MODULE 1:

The Study of Dr. Jose P. Rizal Course and Republic Act

No. 1425

Overview
Cemented on history as potent symbol of the nation, Rizal’s heroism was sponsored
by the nation through Republic Act 1425 (Rizal Law) of June 12, 1956, with the younger
generations, the “Millennials”, receiving much importance. This lesson analyzes the Rizal
Law to stress the significance of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, a national hero and foremost exemplar of
Filipino heroism, in fostering sense of nationalism, especially for the fair hopes of the nation,
the youth.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, the students should be able:

 Explain the history of Rizal Law and its important provisions
 Discuss about Dr. Jose P. Rizal course and its important provisions by reading the
Republic Act (R.A.) 1425 / Rizal Law
 Examine the laws and acts passed in the Philippines that gave recognition to Rizal's
achievements and contribution to the Philippines
 Critically assess the usefulness/effectiveness of the Rizal course; and evaluate the
heroism and martyrdom of Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

Content/Topics
 Lesson 1: The Father of Rizal Law: Mr. Claro M. Recto
 Lesson 2: Dr. Jose P. Rizal was chosen as the Greatest Philippine National Hero
 Lesson 3: Other countries choose their national hero.
 Lesson 4: Honors Accorded to Rizal as a Philippine National Hero

Introduction
Lesson 1: The Father of Rizal Law: Mr. Claro M. Recto

The study of Dr. Jose P. Rizal's life, works and writings has been mandated by
Republic Act No. 1425 also known as the Rizal Law, approved on June 12, 1956, provides
for the integration of the study of the life and works of Dr. Jose P. Rizal in the curriculum of
the tertiary level and took effect on August 16, 1956.

In July 1956, Jose P. Laurel, Claro Mayo Recto, Jose B. Laurel Jr., Jacobo Gonzales,
Lorenzo Tañada and other lawmakers sponsored the R.A. 1425 that would enforce the
teaching of the life and works of Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

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Module 1 – The Study of Dr. Jose P. Rizal Course and Republic Act No. 1425 Prepared by: Mario G. Cardente
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 Claro Mayo Recto, was a Filipino politician,
jurist, poet and one of the Great statemen of his
generation. He is remembered for his nationalism, for
the “impact of his patriotic convictions on modem
political thought”. He launched his political career as a
legal adviser to the first Philippine Senate in 1916. In
1919, he was elected as a representative from the
second district of Batangas. He served as a minority
floor leader for several years until 1925.

His grasp of parliamentary procedures won him

the praises of friends and challengers alike. He traveled
to the United States as a member of the Independence Mission and was admitted to the
American Bar in 1924. Upon His return, he founded the Partido Democrata.

In 1928, he temporarily retired from active politics and dedicated himself to the
practice and teaching of law. Recto found the world of academia restrictive and tiresome.
Although he still engaged in the practice of law, he resigned from his teaching job in 1931
and re-entered politics when he ran and won a senate seat and was subsequently elected its
majority floor leader in 1934.Recto was known as an abogado milagroso (lawyer of miracles),
a tribute to his many victories in the judicial court. He was appointed Associate Justice of the
Supreme Court of the Philippines in 1935 by the U.S.A. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. As
a jurist, he debated against U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Attorney General Herbert
Brownell Jr. on the question of U.S., ownership of military bases in the Philippines, a
question that remained unsolved.

Recto presided over the assembly that drafted the Philippine Constitution in 1934-
1935 in accordance with the provisions of the Tydings McDuffie Act and a preliminary step to
independence and self-governance after a 10-year transitional period.

His prominence as a lawyer paralleled his name as a writer. He was known for his
flawless logic and rationality of mind in both undertakings. He served the wartime cabinet of
President Jose P. Laurel during the Japanese occupation. Together with Jose P. Laurel,
Camilo Osias, and Quintin Paredes, he was taken to the custody by the American colonial
government and tried for treason. In his defense, in his treatise entitled “Three Years of
Enemy Occupation”. 1946, he convincingly presented the case of patriotic conduct of
Filipinos during World War II. He fought his legal battles and was acquitted. His critics claim
that Recto’s brilliance is overshadowed by his inability to capture nationwide acceptance.
The political editorialist, Manuel L. Quezon III, laments this fact:

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 “Claro M. Recto's leadership was the curious kind that only finds fulfillment from being
at the periphery of power, and not from being its fulcrum. It was the best occupation suited to
the satirist that he was. His success at the polls would be limited, his ability to mold the
minds of his contemporaries was only excelled by RIZAL’s…but he was admired for his
intellect and his dogged determination to never let the opposition be bereft of a champion,
still his opposition was flawed. For it was one that never bothered to transform itself into an
opposition capable of taking power.”

As Father of the Rizal Law, Recto sponsored the Rizal Bill together with fellow law
makers. The bill would require all high schools, colleges, and universities to include in their
curricula a course, in the study of Dr. Jose Rizal’s life, works, and writings, mainly the great
novels Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo to provide an in-depth study of nationalism and
the shaping of national character.

What is Rizal Law?

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 PRINTINNG AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, today more than other period of our history, there is a need for re-dedication to
the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our heroes lived and died.

WHEREAS, it is met that in honoring them, particularly the national hero and patriot, Jose
Rizal, we remember with special fondness and devotion their lives and works that have
shaped the national character;

WHEREAS, the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo, are a constant and aspiring source of patriotism with which the minds
of the youth, especially during their formative and decisive years in school, should be
covered.

WHEREAS, all educational institutions are under the supervision of, and subject to regulation
by the State, and all schools are enjoined to develop moral character, personal discipline,
civic conscience, and to teach the duties of citizenship; Now therefore,

Be it enacted by Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled.

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SECTION 1
Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula or 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
translations shall be used as basic texts.

The board of National Education is hereby authorized and directed to adopt forthwith
measures to implement and carry out the provisions of this Section, including the writing and
printing of appropriate primers, readers and textbooks. The Board shall, within sixty (60) days
from the effectivity of this Act promulgate rules and regulations, including those of disciplinary
nature, to carry out and enforce the regulations of this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules
and regulations providing for the exemption of students for reason of religious belief stated
and sworn written statement, from the requirement of the provision contained in the second
part of the first paragraph of this section; but not from taking the course provided for the the
first part of said paragraph. Said rules and regulations shall take effect thirty (30) days after
their publication in the Official Gazette.

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 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.

The Board of National Education shall determine the adequacy of the number of
books, depending upon the enrollment of the school, college or university.

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 the Barrio councils throughout the country.

SECTION 4
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amending or repealing section nine hundred
twenty-seven of the Administrative Code, prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines by
public school teachers and other persons engaged in any public school.

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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.

By integrating Rizal in the Curriculum, this would benefit the Filipino youth as well as
the whole nation to acquire the following traits: incorruptible, confidence, direction, courage
and determination, high sense of relationship, nationalism, and patriotism.

Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 2 Series of 1996 directs the Committee
on Education to the inclusion of the Rizal Course as a 3-unit lesson with the following aims
and Purposes:

1. The law aims and desires to re-establish that the Filipinos themselves be imbued with the
principles of freedom and a sense of nationalism. The rationale or which is to perpetuate
the memories of our hero’s death and sacrifices.

2. The law aims to honor the heroes particularly Dr. Jose P. Rizal and to remind us of his
sacrifices and his two novels-Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo that paved the way
to the nationalism and patriotism of the entire country.

3. The law aims to cultivate and inculcate among the students in all schools the character
development, self-discipline, civic consciousness and to teach the duties of citizenship
which became the primary reasons for the enactment of the law reforms and changes.

To take one's interest of and to comprehend fully and satisfactorily the life, works and
writings of Dr. Jose P. Rizal, our national hero, it is indeed indispensable to gain knowledge
of the background of world history and the Philippines during his times. The 19th century was
a century of a violent blow of the winds in its history most particularly in Asia, Europe and
America. It was a rigid pour of events that emanated beyond one's control like sea tides that
ruthlessly inflicted the human lives and fortunes of mankind.

On June 19, 1861, Rizal was born, as the titanic chaos exploded an April 12, 1861
which resulted into the American Civil war (1861-1865) that raged outraged in the United
States over the issue of Negro slavery compelling President Abraham Lincoln to proclaim
liberation of Negro slaves in September 22, 1564. Rizal’s time was deemed to be the height
of the maladministration of Spain and its decay that obscured the Philippine skies. The
Filipino people suffered intensely beneath the bondage of Spanish misrule for they will ill-

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fated victims of the evils, injustice, prejudices and sudden collapse of colonial power. Among
these baneful features were the following:

1. Instability of Colonial Administration

2. Corrupt Spanish Officials
3. No Philippine Representation to the Spanish Courts
4. Human Rights Denied to the Filipinos
5. No Equality Before the Law
6. Maladministration of Justice
7. Racial Discrimination
8. Frailocracy and Secularization of Filipino Priests
9. Forced Labor and Excessive taxes
10. Haciendas owned by Friars and Spanish Officials
11. The abuses of the Guardia Civil, Church Officials and Political Leaders

Dr Jose Rizal's writings summarize his nationalistic and patriotic philosophy as well as
his keen sense of awareness of the Filipino people's need for nation building. A tribute to a
man and hero should be our rationale, because we believe that Dr. Jose Rizal was an
exponent of the roots of our nationhood.
The framers of the Rizal Law envisioned that by studying his life, dissecting his
teachings and literary works, the youth may gain inspiration and might personally
involve them in nation-building.

Lesson 2: Dr. Jose P. Rizal was chosen as the Greatest Philippine

National Hero

"I die, without seeing the Day dawning on my country... You will see it, greet it... and
forget not those who fell during the night.”
Dr. Jose P. Rizal

A hero is a person admired for achievements and noble qualities and a prominent or
central personage taking an admirable action. Also, a person or distinguished valor or
enterprise in danger and an individual honored after death by public worship because of
laudable and exceptional service to mankind.

The difference between hero and martyr is that hero is a real person of great bravery
who carries out extraordinary deeds while martyr is one who willingly accepts being put to
death for adhering openly to one's religious beliefs, notably saints canonized after
martyrdom.

GE-LWR: Life and Works of Dr. Jose P. Rizal

Module 1 – The Study of Dr. Jose P. Rizal Course and Republic Act No. 1425 Prepared by: Mario G. Cardente
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 Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Y Alonso Realonda was a man of many talents. The Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo provided the ember that awakened Filipino nationalism
and paved the way for the Philippine Revolution of 1896. He proved that the "Pen is Mightier
than the Sword" to redeem a people from their political slavery.

The Americans, particularly Civil Governor William Howard Taft being the Chairman of
the Philippine Commission addressed Messrs. Pardo de Tavera, Legarda, Gregorio Araneta,
Cayetano Arellano the choosing of the Philippine National hero. Among the nominated
names were Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Gen. Antonio Luna, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Emilio Jacinto
and Jose P. Rizal.

Dr. Otley H. Bayer, an anthropologist and technical member of the panel of the
Philippine Commission recommended the following criteria in choosing the national hero:

a. The person must be a Filipino.

b. The person is a peace-loving and pacifist.
c. The person must have a great sense of patriotism.
d. The person must have died for the country as a martyr.

Reasons why Rizal was chosen and declared as the Philippine's National Hero.
 He was the first Filipino to unite and awaken the Filipino People to peacefully rise for
independence.
 He is a model for being a peacemaker by his complete self-denial, his complete
abandonment of his personal interest and to think only of his country and people.
 He was a towering figure in the propaganda campaign from 1882-1896.
 He was a martyr at Bagumbayan where he willingly died for our country.

Lesson 3: Other Countries Choose Their National Hero

The heroes of occidental nations are warriors and generals who served their cause
with the sword, distilling blood and tears. The hero of the Filipinos served his cause with the
pen. Other countries chose their national heroes who were soldier-generals, who fought for
the country's liberty and independence in the battlefield with their mighty “sword". Among
them were George Washington of USA, Joan of Arc of France, Simon Bolivar of Venezuela,
Jose de San Martin of Argentina, Jimmo Tenno of Japan and others.

In comparison, Jose Rizal, the Philippine National Hero was a pacifist and a civilian
who served his cause with the pen through his writings had awakened Filipino nationalism
and paved the way for the Philippine Revolution.

What other great men said about the pen and sword ?

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 Napoleon who was a great conqueror and ruler said, “There are only two powers in
the world, the sword and pen; and in the end the former is always conquered by the latter”.

Sir Thomas Browne said, "Scholars are men of Peace they bear no arms, but their
tongues are sharper than the sword. Their pens carry further and give a louder report than
thunder. I rather stand in the shock of a basilisk than in the fury of a merciless pen”.

What is most admirable in Rizal according to Rafael Palma ?

“Is his complete self-denial, his complete abandonment of his personal interest in
order to think only of those of his country. He could have been whatever he wished to be,
considering his natural endowments, he could have earned considerable sum of money from
his profession, he could have lived relatively rich, happy, prosperous, had he not dedicated
himself to public maters. He preferred to live far from his family and to sacrifice his personal
affection for an ideal he had dreamed of following his conscience. He did not have great
means at his disposal to carry out his campaign; He contented himself with what he had. He
suffered the cold winter of Europe, hunger, privation and misery but when he raised his eyes
to heaven and saw his ideals, his hope was reborn, He soon felt comforted and resumed the
task of bearing the cross of his suffering.”

Lesson 4: Honors Accorded to Rizal as a Philippine National Hero

I. The day of his birth and day of his execution are fittingly commemorated by all classes or
people throughout the country and other Filipinos abroad.
II. No other Filipino hero can surpass Rizal in the number of monuments erected in his
honor, in towns, Barrios/ and schools.
III. His name is a by-word in every home and his picture is printed and used in postage
stamps.
IV. The paper money/ coins with his image have the widest circulation that the poorest of the
poor can take hold.
V. Streets, boulevards, educational institutions and persons were named ‘Rizal’.
VI. His noble thoughts and teachings had been frequently invoked and quote by speakers.
VII. The union of Manila and Morong to be a province was named after the illustrious Filipino
hero thus the Rizal province was established.

References:

Life and works of Rizal. A modular approach 2018 Michael Pangilinan, Modesta Franco-
Igloria, edena Pasague.

The Life, Works and Writings of Jose Rizal. A Course Module 2019 Eugene Raymond P.
Crudo, Herald Ian C. Guiwa. Reidan M. Pawilen.
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http:/joserizal.ph/in01.html

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