Study Guide for the Life, Works, and Writings of Jose Rizal

Republic Act 1425: The Rizal Law

Republic Act $1425$, commonly referred to as the Rizal Law, is a mandated act within the Philippine legal system. It requires the inclusion of courses concerning the life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal in the curricula of all public and private schools, colleges, and universities across the country. A specific emphasis is placed on his most famous novels, "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo."

The act further authorizes the printing and distribution of these works and other relevant materials. The Republic Act was officially signed by the President on June $12$, $1956$. It originated as a proposal in the legislative arm of the Philippine Republic, specifically within the Senate and House of Representatives. According to the Official Gazette, the law became effective $30$ days following its implementation. The foundational purpose of the law is to strengthen nationalism, patriotism, and civic responsibility among the Filipino youth, particularly during a time when the Filipino identity was perceived to be dwindling.

Authorship and Legislative History of the Rizal Law

The Rizal Bill was authored by Senator Claro M. Recto, a figure known for a profound sense of nationalism. It was sponsored in the Senate by Senator Jose P. Laurel, Sr., who at the time served as the Chairman of the Committee on Education. The bill was consolidated through rigorous debate within both the Senate and the Congress. The proponents of the bill sought to re-dedicate the lives of the youth to the ideals of freedom and nationalism, the same ideals for which the nation's heroes lived and died. It serves as a tribute to the national hero for his lifelong devotion to shaping the Filipino character.

Educational and Nationalistic Goals of RA 1425

The Rizal Law aims to achieve several primary objectives within the Philippine educational system:

1. To provide a constant and inspiring source of patriotism in the minds of the youth, especially during their formative and decisive years in school.

2. To supervise all educational institutions under the regulation of the State.

3. To enjoin all schools to develop moral character, personal discipline, and civic conscience among students.

4. To strengthen the duties of citizenship through the study of Rizal’s life and works.

The Definition and Criteria of a National Hero

A hero is defined as an individual who demonstrates courage, contributes significantly to society, and inspires others through meaningful actions. The Philippine National Heroes Committee has established specific criteria for considering an individual a national hero. A national hero must:

• Fight for freedom.

• Help shape the nation.

• Represent the people of the country.

• Consider the future of the country.

Jose Rizal is considered to fully meet these qualifications. He exposed the systemic abuses of Spanish officials and advocated for peaceful reforms. His methods emphasized education and unity over violent conflict. Key milestones in his contribution include the founding of La Liga Filipina and the authorship of "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo," which served to reveal social injustices.

Nativity and Baptism of Jose Rizal

Dr. Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal Alonso y Realonda was born on June $19$, $1861$. The birth occurred on a moonlit Wednesday between the hours of $11:00$ PM and midnight. He was born in the lakeshore town of Calamba, Laguna. Historical accounts note that his mother almost died during delivery due to the infant's unusually large head.

At the age of three days, he was christened in the Catholic Church on June $22$, $1861$. He was baptized by Reverend Father Rufino Collantes, a priest from Batangas. His godfather was Reverend Father Pedro Casanas, a native of Calamba and a close friend of the Rizal family. His name, Jose, was chosen by his mother, who was an ardent devotee of St. Joseph. The baptismal certificate was later attested by Reverend Father Leoncio Lopez, the parish priest of Calamba. At the time of Rizal's birth, the Governor General of the Philippines was Lieutenant-General Jose Lemery.

The Parents of Jose Rizal

The Rizal family represented a diverse mix of races, including Negrito, Malay, Indonesian, Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish ancestry. However, Jose Rizal was considered predominantly Malayan.

Father: Francisco Mercado Rizal Francisco was a hardworking farmer and an educated man who had studied Latin and Philosophy. Rizal affectionately referred to him as "a model of fathers." He was born on May $11$, $1818$, in Biñan, Laguna, and was a graduate of the College of San Jose in Manila. He died on January $5$, $1898$, in Manila at the age of $80$.

Mother: Teodora Alonso Realonda Teodora was a well-educated and talented woman known for her intelligence, business acumen, and strong character. She was born on November $8$, $1826$, and was educated at the College of Sta. Rosa. She died in Manila on August $16$, $1911$, at the age of $85$. She and Francisco were married on June $28$, $1848$, in Calamba, Laguna.

The Siblings and Immediate Family of Jose Rizal

Francisco and Teodora had $11$ children in total:

1. Saturnina ($1850$-$1913$): Nicknamed Neneng, she was the eldest and helped finance Rizal’s studies.

2. Paciano ($1851$-$1930$): Known as Ciano, he was the only brother and a second father figure to Jose. He was a second child, a confidant, and later a revolutionary general.

3. Narcisa ($1852$-$1939$): Known as Sisa, she was a teacher and musician.

4. Olimpia ($1855$-$1887$): Nicknamed Ypia, she married Silvestre Ubaldo and was a confidante regarding Rizal’s early love life, specifically his relationship with Segunda Katigbak.

5. Lucia ($1857$-$1919$): Married Mariano Herbosa. Her husband was famously denied a Christian burial due to his connection to Rizal.

6. Maria ($1859$-$1945$): Nicknamed Biang, she married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan.

7. Jose Rizal ($1861$-$1896$): The national hero, nicknamed Pepe. During his exile in Dapitan, he lived with Josephine Bracken. They had a son named Francisco (named after Rizal's father) who died a few hours after birth and was buried in Dapitan.

8. Concepcion ($1862$-$1865$): Known as Concha, she died at age $3$, which was Rizal's first profound sorrow.

9. Josefa ($1865$-$1945$): Known as Panggoy, she died unmarried and was a member of the Katipunan.

10. Trinidad ($1868$-$1951$): Known as Trining, she was the custodian of Rizal’s poem "Mi Ultimo Adios" and was also a Katipunera. She died unmarried at age $83$.

11. Soledad ($1870$-$1929$): Nicknamed Choleng, she married Pantaleon Quintero. She was a teacher and considered the "best educated" among the sisters.

The Paternal Ancestry (Mercado Line)

The real surname of the family was Mercado, which means "market," reflecting their occupation as merchants. The lineage began with Domingo Lam-co, a Chinese immigrant from Fukien, China, who arrived in the Philippines around $1690$. He converted to Christianity and settled in Biñan, Laguna. He married Ines de la Rosa, a Chinese-Filipino mestiza from Manila.

Their son, Francisco Mercado, served as the gobernadorcillo (municipal mayor) of Biñan in $1763$ and died in $1801$. He was married to Cirila Bernacha (also known as Bernarda Monicha), a Chinese-Filipino mestiza from Hacienda San Pedro Tunasan.

Their son, Juan Mercado (Rizal’s grandfather), was known as "Capitan Juan." He served as gobernadorcillo of Biñan three times ($1808$, $1813$, and $1823$) and was a Hermano Mayor. He married Cirila Alejandro, the daughter of Siongco (who was a godson of Lam-co). They had $12$ children, the youngest of whom was Francisco Mercado Rizal (Jose Rizal's father).

The Maternal Ancestry (Alonso Line)

Teodora Alonso's matrilineal descent is traced back to Lakandula, the last native king of Tondo. Her great-great-grandfather was Eugenio Ursua, who was of Japanese ancestry. He married a Filipina named Benigna. Their daughter Regina married Manuel de Quintos, a Filipino-Chinese lawyer from Pangasinan.

One of Regina's daughters, Brigida, married Lorenzo Alberto Alonso, a prominent Spanish-Filipino mestizo from Biñan who served as a deputy for the Philippines in the Spanish Cortes. They had five children: Narcisa, Teodora (Rizal’s mother), Gregorio, Manuel, and Jose.

Questions & Discussion

Fill-in the Blank Exercise

1. Republic Act $1425$ is commonly known as the Rizal Law.

2. The two novels mentioned specifically in the act are Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

3. The act calls for an increased sense of Nationalism (or patriotism/identity).

4. The author of the Rizal Bill was Senator Claro M. Recto.

5. The sponsor of the bill was Senator Jose P. Laurel, Sr.

6. The act was signed by the President on June 12, 1956.

7. The bill was proposed in the Senate and House of Representatives.

8. The law became effective 30 days after implementation.

Multiple Choice Quiz

1. Jose Rizal was born on: B. June 19, 1861

2. The baptismal godfather of Jose Rizal: C. Fr. Pedro Casanas

3. The birth place of Rizal: B. Calamba, Laguna

4. The father's name of Rizal: D. Francisco Mercado

5. A Batangueño priest who christened Rizal: A. Fr. Rufino Collantes

6. The parish priest who attested Rizal's baptism: B. Fr. Leoncio Lopez

7. The mother's name of Rizal: D. Teodora Alonso

8. The governor general in the Philippines at the time Rizal was born: B. Lieutenant-General Jose Lemery

9. The maternal grandmother's name of Rizal: B. Brigida Alonso (though the text lists Brigida de Quintos as Teodora's mother).

10. The pet name of Rizal in the family, neighbors and friends: C. Pepe

11. The paternal great-great grandfather of Jose Rizal: B. Domingo Lam-co

12. The maternal great-great mother of Jose Rizal: A. Benigna Ursua (listed as the wife of Eugenio Ursua).

13. Rizal was christened in the Catholic Church on: D. June 22, 1861

14. A well-known Spanish-Filipino mestizo of Biñan and a deputy for the Philippines in the Spanish Cortes: A. Lorenzo Alberto Alonso

15. An elected gobernadorcillo and popularly known as "Capitan Juan": D. Juan Mercado

Essay Prompt Write an essay on the question: "Is Rizal nationalistic or patriotic? Cite your standpoint and legal basis to your answer."

Personal Activity Make your own genealogy starting from your paternal and maternal grandparents up to your present generation. Create your own genealogical pattern.

Narrative Case Study: The Missing Chums (Transcript Excerpt)

This section captures the dialogue and narrative provided in the transcript regarding the characters Chet and Biff at the island.

Chet and Biff were in a state of high excitement as they heard a boat backing out, accompanied by the sounds of revolver shots, shouts, and the roar of the "Sleuth's" engine. Chet expressed hope that the others would get away safely to bring back help. He noted, "In the meantime, the best thing we can do is to hide." He feared the gang, led by a man named Red, would scour the island and would not be gentle if they were caught.

The two decided to move as close to the shore as possible. They followed a narrow trail in the darkness, struggling with wet branches, roots, and deep grass. Eventually, they reached a rocky hillside overlooking the gray shore and breaking rollers. They saw no sign of the motorboat or other humans.

Chet suggested staying behind the rocks on the hillside: "If we go roaming about the shore we're likely to run into Red and his gang." Biff wondered if the gang had taken their own boats to pursue the Hardy boys, but they decided not to take the chance. They sheltered behind a huge rock, realizing they would likely have to wait until daylight for any hope of rescue. Chet remarked it would take time for the others to reach the mainland and return with help. Biff stated he had no "hankering to be dragged back to that cave again." The boys then lapsed into silence, understanding that any conversation was dangerous.