SOCSC 005 Life and Works of Rizal
Understanding the Rizal Law, Nation and Nationalism
1.1 Understanding the Rizal Law
Vocabulary:
bill a measure which, if passed through the
legislative process, becomes a law
unexpurgated basically untouched. In the case of the novels
of Rizal, unexpurgated versions were those
that were not changed or censored to remove
parts that might offend people
bicameral involving the two chambers of Congress; the
Senate and the House of Representatives
For decades, Filipinos considered Jose Rizal as one of the greatest
Filipino heroes.
This begs the question, is Jose Rizal the official Philippine
National Hero?
Republic Act 1425
• better known as Rizal Law
• the teaching of Jose Rizal's life with the emphasis on his
famous novels is mandatory
• The law was passed in 1956 after many debates and contestation.
3 branches of Philippine government
Philippine law-making (basic process)
Trivia:
• A bill may become a law, even without the President's signature, if
the President does not sign a bill within 30 days from receipt in his
office.
• A bill may also become a law without the President's signature if
Congress overrides a presidential veto by two-thirds vote.
How Did Rizal Bill Became a Law?
• The Rizal Bill was authored by then Sen. Claro M. Recto.
• The said bill mandates schools to offer a course in Rizal’s life works
and writings.
• On April 3, 1956, Senate Bill No. 438 was filed by Jose P. Laurel,
the then-Senate Committee on Education Chair, and delivered
speeches for the proposed legislation.
• It was opposed by the influential Catholic Church.
• A series of debate ensued between those in favor and against the
passage of the Rizal Bill into a law.
Issues Raised During The Debate
• A major point of the debate was whether the compulsory reading of
the novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo appropriated in
the bill was constitutional.
• The call to read the unexpurgated versions was also challenged.
Trivia:
The debate of Cebu Representative Ramon Durano and Pampanga
Representative Emilio Cortes that ended with a fistfight in Congress.
Bacolod City Bishop Manuel Yap threatened to campaign against
pro-rizal bill legislators and to punish them in future elections.
Catholic Schools Representatives threatened to close down their
schools if the Rizal Bill was passed. Recto told them that if they did,
the State could nationalize the catholic schools.
Catholic Church Staunchly Opposing the Rizal Law
• In his pastoral letter, the then Archbishop of Manila Rufino Santos
argued that the compulsory reading of the original versions of
Rizal’s novels would negatively affect students.
• Those who opposed the Rizal Bill painted Recto as communist and
anti-Catholic.
• According to Abinales and Amoroso (2005), the Church feared the
bill would violate freedom of conscience and religion. Or is it really
the reason?
The Catholic Church opposed the course/subject Rizal to
become compulsory specially the reading of his works namely the
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
This begs the question, WHY?
• The Rizal Law was emphatically opposed by the Catholic Church in
the Philippines, mostly due to the anti-clericalism in Rizal's books
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
Note: Anti-clericalism is opposition to religious authority, typically in
social or political matters.
Rizal Bill to Rizal Law
• During the debate, it seemed that it was not possible to reach an
agreement.
• To move the procedure to the next step, Senator Jose P. Laurel
proposed amendments to the bill on May 9, 1956.
• In particular, he removed the compulsory reading of Rizal's novels
and proposed that Rizal's other works be included in the subject.
• However, he still stood in his belief that the unexpurgated version of
the novels is read. On May 14, 1956, similar amendments were
adopted to the House version.
• The amended version of the bill was also subjected to scrutiny but
was acceptable to the members of Congress.
• But the passage was almost stopped by technicality since the
House of Representatives was about to adjourn in a few days and
President Ramon Magsaysay did not certify the bill as a priority.
• The allies in the House skillfully avoided the insertion of any other
amendment to prevent the need to reprint new copies (which would
take time).
• They also asked the Bureau of Printing to use the same templates
for the Senate version in printing the House version. Thus, on May
17, 1956, the Senate and House versions were approved.
• The approved versions were transmitted to Malacañang and on
June 12, 1956, President Magsaysay signed the bill into law which
became Republic Act No. 1425.
Excerpts from RA 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 ELI FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE
PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
SOCSC 005 Life and Works of Rizal
Understanding the Rizal Law, Nation and Nationalism
• SECTION 1. Course on the life works, and writings of Jose Rizal,
particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall
be included 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 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.
Its more than 60 decades after the Rizal Bill became a law. Hundreds
of thousands if not millions of Filipino youths finished the said course.
After all the complexities of passing the Rizal law, and after all these
decades passed, what do you think is the main point why Rizal
course is being offered in colleges and universities in the
country?
1.2 Nation and Nationalism
Vocabulary:
Nation a group of people with a shared language,
culture, and history.
Nation-state a state ruling over a nation
Sovereignty the authority to govern a polity without
external interference/incursions
State- A political entity that wields sovereignty over a
defined territory.
Patriotism a feeling of attachment to one's homeland
bayan/banua indigenous Filipino concepts of community
and territory that may be related to nationalism
State
• community of persons more or less numerous, permanently
occupying a definite potion of territory, having a government of their
own to which the great body of inhabitants render obedience, and
enjoying freedom from external control.
Nation
• A nation is a large group of people who inhabit a specific territory
and are connected by history, culture, or another commonality.
Nation versus State
• A state is a political concept, while nation is an ethnic concept.
Nation lacks the elements to become a state. This means that while
states are not subject to external control, nations may or may not be
independent on their own.
• Another distinguishing factor is that a single state may consist of
one or more nations and conversely, a single nation may be made
up of several states.
Example:
United States for instance is a melting pot of different nationalities.
The Arab nation on the other hand is divided politically into different
sovereign states.
Theories of Nation and National Identity
• This theory traces the root of the nation and
national identity to existing and deep-rooted
features of a group of people like race,
language, religion, and others. Proponents
Primordialism of this theory argued that national identity
has always existed, and nations have ethnic
cores, whereas division among citizens was
determined through di-customizing 'us' and
"them".
Modernity • Nationalism and national identity are
products of social structure and culture
brought by capitalism, urbanization,
secularization, bureaucratization.
• One example of a modernist theory of nation
and national identity is the theory of Ernest
Gellner. Gellner argued that nations are a
product of the Industrial Revolution.
• He argued that industrialization requires a
literate, mobile workforce that shares a
common culture and language. This
common culture and language is what
constitutes a nation.
Constructivist • nationalism, and nationalism are results of
approach discourses socially constructed and
imagined by people who identify with a
group.
• One example of how the constructivist
approach can be used to understand nation
and national identity is the case of the United
States.
• The United States is a relatively young
nation, and its national identity has been
shaped by a number of factors, including its
history of immigration, its commitment to
democracy and freedom, and its role as a
global superpower.
Would you agree that disregarding Philippine history as an
integral part of education may affect the level of nationalism
among young Filipinos?
There is a growing belief that Philippine history is experiencing a
slow death. Its absence in both the Junior High School and Senior
High School manifests, according to critics, a decline in Filipino
knowledge of its past, and consequently, the sense of nationalism.
With all the prevailing circumstances surrounding the alleged
education crisis and decline of Filipino nationalism. Is it about
time that the education department consider the return of
Philippine history in both JHS and SHS curricula?
Education and Nationalism
The Japanese Example
• Students in Japan start learning history in class in 5th grade and
world history mostly in high school. 5th grade to 9th grade or
middle school, it covers almost only Japanese history.
Pamilya o Bayan?
Personally, which is more important to you, your family or your
country? Why? Strictly no sugarcoating whatsoever.
SOCSC 005 Life and Works of Rizal
Understanding the Rizal Law, Nation and Nationalism
Kapwa and Bayan
• The actual articulations of nation and nationalism started by Filipino
heroes like Andres Bonifacio, Jose Rizal, and others culminated in
the anti-colonial revolution in Asia.
• However, many Filipino scholars traced the concept of nation and
nationalism through indigenous knowledge. Sikolohiyang Pilipino
and Bagong Kasaysayan understood nation and nationalism in the
context of Kapwa and bayan.
Kapwa • an important concept in the country's social
relations and supports the notion of unity and
harmony in a community.
• presupposed the Filipino culture and psyche
anchored on collective social practices that
manifest in linguistic terms such as
pakikipagkapwa, pakikisama, pakikipag-
ugnay, and pakikibaka.
Bayan or defined as the territory where the people live or
banua the actual community they are identifying with.
It encompasses both the spatial community as
well as the imagined community.
Family is considered to be the foundation of social life for most
Filipinos. The nuclear family is the core family unit, however
bonds are often tight knit among extended family members
Putting importance to one's family is never wrong. But what if its
abused? What if all people prioritize the enrichment of their own
families before their own nation or country?
Statistics
• In a study done in 2012 by economists Beja, Mendoza, Venida, and
Yap, it was estimated that 40% of all provinces in the Philippines
have a provincial governor and congressman that are related in
some way.
• Another 2014 study done by Querubin of the Department of Politics
in New York University indicated that an estimate 50-70% of all
politicians are involved or associated in a political dynasty within the
Philippines, including local government units.
• In the same study, it was concluded that approximately 70% of all
jurisdiction-based legislators in the current Congress are involved in
a political dynasty, with 40% of them having ties to legislators who
belonged to as far as 3 Congresses prior.
• It is also said that 77% of legislators between the ages of 26-40 are
also dynastic, which indicates that the second and third generations
of political dynasties in the Philippines have begun their political
careers as well.
• What the statistics say:
Philippine politics is remarkably proliferated by dynastic families
despite the constitutional prohibition.
• The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines states in Article II Section
26: "The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for
public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by
law." Be it as it may, then how come there is no enabling law that
will finally put an end to political dynasty in the Philippines?
Emilio Jacinto's Kartilya ng Katipunan and Liwanag at Dilim
Excerpts from Emilio Jacinto's Kartilya ng Katipunan
• Ang kabagayang pinag-uusig ng katipunang ito ay lubos na dakila
at mahalaga; papag-isahin ang loob at kaisipan ng lahat ng tagalog
(*) sa pamamagitan ng isang mahigpit na panunumpas, upang sa
pagkakaisang ito'y magkalakas na iwasan ang masinsing tabing na
nakabubulag sa kaisipan at matuklasan ang tunay na landas ng
Katuwiran at Kaliwanagan.
• (*) Sa salitang tagalog katutura'y ang lahat nang tumubo sa
Sangkapuluang ito; sa makatuid, bisaya man, iloko man
kapangpangan man, etc., ay tagalog din.
• “Sa salitang tagalog katutura'y ang lahat nang tumubo sa
Sangkapuluang ito; sa makatuid, bisaya man, iloko man
kapangpangan man, etc., ay tagalog din.” – Jacinto
What important moral value Jacinto is trying to share in the
statement, which may be considered as advance for his time?
Inclusivity
• important moral value because it allows for the fair and equitable
treatment of all people, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion,
gender, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics. When
everyone feels included and respected, it creates a more just and
equitable society for all.
• "Ang alinmang kapangyarihan upang maging tunay at matuwid ay
sa Bayan lamang at sa kanyang mga tunay na pinakakatawan dapat
na manggaling. Sa madaling salita, di dapat nating kilalanin ang
pagkatao ng mga pinuno na mataas kaysa madla. Ang pagsunod at
pagkilala sa kanila ay dahil sa kapangyarihang ipinagkaloob ng
bayan, samakatuwid, ang kabuuan ng kapangyarihan ng bawat isa.
Sa bagay na ito, ang sumusunod sa pinunong inilagay ng bayan ay
dito sumusunod at sa paraaang ito'y nakikipag isa sa kalahatan."
Excerpts from Emilio Jacinto’s Liwanag at Dilim
• Sa madaling salita, di dapat nating kilalanin ang pagkatao ng mga
pinuno na mataas kaysa madla. Ang pagsunod at pagkilala sa
kanila ay dahil sa kapangyarihang ipinagkaloob ng bayan,
samakatuwid, ang kabuuan ng kapangyarihan ng bawat isa.
Article XI of the 1987 Constitution states:
Section 1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and
employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve
them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act
with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.
Article II of 1987 Constitution
Section 3. Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the
military. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the
people and the State. Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the
State and the integrity of the national territory.
“Ang alinmang kapangyarihan upang maging tunay at matuwid ay sa
Bayan lamang at sa kanyang mga tunay na pinakakatawan dapat na
manggaling” – Jacinto
The 1987 Constitution was clear in saying that “the power of the state
emanates from the people”, and that “public office is a public trust”.
Is this the reality?
corruption perception index measure
• an index which ranks countries "by their perceived levels of public
sector corruption, as determined by expert assessments and
opinion surveys."
• generally, defines corruption as an "abuse of entrusted power for
private gain".
human development index
• summary composite measure of a country's average achievements
in three basic aspects of human development: health, knowledge
and standard of living.
• a measure of a country's average achievements in three dimensions
of human development:
1. a long and healthy life, as measured by life expectancy at birth;
2. knowledge, as measured by mean years of schooling and
expected years of schooling; and
3. a decent standard of living, as measured by GNI per capita in
PPP terms in US$.
SOCSC 005 Life and Works of Rizal
Understanding the Rizal Law, Nation and Nationalism

Using CPI and HDI as basis of comparison among SEA states.

What can you glean from the data provided?
Related Studies
• A study by the World Bank in 2018 found that corruption had a
negative impact on economic growth. The study found that
countries with higher levels of corruption had lower rates of
economic growth. The study also found that corruption had a
negative impact on social development. Countries with higher levels
of corruption had lower levels of education, health, and social
welfare.
Conclusions
• Countries with cleaner governments have higher human
development. On the other hand, those countries which are
identified as more corrupt have lower human development.
• There is a direct relationship between corruption and human
development of a given country.

“Ang alinmang kapangyarihan upang maging tunay at matuwid ay sa

Bayan lamang at sa kanyang mga tunay na pinakakatawan dapat na
manggaling” – Jacinto
What do you think is the important moral value that Jacinto is
trying to impart, which is also integral in the conduct of public
service?
Transparency • important in government because it allows
• The latest CPI was released in January 2023. It shows that the
citizens to hold their elected officials
overall level of corruption in Southeast Asia has remained relatively
accountable
stable in recent years. However, there are some notable differences
• when citizens have access to information
between countries. Singapore has consistently ranked as the least
about how their government is run, they can
corrupt country in Southeast Asia, while Myanmar and Indonesia
make informed decisions about who to vote
have consistently ranked as the most corrupt.
for and how to participate in the political
• There are a number of factors that contribute to corruption in
process.
Southeast Asia. These include weak institutions, a lack of
• also helps to prevent corruption and abuse
transparency, and a culture of impunity. Corruption can have a
of power. When government officials know
negative impact on economic development, investment, and the rule
that their actions are being closely
of law.
scrutinized, they are less likely to engage in
Latest HDI in SEA
corrupt or unethical behavior.
Accountability • important in government because it ensures
that government officials are responsible for
their actions
• when government officials are held
accountable, they are less likely to engage in
corrupt or unethical behavior.
• also helps to build trust between the
government and the people.

• The latest HDI was released in 2022. It shows that the overall
human development in Southeast Asia has been improving in recent
years.
• However, there are still significant disparities between countries.
Singapore has consistently ranked as the highest HDI country in
Southeast Asia, while Myanmar and Indonesia have consistently
ranked as the lowest HDI countries.