Understanding the Rizal Law

Understanding the Rizal Law

• A hero is a prominent figure who takes an admirable part in a remarkable event.
• A hero displays distinguished valor in danger, fortitude in suffering and receives public worship after death for exceptional service.
• No law officially proclaims any Filipino historical figure as a national hero.
• William Howard Taft, the First Civil Governor in the Philippines, declared Rizal a hero in 1901.
• Fidel V. Ramos' Executive Order No. 75 created a National Heroes Committee.
• The National Heroes Committee recommended Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio as national heroes.
• Senate Bill No. 438 aimed to make Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo compulsory reading in all public and private colleges and universities.
• Senator Laurel, supported by Senator Claro M. Recto, began debates on Senate Bill No. 438 on April 23, 1956.
• Fr. Jesus Cavanna stated, the novels 'Belong to the Past', presenting a 'False picture' of conditions and 'put to ridicule the Catholic Faith'.
• Fr. Jesus Cavanna alleged that only 25 of 333 pages in Noli Me Tangere contained patriotic passages, while 120 were devoted to anti-Catholic attacks.
• Senator Jose P. Laurel proposed amendments to Senate Bill on May 9, 1956.
• Republic Act 1425 or the Rizal Law of 1956 includes courses on the life, works, and writings of Dr. Jose Rizal in the curricula of all public and private schools, colleges, and universities.
• The Rizal Law authorizes the printing and distribution of Rizal's novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
• Senator Claro M. Recto proposed Senate Bill No. 438 and submitted it to the Senate Committee on Education on April 3, 1956.
• Senator Jose P. Laurel, Sr., Chairman of the Committee on Education, sponsored the Noli-Fili Bill in the senate and presented it to the Upper House on April 17, 1956.
• Opponents claimed the bill was an attempt to discredit the Catholic religion.
• President Ramon Magsaysay signed the bill into law on June 12, 1956, resulting in Republic Act 1425, also known as the Rizal Law.
• The Rizal Law pays tribute to our national hero for devoting his life and works in shaping the Filipino character.
• The Rizal Law aims to gain an inspiring source of patriotism through the study of Rizal's life, works, and writings.

Nation, Nation-State, State

• A nation is a group of people that share a common culture, history, language, and other practices like religion and affinity to a place.
• National identity has always existed within nations and nations have ethnic cores.
• Nation, national identity and nationalism are products of modern condition and shaped by modernity.
• Nationalism is socially constructed and imagined by people who identify with a group.
• A state is a political entity with sovereignty over a defined territory.
• A nation-state is a state governing a nation.
• A nation-state is a fusion of elements of nation (people & community) and state (territory).
• Classical nation-state formation involves bureaucracy unifying the people within the state to build a nation.
• Nation formation involves intellectuals and scholars laying foundations of a nation and working towards political and diplomatic recognition and creating a nation.
• Decolonization is a path taken by many Asian and African people involved in breaking off from colonial relationships, especially after World War II, to form nation-states.
• Secession is a path where people withdraw from an existing state.
• Nationalism is a feeling developed by people living in a contiguous geographic area, a sentiment forged by common history, language, literature, customs, traditions, and even common religion.
• Before the 19th century, the Philippines lacked unity, leading to the failure of revolts against Spanish rule.
• Reasons for a lack of unity included geographical features, a dismal state of transportation and communication, a divide-and-rule policy, an absence of common language and linguistic differences, and limited mobility due to travel restrictions imposed by Spanish authorities.

Remembering Rizal

• The 1898 La independencia and 1899 El Heraldo Revolucion newspapers reported about Filipinos commemorating Rizal's death in various towns in the country
• Different religious organizations honoring Rizal as the "Filipino Christ" were founded in the 1900's.
• The Rizalista movement believes in the divinity of Jose Rizal.
• Rizal is believed to have a Latin name of Jove Rex Al, meaning "God, King of all".
• The earliest record about Rizal declared as a saint is from his Canonization initiated by the Philippine Independent Church or Iglesia Filipina Independiente under Bishop Gregorio Aglipay in 1903.
• The declaration of Rizal as a saint resulted in the formation of more Rizalista groups venerating him.
• Candida Balantac of Ilocos Norte founded the Adarnista or Iglesiang Pilipina in 1901
• Candida Balantac's followers believe that she was an engkantada and claimed that a rainbow surrounded her while she preached, giving her the title "Inang Adarna".
• Adarnistas believe that Rizal is a god for Filipinos.
• Adarnistas: The abode of members of the sect in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija is the New Jerusalem or paradise.
• Adarnistas believe the caves in Bongabon are the dwelling place of Jehovah or god.
• Adarnistas: There are four persons in God: God, The father, The son, the holy ghost, and the Mother (Virgin Mary).
• Adarnistas conduct sacraments, including baptism, confirmation, marriage, confession, and rites of the dead.
• Masses are held every Wednesday and Sunday at 7:00 am in the Adarnista religion.
• Adarnistas observe special religious ceremonies on Rizal's birthday and death anniversary, which start with raising the Filipino Flag.
• A typical Adarnista Chapel contains images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and a picture of Rizal, along with other national heroes.
• The Adarnista religion has more than 10,000 followers in La Union, Isabela, Pangasinan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Nueva Vizcaya, and some in Baguio City and Manila.
• The Sambahang Rizal was founded in 1918 by Basilio Aromin.
• Members of the Sambahang Rizal believe that Rizal was sent by Bathala to redeem the Filipino race like Jesus Christ
• Members of Sambahang Rizal believe that believes that Rizal is the “Son of bathala” in the same way that Jesus Christ is the "Son of God".
• Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo serve as the Sambahang Rizal's "Bible".
• Sambahang Rizal churches display the Philippine Flag and a statue of Rizal.
• The Sambahang Rizal conducts sacraments, including baptism confirmation, marriage, and ceremonies for the dead.
• The Sambahang Rizal organization has about 7,000 followers in Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan
• Established in 1911 by Arsenio de Guzman, the Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi teaches that Rizal is the "Christ” and the messenger of god”.
• De Guzman claimed that God chose the Philippines to replace Israel as his “New Kingdom".
• Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi: Jesus Christ is embodied in Dr. Jose Rizal and hence, Dr. Rizal is at once a god and a man.
• Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi: Rizal is not dead; he is alive and is physically and materially present in the New Jerusalem, which is presently hidden in the site extending from Mt. Makiling to Mt. Banahaw.
• Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi: It is the voice of rizal which commands the officials and the members what to do.
• Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi: If World War III breaks out, memberless peoples will be killed by Atomic weapons, but after the war, Dr. Jose Rizal will make an appearance to the New World, and he will lead the army of God.
• The Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi is one of the biggest Rizalista groups with more than 100,000 members in different parts of the country.
• Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi. was divided into three factions in 1987.
• Suprema de la Iglesia de la ciudad Mistica de Dios, Inc. was founded in 1952 by Maria Bernarda Balitaan and has about 100,000 members all over Luzon.
• The Ciudad Mistica believe that God decided to transfer his "Kingdom" to the Philippines.
• The Ciudad Mistica believe Jesus Christ's work is still unfinished and will be continued by Dr. Jose Rizal.
• The Ciudad Mistica hold masses every Saturday and have prayers and chants and commemorate birth and death anniversaries.

Life of Dr. Jose Rizal

• Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna.
• Calamba is in the heart of region known for its agricultural prosperity and is among the major producers of Sugar and Rice, and with an abundant variety of Tropical Fruits.
• Rizal was the seventh of eleven children of Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso.
• Rizal had ten siblings: Saturnina (1850-1913), Paciano (1851-1930), Narcisa (1852-1939), Olimpia (1855-1887), Lucia (1857-1919), Maria (1859-1945), Concepcion (1862-1865), Josefa (1865-1945), Trinidad (1868-1951), and Soledad (1870-1929).
• Rizal’s father, Francisco Mercado (1818- 1989), was a wealthy farmer who leased lands from the Dominican Friars.
• Francisco Mercado's earliest ancestors were Siang-co and Zun-nio, who later gave birth to Lam-co.
• In 1697, Rizal's ancestor Lam-co was baptized in Binondo, adopting “Domingo" as his First Name.
• Rizal's father had a good education, starting in a Latin school in Binan, and later attended the College of San Jose in Manila.
• In 1848, Francisco married Teodora Alonso (1826 – 1911) who belonged to one of the wealthiest families in Manila.
• Teodora, whose father was a member of the Spanish Cortes, was educated at the College of Sta. Rosa is a "Mathematician" and has read many books.
• Due to Francisco and Teodora’s hard work, their family became a prominent member of the principalia class in the Town of Calamba.
• The Mercado's house was among the first concrete houses to be built in the town.
• Paciano became Rizal’s second Father, he was the one who accompanied Rizal when he first went to School in Binan.
• Paciano also convinced Rizal to pursue his studies in Europe.
• Like Rizal, Paciano had his college education in Manila but later decided to join the Katipunan and fight for the independence.
• Rizal had good memories of childhood in Calamba and prayed together during the Angelus.
• Rizal’s childhood was full of love and care shown to him by his parents and siblings because of his poor health.
• Rizal's first teacher was Dona Teodora, who taught him to pray.
• Rizal was only three years old when he learned the alphabet.
• Rizal showed a great interest in reading books, and his mother noticed his skills in poetry at a very young age.
• Rizal was educated under private tutors, like other children from the principalia class and Rizal’s tutors were Maestro Celestino, Maestro Lucas Padua and Leon Monroy.
• At the age of Nine, Rizal left Calamba with his Brother to study in Binan.
• Rizal described his Class in Binan was in a Nipa House, about thirty meters away from his Aunt’s house.
• In Binan, Rizal excelled in Latin and Spanish and had painting lessons under Maestro Cruz father in law, Juancho, an old painter.
• Rizal's leisure hours were mostly spent in Juancho’s studio, where he was given free lessons in painting and drawing.
• Rizal returned to Calamba on December 17, 1870, after one and a half year of schooling in Binan.
• Rizal was sent by his Father to Ateneo Municipal, formerly known as Escuela Pia, for a six-year program, Bachiller en artes.
• Rizal took the Entrance Exam on June 10, 1872, four months after the execution of Gomburza.
• Rizal followed the advice of his brother, Paciano, to use the name “Jose Rizal” instead of Jose Mercado.
• Students in Ateneo were divided into two groups, The Romans and the Carthaginians.
• The Roman empire was composed of students boarding at Ateneo, and the Carthaginian Empire was composed of non-boarding students.
• Rizal became the "Emperor", a title given to the most outstanding student in class, in just a month’s time.
• Rizal studied at Ateneo from 1872-1877 and consistently showed excellence in his academic performance.
• Rizal passed the Oral Exam on March 14, 1877, and graduated with the Degree Bachiller en artes, with the Highest Honors.
• After finishing Bachiller en artes, he was sent by Don Francisco to the University of Santo Tomas.
• During his freshmen year (1877-1878), he attended the course Philosophy and Letters and also took up a vocational course in Ateneo that gave him the title perito agrimensor (expert surveyor) issued on November 25, 1881.
• In his second year at UST, Rizal shifted his course to Medicine.
• Rizal studied Medicine was good, but his academic performance in UST was not as impressive as that in Ateneo.
• Despite this, Rizal was still one of the seven students who remained in the course in his last year at UST out of the original batch of twenty-four.
• In 1882, Rizal and Paciano made a secret pact.
• Rizal would go to Europe to complete his medical studies there and prepare himself for the great task of liberating the country from Spanish Tyranny.