The Life and Works of Rizal Lesson 1 and 2

Republic Act No.
1425, known as the Rizal Law, mandates all educational institutions in the Philippines
to offer courses about José Rizal.
The full name of the law is 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, Authorizing
the Printing and Distribution Thereof, and for Other Purposes.
The measure was strongly opposed by the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines due to the
anti-clerical themes in Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo
The Highlights of the History

A. Senator Claro M. Recto was the main proponent of the Rizal Bill.
B. The Bill was opposed by the Catholic Church charging Recto as a communist and anti-catholic in 1955.
C. The Reason behind the opposition:
a. Violation of Freedom of Conscience.
b. Desecration of Religion.
c. Endanger of Catholic Salvation.
Father Jesus Cavanna

- Catholic priests who argued that the novels belonged to the past and teaching them would misrepresent
current conditions.
Organized Groups Opposing the Bill

1. Catholic Action of the Philippines.
2. Congregation of the Mission.
3. Knights of Columbus & Catholic Teachers Guild.
4. Francisco Soc Rodrigo & Mariano Jesús Cuenco
Proponents of the Bill

1. Veteranos de la Revolución (Spirit of 1896)
2. Alagad ni Rizal and The Freemasons.
3. Knights of Rizal
4. José P. Laurel and Claro M. Recto
The Archbishop of Manila, RUFINO SANTOS, protested in a pastoral letter that Catholic students
would be affected if the compulsory reading of the unexpurgated version were pushed through.
ARSENIO LACSON, MANILA'S MAYOR, who supported the bill, walked out of Mass when the
priest read a circular from the archbishop denouncing the bill.
Accusation to Rizal by Cuenco

- Rizal attacked dogmas, beliefs and practices of the Church.
- Castigating undeserving priests and refrained from criticizing, ridiculing or putting in doubt dogmas of the
Catholic Church, is absolutely gratuitous and misleading.
- Denial of the existence of purgatory, as it was not found in the Bible, and that Moses and Jesus Christ did
not mention its existence.
Outside the Senate, the Catholic schools threatened to close down if the bill was passed; Recto
countered that if that happened, the schools would be nationalized.
Recto did not believe the threat, stating that the schools were too profitable to be closed. The schools
gave up the threat, but threatened to "punish" legislators in favor of the law in future elections.
Taken from Claro M. Recto:
"The people who would eliminate the books of Rizal from the schools would blot out from our minds the
memory of the national hero. This is not a fight against Recto but a fight against Rizal", adding that since
Rizal is dead, they are attempting to suppress his memory.
On May 12, 1956, a compromise inserted by Committee on Education chairman Laurel that
accommodated the objections of the Catholic Church was approved unanimously.
The bill specified that only college (university) students would have the option of reading unexpurgated
versions of clerically-contested reading material, such as Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo.
The bill was enacted on June 12, 1956.
The Provisions of RA 1425 Rizal Law - Section 1

Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels 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 translations shall be used as basic texts.

It shall be obligatory for all schools, colleges, and universities to keep an adequate number of copies of
the original and expurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo and Rizal's other works and
biography in their libraries.

The Board of National Education Shall
- Cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions;
- Cause them to be distributed, free of charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the Purok
organizations and the Barrio Councils throughout the country.
Significance of the Law

It showed nationalism among Filipinos, the proponents ponder about other forms of nationalism that
can be used to encourage and can also serve as guidance for today's youth. (National Anthem)
To understand the history of Filipino culture and how the country turned out to be what it is now as a
source of nationalism. (Museums & Exhibits)
In reference to the Filipino history books, Filipino myths and legends and fables can also be considered
a possible way of showing nationalism towards the youth. They give the opportunity to visualize the past and
create an image of Filipino
Pride
The Rizal’s work, especially his novels, showed a part of history that people can reflect back into. It has
once changed society in the past and the proponents believe that it could still have a similar impact now
because Filipino traits and culture were evidently seen in those works.
President Ramon Magsaysay

- Philippine President signed the Rizal Law
Philippine Condition in the 19th Century: As Rizal’s Context | Economic Context
End of Galleon Trade
- In 1565, the Spanish government shut the ports of Manila to all nations.
- Galleon Trade (1565-1815) - was a boat “galleon” 250-years exchange going to and from between Manila
(which landed first in cebu) and Acapulco, Mexico
- Andres de Urdaneta, in escort under Miguel Lopez de Legaspi
- Mango de Manila, Tamarind, Rice, Carabao, Chinese tea and materials, cockfighting, fireworks show and
Tuba (coconut wine)
- Guava, Avocado, Papaya, Pineapple, Horses, Cattle
Opening of the Suez Canal

- Suez Canal - an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea
through the Isthmus of Suez.
- November 17, 1869
- Carried the nation close to Spain because the journey was diminished to just 32-40 days
- Noteworthy factor that empowered the development of nationalistic wants of Jose Rizal and other Filipino
illustrados.
- The diminished course assisted the importation of business items as well as of books, magazines, and
papers with liberal thoughts.
Exportation
Rise of the Export of Crop Economy
- The exploitation of the Philippines’ natural assets and progress of a fare crop economy - were marvels of the
nineteenth century
- Between 1820 and 1870 - the Philippines was well on its method of building up a fare crop economy
- The advancemed of the fare crop industry in the Philippines was propelled by the business endeavors of
North European and North American vendors
Monopolies
- After 1850 - government monopoly contracts for the collection of different revenues
- For the rest of the 19th century - the Chinese instantly took advantage of this commercial opportunity
- During the 1840’s - the Spanish government had legalized the use of opium
- Tobacco Monopoly
- March 1, 1782 - Governor-General Jose Basco Placed the tobacco industry under government control
- 1882 - the tobacco monopoly was finally abolished
Social Context
Education in the 19th Century
- European arrangement of Education
- Religion - was made as a compulsory subject at all levels to change
- King Philip II’s Leyes de Indias (Laws of Indies) ordered to learn Spanish
- First formal schools were the parochial schools
- Colleges were just open for Spaniards and those with Spanish blood (mestizo).
- Illustrados - another social class rose in the nation because of the developing number of instructed locals.
The Rise of Chinese Mestizo

- Elimination of the ship Exchange Manila got open to remote vendors nearly without limitation by the
mid-1830’s
- Development of business agribusiness brought about the nearness of the new social class
- Hacienda’s of sugar, espresso and hemp
- Peninsulares - pure-blooded Spaniard born in the Iberian Peninsula such as Spain
- Insulares - pure blooded Spaniard born in the Philippines
- Spanish Mestizo - One parent is Spanish, and other is a native or Chinese Mestizo; or one parent is
Chinese, the other is a native
- Principalia (Creoles | Criolis) - wealthy pure-blooded native supposedly descended from the kadatoan
class
- Indio - Pure-blooded native of the Philippines or the Filipinos
- Chino Infiel - Non-Catholic pure blooded Chinese
The Rise of the Inquilinos

- Inquilino - means “tenant.”
- The 19th Century Inquilino or tenant system in the Philippines is far better understood as a qualified
system of tenancy, or the right to use land in exchange for rent.
The Political Landscape
Liberalism
- Founded on Ideals of freedom and equality
- Governor-General Carlos Maria De la Torre - First liberal governor-general in the Philippines |
notable for his more liberal and reformist approach to colonial governance compared to some of his
predecessors.
The Impact of the Bourbon Reforms

- Spanish Bourbon King Philip V. Ferdinand VI, Charles III, and Charles IV advocate a century-long effort to
reform and modify the Spanish empire.
- It gives the idea that colonization could be done without much intervention from the Catholic Church
The Cadiz Constitution

- During the Napoleonic control of Spain - a liberal constitution was declared in cadiz (March 1812)
- Cadiz Constitution is the primary Constitution in Europe to manage national power, perceiving
sway as corning from the individuals and not from the lord.
- Pedro Perez de Tagle and Jose Manuel Coretto were the first delegates from the Philippines who made their
vow of office in Madrid
- which vested sway in the individuals,perceived the equity all things considered and the individual freedom
of the resident
Rizal’s Social Qualities

- He knew his place in the more noteworthy plan of things,
- He comprehended the cultural powers molding his life, and;
- He had the option to react in manners that profited others

The Life and Works of Rizal Lesson 1 and 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Life and Works of Rizal Lesson 1 and 2

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Life and Works of Rizal Lesson 1 and 2

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Republic Act No.

The Highlights of the History

Father Jesus Cavanna

Organized Groups Opposing the Bill

Proponents of the Bill

Accusation to Rizal by Cuenco

The bill was enacted on June 12, 1956.

The Provisions of RA 1425 Rizal Law - Section 1

The Provisions of RA 1425 Rizal Law - Section 2

The Provisions of RA 1425 Rizal Law - Section 3

Significance of the Law

President Ramon Magsaysay

Opening of the Suez Canal

The Rise of Chinese Mestizo

The Rise of the Inquilinos

The Political Landscape

The Impact of the Bourbon Reforms

The Cadiz Constitution

Rizal’s Social Qualities

You might also like