WHAT THE HELL RIZAL

Republic Act No. 1425 (Rizal Law)

Law mandating the inclusion of courses on the life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal — particularly Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo — in the curricula of all public and private schools, colleges, and universities.

Noli Me Tangere

Rizal's first novel; required as a basic text (in original/unexpurgated or English translation) in collegiate courses under the Rizal Law.

El Filibusterismo

Rizal's second novel; required alongside the Noli as a basic collegiate text under the Rizal Law.

Board of National Education

Government body originally authorized to implement RA 1425 — write primers/readers, promulgate rules, and enforce the law; today known as the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Unexpurgated edition

A complete, uncensored version of a text with no parts removed — the version required as the basic text under the law.

Religious exemption clause

Provision allowing students to be exempted from reading the unexpurgated editions on grounds of religious belief (via sworn written statement), though they must still take the course.

Senate Bill No. 438

Original Senate version of the Rizal Bill, authored by Sen. Claro M. Recto, sponsored by Sen. Jose P. Laurel as committee chairman.

House Bill No. 5561

Identical counterpart bill filed in the House of Representatives by Congressman Jacobo Z. Gonzales.

Sine die

Latin for "without a day" — an indefinite adjournment; used as a delaying tactic by opponents of the bill regarding its printing/dissemination requirement.

Pastoral Letter

A letter issued by the Catholic hierarchy (associated with Fr. Jesus Cavanna) condemning the novels as heretical and impious, used as the main basis for opposing the bill.

Claro M. Recto

Senator; original author/main proponent of the Rizal Bill; argued

it would foster nationalism, not attack religion.

Jose P. Laurel

Senator and Committee on Education chairman; sponsored the bill and later authored the compromise substitute bill that became law.

Decoroso Rosales, Francisco Rodrigo, Mariano Cuenco

Senators who led the opposition to the bill, citing violation of freedom of religion/conscience.

Catholic Action of Manila

Catholic lay organization that organized campaigns (symposiums, media appeals) against the Rizal Bill.

Freedom of religion argument

The opposition's central claim — that compelling students to read the novels violated their religious freedom, likened to a forced flag salute.

Compromise/Substitute Bill

The final version authored by Sen. Laurel (based on proposals of Sens. Lim and Pelaez), unanimously approved on May 12, 1956, which kept the unexpurgated texts as basic reading but allowed religious exemptions.

June 12, 1956

The Rizal (Republic Act No. 1425) was approved on what date?

Section 1

Courses on Rizal’s life, works, and writings — especially Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo — included in curricula of all schools, colleges, universities (public/private). Collegiate courses must use the original/unexpurgated editions (or English translation). Board of National Education to implement, print primers/readers/textbooks, and issue rules (including exemption for students citing religious belief, via sworn written statement — exempted only from reading the unexpurgated novel, not from taking the course).

Section 2

Schools must keep in their libraries an adequate number of copies of the original/unexpurgated Noli and Fili plus Rizal’s other works/biography; these are included in the approved list for required reading.

Section 3

Board of National Education shall cause translation of the novels and Rizal’s other writings into English, Tagalog, and principal Philippine dialects; print cheap popular editions; distribute free through Purok organizations and Barrio Councils.

Birth of Modernity (19th century)

Marked the shift from traditional to modern life: new ideas, attitudes, institutions.

• Monarchy → Democracy

• Feudalism → Capitalism,

• Passively Accepting → Reform-Minded.

Shift in ideologies/systems:

Birth of Modernity (19th century)

Period marking the shift from traditional structures (monarchy, feudalism) to modern ones (democracy, capitalism), driven by revolutions weakening Spain.

The Enlightenment

Late 18th–early 19th century philosophical movement valuing reason, rationality, and individualism; sparked political revolutions (American, French) and ideas of nationalism and freedom.

The Enlightenment

A philosophical movement during the late 18th and early 19th century.

The Enlightenment

It valued reason, rationality, and individualism.

The Enlightenment

It resulted in Political Revolutions happening all over the world (e.g. American Revolution and French Revolution).

The Enlightenment

Ignited the yearn for new governance which valued individual rights, nationalism, and freedom.

• The Executive Branch

• The Judicial Branch

POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

-The Colonial Government was headed by the King of Spain and it was divided into two branches:

The Executive Branch

Headed by the Governor General which is appointed by the King of Spain to represent him in any state and religious matters.

The Executive Branch

Has the power to execute orders.

The Executive Branch

Has authority in financial matters until 1784.

The Executive Branch

Responsible for all government and religious activities.

• Royal Audencia

• Residencia

• Visita

The Judicial Branch

Royal Audencia

• Advisor of the Governor-General

• Check and report the abuses of the Governor-General.

Residencia

Investigates the performance of Governor-General.

Visita

Observe conditions in the colony.

• Province

• City

• Municipality

The Colonial Government is separated

into 3, governing ???

Provincial Government (Alcadias)

Led by the Alcalde Mayor which represent the King and Governor-General

Provincial Government (Alcadias)

Implement laws and collect taxes from the provincial government.

City Government (Ayutamiento)

Center of trade and industry.

City Government (Ayutamiento)

Led by two Alcaldes en Ordinario (Mayor and Vice Mayor)

Municipal Government

Divided into several towns or pueblos.

Municipal Government

Led by Gobernadorcillos who is the chief executive or chief justice in town.

• Teniente Mayor

• Teniente de Policia

• Teniente de Sementeras

• Teniente de Ganados

There are 4 lieutenants to aid the Gobernadorcillos:

Barangay or Barrio

Smallest unit of government

Barangay or Barrio

Led by Guardia Civil to maintain peace and order.

Carlos Maria de la Torre

Liberal Governor-General (from 1868) known for reforms: freedom of speech, abolition of flogging, curtailing tribute and polo, secularization of parishes, and educational reform.

Rafael de Izquierdo

Conservative Governor-General who restored press censorship, banned political talks and secularization, and abolished exemptions from polo and tribute — his policies triggered the Cavite Mutiny.

CAVITE MUTINY

200 Filipinos revolted in Fort San Felipe due to the abolition of polo and tribute exemption.

CAVITE MUTINY

Though the mutineers killed the fort commander and soldiers, its leaders were arrested and shot.

GOMBURZA

were Filipino priests that fought for the Filipinization of parishes.

GOMBURZA

• They were charged with sedition and rebellion and incriminated as masterminds of the Cavite Mutiny. False testimony by a former Bicolano soldier, Francisco Zaldua, bribed by Spanish prosecutors lead to the incrimination.

• They were sentenced to death by garrote.

Mariano Gómes, José Burgos, Jacinto Zamora

GOMBURZA

Francisco Zaldua

Bicolano soldier whose false, bribed testimony helped incriminate the GOMBURZA priests.

Galleon Trade

Spain's colonial trading system linking Manila and Acapulco; it was exhausted and ended in the early 19th century as Britain and France's direct-trade economies flourished.

Cash Crop Agriculture

Economic system making the Philippines a supplier of raw materials to Western markets.

Middlemen (Chinese, Mestizos, rich Natives)

Local intermediaries who handled land acquisition, labor mobilization, crop transport, and retail trade for foreign (British, Dutch, American) companies.

Suez Canal

Waterway that opened during the period, shortening travel time from the Philippines to Europe from about 3 months to 40 days.

Mercado Family

Rizal's affluent family, made wealthy through European trade; patriarch was the Chinese immigrant Domingo Lam-Co.

Peninsulares

Pure-blooded Spaniards born in Spain; held official/friar positions.

Insulares/Creoles

Pure-blooded Spaniards born in the Philippines

Mestizos/Tisoy

Mixed blood — Mestizo de Sangley (Chinese- Filipino), Mestizo de Español (Spanish- Filipino), Tornatras (Spanish-Chinese-Filipino)

Indios (Native Filipinos)

Pure-blooded, generally poor native Filipinos, treated as second-class citizens.

Ilustrados

"Erudite/enlightened ones" — educated Filipinos (including Rizal) exposed to liberal European ideas, who sought reform and equal treatment with Spaniards.

Industrial Revolution

- It required to change the education system. Instead of being solely based on religion, it needed to be focused on teaching skilled labor.

Educational Decree of 1863

Attempt of the Spanish Colonial Government to mandate that each town in the must have at least 1 primary school for boys and girls. This marked the beginning of formal education among middle and lower class Filipinos. However, due to the lack of resources and qualified teachers, the development of the national identity of the Filipinos was hindered. Nevertheless, it became the foundation of the development of a formal education system in the Philippines.

The Return of the Jesuits

Reintroduction of Jesuit educators who emphasized literature, science, philosophy, and natural science, indirectly fostering nationalist thought.

Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda

Rizal's full given name.

June 19, 1861

Rizal's date of birth, in Calamba, Laguna.

Fr. Rufino Collantes

Priest who baptized Rizal three days after his birth and foresaw his greatness after noticing his large head.

Jose

Given in honor of Saint Joseph, of whom Rizal's mother was a devotee.

Protacio

From the Feast of Saint Gervacio Protacio, celebrated on June 19 (Rizal's birthdate).

Mercado

Surname adopted by ancestor Domingo Lam-Co (meaning "market" in Spanish), reflecting the family's merchant livelihood.

Rizal

Spanish-derived word meaning "the green of young growth"/"green fields," chosen for its connection to the family's agricultural livelihood; combined with Mercado by Rizal's father.

Claveria Decree (1849)

Decree by Governor-General Narciso Claveria mandating Filipino families adopt Hispanized surnames (from the Catálogo alfabético de apellidos) for census/tax purposes; led Lam-Co's descendants to adopt "Rizal."

Alonso / Realonda

Surnames from his mother's side; "______" is an extension of "____" adopted due to the Claveria Decree.

Pepe

Rizal's nickname, derived from "P.P." (Pater Putativus, "Putative Father"), a title linked to Saint Joseph.

Saturnina

• Neneng

• Eldest sibling

Paciano

• Lolo Ciano

• Rizal's confidant; became a Combat General in the Philippine Revolution after Rizal's death.

Narcisa

• Sisa

• Found Rizal's remains at Old Paco Cemetery.

Olimpia

• Ypia

• Died from complications giving birth.

Lucia

Fifth child

Maria

• Biang

• Prime recipient of Rizal's letters.

Jose

• Pepe

• seventh child

Concepcion

Died at age 3 due to illness.

Josefa

• Panggo

• Had epilepsy; lived as an old maiden with sister Trinidad.

Trinidad

Received the gas lamp hiding Rizal's poem "Mi Ultimo Adios” or “Last Farewell.”

Soledad

Youngest of the Siblings

His Mother, Teodora Morales Alonso Realonda y Quintos.

Rizal’s first teacher was ______. She taught him the alphabet and prayers at the age of 3

She discovered Rizal’s talent for poetry and encouraged him to write.

Tiyo Jose Alberto

taught RIzal various forms of art such as painting, sketching, and sculpting.

Tiyo Gregorio

He fostered Rizal’s love for education and reading.

Tiyo Manuel

Taught him various physical exercises such as swimming, fencing, wrestling, and other forms of martial arts.

1. Maestro Celestino

2. Maestro Lucas Padua

3. Leon Monroy

Rizal’s Childhood Tutors

Leon Monroy

A former classmate of Francisco Rizal Mercado who taught Jose Rizal basic Spanish and Latin. He died five months after and that was when Rizal’s parents decided to send him to a private school in Biñan.

Binan, Laguna

Town where Rizal was sent (June 1869) for formal schooling, accompanied by his brother Paciano.

Tomasa Alejandro Mercado

Rizal and Paciano's aunt, with whom they lodged in Biñan.

Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz

Rizal's teacher in Biñan; ran a small school (also his home), known for strict discipline and proficiency in Spanish/Latin grammar.

Pedro (son of Maestro Justiniano)

Bullied Rizal on his first day of school; Rizal defended himself using martial arts skills learned from Tiyo Manuel.

Palmetazos

A form of corporal punishment where a student's hands were struck with a stick — experienced by Rizal under the strict Biñan schooling system.