Rizal Law, Spanish Era & Rizal's Life

Rizal Law and its Context

• RA 1425 mandates state regulation and supervision of all public educational institutions.
• Schools are required to foster moral character, civic consciousness, personal discipline, and understanding of citizens' duties.
• Catholic school representatives threatened to close their schools if the Rizal Bill passed.
• Senator Jose P. Laurel, a co-author, identified Jose Rizal as the founder of Philippine nationalism.
• William Howard Taft proposed Rizal as the country's national hero.

Spanish Colonial Period Context

• The Governor General had "cumplase" power, allowing to decide whether to implement or veto royal decrees/laws.
• Cabeza de barangay was imprisoned for term to ensure revenue submission.
• Religion was the most important subject in the Spanish educational system.
• Narciso Claveria issued Royal Decree of 1849 mandating Spanish family names from an alphabetical list for all natives.

Rizal's Early Life and Education

• Teodora Alonzo taught Rizal to read and pray.
• Reinhold Rost described Rizal as 'una perla de hombre’ (a pearl of a man).
• Rizal specialized in ophthalmology.
• Manila-Mexico trading system existed from 1565-1815.
• Natives rendered personal services for community projects for forty days.
• Sanctorum: tax for the church.
• Bandala: natives' obligatory selling of products to Spaniards.
• Tribute: natives' payments acknowledging vassalage to Spain.
• Pablo Ramon: priest who advised Rizal to shift to medicine.
• Leon Ma. Guerrero: historian who called Rizal the First Filipino.
• Rufino Collantes: priest who baptized Jose Rizal.
• Francisco de Paula Sanchez: best professor in Ateneo.
• Leon Monroy taught Rizal Latin and Spanish.

Rizal Law

• Senator Jose P. Laurel co-authored Senate Bill 438.
• Rizal Bill faced challenges during its passage.
• Goal of Rizal Bill: re-dedicate Filipinos to ideals/nationalism for which heroes lived/died.
• Rizal course in college is legislated and mandated, based on RA 1245.
• Creation of Rizal Province affirmed promotion of Rizal's heroism.
• Declaration of December 30 as Rizal Day promoted Rizal's heroism.
• Inclusion of Rizal Course in curriculum promoted Rizal's heroism.
• Construction of Rizal Monument in Luneta and worldwide promoted Rizal's heroism.
• Rizal's works: constant, inspiring source of patriotism.
• It emphasized the need for re-dedication to freedom and nationalism.
• RA 1425 aims to instill moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience, and duties of citizenship.
• Senate Bill No. 438 met opposition from Legislative Arm and Catholic Church due to compulsory readings potentially impairing freedom.
• Amendment to Rizal Bill: exemptions from compulsory novel readings if violating personal faith/beliefs.
• Rizal Law aimed to promote civic conscience and duties.
• Students offended are exempt from novel reading, but not from the Rizal Course.
• Catholic Church opposed Rizal Law due to anti-Catholic passages in Rizal's novels.
• Bill was attempt to discredit Catholic religion.
• Compulsion against faith was anti-Rizal Bill argument.
• Claro M. Recto wrote Senate Bill 438 (Rizal Bill of 1956) to retain national hero memory in education.

19th Century Philippines

• Indios (pure Filipinos) were lowest class, slaves to Spaniards.
• Memorization was emphasized in 19th-century education.
• Governor-General: head of central administration, helped monarch manage colonies.
• Governor-General: king's representative over religious matters (Vice Royal Patron), issues executive orders and proclamations, implements royal decrees/laws.
• Cabezas de barangay properties were mortgaged to state to ensure revenue collection.
• Government paid Spanish missionaries/clergy, making them government officials.
• Native children attended classes in convents, stables, or town hall corners.
• Educational system pacified Filipinos, taught Catholicism and Spanish laws, taught Spanish but prohibited the natives languages.
• Spanish missionaries held most positions in schools.

Rizal's Legacy and Views

• Jose Rizal's nationalism and patriotism are significant legacy to Filipinos.
• Rizal viewed education as something that empowers oppressed, lights nations, revolutionary, nurtures minds.
• Nationalism is centered on homeland, stands proud of achievements, is aware/vigilant, speaks out.

Sources of Disenchantment and Rizal's Inspiration

• Immoral friars impregnated women, sired illegitimate children.
• Spaniards mocked Filipinos as "Indios" and seized land for plantations.
• Rizal considered Calamba home as academic frontrunner.
• Donya Teodora sparked Rizal's academic liking.
• Ateneo Municipal: equal treatment of Filipino/Spanish students, first degree finished by Rizal.
• GomBurZa execution inspired Rizal to fight Spanish tyranny, redeem oppressed.
• Educational Decree of 1863 mandated primary schools (boys/girls) instructed in Spanish.
• Rizal went to Europe to learn more ideals, work with Ilustrados for independence.
• Rizal was not awarded the Doctor's diploma due to fee/thesis payment issues.
• Family income fluctuated, dwindling Rizal's money in Europe.
• Maximo Viola accompanied Rizal during Europe trip.

Noli Me Tangere

• Noli Me Tangere promotes education as empowerment tool.

Propaganda Movement and Rizal's Arrest

• Dominican friars pressured Governor General to advise Jose Rizal to leave the country due to hacienda reports.
• Propaganda Movement’s advocacies: Philippine recognition as province, parish/clergy regularization, government-funded schools, human rights recognition.
• Assimilation: Philippines treated as Spanish province, process of absorbing ethnic groups into dominant culture, absorbing minority Filipino culture into majority Spanish, taking on dominant traits.
• Rizal was arrested on July 6, 1892, suspected of bringing Pobres Frailes anti-friar leaflets.
• Friends/family urged Rizal not to return due to potential Spanish plots related to Noli Me Tangere.
• Leonor Rivera is Rizal's romance when he left to study abroad.

Rizal's Life in Madrid and Summon by Governor-General

• Rizal enrolled in Universidad Central de Madrid for Medicine and Philosophy/Letters.
• Rizal joined Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-Philippine Circle).
• Jose Rizal was summoned by governor-general to Malacañan Palace to discuss Noli Me Tangere.

Rizal's Exposure to European Philosophies and Financial Stability

• Europe exposure deepened Rizal's colonial issues understanding.
• Financial struggles shaped Rizal's political stance.

Propaganda Movement and Rizal's Nationalist Ideals

• Propaganda Movement established by Ilustrados exposed conditions, demanded reforms.
• Germany stay (1886) influenced Rizal's nationalist ideals.
• European liberalism reinforced Rizal's peaceful reform commitment.

Rizal's Escort and Second Travel

• Governor-General assigned Jose Rizal personal escort to spy.
• Second trip abroad strengthened nationalist beliefs.

Rizal's Stay in Spanish Legation and Conditions in Dapitan

• Rizal accepted Spanish Legation invitation to economize expenses, showing he had nothing to hide.
• Fr. Antonio Obach's conditions for Rizal: church rites, good Spanish subject, religious man.

Katipunan and Rizal's Trial

• Pio Valenzuela (Katipunan) sought Rizal's advice for revolution.
• Jose Rizal's trial verdict was guilty; he was sentenced to death.