The Rizal Law

(by Daren Cristian M. Morales)

The R.A 1425 or the Rizal Law was made to rededicate the lives of the Filipino
people to the ideals of freedom and nationalism, which are the fruits from the sacrifices
of our heroes. It orders us to study Dr. Jose Rizal’s life and works to increase the sense
of nationalism among Filipino people. Dr. Jose Rizal is the national hero of the
Philippines, he was able to lead the Filipino people to start a revolution against the
Spanish regime without raising his hands for violence. Rizal’s works such as the Nole
Me Tangere and El Filibusterimo showcases the unfair treatment of the Spanish
government to Filipino people in his time. The R.A. 1425 was signed by President
Ramon Magsaysay on June 12, 1956, which is also the date of the Philippine’s
Independence Day. And because this republic act, the schools are now teaching the
Filipino youth about the Rizal’s life and works which manifests the highest virtue of
being a Filipino citizen.

The teaching of Rizal’s Life and Works might have sensitive issues about the
church and its priests. Because in Rizal’s works, it says that the church was involved in
the dirty works of the Spanish government. That’s also the reason why the church is
against on the implementing of the Rizal Law because they don’t want to have a dirty
image to the eyes of their followers. In the current time, it is on us to know the truth and
have our own opinions about this. Rizal’s works stands a huge part in the Philippine
history even if it reveals the dirty works of the church in the past, because his works
taught us on how to give importance to our country and it shapes our characteristics to
be a real Filipino. This boosts our nationalism, patriotism, and volunteerism towards our
country.

If I will be given a chance to deconstruct one of Rizal’s written works, it will be

none of it. For me, there’s nothing wrong on Rizal’s written works except if you are a
priest, a member of a religious group/church or a Spanish person. Because it shows the
reign of greed among the Spanish government during these times and the church got
involved in it and was stated in Rizal’s work. This makes the Church’s image dirty to its
followers. Rizal’s work is dedicated to burst out the emotions of the Filipino against the
Spanish government in the past. These works do not only contain persuasion to fight for
freedom, but also to teach every Filipino to know what it means to be a real Filipino. For
me, the issue between the church and the and Rizal’s work was now changing. People
nowadays are capable of weighting things up and draw some strong conclusions for
them to have their opinions towards the church. As the time goes by, the hatred against
the church’s doings in the past is now fading away. Because the past is no longer
connected to our current time. The church in the past is no longer the same in the past
where the Spanish government is still colonizing our country.
References:
https://www.mvorganizing.org/what-is-the-significance-of-rizal-law-in-your-life-as-a-
student/
https://nhcp.gov.ph/historical-context-and-legal-basis-of-rizal-day-and-other-memorials-
in-honor-of-jose-rizal/
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-1425/
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/rizal-law-and-the-catholic-church-
a00293-20200929