Banila, Maripet L. Prof.

Narciso Cabanilla
BSEDEN 1-1N UNIT 1: Assessment 1

1. Do you think that the passage of the Rizal bills into a law warranted the
objectives that the sponsors conceived in 1956? Explain your answer.

Senate Bill No. 438, the original version of Rizal Law was authored by
Senator Claro M. Recto in pursuit to educate, empower and inherent the
nationalism possessed by Rizal to the youths. The authors and sponsors of this
law believed that the youngsters’ nationalism will get stronger by studying the
works in Rizals, which reflects the bravery and his sacrifices for the country.
Furthermore, they also believed that people, especially us, the young ones would
only appreciate Rizal more by studying and analyzing his works, as a part of daily
educational lives. This would open our minds, and realize the merciless effects of
colonization. This law went through so much critization from the people
especially from the church community saying that this may promote
misconception of people to the practices of the Roman Catholoc. This is due to
the inclusion of issues and insolent exercises of the friars portrayed in the novels.
This bill, although opposed by many, still went on its way and became
published as Republic Act No. 1425, wherein it obligates the education, public
or private, from grade level to college, must include the life and works of Rizal as
one of the subjects. In this way, people in our country would be able to honor,
and be empowered and inspired by the heroes of our country, especially Rizal
who sacrificed their lives for the freedom that we are now experiencing. It
mentioned the works of Rizal, particularly Noli Me Tangere and Filibusterismo,
should be part of the materials or sources to be tackled in this provision.
Rizal Law’s main objectives are to strengthen nationalism, national
identity, love for humanity and patriotism. In which, these objectives have
resonated with the authors and sponsors of Rizal Bill in 1956. As a student who
have experienced the provision of this law, it has and made me improve my
conscious mind not just in the history of our country but also awaken me to
nationalistic realization and awareness. The amended law, Rizal Law, even
though it got opposed by many and went through numerous revisions, still has its
core purpose, that is to empower, educate and make the youth appreciate and
love our country that we have now due to a large number of heroes who
sacrificed their lives.
2. Do you think that the objectives were obtained thereafter and that their
attainment resonated until the present? Expound your answer.

As a student who has been studying history, every event of the

Philippines, its colonizers, as well as its heroes, especially Jose Rizal. His two
novels have been a highlight to my knowledge in the times of Spaniard
colonization. Back then I did not know the reason behind the repetitive teaching
of the life and works of Rizal.However, I did experience and learnt its very
essence as I grew up.
The Rizal Law, formerly known as the Rizal Bill, has the objective to
empower and educate the youth; strengthen their patriotism, nationalism and
love for humanity; and appreciate the sacrifices made by the heroes, especially
our national hero, Jose Rizal. People who pushed this law believed that our
patriotism will be more fueled as we learn the works of Rizal who fought,
advocated and woke the bravery and sleeping national awareness of people
back then. Fortunately, his works still do their job even though their time and
author has passed away. His novels and writings remain as a symbol of the past
of the country, which led to our present.
Personally, I know that the objective of this law has attained and reached
so many youths of our country until this present time. However, there are
instances when youth may have forgotten the essence and the learning of our
very own history. Thus, some people think that it contradicts the famous line of
Jose Rizal which is, “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan”. This kind of issue
broke after the infamous events happened on national television regarding the
issue of some youth in an entertainment industry being confused, and almost
ignorant to our history; the issue of ‘MaJoHa’. In this particular event, opinions
have flowed through the internet platforms, asking if the history has been well
taught to the youngsters these days. It also called out the decreasing quality
education of the Philippines. Studies have proven that education is a huge part in
building the youth’s competence and knowledge in which our future depends.
Thus, many people spoke and expressed their sentiments in this very problem.
This problem and comments have called the attention of government sectors
such as the Department of the Philippines.
These kinds of events make us think if there really is a patriotism and
nationalism awakening in our hearts as a youth. Some blame the educational
system and some blame the youth themselves. In my personal opinion, learning
and nationalistic realization dependes on the individual themselves and all these
laws, lectures and materials are a part of the process. However, I cannot
 disagree with the fact that Rizal’s writings, novels and essays, have been a huge
help in empowering myself in several patriotic awareness and actions. I hope,
that it would also be the same with my fellow youth.

References:
● REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425, Official Gazette, Retrieved from:
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-1425/

● DO 6, S. 1995 – REITERATING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REPUBLIC ACT

NO. 1425, Department of Education, Retrieved from:
https://www.deped.gov.ph/1995/02/06/do-6-s-1995-reiterating-the-implementation-of-rep
ublic-act-no-1425/

● Learning from ‘MaJoHa’, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2022, Retrieved from:

https://opinion.inquirer.net/152292/learning-from-majoha

● Unraveling Deterioration in the Quality of Philippine Education, International

Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research,
Retrieved from:
https://ijmaberjournal.org/index.php/ijmaber/article/view/202