José Rizal: A Biographical Sketch

Biographical Sketch

• José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna.
• Rizal died on December 30, 1896, in Bagumbayan, Manila at the age of 35 via execution by firing squad.
• He was of Filipino nationality.
• Rizal was also known as Pepe.
• His alma maters include Ateneo Municipal de Manila, University of Santo Tomas, and Universidad Central de Madrid.
• Rizal was involved with organizations such as La Solidaridad and La Liga Filipina.
• He used the pen names Dimas Alang and Laong Laan.
• Rizal's religion was Roman Catholicism.
• His spouse was Josephine Bracken.
• Francisco Rizal y Bracken was his child who died after birth.
• Dr. Jose Rizal is considered the greatest hero of the Philippines, possessing intellectual, moral, and physical qualities.
• Rizal was an anthropologist, architect, botanist, businessman, cartoonist, cartographer, dramatist, economist, educator, engineer, essayist, entomologist, ethnologist, farmer, folklorist, inventor, geographer, grammarian, historian, horticulturist, humorist, lexicographer, linguist, musician, novelist, painter, physician, poet, philologist, philosopher, polemist, psychologist, satirist, sculptor, sportsman, sociologist, surveyor, translator, traveler, zoologist, patriot, hero, and martyr.
• Consecrated his life and talents for the redemption and welfare of his people.

The Rizal Law

• Senator Claro M. Recto saw a need to bring back the patriotic values and instill heroism in the youth during the social turmoil in the Philippines in the 1950s.
• The presence of internal corruption was rampant due to the influence of Americans in politics and the economy.
• College and university students are required to study Rizal's life and works.
• The Catholic Church opposed the bill due to anti-Christ passages in Rizal's works like Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo and the distress for harming the youth's religious beliefs.
• Senator Francisco "Soc" Rodrigo suggested using edited versions of the novels, but Recto rejected this.
• Senator Jose Laurel authored a compromise bill to address the Catholic Church's objections.
• President Ramon Magsaysay signed the bill into law on June 12, 1956.

Republic Act No. 1425

• Mandates courses on the life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, in the curricula of all public and private schools, colleges, and universities.
• Collegiate courses must use the original or unexpurgated editions of the novels or their English translations as basic texts.
• The Board of National Education is authorized and directed to implement the provisions of this section, including writing and printing primers, readers, and textbooks.
• The Board must create rules and regulations within 60 days of the Act's effectivity, including disciplinary measures.
• Students may be exempted from the requirement based on religious belief stated in a sworn written statement, but they must still take the course.
• Schools, colleges, and universities must keep copies of the original and unexpurgated editions of Rizal's novels, other works, and biography in their libraries.
• The Board of National Education determines the adequate number of books based on the school's enrollment.
• The Board of National Education translates Rizal's works into English, Tagalog, and principal Philippine dialects and distributes them freely through Purok organizations and Barrio Councils.
• The Act does not amend or repeal section nine hundred twenty-seven of the Administrative Code regarding the discussion of religious doctrines in public schools.
• The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is authorized to carry out the purposes of this Act.
• The Act was approved on June 12, 1956.