Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study of Rizal’s Life, Works, and

Writings

The need to understand the rationale in studying any subject area is imperative for a
learner to appreciate it. This chapter is geared towards introducing students enrolled in the
Rizal Course of the need to study the life, works, and writings of our national hero and on
some issues on the heroism of Rizal.

Rizal Law and the Teaching of Rizal Course

Republic Act 1425, otherwise known as the Rizal Law, mandates the teaching of the
life, works, and writings of Rizal in all schools in the country. According to the late Senator
Jose P. Laurel, who sponsored the said law, since Rizal was the founder of Filipino
nationality and the architect of the Filipino nation, there is a need to know and imbibe the
great ideals and principles for which he died. Moreover, Laurel believed that by reading and
studying Rizal’s life, teachings and writings, the Filipino youth will be able to gain
incorruptible confidence, direction, courage, and determination to move forward in our
people’s journey towards an abundant life.

From the policy statements of the Rizal Law enacted in 1956, it is evident that the
teaching of the life, works, and writings of our national hero seeks to accomplish the
following objectives:

 To recognize the relevance of Rizal’s ideals, thoughts, teachings, and life values to
present conditions in the community;

 To apply Rizal’s ideas in the solution of day-to-day situations and problems in

contemporary life;

 To develop an understanding and appreciation of the qualities, behavior and

character of Rizal; and

 To foster the development of moral character, personal discipline, citizenship and

vocational efficiency among the Filipino youth.

Rizal, A True Filipino Hero

In many countries in the world, the leader is almost always chosen. We can mention
Lenin of Russia, Mao Tse-Tung of China, Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam and Washington of the
United States. In the Philippines our national hero, Jose Rizal was not a man of war but a man
of peace. Why not Bonifacio, considering that he led the revolution of 1896 against Spain?
Who chose Rizal to be our country’s national hero?

Among the country’s national heroes, Jose Rizal stood out. To many Filipinos, he is
the national hero of the Philippines. Actually, Rizal is only one of the country’s national
heroes which include Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Marcelo H. del Pilar and others. They
guided the formation of the Filipino national spirit and the Philippine nation-state. All of these
heroes are exemplars for all Filipinos to follow.

Contrary to the belief of many Filipinos, Rizal was not an American-sponsored hero.
Historian Renato Constantino (1969) claimed that it was the Americans who were responsible
for endorsing him as the Philippine National Hero. He cited the efforts of the Taft
Commission in 1901 to choose Rizal from a group of heroes, which included Emilio
Aguinaldo, Andres Bonifacio and Apolinario Mabini.

Another eminent historian Teodoro Agoncillo (1986) wrote that Rizal was acceptable
as a national hero to the Americans because he was the symbol of assimilation, which was
their policy then in the Philippines. Rizal never favored revolution but the slow process of
evolution through education which suited American objectives. There were other factors,
which contributed to Rizal’s acceptability as the official hero of the Philippines. These
factors, according to Constantino, (1969) were the following:

 Rizal was already dead at the time the Americans began their aggression in the
Philippines.

 No embarrassing anti-American quotations could ever be attributed to Rizal.

 Rizal’s dramatic martyrdom had already made him the symbol of Spanish
oppression.

In reality, it is the Filipinos themselves who chose Rizal as their national hero. This
could be seen in tributes given to him during his lifetime and immediately after his death. The
Katipuneros considered him the honorary leader of the Katipunan. His guidance was sought
after by its emissaries when Dr. Pio Valenzuela come to him in Dapitan in 1892. Rizal’s name
was one of the passwords of the secret society which swore to fight for the country’s freedom.

Two years after his death, General Emilio Aguinaldo issued a decree on December
20, 1898 ordering that December 30, the anniversary of Rizal’s execution at Bagumbayan, be
commemorated as “a day of mourning for Rizal and other victims of the Philippine
Revolution.” This decree became the basis of the yearly celebration of Rizal Day. Later, the
Philippine Commission set aside December 30 as a day of observance, by virtue of Act No.
345.

The early admiration for Rizal is manifested in the erection of the first monument in
his honor. On December 30, 1898, a group of masons erected a simple monument in Daet,
Camarines Norte. The monument bore the words “A Jose Rizal” (To Jose Rizal), as well as
the words “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo,” the titles of his two important novels
and the word “Morga” which refers to the book “Sucesos en las Islas Filipinas” annotated by
Rizal in 1890 to correct Spanish misinterpretations in the book written by Antonio Morga
during the 17th century. The monument at Daet antedated the better known monument at
Luneta in Manila, which was erected in 1911.

Though the monument in Luneta was erected during the American Regime, it was the
Filipino people who helped build the monument through public subscriptions. This was
authorized by Act No. 243 of the Philippine Commission.

Another proof of the Filipinos’ widespread admiration for Rizal were the
constructions of myriad monuments in his honor in most cities and towns of the country. Also
many main streets and avenues in the various towns and cities are named after him. One
province, Rizal Province, formerly part of the province of Manila, was named in his honor by
virtue of Act No. 137 of the Philippine Commission.

Even Filipino businessmen named their businesses after Rizal, as a sign of their
admiration and respect. Thus, we can see at least one bank, a cement brand and even a match
named after him. At least two universities (Jose Rizal University and Rizal Technological
University) were named after him. The basic unit of Philippine currency, the present one peso
coin bears his likeness. All one peso denominations near his image. All of these are outward
signs of the Filipinos’ adulation for Rizal and his achievements. He is truly the hero of the
Filipinos.

In making Rizal as our Filipino national hero, a number of conclusions can be drawn
(Guerrero, 1998).

1. Since the Filipinos love peace, they have chosen to magnify a man of peace above the men
of war;

2. Because Filipinos are lovers of freedom and justice, they have given their worship to a man
who gave up all comforts and pleasures of peace for their sake; and

3. Filipinos prize virtue more than victory, and sacrifice above success.

Despite the controversy on Rizal’s heroism, it cannot be denied that he gave form to
the aspiration of the Filipino people, thereby giving rise to our people’s nationalist struggle.
Due to Rizal’s qualities, he was able to serve the pressing needs of the people. In the words of
Constantino (1969), Rizal is a hero in the sense that he was able to see the problems generated
by historical forces, discern the new social needs created by the historical development of
new social relationships, and take an active part in meeting these needs. He was a hero
considering that he served the Filipino people by consciously articulating the unconscious
course of events.

To Guerrero (1998), Rizal was the first Filipino. This was because it was Rizal who
first called the Philippines his fatherland. It was he who taught his countrymen that they could
be something else, Filipinos who were members of the Filipino nation. He was the first to
work towards the unification of the Philippine archipelago into a compact and homogeneous
body based on common interests and mutual protection.

Rizal, Pioneer Asian Nationalist Leader

Rizal was born in the decade when other nationalist leaders of Asia were born:
Mohandas Gandhi; Rabindaranath Tagore and Sun Yat-Sen. According to Coates (1968), all
the four challenged the West. Of the four, Rizal was the most remarkable because his ideas
matured at an early age. At the time that Gandhi was a schoolboy and Sun Yat-Sen was a
student, Rizal was already articulating lucidly in his speeches, articles and letters his views of
a completely different relationship between Asia and Europe that the Asians must be regarded
by Europe as equals.

Rizal was the first exponent of Asian nationalism since he was the source of
inspiration for the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution of 1896 (De Ocampo, 1969).
Although Rizal opposed the revolution because it was premature and inadequately organized,
the revolution broke out, which can be considered the first genuine uprising by an Asian
people against Western colonialism.

Fisher (1962) even called Rizal the Pioneer Exponent of Liberal Democracy in Asia.
According to her, even before Gandhi and Sun Yat- Sen began their career of political
agitation, Rizal through his essays, letters, and novels had already spoken out with firmness
and courage ideas on liberal democracy. These ideas include the following:
 The worth and dignity of the individual;
  The inviolability of human rights;

 The innate equality of all men and races; The necessity for constitutional
government;

 Due process of law;

 Popular sovereignty as the basis of all political authority; Faith in human reason and
enlightenment;

 The rights of the masses to public education; and

 Belief in social progress through freedom.

Rizal was the first Asian leader to assert that the aforementioned ideas and principles
be established in Asia for the benefit of the Asians, It was through Rizal that the basic tenets
of modern and social democracy were given a major voice in Asia for the first time. Thus,
Rizal deserves to be called the First Asian Nationalist Leader.

Major Periods in the Life of Rizal

There are four major periods in the life of Rizal: 1861-1872; 1872- 1882; 1882-1892;
and 1892-1896 (Celedonio, 1982).

First Period (1861-1872). This was the period when the young Rizal learned how to
read, write and listened to stories that triggered imaginative and critical thinking on his part. It
was a period when the following values and virtues were developed in him: industriousness
instead of idleness; creativeness instead of unproductiveness; rationality instead of blind
acceptance; and dignity instead of servility.

Second Period (1872-1882). This was the first turning point in the life of Rizal. He
was then 11 years and was enrolled at Ateneo Municipal, despite the objection of his mother.
It was the period when Fathers Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora were unjustly executed by the
Spanish government. The martyrdom of these three priests led Rizal to be awakened to the
abuses of the regime and at the same time led him to devote himself in the future to avenge
the victims of injustices and cruelties of the Spanish colonizers.

Other significant developments in his life during this period include the following.

 Strengthening of his religious foundation;

 Cultivation of the drive toward excellence;

 Conception of the Philippines as his fatherland;

 Envisioning the Philippines receiving light thru education; and

 Perception of the intimate alliance between religion and education.

Third Period (1882-1892). The year 1882 was the second major turning point in the
life of Rizal. It was at this time that Rizal decided to leave the Philippines to escape
persecution. He went to Europe and everywhere he went, Rizal was always an observer and a
student, learning from everything he saw, read, and heard. He urged the Filipino colony in
Spain to prove that Filipinos can compete with the Europeans in intellect and talent Thru his
membership in exclusive societies of scholars and scientists in Europe where he presented
monographs and was greatly appreciated, Rizal provided his compatriots an example.

During this period, Rizal took part in the Propaganda Movement, based in Europe.
Through his articles, essays, and novels, he sought to make truthful disclosures of the
political, social, and economic conditions in the Philippines.

Fourth Period (1892-1896). The year 1892 can be considered the last turning point in
the life of our national hero, before his martyrdom on December 30, 1896. Rizal was exiled in
Dapitan. It was here in Dapitan, where Rizal demonstrated what an individual can do and
accomplish within a short period of time. It was here where he detached his connection with
politics and devoted more of his time in practical service and usefulness to the community.

Chapter 2: The 19th Century World of Jose Rizal

To fully comprehend the role of Dr. Rizal played in the shaping of the Filipino
nationalism, there is a need for us to look into the developments in the 19 th century. This is
essential in understanding his ideology and outlook as an individual. Important developments
during the said century are as follows: growth and development of nationalism; rise and
gradual spread of liberalism and democracy; industrial revolution; the upsurge of western
imperialism; triumph of science and technology; and optimism and confidence in progress
(Capino et al, 1977).

Growth and Development of Nationalism

Nationalism is a sense of loyalty or psychological attachment that members of a

nation share, based on a common language, history, culture, and desire for independence
(Jackson & Jackson, 2000). It is a feeling that drives a people together as a nation. It is love of
country expressed in devotion to and advocacy of national interest and independence.

The growth of nationalism can be attributed to two major revolutions of the earlier
century: the American Revolution of 1776; and the French Revolution of 1789. Both
revolutions gave birth to the idea that an individual's loyalty has to be to his nation not to the
king. The American Revolution gave birth to the United States of America. On the other
hand, the French Revolution led to the overthrowing of the absolute rule of the Bourbon
Dynasty and the abolition of the feudal system.

The ideology of the French Revolution - Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality - had
influenced subject peoples to cast off the yoke of colonialism by means of armed uprising.
Owing to their nationalistic spirit, Italy became a united kingdom under King Victor
Emmanuel II after the Italians under Guiseppe Garibaldi drove out the Austrians occupying
the northern part of the country and weakened the influence of the Pope. The separete
kingdoms of Italy united as one nation. Ten years later, Germany through the vigorous
campaign by the Prussians under Otto von Bismarck united the various kingdoms and
dukedoms of the German nation and became one empire under Emperor William I.

Nationalism is one of the radical ideas in the years after 1815, which influenced the
modern world tremendously. There are three points that stand out in this complex ideology
(McKay et al, 1995). First, nationalism has evolved from a real or imagined cultural unity,
manifesting itself in a common language, history, and territory. Second, nationalists have
usually sought to turn this cultural unity into political reality so that the territory of each
people coincides with its state boundaries. Third, Nationalists believed that every nation has
the right to exist in freedom and develop its character and spirit.

While nationalism can foster national unity, progress, and independence, it also has it
negative side. The ideas of national superiority and national mission can lead to aggressive
crusades and counter-crusades. Nationalism can also stress differences among peoples.

The development of nationalism in the Philippines, however, was very slow. Loyalty
to the nation began only after the unjust execution of Fathers Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora on
February 17, 1872.

Rise and Gradual Spread of Liberalism and Democracy

The rise and spread of liberalism and democracy was actually consequence of the
growth and development of nationalism (Black, 1999) The principal ideas of liberalism -
liberty and equality - were first realized successfully in the American Revolution and then
achieved in part in the French Revolution. This political and social philosophy challenged
conservatism in the European continent. Liberalism demanded representative government as
opposed to autocratic monarchy, equality before the law as opposed to legally separate
classes. The idea of liberty also meant specific individual freedoms: freedom of the press;
freedom of speech; freedom of assembly; and freedom from arbitrary arrest.

Democracy became a way of life in many European countries, like Britain, Belgium,
and Switzerland. Democracy was gradually established thru the following means:
promulgation of laws that advance democracy; undertaking of reforms thru legislation;
abolition of slavery; adoption of a liberal constitution; providing the citizens the opportunity
to propose laws; adoption of manhood suffrage; and granting of political, economic and social
rights to the people.

Democracy was non-existent in the Philippines in the 19th century. The Philippines
was denied representation in the Spanish Cortes since 1833. The ecclesiastical and civil
authorities then were not inclined to grant basic human rights to the Filipinos, as it will be
detrimental to Spain's colonial administration of the Philippines. They believed that if the
Filipinos will enjoy basic rights and freedom, they would be motivated to work for
independence and topple down the Regime.

The Industrial Revolution

One of the most crucial developments in the 19th century was the Industrial
Revolution (Stearns et al, 1991). The Industrial Revolution refers to the transformation of
manufacturing brought about by the invention and use of machines. This development started
in England and later on spread into Belgium, France, Germany, and even the United States.

The invention of machines and their use in manufacturing brought about significant
changes in people's lives. Some of the positive effects brought about by this development
include the following:

 The rise of the factory system;

 Mass production of essential and non-essential goods;

  Improvement of people’s standard of living;

 Greater urbanization of society;

 Beginnings of specialization or division of labor;

 Invention of labor-saving devices;

 The beginnings of industrial capitalism;

 Fostering of liberalism and nationalism; and

 Encouragement of people’s mobility.

On the other hand, there were negative effects of the Industrial Revolution to people.
Some of the evils associated wit the Industrial Revolution are as follows:

 Widening of the gap between the rich and the poor;

 Unending economic warfare between labor and capital;

 Pollution and other environmental problems;

 Beginning of child and women labor; and

 Intensification of imperialistic rivalry between and among industrialized countries.

In the Philippines, it caused the displacement of the farmers from their lands.

To solve the evils created by the industrial system, different measures were proposed
by concerned sectors of world society (Doreen, 1991).

For the liberals, laissez-faire policy or government's non-interference in the conduct

of trade and business has to be sustained for the continuous expansion of the economy.

The socialists assert that the government has to control vital industries and resources.
This is necessary in promoting equality of opportunity and people's welfare in society.

The communists, on the other hand, suggest that all factors of production be owned
and controlled by the government. Equality in society can be achieved if social classes are
destroyed and dictatorship of the proletariat is established.

Conversely, the Catholic Church calls for humane treatment of workers, respect for
workers' rights, and social justice for the poor. It also enjoined the government to regulate the
use of private property and provide humane and favorable working conditions for the
proletariat.

The Advancement of Science

 The rapid expansion of scientific knowledge profoundly influenced Western thought
in the 19th century (Hunt et al, 1995). Breakthroughs in industrial technology enormously
stimulated basic scientific inquiry. The result was an explosive growth of fundamental
scientific discoveries from 1830s onward. These theoretical discoveries were increasingly
transformed into material improvements for the population. The translation of better scientific
knowledge into practical benefits was evident in biology. medical sciences, physics, and
chemistry.

The 19th century was time for the expansion of scientific knowledge. This means that
search for knowledge and truth could be explained by a rational and empirical approach. This
was the result of the Age of Enlightenment during the 18th century, when blind belief and
dogma were challenged by the principle that everything could be explained by reason. This
resulted in the development of the scientific method, where knowledge needs to be proven by
a systematic and rational approach, which in effect, resulted in advances in the sciences.

The triumph of science and technology had at least three significant consequences.
First, everyday experience and innumerable scientists impressed the importance of science on
the mind of ordinary citizens.

Second, as science became more prominent in popular thinking, the philosophical

implications of science spread to broad sections of the population. Technical advances led the
people to develop optimistic faith in man's capability to achieve progress.

Third, the methods of science acquired unrivaled prestige after 1850. For many, the
union of careful experiment and abstract theory was the only route to truth and objective
reality.

The effects of the scientific revolution spilled to the challenging of traditional beliefs
in religion and politics. A belief emerged that the Church is not the sole source of knowledged
but everyone can be capable of achieving knowledge and challenging the old established
belief as long as this could be scientifically explained, replicated and validated.

The scientific revolution gained headway in Western European countries like

Germany, France, and England, which became centers of learning in the 19 century. Its
universities and society became free market places of ideas, characterized by a large degree of
intellectual freedom that is unhampered by religious dogma and superstition. German, French,
and English scientists were at the forefront of this revolution and abroad, explorers,
archaeologists, and anthropologists scoured all parts of the world for new discoveries.
Unfortunately, however Spain was at the backwater of this scientific upheaval and this was fel
by Rizal himself when he left the Philippines, feeling that his education in the colony was
inadequate. He, eventually, left Spain for more advanced studies in Germany and France to
improve his competencies as physician.

The Resurgence of Western Imperialism

In the 19th century, the industrializing West entered the third and most dynamic
phase of its centuries-old expansion into non-Western lands. In so doing, these Western
nations profitably subordinated those lands to their economic interests, sent forth millions of
immigrants, and political influence in Asia and vast political empires in Africa. The reasons
for this culminating surge were many, but the economic thrust of robust industrial capitalism,
an ever-growing lead in technology, and the competitive pressures of European nationalism
were particularly important.
 Western expansion had far-reaching consequences. For the first time in human
history, the world became in many ways a single unit Moreover, European expansion diffused
the ideas and techniques of a highly developed civilization. Yet the West relied on force to
conquer and rule, and treated non-Western peoples as racial inferiors. Thus, non- Western
elites, armed with Western doctrines, gradually responded to Western challenge. They
launched a national, anti-imperialist struggle for dignity, genuine independence, and
modernization. Colonized peoples, therefore, started to assert their right to self-determination
or the right to choose the kind of government under which they would live.

Optimism and Confidence in Progress

Optimism or faith in society and man's ability to progress was brought about by the
advancement of science, the coming of steam-powered industry, and the spread of liberalism
and socialism (Chodorow et al. 1994). The optimism of the century was summed by Marquis
de Condorcet in his work, Sketch for a Historical Picture of the Progress of the Human Mind
He saw that "the strongest reasons for believing that nature has set limit to the realization of
our hopes" and foresaw "the abolition of inequality between nations, the progress of equality
within nations, and the tru perfection of humanity. Progress was now independent of any
power that might wish to halt it and will never be reversed."

Optimism and confidence in progress can be gleaned from the achievements of men
in the 19th century. Notable among these were the following (Capino, 1977):

 Extension of human rights to many people;

 Promotion of higher education for men and women;

 Education for nationalism in schools;

 Investment in science to serve mankind;

 Improvement of public health thru the establishment of numerous hospitals; and

 Emergence of realistic literature, depicting the life of the time.