CHAPTER 1:

Introduction to the
Study of Rizal’s Life,
Works and Writing
Prepared by:
MARIEL A. DELA TRINIDAD, MAPA
 Table of contents
THE BIRTH OF FILIPINO
01 RIZAL LAW 02 NATIONALISM

IMPORTANT EVENT NOTABLE ASIAN

03 04 PEOPLE
DURING RIZAL’S TIME

05 WHO MADE RIZAL OUR

NATIONAL HERO?
“Our liberty will not be secured at the sword’s point.
We must secure it by making ourselves worthy of it.
When the person reaches that height, God will
provide a weapon, the idols will be shattered,
tyranny will crumble like a house of cards, and liberty
will shine out like the first dawn.”
DR. JOSE RIZAL
01
RIZAL LAW
R.A. 1425 – An 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
The Rizal Law, also known as R.A. 1425, mandates
the study of Rizal’s life and works, as shown in Section
1. This Republic Act calls for an increase sense of
nationalism from the Filipinos during a time of a
dwindling Filipino identity.
 Important points that is worth noticing:
1. Whereas, today, more than other period of our history,
there is a need for a re-dedication to the ideals of
freedom and nationalism for which our heroes lived and
died.
2. Whereas, all educational institutions are under the
supervision of, and subject to regulation by the State,
and all schools are enjoined to develop moral character,
personal discipline, civic conscience and to teach the
duties of citizenship.
Section 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of
Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me Tangere and
El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of
all schools, colleges and universities, 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.
 02
THE BIRTH OF FILIPINO
NATIONALISM
The flowering of national spirit was stimulated by the
following influences:

● The opening of the Philippines to World Trade

● The rise of an enlightened middle class
● The Spanish Revolution of 1868
● The opening of the Suez Canal
● The Influx of Liberal Ideas
● The Cavite Mutiny of 1872
● The Martyrdom of Fathers Burgos, Gomez and
Zamora
 Opening of the Philippines to World Trade
• Spain following the example of other European powers,
liberalized her economic policy in the Philippines by
permitting foreign firms to do business in Manila.
• In 1809, the first English firm was officially opened to
world trade. By 1859, there were fifteen foreign firms in
Manila. (7 English, 3 American, 2 French, 2 Swiss, and 1
German).
• In the year 1834, Manila was officially open to world
trade.
• Ports opened in Sual, Iloilo, and Zamboanga in 1855; Cebu
in 1860; and Legaspi and Tacloban in 1873
 Rise of Enlightened Middle Class
• Material prosperity produced an enlightened
middle class, consisting of well-to-do farmers,
teachers, lawyers, physicians, writers, and
government employees. They read books and
newspapers, discussed political problems and
reforms, and sent their children to colleges and
universities in Manila and abroad.
 The Spanish Revolution of 1868
• On September 19, 1863, a revolution broke out in
Cadiz, Spain, against the autocratic rule of Queen
Isabella II (1836-1968), led by two able generals –
Serrano and Prim.
• The Spanish patriots, flushed with victory,
established provisional government, with General
Serrano as reagent.
 Opening of Suez Canal (1869)
• The opening of Suez Canal to world shipping on November
17, 1860, greatly affected the course of Philippine History.
The canal, built by Ferdinand de Lesseps, a Frenchmen,
connects the red Sea and the Mediterranean linking Europe
and the Orient closer.
• Spanish Population increased: 1870 – 13,500; 1898 – 34,000
Cape of Good Hope
 The Influx of Liberal Ideas
• The ships that came to the open ports of the Philippines
via the Suez Canal carried with them men of liberal ideas
from America and Europe. They bought newspaper and
books that contained thoughts of Montesquieu,
Rousseau, Locke, Stuart Mill, Jefferson, Madison, as well
as the democratic ideologies of the American and French
Republics.
 The Cavite Mutiny
• Is a brief uprising of 200 Filipino troops and workers at the
Cavite arsenal, which became the excuse for Spanish
repression of the embryonic Philippine nationalist
movement. Ironically, the harsh reaction of the Spanish
authorities served ultimately to promote the nationalist
cause.
• A number of Filipino intellectuals were seized and accused of
complicity with the mutineers. After a brief trial, three
priests—José Burgos, Jacinto Zamora, and Mariano Gómez—
were publicly executed. The three subsequently
became martyrs to the cause of Philippine independence.
 03
IMPORTANT EVENT
DURING RIZAL’S TIME
The Philippines and Spain in 19th Century
• The Philippines went from being agrarian subsistence
economy to an intermediating economy, bringing the
gaps between Asia, America and Europe by means of
the commercial route of the galleon that joined
Manila and Acapulco.
• Spain was loosing her colonies in the new world.
• Mexico became independent (1821)
• Galleon Trade ended its voyage (1815)
• Chile, Columbia and Peru were no longer a
colony of Spain, they only had Cuba,
Puerto Rico and Philippines
04
NOTABLE ASIAN
PEOPLE
1. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2,
1869 – January 30, 1948), commonly known as
Mahatma Gandhi or Bapu (Father of Nation),
was the prominent leader of Indian nationalism
in British-ruled India. Employing non-violent civil
disobedience , Gandhi led India to independence
and inspired movements for non-violence, civil
rights and freedom across the world.
2. Dr. Sun Yat-sen (November 12, 1866 – March
12, 1925), was Chinese revolutionary, first
President and founding Father of the Republic of
China (Nationalist China). As the foremost pioneer
of Republic of China (ROC), Sun is reffered to as
the “Father of the Nation”, and the “forerunner of
democratic revolution” in the People’s Republic of
China.
3. Ho Chi Minh, real name: Nguyen tat Thanh (1890-1969),
Vietnamese Communist leader and the principal force
behind the Vietnamese struggle against French colonial
rule.
 05
WHO MADE RIZAL
OUR NATIONAL HERO?
• There are some Filipinos who believe that Rizal is a
“made-to-order” national hero because he gained
the title due to a decision made by Civil Governor
William Howard Taft when the Philippines was
under American Rule.
• Other candidates were: Marcelo H. Del Pilar,
Graciano Lopez-Jaena, General Antonio Luna,
Emilio Jacinto, and Andres Bonifacio
Several qualities the Dr. Jose Rizal possessed that
made him deserving of national hero title:
1. A man of knowledge
2. A man with sound nationalism
3. A man with moral character
4. Truly Service Oriented
THANK YOU