readings- Spanish version of vulgate bible
Arts: pencil drawings, sketches, molding clays.
Family:
1. Father side
Great great Grandfather- Domingo Lam-co, Chinese immigrant
Great great Grandmother- Ines dela Rosa
Great Grandfather- Francisco Lam-co
Great Grandmother- Bernarda Monicha
Grandfather- Juan Mercado- gobernadorcillo (town mayor) in Binan.
Grandmother- Cirila Alejandro- 12 children- youngest is Jose’s father
Father- Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado- farmer in Binan, Laguna.
2. Mother side
Great great grandfather- Eugenio Ursua
Great great Grandmother- Benigna
Great Grandfather- Manuel de Quintos- Filipino-Chinese lawyer of
Pangasinan.
Great Grandmother- Regina Ursua
Grandfather- Lorenzo Alberto Alonso
Grandmother- Brigida Quintos- had 5 children- 2nd is Rizal’s mother
Mother- Teodora Alonso Quintos Realonda- known as Lolay, a diligent and
business minded woman who hates gossip and vulgar conversations.

About the Parents:

- His father is a Lieutenant Governor in Calamba known as Tinyente Kiko
- His mother is known as Lolay.
- They met when they were in college
- Got married on June 28, 1848 and settled in Calamba
- Granted to lease a rice farmin the Dominican- owned haciendas.
- Claveria decree of 1849- changed Filipino surnames
- The Alonso’s adopted the surname Realonda.
About the Siblings:
1. Saturnina Rizal
- 1850-1913
- Provide basic education to Jose
2. Paciano Rizal
- March 7, 1851
- Became a general of the Philippine Revolution
3. Narcisa Rizal
- 1852-1939
- Also known as Sisa
- Financed Jose’s studies in Europe.
4. Olympia Rizal
- 1855-1887
- Also known as Ypia
- Mediator between Jose and Segunda Katigbak
5. Lucia Rizal
- 1857-1919
- charge with inciting Calamba townfolks not pay land rent.
6. Maria Rizal
- 1859-1945
- Nice- looking
- Jose loves to talk to her.
7. Jose Rizal
8. Concepcion Rizal
- 1862-1865
- Died at the age of 3 and the saddest moment for Jose
9. Josefa Rizal
 - 1865-1945
- Panggoy
- Died a spinster
- Joined the Katipunan.
10. Trinidad Rizal
- 1868-1951
- Also known as Trining
- Custodian of Jose’s last poem ( Mi Ultimo Adios)
11. Soledad Rizal
- 180-1929
- Also known as Choleng
- Youngest
- A teacher
The surname Rizal
- Jose and Paciano were known as Lamco brothers not Rizal
- Domingo Lamco adopted the surname “Mercado” which means market
- Francisco adopted the surname “ Rizal” ricial which means green
fields.
- Paciano suggested Jose to use Rizal to make it well known after he
finished the El Filibusterismo
- For Jose, Rizal means persecution.
Rizal’s birth, childhood phenom, story of moth, education in Calamba and
Binan.
The childhood of a Phenom
Phenom- someone who is exceptionally talented or admired.
First memory- when he was 3 years old in their family garden.
- Young Jose was weak and sickly.
- His father made him a nipa cottage to play during day time.
- Nocturnal walk in town especially when there is a moon.
- His aya ( nursemaid) told him stories about fairies, tales of buried
treasures and trees blooming and diamonds.
- Daily Angelus in their home.
- He wrote a memoir that says Concha’s death was the first time he shead
tear caused by love and grief.
He has a pony – Alipato
A black dog – Usman.
Teodora introduced him arts, literature and classics.
By the age of 8, he written a tagalog comedy and performed at a local festival
and rewarded with two pesos.
“Sa aking mga Kababata/Kabata” ( To my Fellow Children)- was NOT
written by Jose Rizal.
- According to Jose’s letters to Paciano, he admitted that he only
encounter the word “Kalayaan” when he was 21 years old.
The your Rizal was interested in magic
- Read books
- Making coin and handkerchief disappear.
Amigo de los Ninos ( The Children’s Friend)- book with stories for children
The Story of Moth- Lolay told Jose this story to teach him the value of
obedience. Incidentally, while listening to the story, he was watching the
similar incident.
Education in Calamaba
1. Dona Teodora – his first teacher who taught him how te read and to stay
humble.
2. Saturnina- mentored him
3 Maternal Uncles who mentored him:
1. Jose Alberto- Art, sketching
2. Gregorio- love of reading
3. Manuel- Physical skills, martial arts and wrestling.
Hist private tutors:
1. Maestro Celestino
2. Lucas Padug
3. Leon Monro
Education in Binan
He was sent to a private school in Binan.
June 1869- His brother brought him to Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz.
In his first day he was asked if he knows how to speak Latin and Spanish.
His classmates laughed at his answer especially the teacher’s son Pedro.
He challenged Pedro in a fight and won.
Jose was said to have fights with other boys in Binan.
He told his father that he had already learned all there was to be taught in
Binan and his father confirmed it.
Teodora was reluctant in deciding to send jose in Manila to study.
Education in Manila
June 1872
Calle Carballo in Santa Cruz area- first dorm of Jose.
No.6 Calle Magallanes- second dormitory of Jose.
1877 to 1882 studied at University of Santo Thomas
Expert surveyor- surveying farm lands
He boarded in house of Concha Leyva in Intramuros and later in Casa
Tomasina
his landlord and Uncle Antonio Rivera had daughter, Leonor
Leonor Rivera
- She is a second cousin of Jose
- Known Jose when he was in his second year.
- 1880 Rizal and Rivera met and got engage
- There engagement lasted for 10 years
- He was 19 while Leonor was 13.
- Since Leonor’s mother disapproved his relationship with Jose, she was
forced to marry Englishman Charles Henry Porter Kipping- Manila-
Dagupan railroad engineer
- Died due to child birth at the age of 25.
Education in Ateneo
June 1872 -Jose was sent to Manila to study at the Ateneo Municipal.
Escuela Pia- charity school.
Ateneo was the counterpart of Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
Rizal almost did not enroll by the school registar

Fr. Magin Fernando – the one who gave reason why Jose almost did not
passed.

Two reasons why Jose almost did not pass in Ateneo:

1. He was late for registration

 2. He appeared to be frail and slicky

Manuel Burgos- the one who helped Rizal to enter Ateneo.

Jose used the surname "Rizal" for the first time.

Externo- a term called to Jose because he was living outside the campus.

Fr. Jose Bech - first professor of Jose in Ateneo.

Jesuits system of education encouraged competition among students.

The class was divided into two groups:

1. Carthaginian (the non-boarder of Ateneo)

2. Roman (the boarder inside Ateneo)

The best student: Emperor

The second best student: Tribune

The third best student: Decurion

The fourth best student: Centurion

The fifth best student: Standard Bearer

3 books Rizal read in Ateneo:

Historia Universal by Cesar Cantu.

Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas.

Travels to the Philippines by Feodor Jagor.

Santa Isabel College- where Jose took extra classes to improve his Spanish.

After a month, Rizal became the emperor and he was considered as the
brightest student of the class.

4th year in Ateneo:

- Father Francisco de Paula Sanchez - a great educator and scholar and

the one who inspired Jose to write poems.
- "Through Education The Motherland Receives Light"- his poem
about the value of education
 - Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) - a poem dedicated to
his mother on her birthday.
- In Memory of My Town - a tender poem in honor of Calamba.
- Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education - its shows
the importance of religion in education.
- A Farewell Dialogue of the Students - the last poem written by Rizal in
Ateneo.
- He excelled in all subjects and won five medals at the end of the school
term.
- March 23, 1877 - he received his degree of Bachelor of Arts with
honors.

Rizal's Education at University of Santo Tomas

April 1877 - Rizal was 16 years old, enrolled at the UST taking Philosophy
and Letters.
Fr. Pablo Ramon- He tried to seek guidance but since he was in Mindanao he
just wrote a letter for him.
Decided to take Philosophy and Letters.
In the following term he decided to shift to medicine.
3 Reasons why he chose to shift:
1. cure his mother's failing eyesight
2. Fr. Ramon wrote back advising Jose to take up medicine
3. highly in demand course
Rizal spent his time studying. He returned to Ateneo to take up a land
surveying course which was then a vocational course.
He completed the surveyor's course and was awarded the title of perito
agrimensor.
Rizal experienced his first taste of brutality during his first year of
medical studies at UST.
Literary works while studying in UST
1. To the Filipino Youth (Sa Kabataang Pilipino/A La Juventud
Filipina) - a winning masterpiece which he submitted in the literacy
contest held by Liceo- Artistico-Literario of Manila.
"The youth is the fair hope of our Fatherland."
 2. The Council of Gods (El Consejo De Los Dioses) - it was another
contest of Liceo-Artistico-Literario to commemorate the death of
Miguel Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote.
The jury which was composed of Spaniards awarded Rizal the grand prize.
The Spanish community especially the press was appalled upon learning that
the author was an Indio.

Education in Europe
May 1, 1882- He left Calamba carrying the amount of ₱356. To avoid
detection, he used the name Jose Mercado.

SPAIN (BARCELONA)

"Amor Patrio" (Love of Country or Pag ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa) - first piece
he made in Spain.

-used the screen name "Laong Laan" published in the Diariong Tagalog in
Manila on August 20, 1882.

Basilio Teodoro Moran

- the publisher of Diariong Tagalog, the first newspaper in Manila written

in both Spanish and Tagalog.
- the one who translated it into Tagalog.
- "Los Viages" (Mga Paglalakbay)
- "Revista de Madrid" (Pag gunita sa Madrid) was written on November
29, 1882

MADRID

May 3, 1882

- Rizal left the Spain and moved to Madrid.

- Manila and some provinces suffering from "Kolera"
- Heard that Leonor Rivera became melancholic.

1883

feast The Tuesday of the Carnival

1884
 - Jose became penniless because his parents experienced economic
regression
- One day in June 1884, Rizal who failed to eat breakfast still went to
school and even won a Gold medal in a contest.

November 3, 1884

- Enrolled in Medicine and Philosophy and Letters at the Universidad

Central de Madrid.
- Rizal was involved in the chaotic student demonstrations by the Central
University students.

Academy of San Fernando

- practiced shooting and Eskrima.

June 1884

Rizal received the degree of Licentiate in Medicine at the age of 23.

PARIS

June 19, 1885 (24th Birthday)

- The Madrid university awarded him the degree of Licentiate in
Philosophy and Letters with the grade of "excellent" (sobresaliente).
November 1885 - February 1886
Went to Paris
He worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert.
HEIDELBERG
February 3, 1886
- Rizal arrived in Heidelberg, Germany.
- He attended the lectures of Dr. Otto Becker and Professor Wilhelm
Kuehne at the University of Heidelberg.
- Worked at the University Eye Hospital
- "Ophthalmoscope" invented by Hermann von Helmholtz.
- At the age of 25, completed his eye specialization.
Heidelberg, Germany.
- Chess Player's Club of Heidelberg
- Also wrote a letter to his sisters Maria and Trinidad
 - A Las Flores de Heidelberg (To the Flowers of Heidelberg)

LEIPZIG
August 1886
He attended lectures on history and psychology at the University of Leipzig.

WILHEMSFELD (a small town near Heidelberg)

- Three months summer vacation
- He wrote the last few chapters of Noli Me Tangere.
- He stayed at the pastoral house of a kind Protestant pastor.
- Dr. Karl Ullmer, the whole family of whom became Rizal's good
friends.

BERLIN
November 1886
- He reached Berlin and worked as an assistant in Dr. Schweigger's
clinic and attended lectures at the University of Berlin.
- He was inducted as a member of the Berlin's Ethnological Society,
Anthropological Society, and Geographical Society.
April 1887
He was invited to deliver an address in German before the Ethnographic
Society of Berlin on the orthography and structure of the Tagalog
language.
In Germany
Rizal met and befriended the famous academicians and scholars at the time.
Among them were;
- Prof. Friedrich Ratzel a German historian
- Dr. Hanz Meyer, a German anthropologist
- Dr. Feodor Jagor, the author of Travels in the Philippines, which
Rizal had read as a student in Manila
- Dr. Rudolf Virchow, a German anthropologist,
- Dr. Hans Virchow, Descriptive Anatomy professor.
Life in Europe
- his departure for Spain had gone down to history as a "secret departure"
May 9, 1882
-He first disembarked and visited the town of Singapore.
-He received royal treatment
May 11, 1882
-In Singapore, at 2pm Rizal boarded the boat Djemnah to continue his trip to
Spain.

-befriended the french on board so he could improve his french

May 17, 1882
-Rizal arrived at Punta de Gales.
May 18, 1882
-At 7:30 am, he left Punta de Gales for Colombo. In the afternoon, Rizal
arrived at Colombo and the evening the trip was resumed.
May 27, 1882
-He landed at Aden at about 8:30 am
June 2, 1882
-Rizal arrived at Suez Canal
June 3, 1882
-He was quarantined on board the Djemnah for 24 hours
-Blocked by the remains of a damaged ship;delayed for four days
June 7, 1882
-Rizal arrived at Port Said. In a letter to his parents, He described his trip
en route to Aden along the Suez Canal.
-Rizal thus traveled for 47 days or about 1 1/2 months.

September 16, 1882

- Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey, the Spanish liberal and former mayor of Manila who
became vice-president of the Council of the Philippines in the Ministry of
Colonies.
-Friendship with the prettiest of the daughters of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey,
Consuelo Ortiga y Perez .

-He attended the dinner party held in honor of two award-winning Filipino
painters, Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo.
-He delivered a very daring liberal speech (known today as ("Rizal's Brindis
Speech"),
1886
- His friendship with Ferdinand Blumentritt happened.
- Rizal wrote a letter in German and sent it with a bilingual (Spanish and
Tagalog) book Aritmiteca to Professor Blumentritt who was interested in
studying Jose's native language.
NOLI ME TANGERE
- Financed by Maximo Viola.

1st HOME COMING

July 3, 1887
- He boarded the steamer 'Djemnah. It sailed to the East through the Suez
Canal and reached Saigon on the 30th of the month. Then took the
steamer "Haiphong" and reached Manila near midnight of August 5.

August 8, 1887
- He returned to Calamba to restore his mother's eyesight. he began to be
dubbed as "German doctor" or "Doctor Uliman" (from the word
"Aleman" which means German)

Because of his enemies allegation that his "Noli" contained subversive ideas.
Rizal was summoned by the Governor-General Emilio Terrero.
Terrero assigned to Rizal a bodyguard. Don Jose Taviel de Andrade, to
protect the balikbayan from his adversaries.
December 1887
- The Calamba folks asked Rizal's assistance in collecting information
as regards Dominican hacienda management.