Rizal Law and The Teaching of Rizal Course

Rizal, A True Filipino Hero

Rizal, Pioneer Asian Nationalist Leader

Discuss the Republic Act 1425 or Rizal Law

Accdg. to Pres. Jose P. Laurel, who sponsored the said law, since
Rizal was the founder of the Filipino nationality and the architect
of the Filipino nation, there is a need to know and imbibe the
great ideals and principles for which he died.
Moreover, Laurel believed that by reading and studying Rizal's life, teachings, and writings,
Filipino youth will be able to:
- gain incorruptible confidence
- direction
- courage
- and determination to move forward in our people's journey
toward abundant life.

Objectives of the Law:

1. To rededicate 2. To pay tribute 3. To gain an

the lives of the to our national inspiring source
youth to the ideals hero for devoting of patriotism thru
of freedom and his life and works the study of
nationalism, for
which our heroes to shaping the Rizal's life, works
lived and died; Filipino character and writings.
 Goals set by the Board on National Education:

1. To recognize the relevance of

Rizal's ideals, thoughts, teachings 2. To apply Rizal's ideals in the
and life values to present conditions solution of day-to-day situations and
in the community; problems in contemporary life;

4. To foster the development of

3. To develop an understanding and moral character, personal discipline,
appreciation of the qualities, citizenship and vocational efficiency
behavior and character of Rizal; and among the Filipino youth.

In many countries in the world, Actually, Rizal is only one of the

the leader is almost always country's national heroes who include
chosen. Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto,
Marcelo H. del Pilar and others more.
Jose Rizal was not a man of
war but a man of peace. They helped guide in the formation
of the Filipino national spirit and
Among the country's national the Philippine nation-state.
heroes, Jose Rizal stands out. To
many Filipinos, he is the national All these heroes are exemplars of
hero of the Philippines. all Filipinos to follow.
Historian Renato Constantino (1969)
claimed that it was the Americans who were
responsible for endorsing him as the
Philippine national hero.

He cited the efforts of the Taft Commission

in 1901 which picked Rizal from a group of
heroes, which included Emilio
Aguinaldo,Andres Bonifacio and Apolinario
Mabini, Del Pilar at Jacinto
1
5

1
6
 Teodoro Agoncillo (1986) - eminent
historian
- writes that Rizal was acceptable as a
national hero to the Americans because he was
the symbol of assimilation, which was their
policy than in the Philippines.

Rizal never favored revolution but the slow

process of evolution through education
suited American objectives.

Factors which contributed to Rizal's

acceptability as the official hero of the
Philippines:
1. Rizal was already dead at the time the Americans began their
aggression in the Philippines.

2. No embarrassing anti-American quotations could ever be attributed

to Rizal.

3. Rizal's dramatic martyrdom had already made him the symbol of

Spanish oppression.
In reality, it is the Filipinos themselves who choose Rizal as
their national hero.

This could be seen in tributes to him during his lifetime and

immediately after his death.

The Katipuneros considered him the honorary leader of the

Katipunan.

His guidance was sought by its emissaries when Dr. Pio Valenzuela
visited him in Dapitan in 1892.

Source: Kartiya ng KATIPUNAN by Emilio Jacinto

TREE CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP

COLOR DESIGNATIONS:
(Black) Katipon
First-degree members. Other symbols:
Black hood, revolver, and/or bolo.

(Green) Kawal
Second-degree members. Other
symbols: green ribboned
-medallion with Malayan K inscription.

(Red) Bayani
Third-degree members. Other
symbols: Red hood and sash, with
green borders.
 Rizal's name was one of the passwords of
the secret society which swore to fight for
the country's freedom.

Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo

- issued a decree on Dec. 20, 1898 ordering
that Dec 30, the anniversary of Rizal's
execution at Bagumbayan, be commemorated
as “a day of mourning for Rizal and other
victims of the Philippine Revolution”

Act No. 345

- the basis of the yearly celebration of Rizal Day

*The early admiration for Rizal is manifested in the erection of

the first monument in his honor.

Dec. 30. 1898 - a group of masons erected a simple

monument in Daet, Camarines Norte
 -The monument bore the words:
“A Jose Rizal” (To Jose Rizal)
“Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo,”
the title of his two important novels and
“Morga” which refers to the book “Sucesos de las
Islas Filipinas”
- annotated by Rizal in 1890 to correct Spanish
misinterpretations in the book written by Antonio
Morga during the 17th century

*The monument at Daet antecedates the better

known monument at Luneta in Manila.

Though the monument in Luneta was erected during the American

Regime, it is the Filipino people themselves that helped build the
monument through public subscriptions.

-This was authorized by Act No. 243 of the Philippine Commission.

Another proof:
- Construction of myriad monuments in his honor in most cities and
towns in the country.
- Many main streets and avenues in the various towns and cities are
named after him.
- One province, Rizal Province, formerly part of the province of Manila, was
named in his honor by virtue of Act No. 137 of the Philippine Commission
2
5
The Rizal Monument in Daet, Camarines
Norte was the first monument built to
honor José Rizal and is the oldest
surviving such monument in the
Philippines.

Conclusions drawn: (Guerrero,

1998)
1. Since Filipinos love peace, they
have chosen to magnify a man of
peace above the men of war.
Conclusions drawn: (Guerrero,
1998)
2. Because Filipinos are lovers of freedom
and justice, they have given their worship to
a man who gave up all comforts and
pleasures of peace for their sake.
Conclusions drawn: (Guerrero,
1998)

3. Filipinos prize virtue more than victory, and sacrifice

above success. Despite the controversy over Rizal's heroism,
it cannot be denied that he gave form to the aspiration of
the Filipino people, thereby giving rise to our people's
nationalist struggle.
Conclusions drawn: (Guerrero,
1998)
Vitae nullam ex pro, et diceret
probatus his. No nostrud patrioque
iracundia qui,.
 Constantino (1969),
- Rizal is a hero in the sense that he was able to see the
problems generated by historical forces, discern the new
social needs created by historical development of new social
relationships, and take an active part in meeting these needs.
- Guerrero (1998)
Rizal was the
- This was because it was Rizal who f

- It was he who taught his countrymen that

they could be something else, Filipinos who were
members of the Filipino nation.
.
- Guerrero (1998)
- Rizal was the

- He was the first to work towards the

unification of the Philippine archipelago into a
compact and homogenous body based on
common interests and mutual protection.

- Guerrero (1998)

Due to Rizal's qualities, he was able to

serve the pressing needs of the people.

- Rizal was born in the decade when other nationalist leaders of Asia were born:
- Mohandas Gandhi, Rabindaranath Tagore and Sun Yat-Sen

Accdg. to Coates (1968), all the four challenged the West but Rizal was the most
remarkable because his ideas matured at an early age.

- At that time that Gandhi was a schoolboy and Sun Yat-Sen was a student, Rizal was already
articulating lucidly in his speeches, articles, and letters his views of a completely different
relationship between Asia and Europe - that the Asians must be regarded by Europe as
equals.
 De Ocampo, (1969)

- Rizal was the first exponent of Asian nationalism since he was the source of inspiration for
the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution of 1896.

*Although Rizal opposed the revolution because it was premature and inadequately organized,
the revolution brole out, which can be considered the first genuine uprising by an Asian people
against the Western colonialism.

- Fischer (1962)

- Rizal was the Pioneer Exponent of Liberal Democracy in Asia.

- even before Gandhi and Sun Yat-Sen began their career of political agitation,
Rizal through his essays, letters and novels had already spoken out with firmness
and courage ideas on liberal democracy.

- Fischer (1962) - Fischer (1962)

- Ideas for liberal democracy by Rizal: - Ideas for liberal democracy by Rizal:
oThe worth and dignity of the individual o Popular sovereignty as the basis of all
oThe inviolability of human rights political authority
oThe innate equality of all men and raceso Faith in human reason and
oThe necessity for constitutional enlightenment
government oThe rights of the masses to public
oDue process of law education, and
o Belief in social progress through
freedom.
- Rizal was the first Asian leader to assert that the aforementioned
ideas and principles be established in Asia for the benefit of Asians.

- It was through Rizal that the basic tenets of modern and social
democracy were given a major voice in Asia for the first time.

- Thus, Rizal deserves to be called the First Asian Nationalist Leader

- There are four major periods in the life of Rizal:

1861 - 1872 1882 - 1892
1872 - 1882 1892 - 1896 (Celedonio, 1982)

First Period (1861 - 1872)

Second Period (1872 - 1882)
Third Period (1882 - 1892)
Fourth Period (1892 - 1896)
Ø- This was the period when the young Rizal learned how to read, write
and listened to stories that triggered imaginative and critical thinking
on his part.

Ø- It was a period when the following values and virtues were

developed in him:

Ø- It was a period when the following values and virtues were

developed in him:
industrious instead of idleness;
creativeness instead of unproductiveness;
rationality instead of blind acceptance; and
dignity instead of servility.
v- This was the first turning point in the life of Rizal.

v - He was then 11 years and was enrolled at Ateneo Municipal,

despite the objection of his mother.

v - It was the period when Fathers Gomez, Burgos and Zamora were
unjustly executed by the Spanish government.

- Other significant developments in his life during this period include the
following:

ØStrengthening of his religious foundation;

ØCultivation of the drive toward excellence;
ØEnvisioning the Philippines receiving light thru education; and
ØPerception of the intimate alliance between religion and education.
§- The year 1882 was the second major turning point in the life of Rizal.

§- It was at this time that Rizal decided to leave the Philippines to

escape persecution.

§- He went to Europe and everywhere he went, Rizal was always an

observer and a student,learning from everything he saw, read and
heard.

§- He urged the Filipino colony in Spain to prove that Filipinos can

compete with the Europeans in intellect and talent.

§- Thru his membership in exclusive societies of scholars and scientists in

Europe where he presented monographs and was greatly appreciated,
Rizal provided his compatriots an example.
§- During this period Rizal took part in the Propaganda Movement,
based in Europe.

§ - Through his articles, essays, and novels, he sought to make truthful

disclosures of the political, social, and economic conditions in the
Philippines.

q- The year 1892 can be considered the last turning point in the life of
our national hero, before his martyrdom on Dec. 30, 1896.

q- Rizal was exiled in Dapitan. It was in Dapitan, where he

demonstrated what an individual can do and accomplish within a
short period of time.
q- It is here where he detached his connections with politics and
devoted more of his time in practical service and usefulness to the
community.