CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE
COURSE
RIZAL BILL
The Rizal Bill involves mandating the
educational institutions in the country to offer a
course on the Life, Works, and writings of Jose
Rizal especially his two novels – Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo. The bill was
passed into a law on June 12, 1956.
Claro M. Recto
The main proponent of this bill is Former Senator
Claro M. Recto. However, the bill was heavily
opposed by the Catholic church, causing Recto to
be named as a communist and an Anti-Catholic.
Goals of Rizal Law
• To rededicate the lives of youth to the
ideals of freedom and nationalism, for
which our heroes lived and died.
• To pay tribute to our national hero for
devoting his life and works in shaping the
Filipino character.
• To gain an inspiring source of patriotism
through the study of Rizal's life, works,
and writings.
REPUBLIC ACT NO 1425 RIZAL LAW
Republic Act no. 1425
1st section of the law pertains to the mandatory
reading of Rizal's novels. The last two sections
involve making Rizal's writings accessible to
the general public.
- An act to include in the curricula of all public
and private schools 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.
Other laws related to Rizal Law
➢ Memorandum Order No. 247 (1994) –
Former President Fidel V. Ramos directed the
full implementation of RA No. 1425.
➢ CHED Memorandum No. 3 – enforced the
strict compliance to Memorandum Order No.
247.
➢ Republic Act No. 229 – an act prohibiting
cockfighting, horse racing, and jai-alai every
30th of December each year; the organization
of committee to commemorate Rizal in every
municipality.
IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING RIZAL
Why do we need to study Rizal’s life, works, and
writings?
1. The subject provides insights into how to deal with
current problems.
2. It helps us understand ourselves better as
Filipinos.
3. It teaches nationalism and patriotism.
4. Provides various essential life lessons
5. It helps in developing logical and critical thinking.
6. Rizal can serve as a worthwhile model and
inspiration to Filipinos.
7. The subject can be a source of entertaining
narratives.
HERO VS. MARTYR
HERO
➢ A prominent or central personage taking an
admirable action/event.
➢ A person of distinguished valor or enterprise
in danger or fortitude in suffering.
➢ A man honored after death by public worship
because of his exceptional service to
mankind.
MARTYR
➢ A person who willingly suffers death
rather than renounce his religion
➢ A person who is put to death or endures
great suffering on behalf of any belief,
principle, or cause, and he is a person
who undergoes severe or constant
suffering.
CHAPTER 3: RIZAL’S LIFE: RIZAL’S
FAMILY, CHILDHOOD, AND EARLY
EDUCATION
JOSE PROTACIO RIZAL MERCADO Y
ALONSO REALONDA
• Born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna
• 7th of eleven children
• Baptism, June 22, 1861 by Fr. Rufino Collantes.
• Godfather, Fr. Pedro Casañas.
"Take good care of this child for someday he will
become a great man." - Fr. Rufino Collantes
Don Francisco Mercado
➢ Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado
➢ A farmer from Binan, Laguna
➢ he became teniente gobernadorcillo in
Calamba and was thus nicknamed
Tiniente Kiko.
➢ His great grandfather was Domingo
Lam-co, a learned maka- masa Chinese
immigrant businessman.
➢ He was born on Mary 11, 1818
➢ Studied Latin & Philosophy at the
College of San Jose in
Manila Dona Teodora Alonso
THE SURNAME RIZAL
➢ Rizal’s paternal great-great grandfather,
Chinese merchant, Domingo Lam-co,
adopted the name “Mercado”, which
means “market”.
➢ Jose’s father became primarily a farmer,
he then adopted the surname “Rizal”
(Ricial meaning “the green of young
growth” or “green fields”)
➢ The new name caused confusion in the
commercial affairs of the family, so Don
Francisco settled on the name “Rizal
Mercado”, and often just used his more
known surname “Mercado”.
RIZAL’S BIRTH
Dona Teodora was said to have suffered the
greatest pain during the delivery of her seventh
son, Jose. It was attributed to the fact that Jose’s
head was bigger than normal.
➢ Rizal was born in Calamba, Laguna.
➢ The first massive stone house in Calamba
was the birthplace of our national hero.
The Memory of his Infancy
• Included the nocturnal walk in the town
especially when there is a moon.

➢ Also known as “Lolay”, born on Aya (Nursemaid)

November 8, 1826.
➢ She was a diligent business-minded • Rizal recalled her who told him fabulous
woman, very graceful but courageous, stories like fairy, tails of buried treasure
well-mannered, religious, and well-read. and tress blooming the diamonds.
➢ Her family is believed to have descended
from Lakandula, the last native king of Daily Angelus prayer in their home. At the age of
Tondo three, he started to take a part in the family
➢ Through the Claveria decree of 1849, the prayers.
Alonsos adopted the surname
Realonda. Death of Concha on sickness in 1865

Rizal Siblings: • Jose’s first sorrow.

• Also at the age of five, Rizal began to
1. Saturnina make pencil sketches and mold in clay
2. Paciano and wax objects.
3. Narcisa
4. Olympia
5. Lucia
6. Maria
Leoncio Lopez
• One of the foremost acknowledged and
regarded men of Rizal
• He used to visit him and listen to his
inspiring opinions on current events and
thorough life views.
At age six
• His sisters laughed at him for spending
much time making clay and wax
images to which he prophetically
responded, “Alright laugh at me now!
Someday when I die, people will make
monuments and images of me.’
At the age of seven
• He experienced riding a casco with his
father on their way to a pilgrimage in
Antipolo.
Jose received a pony named “Alipato” from his
father.
He loved to ride the pony or take a long walk with
his black dog named “Usman. (Pepe’s black dog)
Before he was eight - He had written a drama
which was performed at a local festival; the
manuscript of the drama was purchased for two
pesos by a gobernadorcillo from Paete.
Note: Contrary to common knowledge, Rizal did
not write the Filipino poem “Sa Aking mga
Kababata/Kabata”
The young Rizal was also interested in magic. He
learned different tricks – making a coin disappear
& making a handkerchief vanish in thin air.
Jose Alberto - inspired him to cultivate his
artistic ability.
Tio Manuel - encouraged him to fortify his frail
body through physical exercises.
Tio Gregorio - intensified his avidness to read
good books.
EDUCATION
Dona Teodora was actually his first teacher. His
mother taught him Spanish, corrected his
composed poems, and coached him in rhetoric.
He learned the alphabet and Catholic prayers at
the age of three, and learned how to read and
write at age five.
His sister, Saturnina, and three maternal uncles
also mentored him.
He also had private tutors.
➢ Maestro Celestino – First private tutor of Jose
➢ Maestro Lucas Padua – Later succeeded as
Jose’s private tutor.
➢ Leon Monroy, his father’s former classmate,
tutored him in Spanish and Latin.
Rizal was sent to a private school in Binan; the
school of Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz in a
small nipa house.
Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz – Jose
described him as severe disciplinarian.
He beat all Binan boys academically in Spanish,
Latin, and many other subjects.
Pedro, the son of his teacher
➢ Jose challenged him to a fight. Though
younger and smaller, having learned
from his uncle Manuel, Josen defeated
his tormenter.
Andres Salandanan
➢ He had an arm-wrestling match with
Pepe.
CHAPTER 4 HIGHER EDUCATION AND
LIFE ABROAD
EDUCATION IN MANILA AND
EUROPE AND EARLY TRAVELS
➢ Don Francisco sent Jose for further
education to Manila in June 1872.
➢ From 1877 to 1882, Rizal studied at the
University of Santo Tomas, enrolling in
the course Philosophy and Letters, but
shifted to Medicine a year after.
➢ He simultaneously took at Ateneo a
vocational course leading to being an
expert surveyor.
EDUCATION AT THE ATENEO
He was sent to enroll in Ateneo Municipal in June
1872.
Classes at the Ateneo were divided into two
groups, which competed against each other.
➢ One group was named Roman Empire,
comprising of the boarders
➢ the other group, Cathaginian Empire,
consisted of the non-boarders.
➢ When the term ended, he attained the
mark “excellent” in all subjects and in
the examinations.
In his second year, he obtained a medal at the
end of the academic term.
In the third year, he won prizes in the quarterly
examinations.
At the end of his fourth year, he garnered five
medals, with which he said, he could somewhat
repay his father for his sacrifices.
HIS PROFESSORS AT THE ATENEO
Jose Bach, a man with mood swings and
somewhat of a lunatic and of an uneven humor.
Francisco de Paula Sanchez, an upright, earnest,
and caring teacher whom Rizal considered his
best professor.
Jose Vilaclara and a certain Mineves.
Don Augustin Saez thoughtfully guided him in
drawing and painting.
Romualdo de Jesus instructed him in sculpture.
EDUCATION AT THE UST
In 1877, Rizal enrolled in the University of Santo
Tomas, taking the course on Philosophy and
Letters, while also taking a land-surveyor and
assessor’s degree at Ateneo.
He finished his surveyor’s training in 1877 and
passed the licensing examination in May 1878.
After a year, Jose changed course and enrolled in
Medicine to be able to cure the deteriorating
eyesight of his mother.
He did not complete his Medicine at UST
because the method of instruction of the
Dominican professors were obsolete and
repressive.
According to records, Rizal had taken a total of
19 subjects in UST and finished them with
varied grades. Notably, he got “excellent” in all
his subjects in the Philosophy course.
EDUCATION IN EUROPE
On May 3, 1882, Rizal left for Spain and enrolled
in Medicine and Philosophy & Letters at the
Universidad Central de Madrid on November 3.
In June 1884, Rizal received the degree of
Licentiate in Medicine at the age of 23.
In the next school year, he completed additional
subjects leading to the Doctor of Medicine
degree.
Exactly on his birthday, the Madrid University
awarded him the degree of Licentiate in
Philosophy and Letters.
From November 1885 to February 1886, he
worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert
where he learned how to perform
ophthalmological operations.
February 3, 1886, Rizal arrived in Heidelberg,
Germany. There he attended the lectures of Dr.
Otto Becker & Prof. Wilhelm Kuehne at the
University of Heidelberg.
He also worked at the University Eye Hospital
under the guidance of Dr. Becker. He also
learned to use the newly invented
ophthalmoscope.
He later used the said equipment to operate on
his mother’s eye. In Heidelberg, Rizal
completed his eye specialization.
Rizal spent three months in Wilhemsfeld where
he wrote the last few chapters of Noli Me
Tangere. There, he stayed at the pastoral house of
Protestant pastor Dr. Karl Ullmer.
In November 1886, he reached Berlin where he
worked as an assistant in Dr. Schweigger’s
clinic and attended lectures at the University of
Berlin.
In 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 for the “Ethnographic Society” of
Berlin on the orthography and structure of the
Tagalog language.
In Germany, he met and befriended famous
academicians and scholars at the time.
Prof. Friedrich Ratzel, a German historian
Dr. Hanz Meyer, a German anthropologist
Dr. Feodor Jagor, author of the Travels in the
Philippines,
Dr. Rudolf Virchow, a German anthropologist,
Dr. Hans Virchow, Descriptive Anatomy professor.
These people were so proud that once in their
lives they had known the educated and great
Filipino named Jose Rizal.
LIFE IN EUROPE
After some months, Rizal left Barcelona for
Madrid. On September 16, 1882, Rizal met and
befriended Consuelo Ortiga y Rey, the prettiest
of the daughters of Don Pablo Ortiga y Rey, the
Spanish liberal and former mayor of Manila.
He attended a meeting with his fellow Filipinos
where they had a Filipino luncheon and dinner
in the house of the Paternos.
A year after the meeting, Rizal was penniless
due to the economic regression encountered by
his family. In June 1884, one day he went to
school without eating breakfast but still won a
gold medal in a contest. Later that day, he
attended a dinner party in honor of two award-
winning Filipino painters - - Juan Luna and
Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, where he delivered
a daring and controversial liberal speech (Rizal’s
Brindis Speech)
During his stay at Wilhemsfeld, his long distance
friendship with Ferdinand Blumentritt began.
He also reached Dresden in Germany where he
met and befriended Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, the
Director of the Anthropological and Ethnological
Museum.
In November 18856, he went to Berlin and further
enhanced his skills and knowledge in
ophthalmology. On February 21, 1887, he
finished his first novel, the Noli, and it came off
the press a month later.
FIRST HOMECOMING
Rizal was insistent to return to the Philippines
despite the warnings from his friends and loved
ones.
From a French port in Marseilles, he boarded on
July 3, 1887 the steamer “Djemnah”.
He reached Saigon on the 30th of the month. He
then took the steamer “Haiphong” and reached
Manila near midnight of August 5.
He went back to Calamba on August 8 after
meeting some friends in Manila.

After he restored his mother’s eyesight, he was

dubbed as “German doctor” or “Doctor
Uliman” (Aleman meaning German)

Rizal was summoned by the Governor-General

Emilio Terrero due to the allegations that his
Noli contained subversive ideas.

However, Terrero saw no problems in the book.

Though he still assigned a Royal bodyguard, Don
Jose Taviel de Andrade to protect Rizal from his
adversaries.

December 1887, residents of Calamba asked

Rizal’s assistance in collecting information
regarding Dominican hacienda management.

Rizal objectively reported that the Dominican

Order had arbitrarily increased the land rent
and charged the tenants for nonexistent
agricultural services.

Because of Rizal’s report, the friars were

enraged and they pressured the governor-general
to “advise” Rizal to leave the country.

Rizal then traveled abroad once again which

provided him with another opportunity to
have a new set of adventurous journeys.