Republic Act 1425: Rizal Law

• Republic Act No. 1425 mandates courses on the life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal in all public and private schools, colleges, and universities.
• It focuses on Rizal's novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
• The law authorizes the printing and distribution of these materials.

Rizal Law

• It is commonly known as the Rizal Law.
• Senator Claro M. Recto authored the Rizal Law.
• It was signed into law on June 12, 1956.
• The Rizal course is a requirement for graduation in all tertiary education degree and non-degree programs due to the Rizal Law.
• The law was made effective on August 16, 1956, as per the Official Gazette.

Aims of Rizal Law

• To recognize the relevance of Rizal's ideals, thoughts, teachings, and values to current conditions.
• To apply these ideals to solve contemporary problems.
• To develop an understanding and appreciation of Rizal's qualities, behavior, and character.
• To foster moral character, personal discipline, citizenship, and vocational efficiency.
• To comply with the patriotic objectives given by the late Senator Jose P. Laurel.
• Senate Bill 448 aims to educate people about the oppression Filipinos endured during the Spanish era.
• It helps Filipinos better understand themselves and their country.
• Jose P. Laurel is considered the Father of Rizal Law.

Genealogy

• Genealogy studies ancestry and family histories.
• A genealogist is an expert in the field.

Paternal Ancestry

• Domingo Lameo (Domingo Lamco) was a Chinese immigrant.
• He came from Chinchew (Changchow) in the Fukien City.
• Domingo arrived from Amoy, China, in 1697.
• He changed his name to Mercado (meaning "Market") in 1731.
• Ines Dela Rosa was a well-to-do Chinese girl from Manila.
• Juan Mercado was the grandfather of Jose Rizal and Capitan del Pueblo of Biñan.
• Cirila Alejandro, a Chinese-Filipino Mestiza, was married to Juan Mercado.
• Francisco Mercado became gobernadorcillo, and married Bernarda Monica a Chinese-Filipina Mestiza (mayor of Biñan).
• Francisco Mercado, Rizal's father, was the youngest of Juan and Cirila's 13 children.
• His father died when he was 8 years old.
• He was born on May 11, 1818, in Biñan, Laguna.
• He studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila.
• He died in Manila on January 5, 1898, at the age of 80.
• Teodora Alonso Realonda was born on November 8, 1826, in Manila.
• She was educated at the College of Santa Rosa.
• She died in Manila on August 16, 1911.

Maternal Ancestry

• Eugenio Ursua, great-great-grandfather of Jose Rizal, and was of Japanese ancestry.
• Benigna was Filipina.
• Regina was the daughter of Eugenio and Benigna.
• Manuel de Quintos was a Filipino-Chinese lawyer from Pangasinan.
• Lorenzo Alberto Alonso was a prominent Spanish-Filipino mestizo of Biñan.
• Brigida, Narcisa, Teodora (Rizal's Mother), Gregorio, Manuel, and Jose are also ancestors on the maternal side.

Rizal's Parents

• Francisco Mercado was Rizal's father.
• Francisco was the youngest among the 13 siblings of Juan and Cirila.
• Francisco's father died when he was 8 years old.
• Francisco was born on May 11, 1818, in Biñan, Laguna.
• Francisco studied Latin and Philosophy at the College of San Jose in Manila.
• Francisco died in Manila on January 5, 1898.
• Teodora Alonso Realonda was Rizal's mother.
• Teodora was born on November 8, 1826, in Manila.
• Teodora was educated at the College of Santa Rosa.
• Teodora died in Manila on August 16, 1911.

Rizal's Siblings

• Saturnina (1850-1913) was the eldest child, married to Manuel Timoteo Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas, and nicknamed Neneng.
• Paciano (1851-1930) was the only brother of Jose Rizal, studied at San Jose College in Manila, became a farmer and later a general of the Philippine Revolution, and was immortalized by Jose Rizal as Pilosopo Tasio in Noli Me Tangere.
• Narcisa (1852-1939) was the third child, married to Antonio Lopez at Morong, Rizal, and was a teacher and musician.
• Olympia Rizal (1855-1887) was the fourth child, married Silvestre Ubaldo, and died in 1887 from childbirth.
• Lucia (1857-1919) was the fifth child, married to Mariano Herbosa.
• Mariano Herbosa, the nephew of Fr. Casanas, was denied a Christian burial as he was the brother-in-law of Jose Rizal.
• Maria Rizal (1859-1945) was the sixth child, married to Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna.
• Jose Rizal (1861-1896) was the second son and the seventh child.
• He was executed by the Spaniards on December 30, 1896.
• Concepcion Rizal “Concha” (1862-1865) was the eighth child, died at the age of three due to illness, and was Rizal's first sorrow.
• Josefa Rizal (1865-1945) was the ninth child, was epileptic, and died a spinster.
• Trinidad Rizal (1868-1951) was the tenth child, died a spinster, and was the last of the family to die.
• Soledad Rizal (1870-1929) was the youngest child, married to Pantaleon Quintero.

Rizal's Childhood

• Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna.
• His mother almost died during delivery because of his bighead.
• He was the seventh child in a family of 11 children (2 boys and 9 girls).
• He was baptized at the church on June 22, 1861, when he was 3 days old.
• Rev. Fr. Rufino Collantes performed the baptism.
• Rev. Fr. Pedro Casanas was his godfather.
• His baptism was attested by the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Leoncio Lopez.
• His family fondly called him Pepe.