Jim Lee F. Lorenzo Prof.

Patrick Henry Manguera

BSME 5-1
ASSESSMENT NO.1

1. Do you think that the passage of the Rizal bills into a law warranted
the objectives that the sponsors conceived in the 1956? Explain your
answer.
ANSWER:
Sen. Claro M. Recto introduced the law because he feels that
conserving the writings of our national hero and conveying his principles to
all Filipinos, young and old, is essential. The bill's goal was not to fight the
church through Rizal's works, but to foster the patriotism and nationalism that
Rizal once possessed. With the passage of the Rizal bill into law, he and his
sponsors hoped to instill in all Filipinos the same patriotic, moral, and social
convictions that Rizal once possessed. They intended the next generations
to learn how our heroes struggled for their independence and to understand
what it meant to be a Filipino. This law was not enacted for their advantage,
but for the benefit of our country's future generations, because youth are the
next generation to lead and choose the future path of our country.
I feel that enacting the Rizal laws into law provided adolescents like
me with a better understanding of what occurred in our country during the
time of our national heroes. Their goals were justified because schools,
universities, and colleges, whether Catholic or not, teach Rizal's writings.
Learning about his famous books, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo,
piqued my interest in what Filipinos could achieve in the past with their strong
patriotism and nationalism. Young Filipinos can learn why they fought for the
nation during those times by reading the works of a renowned literary artist
such as Dr. Jose Rizal, while also enjoying history. Despite several
objections, the sponsors were successful in enacting the Rizal Law, which I
feel was a great government choice.
Even though the Rizal Law was approved a decade ago, the dread of
opposition did not materialize. Many people still believe in the church, and
reading Rizal's works and life ignites patriotism inside them, which is in line
with the Rizal law's goals. Those who backed the bill had great insights since
they were considering future generations. Even if the heroes of their day are
no longer alive, their ideals, philosophies, and even moral values live on in
Filipino hearts. The Rizal Bill eventually became a statute that would have
an impact on young Filipinos' perspectives.

2. Do you think that the objectives were attained thereafter and that their
attainment resonated until the present? Expound your answer.
ANSWER:
In my opinion, it has not completely attained the goals that were set for
future generations. In terms of curriculum, every public and private school
and institution educates about Rizal's life and works, and this goal was
clearly met. However, few Filipino teenagers were able to put their newfound
knowledge into practice. Even after learning about the lives and works of our
heroes, some Filipinos today seem to be unaware of what is going on in the
nation. Things that might have a detrimental impact on our country require
prompt action, which some teenagers neglect. However, there are
individuals who learn from Rizal's nationalism and vow to fight against bad
government policies.
When it comes to patriotism, there are people who care about our
nation and others who don't. Some Filipinos, in my opinion, are learning for
the purpose of working for other countries rather than for our own. Don't get
me wrong: I'm not suggesting that working in other nations is a bad idea; I
recognize that each Filipino faces unique challenges. What I mean is that
there are Filipinos who side with other countries and betray their own for
personal gain, which is not motivated by a desire to learn about Rizal's
writings and life. They contributed to the Philippines' demise by yielding to
sovereign governments in return for riches or power, and hence oppose the
patriotism and nationalism that the legislation seeks to foster in young
Filipinos.
Because there are individuals who would fight for what is right and
resist others who are destroying the nation, the Rizal Law was able to instill
a feeling of patriotism in most Filipinos. I noted that Rizal creates a sense
of togetherness and solidarity for the Philippines via his works. This was most
seen in People Power I, in which Filipinos banded together to depose the
late President Ferdinand Marcos. However, as I have stated, nationalism is
on the decline, and today's youth do not see the need of maintaining our
identity. This is why it is critical to study Rizal's life and writings in depth
because it will open the eyes of every Filipino who reads it and will act as a
catalyst for Filipino patriotism and nationalism.