LIFES AND WORKS OF RIZAL CHAPTER 1
Rizal
o Was said to be a product of the mixture of the races
(Chinese mestizo)
o Pure (top), mixed (middle), indio (bottom)
o Was said to be a genius
o Was said to have been a physician (ophthalmic
surgeon) who took up at UST, poet, dramatist,
essayist, novelist, historian, architect, painter,
sculptor, educator, linguist, musician, naturalist,
ethnologist, land surveyor, engineer, farmer
businessman, economist, geographer, cartographer,
bibliophile, philologist, grammarian, folklorist,
philosopher, translator, inventor, magician, humorist,
satirist, polemicist, sportsman, traveler and prophet
o Was the national hero (chosen by US Civil
Governor William Howard Taft in 1901) and who
sacrificed himself for the Filipinos (they consulted with
Filipinos)
o Was the “millennial” of his generation
Why are we here? Why do we need to study Rizal’s life, Works
and Writings?
o So we can have patriotism and nationalism
o To develop moral character and social awareness
o Because we lack identity as an individual and a
people
Origins of the Rizal Law
o Dec 20 1898 – decree issued by President Emilio
Aguinaldo celebrating Rizal Day on June 19
(because of his birthday)
o affirmed by the Philippine Commission on Feb 1
1902
o despite the observance of Rizal Day since 1898, no
systematic effort has been made by the government
to include the writings of Dr. Rizal in the curriculum of
the school
o Rizal’s purpose in writing his novels was to “remove
the veil of ignorance and superstition that had
kept his countrymen subservient to the Church
and the Spanish government”
o Therefore, Dr. Rizal was honored on Rizal Day, but
his writings were not disseminated because of
pressure from the Catholic Church to prevent his
novels, deemed as “anti-friar”, from being widely
read
o Church pressure continued long after the Spaniards
were expelled from the Philippines in 1898 and 60
years after the execution of Rizal
Senator Claro M. Recto – created/ authored the bill
Senator Jose P. Laurel – sponsored
President Magsaysay - signed the bill into law as RA 1425
Removal of the Veil of Ignorance
o Only in May 1956, with Senate Bill no. 438
For (nationalist) Against (Catholic Church)
Senator Jose P. Laurel - Senators – stout defender
Senate committee of the church
chairman on Education,
former president Decoroso Rosales
Mariano Cuervo
Fransisco “Soc” Rodngo
Senator Claro M. Recto - Catholic Groups
anti-Church, with
questionable motives, anti-
american, activist
July 4 1946 – original Independence Day
R.A. 1425 = The Rizal Law
o Senate bill 438 was introduced to inspire and
develop nationalism, inspire civic consciousness
as well as to teach civic values
o To promote patriotism among Filipino youth
o That the Filipino youth would be incorruptible, be
confident, have courage and determination to
move forward in their journey towards an abundant
life (Jose Laurel)
o Senators Jose P. Laurel and Senator Claro Recto
sponsored Senate Bill 438 that “required the inclusion
in the curricula of all private and public school the life,
works and writings of Dr. Rizal” particularly his novels
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in their
unexpurgated form
Jose Laurel – The Trials of the Rizal Bill
o There were heated disputes over the legislation of the
Rizal. The passing of the law was full of bitterness
and recrimination that attended its enactment
o The objective of the measure was to disseminate the
ideas and ideals of the great Filipino patriot
through the readings of his works, particularly the
“Noli Me Tangere” and the “El Filibusterismo”
o Catholics inside and outside congress took the bill as
an attempt to discredit the Catholic faith
o They challenged the compulsory nature of the bill as a
violation of religious freedom
o There was allegedly a Pastoral Letter, which, whole
it praised Rizal, branded his novels as heretical and
impious
o Rizal Bill was strongly opposed by 3 senators namely
Decoroso Rosales, Mariano Cuenco and
Fransisco “Soc” (Soldier for Christ) Rodrigo,
known as stout
o They believe that the compulsion to read something
against one’s religious convictions was no different
from a requirement to salute the flag, said to be an
impairment of both freedom of speech and the
freedom of religion, which will be imperiled if the bill
were approved
o A possible conflict for Catholic Filipinos between two
“loves” – their country and their church; that these
were not necessarily conflicting loves, but were
harmonious affections, like the love for his father and
for his mother. There need not be conflict between
nationalism and the church between the government
and the church
Church Reactions
o April 22, 1956 – Sunday newspapers all carried a
statement from the Catholic bishops describing
Rizal’s works as violating Catholic canon law in
heresy and schism
o Opposition came from The Catholic Action of the
Philippines, The Holy Name Society of the
Philippines, The Legion of Mary, The Knights
o Recto – the bill would foster the better appreciation of
Rizal’s times and of the role he played in combating
Spanish tyranny in this country
Constantino’s Rizal Bill, could be found in Making of the
Filipino
o Recto’s belief that the reading of Rizal’s novels would
strengthen
o Catholic Action of Manila – kill the Rizal bill
 o Fr. Jesus Cavanna – the novels belong to the past
and it would be harmful to read because they
presented a false picture of conditions in the
country. Noli Me Tangere was said to be an attack
on the clergy and that is objective was to out the
ridicule to the Catholic faith
o The novel was not patriotic because out of 333 pages
only 25 contained patriotic passages while 120
were devoted to anti-Catholic attacks
o Parts of the novel were considered objectionable
matter by the hierarchy. Catholics had the right to
refuse to read so as not to endanger their salvation
o Recto’s bill was said to be recto’s revenge
o Noli Me Tangere and El Fili violated catholic canon
law on heresy and schism
o Painted a false pic of Philippine society
o Could sway the faith of young people
o Violated beliefs
Was the Church united in its opposition?
o While the churches issued pastoral letters, catholic
org and seminaries campaigned against the bill
arguing the “it forced young stud to read Rizal’s
work which had religious overtones and that it
would be a violation of the constitutional
freedom”
o Due to church pressure, Rizal’s writings were not
disseminated widely until 1956.
Legacies of the Rizal Law
o The catholic church lost the Rizal Bill battle in 1956,
but it has won all other legislative battles, a
testament to its power over fil society
o Memorandum Order no 247 directs
o With Rizal Law where the youth would study Rizal’s
life and analyze his teachings and literary works, the
Filipino youth would:
o Gain inspiration and insight and involve
themselves in the community
o Imbibe the virtues and values of Rizal and
other reputable leaders of the country
o Acquire proper direction and become better
citizens
o Patriotism was therefore promoted through the goals
set by the former board of National Education which
involved:
o To showcase the relevance of Rizal’s
ideals, thoughts, teachings and values to
community life
o Application of Rizal’s ideas to the solution
of the day to day problems encountered in
contemporary life
o Promote the understanding and appreciation of the
qualities, conduct and character of Rizal
o To foster the development of the moral character,
personal discipline, citizenship skills and vocational
efficiency of the Filipino

Why RA 1425 get passed

o Representative of Catholic schools threatened to
close down their schools.
o In response, Claro Recto threatened the
nationalization of catholic schools if they shut
down their schools
o An amendment was approved where that allowed
students to apply for an exemption for religious
reasons from reading the Noli/El Fili novels
o The bill passed was passed by both the house and
the senate on May 17 1956. On June 12 President
Magsaysay signed the bill into law as Republic Act
1425
o Not one student was said to have applied for an
exemption from reading the Noli and El Fili
o According to Republic Act 1425 – “”<handout no 1>
<>>

Caroline Hau’s Necessary Fiction: Philippine Literature

and the Nation 1946-1980
o Brought literature and nationalism together in the
state’s attempt to decolonize the culture of the
Philippines
o State therefore used literature to foster national
consciousness by the Filipino people and make
“good” citizens of the Filipino youth
o Literary works shape the national character
o The study of the heroes’ life and works
o The evils that Rizal denounce existed up to this day
o In the Noli, you have the rise of a Filipino “knowable”
community that became the conceptual basis of the
filIipino nation

Challenges Rizal talked about

o Colonial mentality
o Filipino looking down on other Filipino
o Exploitation of the environment and people
 publication in the Official Gazette.

RA NO. 1425 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
AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF
unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El
ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS,
Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal’s other works and
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COURSES ON
biography. The said unexpurgated editions of the Noli
THE LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS OF JOSE
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their translations
RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HIS NOVELS NOLI ME
in English as well as other writings of Rizal shall be
TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO,
included in the list of approved books for required
AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING AND
reading in all public or private schools, colleges and
DISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER
universities.
PURPOSES

The Board of National Education shall determine the

WHEREAS, today, more than any other period of our
adequacy of the number of books, depending upon
history, there is a need for a re-dedication to the the enrollment of the school, college or university.
ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our
heroes lived and died;
SECTION 3.The Board of National Education shall
cause the translation of the Noli Me Tangere and El
WHEREAS, it is meet that in honoring them,
Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose Rizal
particularly the national hero and patriot, Jose Rizal,
into English, Tagalog and the principal Philippine
we remember with special fondness and devotion
dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap, popular
their lives and works that have shaped the national
editions; and cause them to be distributed, free of
character;
charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the
Purok organizations and Barrio Councils throughout
WHEREAS, the life, works and writing of Jose Rizal, the country.
particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, are a constant and inspiring source of SECTION 4.Nothing in this Act shall be construed as
patriotism with which the minds of the youth,
amendment or repealing section nine hundred twenty-
especially during their formative and decisive years in
seven of the Administrative Code, prohibiting the
school, should be suffused;
discussion of religious doctrines by public school
teachers and other person engaged in any public
WHEREAS, all educational institutions are under the school.
supervision of, and subject to regulation by the State,
and all schools are enjoined to develop moral SECTION 5.The sum of three hundred thousand
character, personal discipline, civic conscience and to
pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of
teach the duties of citizenship; Now, therefore,
any fund not otherwise appropriated in the National
Treasury to carry out the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings
of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me Tangere SECTION 6.This
and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the
Act shall take effect
curricula of all schools, colleges and universities,
upon its approval.
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.

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 a 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
reasons 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