Life and Works of Rizal

• Rizal Law or RA 1425 is a Philippine law that requires all schools in the Philippines both public and private, to offer courses on the life, works, and writings of the Philippine national, Dr. Jose Rizal

  
• Rizal Law or RA 1425- is a Philippine law that requires all schools in the Philippines both public and private, to offer courses on the life, works, and writings of the Philippine national, Dr. Jose Rizal

  
• Why Study Rizal: From the Perspective of Lawmakers

  • Many Filipinos observed that the sense of Filipino identity was waning
  • In response, nationalist policy-makers took action to redirect the nation back to its roots by emphasizing the importance of history as a foundation for national hope and pride

  
• Senator Claro M. Recto proposed Senate Bill No. 438 and submitted it to the Senate Committee on Education


  April 3, 1956
• Why Study Rizal: From the Perspective of Lawmakers

  • Many Filipinos observed that the sense of Filipino identity was waning
  • In response, nationalist policy-makers took action to redirect the nation back to its roots by emphasizing the importance of history as a foundation for national hope and pride

  
• "NOLI- FILI BILL"


  Senate Bill No. 438, titled "An Act to Make Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo Compulsory Reading Matter in All Public and Private Colleges and Universities and For other Purposes"
• Senator Jose P. Laurel, Sr., who was then the Chairman of the Committee on Education, sponsored the Noli- Fili Bill in the Senate and presented it to the Upper House


  April 17, 1956
• Senator Jose P. Laurel, Sr.: '"Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be read by all Filipinos. They must be taken to heart, for in their pages we see ourselves as a mirror, our defects as well as our strength, our virtues as well as our vices. Only then would we become conscious as a people, and so learn to prepare ourselves for painful sacrifices that ultimately lead to self- reliance, self- respect, and freedom."'
• The Catholic Church's Opposition to the Noli-Fili Bill

  • Jose Rizal criticized the Catholic Church, so the Noli-Fili bill was met stiff opposition from the latter's head and supporters
  • They argued that the bill was an attempt to discredit the Catholic religion
• Senator Claro M. Recto proposed Senate Bill No. 438 and submitted it to the Senate Committee on Education


  April 3, 1956
• Father Jesus Cavanna argued that Jose Rizal' novels from the past should not be taught in school because they do not accurately depict current conditions and may give a false impression of the country
• Criticisms of the Catholic Church regarding the Noli-Fili Bill


  • Among the 333 pages of Noli Me Tangere, only 25 pages are nationalistic while 120 passages are anti-Catholic
  • 170 lines from Noli Me Tangere and 50 lines in El Filibusterismo were offensive to the Catholic doctrine
  • The bill might divide the nation
  • Compulsion to read against one's faith impairs freedom of speech and religious freedom
  • Rizal admitted that he did not only attack the friars who acted deceptively on the Filipinos but also the Catholic faith itself
• "NOLI- FILI BILL"- Senate Bill No. 438


  An Act to Make Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo Compulsory Reading Matter in All Public and Private Colleges and Universities and For other Purposes
• Catholic groups that organized opposition to the bill

  • Catholic Action of the Philippines
  • Congregation of the Mission
  • Knights of Columbus
  • Catholic Teachers Guild
• Catholic Schools threatened to close down their schools if the Noli-Fili Bill was passed
• Congressman Jacobo Z. Gonzales filed a similar bill called House Bill No. 5561 to the House of Representatives


  April 19, 1956
• House Bill No. 5561 had also been opposed contending its constitutionality and religiosity
• The Enactment of "Rizal Law"

  1. Senator Laurel proposed a substitute bill with a few tweaks to appease the opposition

  2. Instead of only Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, the new substitute bill now includes a wider range of works and writings by Jose Rizal

  3. Reading is now optional. If a student does not want to read the two novels, they can request for an exemption

  4. The implementation of reading unexpurgated versions of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibuterismo will only be for college or university students
• Senator Jose P. Laurel, Sr., who was then the Chairman of the Committee on Education, sponsored the Noli- Fili Bill in the Senate and presented it to the Upper House


  April 17, 1956
• Unexpurgated


  Not censored or edited to remove offensive or objectionable content
• Expurgated


  To remove or censor offensive or objectionable content, especially from a text
• Senator Jose P. Laurel, Sr.: '"Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be read by all Filipinos. They must be taken to heart, for in their pages we see ourselves as a mirror, our defects as well as our strength, our virtues as well as our vices. Only then would we become conscious as a people, and so learn to prepare ourselves for painful sacrifices that ultimately lead to self- reliance, self- respect, and freedom."'
• It's important to read the original and unexpurgated edition of Rizal's novels because the true purpose of studying these will be defeated if not followed
• Senate Bill No. 438 and House Bill No. 5561 were both unanimously approved on the second reading and in the Lower House


  May 12, 1956, and May 14, 1956
• The Catholic Church's Opposition to the Noli-Fili Bill

  • Jose Rizal criticized the Catholic Church, the Noli-Fili bill was met stiff opposition from the latter's head and supporters
  • The bill was an attempt to discredit the Catholic religion
• The bill was signed into law by President Ramon Magsaysay, giving birth to Republic Act 1425 or the Rizal Law


  June 12, 1956

  
• "Rizal Law"


  "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 El Filibusterismo, authorizing the printing and distribution thereof, and for other purposes"
• Father Jesus Cavanna argued that Jose Rizal' novels from the past should not be taught in school because they do not accurately depict current conditions and may give a false impression of the country
• Jose Rizal was born on Wednesday of June 19, 1861 in the lakeshore Town of Calamba, Laguna Philippines
• Jose Rizal's Father - Francisco Mercado


  • Born May 11, 1818 in Binan, Laguna
  • Studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose, Manila
  • Became a tenant farmer of the Dominican-owned haciendas when his parents died
  • An independent-minded man with few words and worked more
  • Died in Manila on January 5, 1898, at the age of 80
• Criticisms of the Catholic Church regarding the Noli-Fili Bill


  • Among the 333 pages of Noli Me Tangere, only 25 pages are nationalistic while 120 passages are anti-Catholic
  • 170 lines from Noli Me Tangere and 50 lines in El Filibusterismo were offensive to the Catholic doctrine
  • The bill might divide the nation
  • Compulsion to read against one's faith impairs freedom of speech and religious freedom
  • Rizal admitted that he did not only attack the friars who acted deceptively on the Filipinos but also the Catholic faith itself
• Jose Rizal's Mother - Dona Teodora Alonzo Realonda


  • Born November 8, 1826 in Manila
  • Educated at the College of Santa Rosa (prestigious school for girls in Manila)
  • A remarkable woman, possessing refined culture, literary talents, business ability and a fortitude of a Spartan woman
  • First teacher of the hero
  • Taught Jose Spanish language, made necessary corrections in poem composition and gave good advice in rhetoric
  • A mathematician and a lover of books
  • Died on August 19, 1911 in Manila at the age of 80
• Catholic groups that organized opposition to the bill

  • Catholic Action of the Philippines
  • Congregation of the Mission
  • Knights of Columbus
  • Catholic Teachers Guild
• Jose Rizal's Siblings


  • Saturnina (Eldest, Nickname: Neneng, Married Manuel Hidalgo of Batangas)
  • Paciano (Confidant of Jose, Encouraged Jose to go abroad, Supported him in all endeavors)
  • Narcisa (Pet name: Sisa, Married Antonio Lopez, a school teacher of Morong)
  • Olimpia (Pet name: Ypia, Married Sylvestre Ubaldo, a telegraph operator from Manila)
  • Lucia (Married Mariano Herbosa of Calamba, who was a nephew of Fr. Casarias)
  • Maria (Nickname: Biang, Married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Binan, Laguna)
  • Jose (Nickname: Pepe, Lived with Josephine Bracken, an Irish girl from Hongkong, Had a son who died two hours after the delivery)
  • Conception (Pet name: Concha, Died of sickness at the age of three, Her death was the first sorrow of Jose Rizal)
  • Josefa (Pet name: Panggoy, Died an old maid at the age of 80)
  • Trinidad (Pet name: Trining, Died an old maid at the age of 83)
  • Soledad (Pet name: Choleng, Youngest, Married to Pantaleon Quintero of Calamba)
• Jose Rizal's Ancestry


  • Domingo Lamco (Great-grandfather on father's side, Chinese immigrant from Eukien City of Changchow)
  • Ines de la Rosa (Well-to-do Christian girl in Manila, Assumed surname Mercado in 1731)
  • Francisco Mercade (Son of Rosa, Elected gobernadorcillo (municipal mayor))
  • Cirila Bernacha (Wife of Francisco, Chinese-Filipino mestiza)
  • Juan Mercado (Grandfather of Jose, Elected as gobernadorcillo of Biinan, Laguna)
  • Cirila Alejandro (Chinese-Filipino mestiza, Had 13 children, Youngest was Francisco)
  • Eugenio Ursua (Great-grandfather of Teofora, Japanese ancestry)
  • Benigna (Filipina wife of Eugenio)
  • Regina Ursua (Daughter of Eugenio and Benigna)
  • Manuel de Quintos (Filipino-Chinese lawyer from Pangasinan)
  • Brigada de Quintos (Daughter of Manuel and Regina)
  • Lorenzo Alberto Alonzo (Husband of Brigada, Prominent Spanish-Filipino mestizo from Binan)
• Jose Rizal was a product of a mixture of races. In his veins flowed the blood of the East and the West. He was a magnificent specimen of Asian manhood
• Catholic Schools threatened to close down their schools if the Noli-Fili Bill was passed
• The Family Name- "Rizal"


  • Mercado was the real surname of their family which was adopted by Domingo Lamco in 1731
  • The surname Rizal was given by the Spanish Alcalde mayor (Provincial Governor) of Laguna who was a family friend
  • The Rizal family preferred to use the old name Mercado, and Jose was the only one who used the surname Rizal
• Congressman Jacobo Z. Gonzales filed a similar bill called House Bill No. 5561 to the House of Representatives


  April 19, 1956
• Societal Position of the Rizal Family

  • Their house was two-storey, rectangular in shape and made of adobe stones and hard wood
  • They belonged to the Principalia, an aristocrat during Spanish time
  • They were engaged in farming, raising pigs, chicken, and turkeys
  • Dona Teodora managed a general good store, operated a flourmill and homemade ham press
  • They owned a carriage, a symbol of the illustrado, and had a library with 1000 volumes