Week 2

RIZAL, THE
NATIONAL
HERO
Week 2 (Lesson 1)
• CO4. Write a reflection /summary/ discussion on Rizal
life, works and RA 1465

• CO5. Relate Rizal’s life and works to the values of

nationalism and love of country
RIZAL LAW: RA1425
History
Sen. Claro M. Recto was the author of
the Rizal bill
Sen. Jose P. Laurel sponsored the law
June 12, 1956, President Ramon
Magsaysay signed the law as
Republic Act 1425

Recto believed that the reading of Rizal’s

novel would strengthen the Filipinism of
the youth and foster patriotism
Moreover,
Laurel believed that the
objective of this bill is to
disseminate the ideas an
ideas of the great Filipino
patriot through reading
this novel
What is Rizal law?
RA 1425 also known as Rizal law is an act that
mandates all educational institutions in the
Philippines that Rizal will be part of the
the curriculum in all universities and colleges
public or private especially the “Noli Me
Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo”.
Contents of Rizal law
Section 1:

Noli Me Tangere and

El Felibusterismo
must be the original
copy
Contents of Rizal law
Section 2:

School libraries
should have the
translation of Rizal’s
works
Contents of Rizal law
Section 3:

The board of the

national Education must
handle the translation
of Rizal’s works
Contents of Rizal law
Section 4:
This act does not alter
the section 927 of the
administrative code in
prohibiting any persons
engaged in any public
schools to discuss
religious doctrines
Contents of Rizal law
Section 5:
The sum of three hundred
thousand pesos is hereby
authorized to be
appropriated out of any fund
not otherwise appropriated
in the National Treasury to
carry out the purposes of
this Act.
Contents of Rizal law

Section 6:

This Act shall take effect

upon its approval.
Rizal law: RA 1425

Otherwise known as the Rizal law was

approved on June 12, 1956 and
promulgated (Put into effect) by the
Committee on National Education on
August 18,1956 (during the administration
of President Ramon F. Magsaysay).
Objectives of Rizal law:
a.) To rededicate the lives of
the youth to the ideals of
freedom and nationalism for
which our heroes lived and
died.
Objectives of Rizal law:
b.) To pay tribute to
our national hero for
devoting his life and
works in shaping the
Filipino character.
Objectives of Rizal law:

c.) To gain an
inspiring source of
patriotism through
the study of Rizal’s
life, works and
writings.
The patriotic goals set by the Board on National
Education (Capino et al, 1997) are as follows:

a.) To recognize the

relevance of Rizal’s
ideals, thoughts,
teachings, and life values
to present conditions in
the community.
The patriotic goals set by the Board on National Education
(Capino et al, 1997) are as follows:

b.) To apply Rizal’s ideas

in the solution of day-to
day situations and
problems in
contemporary life.
The patriotic goals set by the Board on National Education (Capino
et al, 1997) are as follows:

c.) To develop an
understanding and
appreciation of the
qualities, behavior, and
character of Rizal; and,
d.) To foster the development of moral
character, personal discipline,
citizenship, and vocational efficiency
among the Filipino youth.
Issues and Interests on Rizal law

1. Recto, during the 1955 Senate

election was accused of being a
communist and anti-catholic. This
also led to the freedom of
conscience and religion.
Issues and Interests on Rizal law

2.Catholic churches came

together and campaigned
aggressively against Recto and
his bill.
Issues and Interests on Rizal law

They urged advocates of faith to

band together and write to their
congressmen and senator to
show opposition.
Issues and Interests on Rizal law
3. Those who opposed the bill were
groups such as:

*Catholic Action of the Philippines

* Congregation of the Mission
*Knights of Columbus
* Catholic teachers guild
Issues and Interests on Rizal law

They were opposed by the only

two people:
1. Francisco SOC Rodrigo
Mariano Jesus, and;
2. Decoroso Rosales
Issues and Interests on Rizal law

Cuenco emphasized that Rizal

attacked the practices and
beliefs of the church
Meanwhile, those who favor of the bill were:
1. Veteraos de la
Revolucion
2. Alagad ni Rizal
3.Freemasons, and;
4. The knights of Rizal
Other issues on Rizal bill
Catholic schools in protests,
threatened to close down if the bill
was approved.

• However, Recto quickly rebutted that

if that were to happen, schools
would be nationalized (which the
church clearly did not want).
Other issues on Rizal bill
According to fr. Jesus
Cavanna, the novels belong to
the past;they represent “false
pictures” of the condition in
the country.
Other issues on Rizal bill
Noli Me Tangere is an “attack to the
clergy”; the objective was to put
ridicule to Catholic faith.
Other issues on Rizal bill
He added that it was not patriotic
because of the three hundred thirty-
three (333) pages, only twenty-five (25)
pages were patriotic, and one-hundred
twenty (120) pages were devoted to
anti-Catholic attacks.
Other issues on Rizal bill
During the passage of the bill, Bishop
Manuel Yap, warned legislators who
voted for the Rizal bill that they would
be “punished” in the next election.
Other issues on Rizal bill
Meanwhile, Senator Recto took the
floor for the seventh time to warn
against the church’s interference in
state affairs.
When did it become a bill?
On May 12,1956, a unanimous approval
for a second reading of a substitute
measure authored
Sen. Claro M. Recto’s Rizal

Was the author of Rizal law (RA 1425 ).

This bills was also sponsored by
Senator Jose P. Laurel, Committee
Chairman of Education .
This aimed to instill nationalism. It was
his belief that the readings of Rizal’s
novels would strengthen Filipinism
among the youth and foster patriotism.
However,
the Catholic hierarchy(/ˈhī(ə)ˌrärkē/)
spearheaded by Decoroso Rosales
opposed the bill on the ground that it
violated freedom of conscience and
religion.
The Catholic church in their pastoral letter
objected to the bill and campaigned
against it.
Rizal bill was unanimously approved by
a substitute measure authored by
Senator Jose P. Laurel. The passage of
the bill was clearly an accommodation
to the objectives of the Catholic
hierarchy.
Trial of the Rizal bill
December 1960, Jose B. Laurel Jr. was
the former speaker of the House of
Representatives.
April 3, 1956
The bill was filed by the Committee on Education
on as Senate Bill no. 438.
Senator Jose P. Laurel, Chairman of the
Committee on Education, began his sponsorship
measure on April 17, 1956.
The original Senate bill title of Rizal Law was “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 “
According to Senator Laurel, the object
of the bill is to disseminate the ideas
and ideals of the great Filipino patriot
through the reading of his works,
particularly “Noli Me Tangere” and El
Filibusterismo”.
The two novels must be taken to heart
for in the novels we can mirror the
following:
*Ourselves
*Our defects
* Strength and virtues
• Senator Rector said that under the
police power and Art XIV (5) of the
constitution, the State can require
the reading of the novels in our public
and private schools
Rizal bill aimed at inculcating civic
consciousness in the Filipinos, national
dignity, personal pride, and patriotism
The opponents of the bill argued that
the compulsion (to force) to read
something is disablement (impairment)
to freedom of speech and freedom of
religion.
Rizal bill as literature and nationalism
Caroline Sy Hau is a Chinese-Filipino
author, considered Rizal bill as
literature and nationalism together
that includes the state’s attempt to
decolonize Philippine culture that
foster national consciousness enabling
Filipinos as good citizens.
Questions regarding Rizal’s heroism
• That Bonifacio or Aguinaldo should be the National
Hero, because, they fought in the Revolution, while
Rizal cautioned them about it.

• If we recall our historical data, it could be recalled

that Bonifacio lost all his 29 battles while Aguinaldo
surrendered to the Americans in 1901.
• Rizal through the might of his pen
waged a non-violent crusade and
suffered political martyrdom. The
ideas that he has propagated still live
today not even the mighty armies of
Spain and America could kill.
National Hero Committee during the
American Period
The Nominees:

• a.) Marcelo H. del Pilar

• b.) Jose Rizal
• c.) Emilio Jacinto
• d.) Graciano Lopez-Jaena
• e.) Antonio Luna
Reasons for Choosing Rizal
a.) First Filipino who displayed the
true sense of nationalism

b.) Model of Peace

c.) Filipinos are sentimental

Executive Order No. 75 “Creating the National
Heroes Committee”
• Currently new heroes can be
proclaimed through the new criteria
set by E.O. no. 75, Issued on March
28, 1993 by President Fidel V. Ramos
“Creating the National Heroes
Committee” under the Office of the
President.
Technical Committee
Criteria for National Hero (June 3, 1993)
Heroes are those:
◦ Who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire
and struggle for the nation’s freedom

◦ Who define and contribute to a system or life of

freedom and order for a nation

◦ Who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a

nation
Additional criteria:
◦ A hero is part of the peopl
A hero is part of the people’s expression.

◦ A hero thinks of the future, especially the future

generation.

◦ The choice of a hero involves not only the

recounting of an episode or events in history, but of
the entire process that made this person a hero.
Historical Figures Recommended as National
Hero
• a.) Jose Rizal
• b.) Andres Bonifacio
• c.) Emilio Aguinaldo
• d.) Apolinario Mabini
• e.) Marcelo H. del Pilar
• f.) Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
• g.) Juan Luna
• h.) Melchora Aquino
• i.) Gabriela Silang
Do you want to be a national
hero?
Virtual tour
• Let’s watch together!

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fZUYdgJq8U
¼ sheet of paper
• Reflect on the importance of the
following concepts in your profession
• -patriotism
• -good moral character
• - personal discipline -civic conscience
• - good citizenship