REPUBLIC ACT NO.

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

SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and universities, public or private: Provided,
that in the collegiate courses, the original or unexpurgated editions of the 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 in their libraries an adequate
number of 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 translations 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.
SECTION 3. The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of the Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and the principal Philippine dialects;
cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and cause them to be distributed, free of charge, to persons
desiring to read them, through the Purok organizations and Barrio Councils throughout the country.
SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amendment or repealing section nine hundred twenty-seven of
the Administrative Code, prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines by public school teachers and other person
engaged in any public school.
SECTION 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any fund not
otherwise appropriated in the National Treasury to carry out the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

In 1956, Sen. Claro M. Recto filed a measure which became the original Rizal Bill. Under the bill it shall be obligatory
for college and university students to study the life and works of Rizal.
Senator Claro M. Recto was the main proponent of the Rizal Bill.

On May 12, 1956, a compromise inserted by Committee on Education Chairman Jose P. Laurel that accommodated
the objections of the Catholic Church was approved unanimously.

SYSTEMS AND POLICIES UNDER SPAIN

1. ENCOMIENDA: The first government system adopted by Spain in the islands. This system is based on land
occupation entrusted to private persons who contributed to the conquest of the islands, the Catholic Church
and the royal government.
2. PATRONATO REAL (royal patronage) the unity of Spain and the Catholic Church. This system puts the
Church under the authority of the government as agreed by both the king and the Pope.
3. TRIBUTE: tax imposed by Spain to every family annually. It came in the form of produce or money.
4. FRAILOCRACY: the rule of the friars (Spanish missionaries/ regular priests) which resulted to grave
abuses among civilians. Most abusers were the “cura paroco” (parish priests)

Some of the Filipino Revolts against Spanish Rule

16th century
 Lakandula and Sulayman Revolt (1574) or the Tagalog revolt against the Legazpi and Lavezares
administrations.
 Pampanga Revolt (1585) of Datus against Encomenderos
 Conspiracy of the Maharlikas in Tondo (1587-1588)
 The Cagayan and Dingras Revolts Against Tribute (1589)
 Magalat Revolt (1596) led by Magalat, a Cagayano rebel
17th century
 Igorot Revolt (1601) against conversion to Christianity
 Bancao Revolt (1621-1622) for religious freedom in Leyte
 Sumuroy Revolt (1649-50) of Warays of Northern Samar

Causes of the Filipinos’ Defeat on Revolts

1. Disunity because of lack of national identity. The divide and rule strategy was an obstacle.
2. Loyalty crisis because of ethnic differences
3. Self-interest
4. Lack of preparation and training
5. Absence of sufficient weapons and firepower
6. Geographical isolation and separation
7. Communication gap due to language differences

JOSE PROTACIO RIZAL MERCADO Y ALONSO REALONDA

Gov. Narciso Claveria issued the decree on the Hispanization of Filipino names, he chose the new surname Rizal,
from the Latin word “ricial” meaning “rice field”.

FAMILY BACKGROUND

PARENTS
Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandro (1818-1898)
Teodora Morales Alonso Realonda y Quintos

SIBLINGS
Saturnina-She is the eldest. She became the wife of Manuel Hidalgo of Tanawan, Batangas

Paciano-He was the family caretaker

Narcisa-She was married to Antonio Lopez, a school teacher of Morong, Rizal

Olympia -She became the wife of Silvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph operator of Manila.
Lucia-She became the wife of Mariano Herbosa, a town mate from Calamba. Herbosa died of cholera and was
denied Christian burial because he was a brother-in-law of Dr. Jose Rizal
Maria-She became the wife of Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna
Jose-
Concepcion-She died at the age of three (3) due to illness
Josefa -She was an epileptic. She died at the age of 80 as a spinster
Trinidad- She was also a spinster. She died at the age of 83. She inherited much of Rizal’s property in Dapitan
Soledad- She was the youngest in the family. She became the wife of Pantaleon Quintero also from Calamba.
EARLY INFLUENCES and MEMORIES

JOSÉ POTASIO RIZAL MERCADO Y ALONSO REALONDA

Born: June 19, 1861 in Calamba
He was baptized JOSE RIZAL MERCADO at the Catholic of Calamba by the parish priest Rev. Rufino Collantes with
Rev. Pedro Casañas as his godfather.
His sister Conception (8th child) died at the age of three which was considered Rizal’s first sorrow.
His mother, his first teacher taught him how to read and write

Private Tutors:
Mestro Lucas Padua
Maestro Celestino
Maestro Leon Monroy

• Uncle Jose Alberto, an artist, would teach Pepe skills in sketching and drawing through the use of a pencil
or charcoal.
• Uncle Manuel, being an athlete, would instruct him the rudiments of fencing and wrestling.
• Uncle Gregorio, who was a lover of books and a writer, would instill in him a passion for writing and an
appreciation to poetry and literature.

EDUCATION IN BIÑAN, LAGUNA 1870 – his brother Paciano brought Rizal to Biñan, Laguna to enroll in the school
supervised by Justiano Aquino Cruz

At the age of 3, Rizal learned the alphabet from his mother

At the age of 5, while learning to read and write, Rizal already showed inclinations to be an artist. He astounded his
family and relatives by his pencil drawings and sketches and by his moldings of clay.
At the age of 8, Rizal wrote a Tagalog poem, “Sa Aking Mga Kababata”, the theme of which revolves on the love of
one’s language.

STUDIES IN ATENEO

On June 10, 1872, Jose was accompanied by Paciano to take the entrance examination for the secondary
course at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
Upon his return to Manila, he was accompanied again by Paciano. But instead of going back to Letran, the
latter enrolled Jose at the Ateneo Municipal.
Father Magin Ferrando the registrar refused to admit Rizal for he was too small for his age, physically weak
and being too late to enroll.
The Jesuit system of education is more advanced than that of other colleges in that period. Students were
divided into two groups: The “Roman Empire” and The “Carthaginian Empire” to instill healthy competitions
among students.
He studied in Ateneo Municipal, a college under the supervision of the Spanish Jesuits. The Jesuits
returned to Manila in 1859, they were given the management of the Escuela Pia or what we now know as
Ateneo de Manila.
Rizal first boarded in a house outside Intramuros, at Caraballo Street.
Rizal studied Bachelor of Arts in 1877 Graduated as one of sobresaliente. Got excellent grades in all of his subjects.
First professor was Fr. Jose Bech Rizal.
Fr. Franciso Sanchez-Rizal’s favorite professor and inspired Rizal to write literary masterpiece.
His first poem in Ateneo Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration), which was dedicated to his mother on her
birthday.
He also wrote Through Education our Motherland Receives Light and The Intimate Alliance between Religion and
Good Education which showed the importance of religion in education.
Teenage Interest in Reading
The following were Rizal’s favorite book to read.
• The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas –Rizal’s first favorite novel
• Cesar Cantu’s historical work entitled Universal History
• Travels in the Philippines by Dr. Feodor Jagor

Extra-Curricular Activities in Ateneo

Rizal was a member of these two organizations in Ateneo: Marian Congregation and Spanish Literature
Academy of Natural
He also took private lessons on painting under Agustin Saez and sculpting under Romualdo de Jesus.
RIZALS SCULPTURAL WORKS
1. Virgin Mary-made from Batikuling
2. Sacred Heart of Jesus
EXPERT SURVEYOR COURSE IN ATENO-vocational course Rizal took up in Ateneo and he was only 17
years when he passed the final examination in the surveying course.

STUDIES IN THE PHILIPPINES IN UST

He enrolled Philosophy and Letters during his freshman year.

Why Philosophy & Letters?
1.) Don Francisco liked it.
2.) Uncertainty on what course to take up.
3.) Failure to solicit the advice of Father Ramon Pablo, Ateneo’s Rector, who was then at Mindanao.

Shifting from PHL & Letters to Medicine

Why did Rizal Shift to Medical course?
1.) Don Pablo Ramon, Ateneo Rector, advised him to choose medicine.
2.) Rizal wanted to cure his mother’s growing blindness.
Rizal was unhappy at this Dominican Institution of higher learning because;
1) Dominican professors were hostile to him
2) The Filipino students were racially discriminated
3) The method of instruction was obsolete and repressive

Romances
• Segunda Katigbak - Rizal’s puppy love/ first infatuation
• Miss L – fair with seductive and attractive eyes
• Leonor Valenzuela
• Leonor Rivera – a forbidden love
Consuelo Ortega Perez-Rizal did not allow the romance to grow for reasons that first, he still loved Leonor

and, second, he was planning to leave Madrid right after his studies. Eduardo de Lete was also courting
her.

LITERARY WORKS
ᴥEl Consejo de los Dioses
ᴥJunto al Pasig
ᴥA Filipinas
ᴥTo the Filipino Youth (A La Juventud Filipina)-Message: The youth is the hope of the motherland.
Compañerismo (The Comradeship)-a secret society founded in UST.

RIZAL IN BARCELONA AND MADRID

After finishing the 4th year of the medical course in the University of Santo Tomas, Rizal decided to
complete his studies in Spain • Aside from completing his studies in Spain, Rizalian his “secret mission’ –
was to observe keenly the life and the culture, languages and customs, industries, commerce and
government and laws of the European nations in order to prepare himself in the mighty task of liberating his
oppressed people from Spanish tyranny
MAY 3 1882 Rizal left Philippines for the first time Spain. He boarded the Salvadora using a passport of
Jose Mercado, which was procured for him by his uncle Antonio Rivera, father of Leonor Rivera.
June 16, 1882 – Rizal finally reached his destination – Barcelona • Rizal’s first impression of Barcelona, the
greatest city of Cataluña and Spain’s second largest city was unfavorable
Amor Patrio (Love of Country) – nationalistic essay, Rizal’s first article written on Spain’s soil • Under his
pen-name Laong Laan, appeared in print in Diariong Tagalog on August 20, 1882 • It was published in two
texts – Spanish and Tagalog – the Spanish text was the one originally written by Rizal in Barcelona, the
tagalog text was a Tagalog translation made by M.H. del Pilar

MADRID
November 3, 1882 – Rizal enrolled In the Universidad Central de Madrid (Central University of Madrid) in
two courses – Medicine and Philosophy and Letters
He studied painting and sculpture, took language lessons on French, German and English in the Academy
of San Carlos, and honed his fencing and shooting skills in the Hall of Arms Sanz y Carbonell.
Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-Philippine Circle)- a society of Spaniards and Filipinos which Rizal
joined shortly after his arrival in Madrid in 1882
March 1883- Rizal joined the Masonic lodge called Acacia in Madrid. Rizal’s reason for becoming a mason
was to secure Freemansory’s aid in his fight against the friars in the Philippines. Lodge Solidaridad
(Madrid) – Rizal transferred where he became a Master Mason on November 15, 1890

PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT-Organized for literary and cultural purposes more than for political ends, the
Propagandists, who included upper-class Filipinos from all the lowland Christian areas, strove to "awaken
the sleeping intellect of the Spaniard to the needs of our country" and to create a closer, more equal
association of the islands and the motherland.
Among their specific goals were:
• representation of the Philippines in the Cortes, or Spanish parliament;
• secularization of the clergy;
• legalization of Spanish and Filipino equality;
• creation of a public school system independent of the friars;
• abolition of the polo (labor service) and vandala (forced sale of local products to the
government);
• guarantee of basic freedoms of speech and association;
• and equal opportunity for Filipinos and Spanish to enter government service.