Republic of the Philippines

CEBU NORMAL UNIVERSITY

Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

College of Nursing
Center of Excellence (COE) | Level IV Re-Accredited (AACCUP)
Telephone No: (032) 254 4837
Email: cn@cnu.edu.ph; secretary@cnunursing.org
Website: www.cnu.edu.ph

Dela Cruz, Mike Renzo S. October 2023

BSN 4A Finals 1

The Life and Works of Rizal

1. Agree or Disagree. Rizal was a coward when he refused to approve the planned
uprising of the Katipunan. Explain your answer in brief.

I do not agree that Rizal was a coward for choosing to refuse the planned
uprising of the Katipunan. For me, I believe it was a wise move. He took a cautious
approach to avoid needless casualties and the loss of Filipino blood. Rizal emphasized
the transformative potential of education in the quest for freedom in his writings. In
contrast to armed revolution, he favored peaceful reform because he believed that
societal advancement and intellectual advancement could bring about long-lasting
change. Moreover, Rizal made decisions after giving them careful thought and planning.
His actions, far from being cowardly, showed his foresight, highlighting the importance of
considering the worst-case scenarios and potential outcomes before making any
significant decisions.

2. If you had been Rizal’s lawyer, what could have you done to save Rizal from his
death sentence?

Before sharing my thoughts, I would like to share that during Rizal's era in the
Philippines, the justice system was biased towards the Spaniards. However, despite this,
I would still try to make my argument despite these biases because I believe that
everyone deserves the right to speak their side. As Rizal's lawyer, for me, the strongest
stand I could do is to mention his non-violent approach—that he never committed a
violent act. Moreover, I will also put emphasis on his commitment to peaceful reform and
education. I'd argue that his involvement in the rebellion would have led to a less violent
outcome—compared to the Katapunan’s action. I believe this is a great stand to
showcase that his ultimate goal is to attain peace and independence rather than wanting
to create a violent tension between the Philippines as what the Spaniards might believe.

For this generation, the justice system is significantly better compared to the
Rizal’s time. He has a better chance of having fair play. First of all, I would ask for a right
to appeal, seeking for a review of his case by a higher court. This should be recognized
as all citizens, as stated by the 1987 Constitution, have the right to appeal, right to a fair
trial, and a right to due process. This means that Rizal has the right to speak his side
and try to convince the judge/jury of his innocence. Moreover, when it comes to the
argument regarding his published works, everyone is entitled to freedom of speech. This
means that he has the right to articulate his thoughts with freedom from retaliation from
the government. In relation to this, we could present solid evidence that, even
considering his published works, no harmful act was committed, and his goal was not to
create unwanted tension between the countries but rather, to attain peace and
independence of the Philippines.
 Republic of the Philippines
CEBU NORMAL UNIVERSITY
Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

College of Nursing
Center of Excellence (COE) | Level IV Re-Accredited (AACCUP)
Telephone No: (032) 254 4837
Email: cn@cnu.edu.ph; secretary@cnunursing.org
Website: www.cnu.edu.ph

3. Explain the reason why Rizal wanted to be shot in the small of the back instead of
the head.

First, Rizal requested not to be shot in the head and also requested to face the
firing squad to show that he is not a traitor but the second request was declined. He
requested these two things as being shot in the head and, facing back indicates a traitor,
and he does not want to deliver this idea to the people. Sadly, despite wanting a
dignified end, he was shot in the back, facing backwards. Moreover, to make it even
more unfortunate, he was given a final shot in the head, denying the honorable death he
sought.