Republic Act 1425: Rizal Law

Republic Act 1425 or Rizal Law

• House Bill No. 5561 and Senate Bill No. 438 are associated with the Rizal Law.
• The Rizal Act, established on June 12, 1956, courtesy of Senator Claro M. Recto.
• Private and public schools, colleges, and universities must incorporate the works and writings of Jose Rizal, especially his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, into their curricula.
• August 16, 1956, marked the effectivity of the Rizal Act.

Father of Rizal Law

• Claro M. Recto is recognized as the Father of Rizal Law.
• Claro M. Recto was born on February 8, 1890, in Tiaong Tayabas and passed away on October 2, 1960, in Rome, Italy.
• Recto was a Filipino politician, jurist, poet, and a prominent statesman of his time.
• He studied Latin at Instituto de Rizal at the Colegio del Sagrado in Lipa, Batangas.
• Recto attended Ateneo de Manila, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree maxima cum laude.
• He obtained a Masters of Law degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
• Recto served as a former Congressman in Batangas.

Rizal Law (Republic Act No. 1425)

• The law mandates that all schools, colleges, and universities, whether private or public, include courses on the life and works of Rizal.
• Schools must maintain a sufficient number of original and unexpurgated copies of El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere, along with other biographies and works of Rizal.
• Batas Rizal intended to rekindle the flame of nationalism among Filipinos, particularly the youth.

Importance of Studying Rizal

• Studying Rizal promotes ideals of freedom and nationalism.
• Rizal's contribution to the country is invaluable.
• Rizal serves as an inspiring source of patriotism.
• Studying Rizal connects ideals and teachings to the present conditions and situations in society.
• Rizal's ideals are applicable to current social and personal problems and issues.
• Studying Rizal aids in the development of citizenship.
• Studying Rizal helps Filipinos understand themselves.

Hero

• A hero is a prominent or central figure taking admirable action.
• A person of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, or fortitude in suffering.
• A hero is honored after death by public worship for exceptional service to mankind.

Why is Rizal The Greatest Filipino Hero?

• Rizal stated, "I die without seeing the day dawning in my country... you who will see it, greet it... and forget not those who fell during the night."
• Antonio Maria Regidor and Prof. Ferdinand Blumentritt highlighted Rizal's intelligence, courage, and his role as a leader against reactionaries and tyrants.
• Rizal was described as "the most prominent man of his own people but the greatest man the Malayan race has produced".
• Rizal possessed excellent qualities and merits.

Criteria in Choosing The Philippine National Hero

• A national hero must be a Filipino citizen.
• They must be a patriot or nationalist.
• A national hero must already be deceased.
• A national hero must be patient.

Personalities Nominated to be Our National Hero

• Marcelo H. del Pilar
• Emilio Jacinto
• Graciano Lopez-Jaena
• Antonio Luna

Issues About The Proclamation Of Dr. Jose Rizal As National Hero

• One issue was a claim that Rizal was the illegitimate son of Adolf Hitler.
• Another issue suggests Rizal should not be proclaimed as the national hero because of his cowardice to fight the colonizers through revolution.
• Rizal was regarded as an American-made hero.
• The First Philippine Commission, formed by the United States President and headed by American Governor-General William Howard C. Taft.
• The declaration of Dr. Jose Rizal as our national hero was a strategy to hinder nationalistic feelings.

The World During The Time Of Rizal

• The 19th century was Rizal's century
• It was an extremely dynamic and creative age, especially in Europe and the United States.
• The economic and social structure was based on old feudalism patterns.
• By the late 18th century, political and economic changes in Europe began to affect Spain and its other colonies.
• The last galleon trade arrived in Manila in 1815, and by the mid-1830s, the country was open to foreign merchants almost without restriction.
• In 1863, the public education curriculum was controlled by the Church.
• The 1880s: sons of wealthy families sent to Europe to study.
• In 1892, Rizal returned to the Philippines and formed the La Liga Filipina.
• Rizal was arrested and exiled to a remote island in the south.
• Activists formed the Katipunan.
• Rizal was executed in 1896.