GORDON COLLEGE

College of Education, Arts and Sciences

Mid-Year Tem, AY 2020-2021

Course Title: Rizal’s Life and Works Professor: Dr. Eder E. Magsayo
Course Code: GEC09 29668 Date of Submission: 7/12/2021
Schedule of Class: MWF 5:00 PM-8:00 PM Student Name: Senen, Joshua S.
Module No 1: Rizal Law and Rizal’s Early Student Number: 201810120
Biographers
This module is an introduction to the Rizal law and its analysis, the K-12 law, biography and
autobiography, and writing historical accounts. This will only take up few minutes of your
time.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the students shall be able to:
• Discuss the concept of historical documentation and historical imagination;
• Identify the issues on Rizal Law which can be a dissertational course for the students who
are not aware of the relevance of the course in relation to their field of expertise;
• Expand the relevance of the law in the nation building of a true Filipino;
• Identify “who’s who” in Rizal’s life especially in his biography;
• Discuss how the writing of history can change the image of the country; and
• Explain the relevance of the course in general to the daily life of the Filipinos nowadays.

ABSTRACTION

The Rizal Law (R.A No. 1425)

One of the important legislation to boost Filipino nationalism is the Rizal Law or Republic Act
No. 1425 which highlights the following:
1. The study of Rizal’s Life, Works and Writings can support and foster the cause of
nationalism for Filipinos especially the youths;
2. The inclusion of the works of Rizal in the College Curriculum particularly the study of his
novels- Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are necessary to have a better understanding
of 19th century Philippines;
3. The inclusion also of other works of Rizal such as his letters, paintings, travels can promote
the cause of nationalism;
4. Funding of the law in order to give supplemental copies of the novels to public libraries;
and
5. The implementation of the law. Although this law is not declaring that Rizal is a national
hero, it can be a positive step towards enshrining him and other national heroes of the
country.

Analysis on Rizal Law

Students often wonder why they have to study Rizal course. What is its relevance to their
course or their field of expertise? There are several answers to this question:

1. The adoption and implementation of R.A No. 1425 which clearly states that the study
of Jose Rizal’s Life Works and Writings must be taught in all public and private Schools,
Colleges and Universities;
2. The study of Rizal’s work particularly his two important novels- Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo and other works (poems, diaries, essays) as well as their translations in Filipino
and English should be implemented and funded by the government as provided for in the
law;
3. The law also mandates the study of Rizal’s life, works and writings in the secondary levels
specifically the Noli Me Tangere on the 3rd year level and El Filibusterismo in 4th year level.
This forms part of the Filipino curriculum where the medium of instruction is Filipino;
4. The Rizal course offers a wide range of thoughts on how Rizal and other heroes (Marcelo
H. Del Pilar, Andres Bonifacio and Apolinario Mabini and others) fought for freedom for the
sake of the country’s survival against the “evil emperialism” of foreign invaders.

Rizal Law and the K-12 Law

The study of Rizal is still part of the K-12 Law and the new General Education Curriculum in
the sense that Rizal course is mandatory to college students with a view to develop their
historical thinking and national awareness. The study of Rizal may also give reflections on the
events of the past that formed part of the Philippine History and to awaken the minds of the
modern Filipinos who are popularly called “millennials”.
Biography and Autobiography

The words “biography” and “autobiography” are sometimes used by readers

interchangeably. When somebody writes your life from challenges to triumphs that is called,
biography. Therefore, the writings on Rizal’s life are divided into two-those that were written
by others and those that were penned by Rizal himself. The biographies of Rizal are one of
the main secondary sources of Rizalian History, Rizal’s autobiography was written on his
“epistolario Rizalinos” which was compiled by Teodoro Kalaw.

Writing Historical Accounts

Writing historical accounts is considered as one of the prime tasks of a historian. The coined
word is PEP for people, event, places which means that the story must have these three
important components. In Rizal’s biography for example, the people (noted personalities)
became the characters of his novel, Noli Me Tangere. The events that took place at that time
as well as the 1872 mutiny became one of the root causes of Rizal’s nationalism which led
him to write his second novel, El Filibusterismo. He dedicated El Fili to Gomburza, the martyrs
of Filipino secularization. Rizal also noted in his travels the notable places that he clearly and
poetically described.
Early Biographers of Dr. Jose Rizal

There are several biographers who attempted to write the life and works of Jose Rizal;
several of them considered as authentic as well as very fluent in terms of historical details
and analysis. Though there are several textbook writers who wrote the life history of Rizal,
below are prominent writers who wrote about the life of the great Filipino national hero.

Account of Wenceslao Retana

Wenceslao Retana is known to be one of Rizal’s contemporaries who was critical of Rizal’s
nationalistic fervor. Retana, in the newspaper “La Epoca”, attacked Rizal and the latter
challenged Retana to a fist fight. On the other hand, Retana apologized to Rizal and the two
became friends. Retana admired Rizal for being a gentleman. In the eyes of Retana then,
Spain was “wrong” when they executed Rizal (Medina, 1998). Retana believed that Rizal’s
execution was proof of the injustices committed by Spain towards Filipinos. That fateful
event led to the 1896 Philippine revolution.

The writer, Medina states why Retana’s accounts about Rizal must be read: “In my opinion,
what makes Retana most deserving of being read today is as a creditable witness of the
historical moment that has had the greatest impact on the Filipino consciousness, and how
Rizal transformed himself into its symbol. He gives witness as one who embodied and was
able to clearly state the meanings that the mentality of those times ascribed to those events.
Thus, I believe, he is able to transmit to Filipinos a hundred years hence a vision that is both
moving and explicative in a culturally accurate manner- he succeeds in transporting us to that
compelling time, so that we may gain insights that a conventional academic approach cannot
give. Given the distancing that our North American colonization produced in the Filipinol
psyche vis a vis the mythical figure of Rizal and the legendary time he lived and died in, the
Retana biography’s availability today, translated and explained with cultural sensitivity, after
the long forgetting of both work and its creator’s fascinating figure, is an important cultural
event during our Centennial year.” Therefore, observation at par really helped wherein
Retana’s personality became one of the main figures in Philippine history.

Account of Carlos Quirino

One of the great biographers of Dr. Jose Rizal wrote Rizal’s biography because of a “writing
contest”. He answered to the invitation to several writers at that time to write about Rizal’s
life. The work of Carlos Quirino entitled, “The Great Malayan” won the 3rd prize. However,
President Manuel Quezon awarded the monetary reward which was equivalent to the 1st
prize of the contest. It was one of the classical best in Rizal’s biography- in pocketbook size.
Based on that work, Quirino described Rizal as an “ordinary person” with a great love for his
country, his compatriots and for the search of truth. His analysis of Rizal then was the
“product of his times”.

Account of Rafael Palma

One of the important biographers of Rizal was Rafael Palma. His work, Biografia de Rizal
(Biography of Rizal) was one of the greatest and finest biographies of the national hero.
Compared with Quirino’s writing, Palma’s writing can be considered as the primary source in
history as it is more serious and academic.
Account of Austin Coates

Austin Coates (1922-1997) is known for his detailed work on Rizal’s biography entitled, Rizal,
Philippine Nationalist and Martyr which was published in 1968 by Oxford University Press.
Though it is lacking in academic standards, Coates discussed Jose Rizal as one of the greatest
patriot ever generated in his times which is no other than 19th century. Also, he wrote Rizal’s
biography from the eyes of a foreigner whose details and authenticity cannot be found in the
local college textbooks.

Account of Leon Maria Guerrero

One of the most readable biographies of Rizal was the work of Leon Ma. Guerrero which is
entitled, The First Filipino. Leon Ma. Guerrero (1853-1935) was one of the popular writers of
Rizal’s biography. In his introductory statements, he described the 2 types of Spain; one was
great and the other was evil. The evil side of Spain was where Rizal moulded his nationalism.
Guerrero also described other events of the 19th century that may not be appreciated by the
individual who does not know or has not read the history of Spain in the Philippines.
Furthermore, his book is one of the best source and rich in Rizaliana historiography, one of
the finest after Palma’s work.

Account of Ambeth Ocampo

One of the modern historians is no other than Ambeth Ocampo who discussed history in a
“telling to a friend” approach. His journalistic pattern of writing earned him the title of the
best modern historian in our time. His work on Rizal’s biography is entitled, “Rizal Without an
Overcoat”. With the same style of Quirino’s writings, he makes or even remakes Rizal as an
ordinary Filipino. He exposed Rizal as person with big ambitions for his countrymen. He
believed that education was the best weapon to expel the evil Spanish tyranny. Ambeth
Ocampo,being one of the contemporary historians shares his thoughts regarding the most
“updated” details in history-from the physical evidences to historical analyses, being trained
as a scholar. Reading Ambeth’s works as well as listening to his several lectures in Ateneo and
Ayala Museum can be a great historical experience.

Reference: https://www.academia.edu/44088401/Life_and_Works
Important note: Submit the whole module with your answered Learning Tasks.
Do not use another word document to answer and submit in part. You may
convert this module in word document to pdf file before submission (if you can
with your gadget).Submit your finished papers at
esteban.magsayo47@gmail.com.
Learning Tasks
You may answer in English or Filipino language

1. Why should we study the Life and Works of Rizal? Expand

the relevance of the law in the nation building of a true Filipino.
Explain the relevance of the course in general to the daily life of
the Filipinos nowadays.

First of all, we should study the life and works of Rizal because
it is mandated by the law, where its goal is to recommit our lives
to the principles of liberty and nationalism for which our national
heroes fought and died. Also, to pay respect to Rizal for giving
his life and works in molding the Filipino in ourselves today.
Lastly, is for us to obtain inspirational source of patriotism
through the study of his life, works, and writings.

The relevance of the law in the nation building of a true Filipino

is the education, fostering racial pride and dignity among the
people, the development of national awareness, the re-
orientation of values and attitudes, and the readiness to sacrifice
for the country are all part of his lingering effects for nation
building. For example, I was able to learn more about the
Philippines' history, values, and legacy thanks to the Rizal Law.
The problems that individuals encountered at the period were
constantly discussed in history books, but the way Rizal
described it in his novels made it more realistic in the sense that
you could feel the horrors that the characters experienced.

The relevance of studying this course nowadays it that we are

meant to become more conscious of the principles that our
country is based on by studying the lives of heroes like Rizal.
We are expected to become more conscious of the sacrifices
made by our predecessors (such as Rizal's death) in order for
us to have our own nation. To put it another way, studying such
heroes is meant to make us more patriotic and grateful for what
we have now. As a result, learning about Rizal is important to us
since it helps us become better citizens of our nation.

2. Choose one biographer that could discuss the life of Rizal

and how his/her writing of history can change the image of the
country.

The biographer that I will choose is Dr. Ambeth Ocampo. His

work about Rizal has its fresh take, and it recounts the story of a
life and personality so exceptional that we're still learning new
things about him more than a century after his death. However,
this is due to the efforts of people like Dr. Ambeth Ocampo.
Rizal was a wonderful man, but the Filipino historians who labor
so hard to represent him as a real, breathing, endlessly
interesting nationalist figure in our collective memory are the
ones who ensure his timelessness.

By Dr. Ambeth Ocampo’s work, as of today, a lot of young

people are bored with this kind of subject, but if people like
Ocampo could teach these young people with his method, our
country will be a lot more patriotic. Since, he portrayed Rizal
acting like a normal person, people in our country will be
inspired, that even a normal person could influence the people
around them. Also, if old and young people could see Ocampo’s
work entertaining, they would be more appreciative with Rizal in
such way that it will drive them with burning desire to be a good
citizens and excellent students. By that, our country would be in
a greater place, with a lot of productivity and innovation, just like
Rizal who never stopped learning and achieving new
milestones.