Understanding RA 1425: Rizal Law

RA 1425

• Mandates study of Rizal's life, works, and writings in schools
• The Board of National Education is responsible for implementing the provisions
• Students may be exempted from requirements for religious beliefs with a sworn statement
• Schools, colleges, and universities must maintain copies of Rizal's original, unexpurgated works
• The Board of National Education determines the necessary number of books based on enrollment

Historical Context of RA 1425 (1950s)

• Political unrest existed between communism and democratic ideology
• Communism grew in East Asia
• The Hukbalahap rebellion occurred in the Philippines
• Magsaysay created propaganda to educate youth on the evils of communism
• Senator Claro M. Recto created Senate Bill 438, also known as the Rizal Bill as support

Objectives of the Rizal Bill

• To rededicate the youth to freedom and nationalism
• To honor the national hero's contributions to the Filipino character
• To inspire patriotism through Rizal's life and works

Issues and Debates of RA 1425 (1950s)

• Senator Claro M. Recto and Senator Jose P. Laurel sponsored the Rizal Bill
• Debates were sparked over separation of church and state, especially regarding the "unexpurgated edition"
• The Catholic Bishops Conference in the Philippines cited novel violations against religious freedom
• They argued the novels contained passages that contradicted Catholic teachings and violated the Church's freedom
• Canon Law 1399, which forbids certain books, was invoked

Arguments in Favor of RA 1425

• Rizal's novels should be read to understand the sufferings and ideals of Filipinos
• Rizal's works help Filipinos see their strengths, virtues, defects, and vices and promote national appreciation

Rizal in the 19th Century Context

• Rizal's life choices responded to successes and failures
• Filipinos struggled against colonial rule and political oppression
• Rizal's fight for reforms was based on looking at the 19th-century political conditions
• To understand Rizal's actions, assess Spanish exploitation through economic policies and social realities

Political Context of the Philippines in the 19th Century

• Spain experienced frequent governmental changes that caused colonial instability
• There was maladministration and injustice with no equality before the law
• The Spanish penal code imposed heavier penalties on Filipinos, and Polo Y Servicio and tribute were implemented
• Racial prejudice against native Filipinos and "Frailocracy" or government rule by friars existed
• The Philippines lacked representation in the Spanish Cortes until 1811 when Ventura De los Reyes represented the Philippines.

Economic Context of the Philippines in the 19th Century

• The second half of the 19th century marked rapid economic growth due to the Industrial Revolution
• The Suez Canal's opening brought numerous advantages
• The distance of travel between Europe and the Philippines was significantly reduced
• It brought the country closer to Spain
• Principalias could send their children to European universities
• Education exposed ilustrados to the opposing conditions in the Philippines and Spain

Social Context of the Philippines in the 19th Century

• People began to rely on human reason surpassing faith and religion with the rise of the enlightenment period
• The rise of the middle class (Principalias), resulted in a greater need for Filipinos to cultivate lands
• Manila became a free port in 1834, primarily for European traders
• The Spanish Government allowed Filipinos to rent and cultivate lands.
• Agricultural unrest persisted because friars exploited tenants by excessively raising land rentals and taxes

Rizal's Personal Information

• Full name: Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Y Alonzo Realonda
• Birth date: June 19, 1861
• Birthplace: Calamba, Laguna
• Baptized by: Father Rufino Collantes
• Godfather: Rev. Pedro Casañas
• Popular Novels: Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, Makamisa
• Animals named after Rizal: Draco Rizali (Lizard), Apogonia Rizali (Beetle), Rhacophorus Rizali (Frog)

Rizal's Father

• Name: Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado Y Alejandra II
• Born May 18, 1818, in Biñan, Laguna
• Youngest of 13 children of Cirila Alejandro and Juan Mercado
• Fourth-generation descendant of Chinese immigrant Domingo Lamco
• Attended Colegio de San Jose in Manila, studied Philosophy and Latin
• Elected Cabeza De Barangay in Calamba

Rizal's Mother

• Name: Teodora Alonso Realonda Y Quintos
• Born November 9, 1827, in Manila
• Second child of Lorenzo Alonso and Brigida De Quintos
• Attended College of Sta. Rosa
• Described by Rizal as a "woman of higher culture"
• Married Don Francisco on June 28, 1848

Rizal's Siblings - Saturnina "Neneng"

• Oldest sibling, attended La Concordia College in Manila
• Married Manuel Hidalgo of Tanuan Batangas
• Published Pascual Poblete's Tagalog translation of Noli Me Tangere in 1909
• Died in 1913 at the age of 63

Rizal's Siblings - Paciano "Ciano"

• Only brother
• Referred to as "Uto" by Jose

Rizal's Siblings - Paciano "Ciano" cont.

• Attended Collegio de San Jose in Manila
• Sent monthly allowance of 50 pesos to Jose Rizal
• Became a Military Commander of Katipunan
• Married Severina Decena and had 2 children
• Died of Tuberculosis at the age of 79

Rizal’s Siblings - Narcisa "Sisa"

• She supported her Brother Jose’s studies abroad.
• She could narrate all of the poems of Jose Rizal
• Married to Antonio Lopez, a teacher and musician.
• She relentlessly searched for the grave of Rizal in Paco Cemetry, marked it with initials R.P.J

Rizal’s Siblings - Olimpia "Ypia"

• Married to Silvestro Ubaldo, a telegraph operator from Manila.
• Jose loved to tease her, described Ypia as a stout sister.
• Attended in La Concordia College.
• She was the schoolmate of Jose’s first love, Segunda Katigbak.

Rizal’s Siblings - Lucia "Lucia"

• Married to Mariano Herbosa and they had five children.
• Mariano was denied a Christian burial due to his relation to Rizal
• Jose Rizal responded with "Una Profanacion."
• She passed away in 1919.

Rizal’s Siblings - Maria "Biang"

• Married Daniel Faustino Cruz and they had 5 children
• One of Maria’s children, Mauricio Cruz, became one of the students of Rizal in Dapitan.
• She was the recipient of many of Rizal’s letter.
• Maria passed away in 1945.

Rizal’s Siblings - Jose “Pepe”

• The seventh child of Don Kiko and Doña Lolay.
• Known on his pen name Laonglaan, Dimasalang at Agno
• Married to Josephine Bracken and had 1 child.
• Died on December 30, 1898 at the age of 35
• Pepe derived from Saint Joseph P.P

Rizal’s Siblings - Concepcion "Concha"

• Died at the age of three (3)
• Cause of death: sickness
• Rizal’s first sorrow

Rizal’s Siblings - Josefa "Panggoy"

• Suffered in epilepsy
• Joined and was an active member of the Katipunan
• Unmarried and lived with sister Trinidad until death
• She died in 1945

Rizal’s Siblings - Trinidad "Trining"

• Known as the custodian of Mi Ultimo Adios
• She also joined Katipunan when Jose died
• Remained single and shared a home with her sister Josefa
• She died in 1951, having outlived all of her siblings

Rizal’s Siblings - Soledad "Choleng"

• Youngest of the Rizal’s siblings
• Married Pantaleon Quintero and had 5 children
• Most educated among rizal’s sister
• She was an Educator
• She passed away in 1929

Rizal's Surname

• CLAVERIA DECREE OF 1849 ordered new surnames
• FRANCISCO MERCADO chose RIZAL
• TEODORA ALONSO QUINTOS chose REALONDA
• “Ricial” means “the green of young growth”

Rizal's Birth

• His mother had a difficult childbirth
• Dona Teodora made a pact with Antipolo's Patroness for a safe delivery
• She sent a 7 year old Rizal on a pilgrimage to her shrine, accompanied by Don Francisco Mercado

Rizal's Childhood

• Frail and sickly
• Learned the alphabet at age 3
• Could read and write by age 5
• Wrote "In Memory of My Town," showcasing love for his hometown
• Had pets such as Usman (a black dog) and Alipato (a pony)

Rizal's Early Education

• Dona Teodora was his first teacher, teaching him the ABCs and stimulating his imagination
• Uncle of Rizal led him to cultivate his artistic ability, physical exercises and avidness to read books
• Maestro Celestino and Maestro Lucas Padua were private tutors.
• Leon Monroy was a tutor in Spanish and Latin and a classmate of Don Francisco.

Rizal in Biñan

• First formal schooling was in June 1869
• Rizal was only 9 years old and taught by Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz
• He was challenged to an arm-wrestling match by Andres Salandanan

Early Hardships

• His mother's imprisonment for allegedly poisoning her sister-in-law
• The Death of GomBurZa led to the staging of a mutiny, lead by Fernando La Madrid

Rizal at Ateneo De Municipal

• An excellent school for boys
• Studied for a Bachelor of Art Degree - Sobresaliente
• Initially denied admission due to late registration and frail health
• Admitted by intervention of Manuel Xeres Burgos, classes were divided into two empires: Roman and Carthaginian to encourage healthy competition
• Individual competitions were used to win these honors

Prominent People at Ateneo

• JOSE BECH: a man with mood swing and bit of a lunatic with a sporadic sense of humor
• FRANCISCO DE PAULA SANCHEZ: best professor, a model of decency, solitude and love for student
• He also participated in Gymnastics, Fencing, Sculpture, and Drawing and painting.

Books encountered by Rizal

• The Count of Monte Cristo'—first foreign book read by Rizal.
• Travels in the Philippines— book which had the greatest influence upon the young man's career

Rizal enrolled at the University of Sto. Tomas

• Enrolled on April 1877 and was nearly 16 y/o
• Studied Philosophy and Letters
• Claimed his father liked it and he was unsure of what was going to pursue
• Enrolled to medicine to cure his mother’s failing eyesight and due to recommendation from Fr. Pablo Ramon

Other accomplishments at Ateneo

• Obtained Land Surveyor and Assessors Degree
• Submitted his poem A La Juventud Filipina during his time in Artistico-Literario which was placed first
• Received feathered shaped and gold-ribbon-decorated silver pen
• His allegorical drama, El Consejo De Los Dioses, won for First Place

Other achievements and works by Rizal

• Received gold ring engraved with a bust of Cervantes
• Cervantes, Spanish author of Don Quixote.
• Had a major influence on the literary community by referencing literature (see summary for specific titles)
• Wrote "Abd-el-Azis y Mahoma (1879)", "Junto al Pasig (1880)", "A Filipinas (1880)" and “Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon (1881)”

Rizal stopped attending UST due to these reasons:

• The Dominican Professor was hostile
• The Spaniards discriminated against Filipinos
• Teaching method was antiquated and oppressive
• Did not receive high scholastic honors because of his professors’ attitude.

Universidad Central de Madrid Enrollment

• On Nov 3, 1882, he enrolled in courses:
  • Medicine - Fair
  • Philosophy and Letters – with honors.
• On June 1884 he was awarded with the Degree of Licentiate in Medicine -
  • Dr. Miguel Morayta said “freedom of Science and the teacher should be protected”

Other Places and Universities attended by Rizal for Seminar/training/part-time job

• University of Paris
• University of Heidelberg
• Wilhelmsfeld, Heidelberg
• University of Leipzig
• Dresden
• Berlin

Rizal as a Person

Actor, Agriculturist, Ambassador of Good Will, Animal Lover, Anthropologist, Archeologist, Ascetic, Bibliophile, Botanist, Businessman, Cartographer, Chess Player, Cosmopolitan man, Commentator, Conchologist, Educator, Ethnologist, Father of Community School, Fencer, Freemason, Historian, Humorist, Ichthyologist, Japanophile, Journalist, Ichthyologist, Lover of truth, Musicians, Mythologist, Nationalist, Ophthalmologist, Orientalist, Pharmacologist, Philologist, Philosopher, Physical, Culturist, Poet, Politician, Polyglot, Proof Reader, Propagandist, Public Relation man, Reformer, Researcher, Revolutionist, Rhetorician, Rural Reconstructio n Worker, Scientist, Sculptor, Sharpshooter, Sinologist, Sociologist, Sodalist, Sportsman, Tourist and Traveler, Tuberculosis Expert, Youth Leader, Zoologist

Rizal's Loves

• Segunda Katigbak, Leonor Valenzuela, Leonor Rivera, Consuelo Ortiga, Seiko Usui, Gertrude Beckett, Nellie Boustead, Josephine Bracken

Rizal's Memberships in Organizations

Details in summary