Chapter I.
Introduction to Life and Works of Jose Rizal
LESSON TITLE:
Republic Act 1425 (Rizal Law)
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Identify the reasons for studying the life and works of Jose Rizal.
2. Trace the historical background on the creation of Republic Act 1425.
3. Evaluate the different political sides (pros and cons) on the creation of
Republic Act 1425.
OVERVIEW/ INTRODUCTION:
This topic focuses on the legal basis on why General Education Course 109,
with the course title “Life and Works of Jose Rizal,” is a mandated subject for
tertiary students. It will allow the students to examine and evaluate for themselves
the importance of studying the life and works of Jose Rizal.
ACTIVITY1
4 Pics, 1 Word
Based on the four pictures in the right,
complete the word below:
R _ _ A _
ANALYSIS:
Who is Jose Rizal? And why do you think his image is engraved
in the coin, printed in matchboxes and he has a statue in almost
all parks in the Philippines?
ABSTRACTION/ LESSON PROPER:
HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND LEGAL BASIS OF RIZAL DAY AND OTHER MEMORIALS IN
HONOR OF JOSE RIZAL
By: Quennie Ann J. Palafox
For over a century now, the nation has never failed to observe the anniversary of the martyrdom
our great national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. This year, the President will lead the simultaneous raising
of Philippine flag at half-mast and wreath offering at the monument of Jose Rizal at the Rizal Park in
Manila, Calamba, Laguna and in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte on December 30, 2010. The theme
of this year’s commemoration is “Rizal: Haligi ng Bayan”.
Although frequently at the center of controversies and criticism of the public, the government
must be given credits for its efforts in ensuring that the memory of Rizal stays in our hearts through
the issuance of legislative acts, decrees and other proclamations honoring him.
Two years after the execution of Rizal in Bagumbayan, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo issued on Dec.
20, 1898 a decree designating Dec. 30 as the anniversary of Jose Rizal’s death and also as “a
national day of mourning” for Rizal and other victims of the Spanish government throughout its three
centuries of oppressive rule. He made a directive that all national flags shall be hoisted at half-mast
from 12 noon on Dec. 29 and all offices of the government shall be closed the whole day on
December 30 as a sign of mourning. On December 30, 1898, Filipinos celebrated Rizal Day for the
first time and chose Club Filipino in Manila to be the venue.
The Americans, to win the sympathy of the Filipinos, and to convince them that they were pro-
Filipinos more than the Spaniards, gave Rizal official recognition. This was to make them conform to
the new government. Rizal acquired the official title of title of Philippine National Hero in 1901 under
the country’s first American civil governor, William Howard Taft. On the recommendation of Trinidad
Pardo de Tavera, the Taft Commission renamed the district of Morong into the Province of Rizal
through Act 137 on June 11, 1901. This was one of the first official steps taken by the Taft
Commission to honor Rizal. Since then, Jose Rizal came to be known as the National Hero.
It was also during the American times that Rizal’s death anniversary was made an official
holiday. On February 1, 1902, the Philippine Commission enacted Act. No. 345 which set December
30 of each year as Rizal Day, and made it one of the ten official holidays of the Philippines. As the
nationalist spirit of the Filipinos was at the highest point during that time, they were able to convince
the government to erect a monument for Rizal. Thus, Act No. 243 was enacted on September 28,
1901 granting the right to use public land upon the Luneta in the City of Manila upon which to erect a
statue of Jose Rizal.
So important was the observation of Rizal Day that President Quirino approved on June 9,
1948 Republic Act No. 229 which prohibits cockfighting, horse racing and jai-alai every 30th of
December of each year, in order to have proper observance of Rizal Day.
To give ample time to prepare for the birth centenary of Jose Rizal in 1961, the Rizal
National Centennial Commission was created by Executive Order No. 52, issued by Pres. Ramon
Magsaysay on August 10, 1954 to undertake the construction of a National Cultural Shrine and other
memorials to be dedicated to Jose Rizal. JRNCC became Rizal Presidential Committee on 1 July
1962 after President Diosdado Macapagal issued Executive Order No. 14.
Jose Rizal’s vast role in the attainment of the nation’s freedom led to the issuance of Republic
Act 1425 on June 12, 1956. Commonly known as the Rizal Act, it was sponsored by Senator Claro M.
Recto. It requires the curricula of private and public schools, colleges and universities courses to
include the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo in order to educate the students about the concept of nationalism.
A few days before the celebration of the birth centenary of Jose Rizal in 1961, Pres. Garcia
issued Executive Order No. 429 on June 2, creating a decoration intended to perpetuate Rizal’s
memory, to be known as the Rizal Pro Patria Award. It was to be awarded by the President of the
Philippines to those who have rendered outstanding work for the benefit of their community. Among
the recipients of this decoration in the past were N. V. M. Gonzalez, Alejandro Roces, Juan Nakpil,
Felipe Padilla De Leon, and Wilfredo Ma. Guerero.
In Manila streets were named with reference to the national hero, Jose Rizal. In Sampaloc, two
streets are named after his pen names, Laong Laan and Dimasalang. Blumentritt, a main
thoroughfare, was named after Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt, Rizal’s friend, while Dapitan street situated
near the University of Santo Tomas was named after a municipality in Zamboanga del Norte, where
Rizal was deported in 1892. Other street names have references to Rizal’s novels such as Sisa,
Basilio, and Simoun.
Rizal monuments are concrete memorials to his legacy. The most prominent is the Rizal
monument in Manila, unveiled on December 30, 1913 in line with the 17th Anniversary of the
martyrdom of Jose Rizal. However, the Rizal monument in the town Daet in Camarines Norte holds
the distinction of the first ever erected in honor of Rizal.
In the 1920s, Rizal Day was very popular and a much-awaited event with the entire city
going to Luneta to spot the parade of the Rizal Day, a parade as glamorous as the carnival parade of
February. In his memorable Rizal Day address, Pres. Quezon declared through Commonwealth Act
No. 184 the adoption of Tagalog as the basis of the national language of the Philippines on
December 30, 1937.
The Rizal Day celebration of December 30, 1942 required the display of Japanese flags in Filipino
homes. Attended by Jorge Vargas Benigno Aquino, Sr, and Jose P. Laurel, Sr., a Nippongo program
on Rizal was held in 1942, during which the hero’s “Ultimo Adios” was recited in Japanese. This
event also witnessed the inauguration of Kalibapi.
Just after the war in 1946, the country saw floral offerings and a civic parade in observance of
Rizal Day in 1946. President Roxas was joined by high officials of the national government and
representatives of the United States Army and Navy and foreign nations who offered wreaths at the
foot of Rizal’s monument.
On December 30, 1950, all Philippine flags throughout the island were raised at half-mast in
all public buildings and vessels to commemorate the martyrdom of Rizal. There was also floral
offering at the Rizal monument at Luneta and concert in the afternoon.
A crowd estimated to be from 300-500, 000 persons gathered at the Luneta on December 30,
1953 to attend the inauguration of Ramon Magsaysay as president of the Republic of the Philippines.
The Constitution had made the Rizal Day event even more memorable having specified the date of
the day for the inauguration of President of the Republic as stipulated in Sec. 4 of Article VII of the
1935 Constitution. However, this was moved to June 30 by virtue of the 1987 Constitution which is
being observed until now.
December 30, 1996 was the centenary of the martyrdom of Rizal. Highlights included the
tracing of the last walk of Rizal from his detention cell at Fort Santiago followed by the reenactment
of the hero’s execution and flag raising at Luneta Park, Manila. A monument of Rizal was also
inaugurated on 5 December 1996 along the Avenida de Las Islas Filipinas in Madrid, Spain.
Rizal Day is a day of appreciating Jose Rizal as a hero, an icon and a perfect example on how
to be a Filipino. To quote the late Sen. Blas Ople, “Jose Rizal remains the supreme hero of the
Philippines because of the quality of his sacrifice, his absolute dedication to the interest of his people,
and his achievement in many fields of endeavors”.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425
AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS,
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COURSES ON THE LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS OF JOSE
RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HIS NOVELS NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO,
AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS, today, more than any other period of our history, there is a need
for a re-dedication to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our
heroes lived and died;
WHEREAS, it is meet that in honoring them, particularly the national hero
and patriot, Jose Rizal, we remember with special fondness and devotion
their lives and works that have shaped the national character;
WHEREAS, the life, works and writing of Jose Rizal, particularly his
novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, are a constant and inspiring
source of patriotism with which the minds of the youth, especially during
their formative and decisive years in school, should be suffused;
WHEREAS, all educational institutions are under the supervision of, and
subject to regulation by the State, and all schools are enjoined to
develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience and to
teach the duties of citizenship; Now, therefore,
SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal,
particularly his novel Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be
included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and universities,
public or private: Provided, that in the collegiate courses, the original
or unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or
their English translation shall be used as basic texts.
The Board of National Education is hereby authorized and directed to adopt
forthwith measures to implement and carry out the provisions of this
Section, including the writing and printing of appropriate primers,
readers and textbooks. The Board shall, within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and regulations, including those
of a disciplinary nature, to carry out and enforce the provisions of this
Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations providing for the
exemption of students for reasons of religious belief stated in a sworn
written statement, from the requirement of the provision contained in the
second part of the first paragraph of this section; but not from taking
the course provided for in the first part of said paragraph. Said rules
and regulations shall take effect thirty (30) days after their publication
in the Official Gazette.
SECTION 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and
universities to keep in their libraries an adequate number of copies of
the original and unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal’s other works and biography. The said
unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or
their translations in English as well as other writings of Rizal shall be
included in the list of approved books for required reading in all public
or private schools, colleges and universities.
The Board of National Education shall determine the adequacy of the number
of books, depending upon the enrollment of the school, college or
university.
SECTION 3. The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of
the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of
Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and the principal Philippine dialects;
cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and cause them to be
distributed, free of charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the
Purok organizations and Barrio Councils throughout the country.
SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amendment or
repealing section nine hundred twenty-seven of the Administrative Code,
prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines by public school
teachers and other person engaged in any public school.
SECTION 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to
be appropriated out of any fund not otherwise appropriated in the National
Treasury to carry out the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved: June 12, 1956
Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 52, No. 6, p. 2971 in June 1956.
REFERENCES/ RECOMMENDED READINGS:
Palafox, Quennie Ann J. “Historical Context and Legal Basis of Rizal Day and Other
Memorials in honor of Jose Rizal.” National Historical Commission of the
Philippines, September 19, 2012. (Retrieved from
https://nhcp.gov.ph/historical-context-and-legal-basis-of-rizal-day-and-other-
memorials-in-honor-of-jose-
rizal/#:~:text=14.,sponsored%20by%20Senator%20Claro%20M.&text=429%
20on%20June%202%2C%20creating,the%20Rizal%20Pro%20Patria%20Aw
ard)
Official Gazette, Vol. 52, No. 6, p. 2971. June 1956. (Retrieved from
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/1956/06jun/19560612-RA-
1425-RM.pdf)
FURTHER READINGS:
Constantino, Renato. Veneration Without Understanding. Manila: National
Historical Commission, 1969.
Guerrero, Leon Ma. JOSE RIZAL: The First Filipino. Manila: Guerrero
Publishing,
1998.
Romero, et al. Rizal and the Development of National Consciousness. Quezon
City: JMC Press, 1984.
Zaide, Gregorio and Sonia Zaide. Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings. Quezon
City: All Nations Publishing Co., 1994.
