UNIT I

FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED

TO RIZAL’S BECOMING A GREAT
MAN AND A HERO
LESSON 1
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425

LESSON 2
IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING RIZAL

LESSON 3
DEFINITION OF HERO/MARTYR
Lesson 1
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425
WHEREAS, today, more than any other period of our history,
there is a need for a re-dedication to the ideals of freedom
and nationalism for which our heroes lived and died;
WHEREAS, it is meet 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 inspiring source of
patriotism with which the minds of the youth, especially
during their formative and decisive years in school, should
be suffused;
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,
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
Michael Charleston B. Chua, KasPil1 readings, DLSU-
Manila 2 unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and
El Filibusterismo or their English translation 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 provisions of
this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations
providing for the exemption of students for reason of religious
belief stated in a 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 in 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 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. 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 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 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.
Lesson 2
IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING RIZAL

• It is a mandate of law.
• The teaching of Jose Rizal’s life, works and writings is
mandated by Republic Act 1425, otherwise known as
the Rizal Law.
• Claro M. Recto together with Jose P. Laurel said that
since Rizal was the founder of Philippine nationalism and
has contributed much to the current standing of this
nation, it is only the right that the youth as well as all the
people in the country know about and learn to absorb the
great ideals for which he died.
Lesson 2
IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING RIZAL

• The Rizal Law, despite the strong opposition from a

contingent of Catholic groups enacted in 1956, seeks to
accomplish the following goals;

1. To incite the lives of youth to the ideals of freedom and

nationalism, for which our heroes lived and died.
2. Because the contribution he gave to our country is
priceless we need to pay tribute to our national hero for
devoting his life and works in shaping the Filipino
character.
3. To gain an inspiring source of patriotism through the
study of Rizal's life, works and writings.
Lesson 2
IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING RIZAL

• It is beneficial to all of us as Filipinos.

1. To recognize the importance of Rizal’s ideals and
teachings in relation to present conditions and situations
in the society.
2. To encourage the application of such ideals in current
social and personal problems and issues
3. To develop an appreciation and deeper understanding
of all that Rizal fought and died for,
Lesson 2
IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING RIZAL

4. To foster the development of the Filipino youth in all

aspects of citizenship.
5. By studying Rizal and his works, he will serve as a
worthwhile model and inspiration to every Filipino.
6. And finally, it helps us understand better ourselves as
Filipinos.
Lesson 3
DEFINITION OF HERO/MARTYR
A hero is “a prominent or central personage taking
an admirable action or event”. Also, he is a “person of
distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, or fortitude in
suffering”. Finally he is “a man honored after death by
public worship, because of exceptional service to
mankind”.

A martyr is a person who willingly suffers death

rather than renounces his religion. He is 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.
 HERO versus MARTYR
HERO
Always the center of the story.
Told to celebrate the virtues of hero.
Icon of heroism is the soldier.
Soldier faces death in battle.
The soldier’s heroism is its own
reward.
If the hero makes mistake, it is a
disaster, a catastrophe.
MARTYR
Always at the periphery of a story
that is really about God.
Told to celebrate faith.
Icon of sanctity is the martyr.
Martyr faces death by not going to
battle.
The martyr’s sanctity makes no
sense unless rewarded by God.
If martyr’s failures are less
admirable ones, they open up the
cycle of repentance, forgiveness,
reconciliation, and restoration.
Why Is Rizal The Greatest Filipino
Hero?
■ Dr. Jose Rizal Mercado y Alonzo or simply Rizal (1861-
1896) is unquestionably the greatest hero and martyr of
our nation.
■ The day of his birth and the day of his execution are
fittingly commemorated by all classes of our people
throughout the length and breadth of this country and
even by Filipinos and their friends abroad.
■ His name is a byword in every Filipino home while his
picture adorns the postage stamp and paper money of
widest circulation.
Why Is Rizal The Greatest Filipino
Hero?
■ Who are the Filipino writer and thinker whose teachings
and noble thoughts have been frequently invoked and
quoted by authors and public speakers on almost all
occasions?
■ None but RIZAL, and so this is why he is the greatest
hero.
■ He is a great Filipino writer having written the very
controversial novels Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo and these contributed tremendously to
the formation of Filipino nationality.
■ He was admired most for the sacrifices he made and
setting aside of his personal interests in order to think
and act for his country.
Why Is Rizal The Greatest Filipino
Hero?
■ He received high praises for his novels and this were
received from Antonio Maria Regidor and Prof. Ferdinand
Blumentritt and considered the book superior because
he exposed to the world the sufferings of Filipinos from
the hands of the Spaniards.
■ History tells us that the revolutionary society known as
the Katipunan likewise acknowledged Rizal’s leadership
and greatness by making him its Honorary President and
using his family name Rizal as the password for the
three-degree members.
■ Not only is Rizal THE MOST PROMINENT MAN OF HIS
OWN PEOPLE BUT THE GREATEST MAN THE MALAYAN
RACE HAS PRODUCED.
Why Is Rizal The Greatest Filipino
Hero?
■ Who made Rizal the foremost hero of the Philippines?
■ The answer is: no single person or group of persons was
responsible for making the Greatest Malayan the
Number One Hero of his people.
■ Rizal himself, his own people, and the foreigners all
together contributed to make him the greatest hero and
martyr of his people.
■ No amount of adulations and canonizations by both
Filipinos and foreigners could convert Rizal into a great
hero if he did not possess in himself what Palma calls
“excellent qualities and merits”.
Other Famous Filipino heroes
■ Martyrs  The Katipunan
– Padre Mariano Gomez – Andres Bonifacio
– Padre Jose M. Burgos – Gregorio De Jesus
– Padre Jacinto Zamora – Emilio Jacinto
– Other Martyrs  Agitators in Barcelona
■ Leaders of the Revolution – Antonio Luna
– Andres Bonifacio – Juan Luna
– Emilio Aguinaldo – Graciano Lopez Jaena
– Emilio Jacinto – Marcelo H. Del Pilar
– Apolinario Mabini – Jose Protacio Rizal
Mercado
Other Famous Filipino heroes
■ Famous Generals
– Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo
– Gen. Antonio Luna
– Gen. Mariano Llanera
– Gen. Miguel Malvar
– Gen. Gregorio del Pilar
■ Famous Mothers
– Teodora Alonzo
– Melchora Aquino
THANK YOU