Life and Works of Rizal

Peninsulares

Spaniards who are born in spain but are now living in the philippines.

Insulares

Pure blooded spaniards who are born in the philippines

Spanish mestizo

Spanish blooded that are mixed

with indio/filipino

Indios

native filipinos

sangleys

term for Chinese, they have higher taxes

and restrictions

Chinese mestizo

they are more accepted than pure

Chinese. They are the Illustrados like Rizal.

Rizal Law (RA 1425)

Passed on June 12, 1956; mandates teaching Rizal's life & works in all schools; aims to build national identity & patriotism.

Claro M. Recto

Father of the Rizal Bill; believed Rizal's works inspire youth to defend the country.

House Representative Jacobo Gonzales

Authored House Bill 5561 mandating study of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in schools.

Jose P. Laurel

Defended Rizal Bill against critics; pushed for compromise version as Senate Committee on Education Chairman.

Supporters of Rizal Bill

Veteranos de la Revolucion, Knights of Rizal, Freemasons, Alagad ni Rizal.

Opposition to Rizal Bill

Catholic Church; feared novels attacked Catholic teachings (Fr. Jesus Cavanna, Jesus Paredes, Archbishop Rufino Santos).

Importance of studying Rizal today

Builds critical thinking, connects past with present, shapes Filipino identity, Rizal as role model.

Nationalism

Political, social, economic system promoting sovereignty and identity; elements: culture, history, language, religion, territory.

Benedict Anderson's Imagined Community

Nation as an imagined community; people feel united even without meeting each other.

Homogeneous Empty Time

Concept (Benjamin & Anderson); modern view of time where people imagine moving together into the future.

Rizal's role in 19th century Philippines

Promoted unity, used "Filipino" for all, rejected indio vs Filipino divide.

Industrial Revolution

Steam machines, factories, mass production; widened inequality, spread global trade.

Frailocracy

Friars' dominance in politics, education, society; exposed by Rizal & propagandists.

Opening of Suez Canal (1869)

Shortened Europe-Asia travel; brought liberal ideas to Filipinos; key to Rizal's awakening.

Governors in Rizal's time

Dela Torre (liberal reforms, secularized education) vs Izquierdo (reversed reforms, harsh rule).

Cavite Mutiny & Gomburza (1872)

Execution of Gomez, Burgos, Zamora; inspired Rizal's nationalism.

Chinese Mestizos in PH

Prominent in business; helped form Filipino identity; shared grievances with indios.

Rizal's ancestry

5th-generation Chinese mestizo; descendant of Domingo Lam-co.

Rizal's parents

Francisco Mercado (hardworking farmer, principalia) and Teodora Alonso (strict, cultured, taught Rizal to read).

Rizal's siblings

11 in total; Paciano (close to GomBurZa), Saturnina (helped fund Spain studies), Narcisa (sold jewels for Rizal's education), Josefa & Trinidad (involved in Katipunan).

How Rizal got surname

Family adopted "Rizal" in 1849 to comply with Spanish decree on surnames.

Rizal's childhood

Sickly but intelligent; learned prayers, folklore, literature; greatly influenced by mother.

Rizal's early education

Learned "Four R's" (Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Religion); first taught by mother Teodora; later studied in Biñan.

Rizal at Ateneo

Initially rejected (late registration, young appearance), admitted with help; excelled in academics, poetry, sculpture; graduated at 16 with highest honors.

Jesuit system at Ateneo

Strict discipline, prayer, ranking system (Emperor to Standard-bearer); encouraged competition.

Rizal at UST

Took Philosophy & Letters (1877), shifted to Medicine to cure mother's blindness; unhappy due to racial discrimination and harsh instruction.

To the Filipino Youth (A La Juventud Filipina)

Poem written by Rizal in Spanish; declared youth as hope of the nation.

Charges against Rizal

Publishing anti-friar works, possession of Pobres Frailes handbills, dedication of El Fili to GomBurZa, criticizing religion.

Rizal's arrest & trial (1896)

Accused of rebellion, sedition, illegal associations; defended by Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade; sentenced to death.

Rizal's last 24 hours

Met family, priests, wrote letters & Mi Ultimo Adios (hidden in alcohol stove); secretly married Josephine Bracken.

Rizal's execution

December 30, 1896 at Bagumbayan; requested to face firing squad but denied; last words "Consummatum est" ("It is finished").

Impact of Rizal's death

Sparked stronger nationalism; inspired revolution; ensured by RA 1425 that his legacy continues.