LIFE AND WORKS OF JOSE RIZAL

Lesson 1
I. The Rizal Law
Many Filipino students are curious why they are still required to study the life and works of Jose Rizal
in college despite having studied the biography of Jose Rizal and his two novels in their high school
years. They believe that it might just be a repetition of the things they have learned and that it would be
a waste of their time. Little did they know that they are mandated by the law to study the life and works
of Jose Rizal not only in high school but also in college and they might not even have an idea what this
law had gone through in order to be passed and approved.

On June 12, 1956, Philippine Independence Day, the Republic Act 1425 (R.A. 1425) also known as the
Rizal Law was passed. It is 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”.

II. Reactions to the Passage of Rizal Law

At present, the passage of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (Republic
Act No. 10354) or popularly known as the R.H. Law was probably one of the most controversial laws
passed due to the opposing reactions of Filipinos to its passage. There were that anti and pro RH Law
who rallied for or against its implementation. Half a century ago, similar thing happened to the Rizal
Law. According to the historian Ambeth Ocampo (1990), the debate was so intense that it ended in a fist
fight between two hot –headed lawmakers. The strongest opposition came from the Catholic Church,
arguing that the law would violate the freedom of conscience and religion. They argued that “Rizal
violated the Church’s laws specifically Canon Law 1399, which forbids books that attack or ridicule any of
the catholic dogmas or which defend errors condemned by the Holy See.”

They also argued that only 25 passages of the Noli Me Tangere were patriotic as compared to the 120
passages that were anti-catholic. Furthermore, they pointed out that Rizal retracted his ‘attacks’ on the
Catholic Church before he was executed. They maintained that Filipinos could still venerate him as a
national hero even without reading the two novels and that Filipino students could read other works
done by Rizal instead of the two Novels. The Catholic Church’ opposition went up to the extent of
threatening religious sanctions to all the supporters of the law. A bishop wrote a letter to Rafael Palma a
biographer of Rizal, saying that “we prohibit under the pain of sin and canonical sanctions the reading,
keeping or retention of the same [Noli and El Fili] whether in original or in translation in the Archdiocese
of Manila and Cebu.”

Among the prominent ‘defenders’ of Rizal Law was Sen. Claro M. Recto who was the author of the law
and fought hard for its passage despite the threat of losing votes and religious sanctions. He assailed the
people who opposed the law by saying that fighting against the law is like fighting Rizal and attempting
to “blot out his memory”. The supporters of the bill maintained that law would uplift Filipino sense of
identity and nationalism especially during that time when Filipino sense of identity and nationalism was
dwindling and the prevalence of American neocolonialism in the Philippines.

After long and divisive debates, the Rizal Law was passed with certain provisions that served as
compromise between two opposing sides. One of these compromises is the exemption given to those
who feel that their faith is damaged by reading of Rizal’s novels provided, that they file a sworn
statement stating as such as stated in Sec. 1o f the Rizal Law.

III. Historical Background of the 19th Century: Spain and Philippines

Jose Rizal’s ideas and philosophies in life could be better understood in the context of his time. The
historical context of Jose Rizal allows us to see the prevailing social, economic, political and cultural
conditions of Spanish colonial regime in the Philippines and how these influenced Rizal.

Conditions in Spain
 During the first three quarters of the 19th century, Spain has been in turmoil especially when it was
conquered by France. When the monarchy was restored in 1814, Fernando VII returned to absolutism
[absolute power is vested in the monarch e.i. the king]. When he died he passed his crown to his infant
daughter Isabel, under the regency [ a government or period in which a person /regent rules in place of
the king/queen] of her mother Maria Cristina. Civil war broke out when Don Carlos, the king’s younger
brother was claiming the throne. As a result, revolts between the Liberals (supporters of Maria Cristina)
and Carlists (supporters of Don Carlos) ensued. In 1886, when Isabella became queen, a revolution
against her took place and she was forced to abdicate. Alfonso XII of Spain became king, which finally
brought Spain into a period of stability and reform.

Social Condition in the Philippines

Events in the Spain had implications on her colonies. The Philippines and Cuba are two of the colonies
that had waged a revolution for total emancipation from Spain. The political, social, religious and
economic changes in Spain during the latter part of the 19th century have repercussions in the colonies.
In the Philippines Spain has no clear program in uplifting the country’s economy. The Manila-Acapulco
Galleon Trade only served the Spanish and Chinese people in the country but it did not help the colony
as a whole. It only served as a trans-shipment point between China and Mexico thus benefiting very few
Filipinos. Governor-generals initiated reforms in commerce and agriculture but were not enough to
boost economic growth.

In terms of political development, Governor-generals who were assigned in the Philippines for a short
period of time have failed to implement policies that will promote development, yet they returned to
Spain richer. In the cultural and religious aspects, the colonizers failed to implement effective policies of
cultural and educational advancements. Catholicism was still used as tool for subjugation of the Filipinos
and friars were very influential and powerful that made them de facto administrators of the colony.
Inequalities among social classes, discrimination, injustices, corruption and slavery were very rampant.
These injustices and social ills suffered by Filipinos became the subject of protest of the Propaganda
movement and served as the ‘unifying cause’ of the Philippine Revolution initiated by the Katipunan.

The social conditions in the Philippines during the 19th century were discussed by the
propagandists. The Propaganda Movement was organized by Filipinos in exile or studying in Europe.
They came from wealthy middleclass families in the Philippines. The Propaganda movement aimed to
expose the worsening conditions in the Philippines and ask reforms needed to improve the lives of the
Filipinos. Three of the works done by the propagandists exposed the ‘social ills’ that were perennial and
extensive. These works are:

1. Monarchism in the Philippines by Marcelo H. Del Pilar

2. The Distressing Situation of the Philippines by Graciano Lopez-Jaena

3. On the Indolence of the Filipinos by Jose Rizal

Lesson 2

The Development of Filipino Consciousness and Nationalism

I. The concept of Nationalism and Filipino Nationalism
Nationalism in its broadest sense is the ‘love’ of one’s country. It is a consciousness, a feeling or
sentiment of belongingness to a particular community, group or race as a result of having a common or
shared language, religion, tradition, and history and values system. It could manifest as the attitude of
the members of a nation have when they care about their national identity and the actions that they
take in order to attain or sustain self-determination or independence.

Filipino nationalism is a product of social, economic and political changes during the 19th century.
Before the 19th century there was no national consciousness hence, no Filipino nationalism. As historian
Teodoro Agoncillo puts it, “Although united as united as one geographical unit called Las Islas Filipinas
during the Spanish colonial rule, the people called Filipinos applied only to the Spaniards born in the
Philippines (insulares), and the indigents were derogatorily called indios. The indios were not united in
words and in deeds, as the Spanish church and state officials, mainly the friars, divided and ruled the
natives. Thus, the “indios”, became “Filipino” only during the last years of Spanish regime. (Agocillo,
1990)

II. Events that have influenced the emergence/evolution of Filipino nationalism

Filipino nationalism as many historians would say is a product of Spanish colonization and the
struggle of the Filipinos to create their own identity. Before the coming and colonization of Spain, the
Filipinos despite having a common Austronesian ancestry, were divided geographically, thus, there was
no concept of a nation nor of Filipino race and identity. The Spaniards took advantage of this disunity
and had successfully pacified them. They named these islands “Filipinas” in honor of King Philip of Spain,
hence, a country was formed out of separate and sovereign islands of the archipelago.

It was only at the last century of Spanish rule that Filipino consciousness emerged. The development
of Filipino nationalism was a conglomeration of social, economic and political phenomena that
happened in the world and in the Philippines.

1. Opening of the Philippines in the World Trade

The opening of the port of Manila to the international trade in 1834 resulted to tremendous socio-
economic changes on the Philippines after decades of economic stagnation brought about by
Spanish monopolistic policies. Despite economic restrictions, foreign investors flocked the
Philippines resulting to the booming of different economic establishments and institutions. The
opening of the Philippines to the world trade generated a great demand for export goods such as
rice, sugar, abaca, tobacco and indigo. This gave Filipino mestizos and Chinese merchants huge
profits.

 Transportation and communication system was also improved.

 1839 – mail service between Cavite and Manila started
 1846 – the first daily newspaper appeared
 1852 – the Banco Español-Filipino de Isabel II and two British banks began to issue paper
money
 1880s – the Hotel de Oriente in Binondo, the first hotel in the Philippines began its operations

2. The Opening of the Suez Canal in 1869

 The travel between Europe and Asia (Spain to Philippines) was shorter, faster and safer which
led to the influx of liberal ideas from Europe to the Philippines. The ideas of liberty, equality and
fraternity that were legacies of the French Revolution and the democratic ideas from the United
States have penetrated the minds of the Filipinos in the Philippines.

3. Liberal administration and educational reforms

 As a result of the victory of the liberals in the Spanish revolution of 1868, Carlos Maria dela
Torre was sent to the Philippines to serve as Governor-general from 1869-1871. He was
 different from his predecessors and had implemented reforms such as the abrogation of
flogging as a punishment for Filipino deserters in the Spanish army, abolished press censorship
and encouraged freedom of speech.  In education, a decree was passed in 1863 instructing the
establishment of schools in different places and admitted Indios and allowing them to learn the
Spanish language as the national language. Eventually, this led to the development of national
identity when insulares, Chinese mestizos and Indios began to identify their selves as Filipinos.

4. Rise of the middle class

 As a result of great economic transformations in the life of the Filipinos, a middle class (media
clase) of Asian and Eurasian mestizos emerged in the Philippines social pyramid. They formed
the town principalia – an elite social group composed of former gobernadorcillos, minor native
bureaucrats, decorated personel and school masters. (Agoncillo, 1990)  The wealth of the
pricipalia particularly the Inquilinos came from the profits generated from owned or rented
lands (Gripaldo, et., al., 2009).  The Ilustrados (‘the enlightened’) emerged from the
principalias or middle class families and were educated in universities in the Philippines and in
Europe. They rallied for reforms for the Philippines.

5. Secularization Movement
 Secularization of the parishes was the transfer of ministries established and run by regular clergy
[Spanish friars] to the secular priests [Filipino priests]. By the midst of 19th century, the
secularization movement was transmuted into a political and separatist movement which
exploded in the Filipinization of the church, and culminated in the separation of the church
from Rome during the Philippine revolution (Agoncillo 1990).
 The secularization was organized secretly by Padre Mariano Gomez and Padre Pedro Pelaez. The
conflict between regular and secular priests arose when the regular priests (friars) attempted to
seize the control of parishes from the secular priest and the rampant abuses and discrimination
made by the friars to the seculars (Gripaldo, et., al., 2009).

6. The Cavite Mutiny in 1872

 In January 20, 1872, 200 Filipino soldiers joined by some laborers in the arsenal of artillery led
by Sgt. La Madrid waged a revolt because of unjust deductions in their wages, high taxes and
discrimination of Filipino soldiers from Spanish soldiers.
 The Spanish authorities viewed the event as an overturning of the colonial rule in the islands,
even considering it as part of a greater national movement to liberate the Philippines from
Spain. (Agoncillo, 1990)
 It was abruptly abrogated or pacified and all those who participated were either executed or
exiled. After the ‘containment’ of the mutineers, the Spanish authorities initiated a crackdown
of those who have connections to the mutiny which enede up in the implication of the
GOMBURZA.
 The 1872 Cavite Mutiny is considered as the first workers’ strike (welga) in the Philippines and
in Asia.

7. The Execution of GOMBURZA

 Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora were prominent figures in the
secularization movement. They were implicated as leaders of the Cavite Mutiny. To instill fear
among Filipinos, they were publicly executed in February 07, 1872 in the Bagumbayan.
 Fathers Gomez and Zamora served as spiritual adviser of the soldiers and workers who joined
the mutiny.
 Their execution was witnessed by many Filipinos and have left them a great feeling of
indignation and injustice. They considered it as a way of Spanish authorities to silence the
secularization movement. This has also fueled the hatred of Filipinos for the Spaniards which
ignited nationalistic sentiments of the Filipinos.
 The execution of the GOMBURZA had also inspired the Propaganda movement and the
Philippine revolution.

8. The Propaganda Movement (1880- 1892)

 Due to abuses of Spanish authorities and clergies and the curtailment of freedom of
expression, Filipinos, specifically the IIustrados campaigned for the assimilation of the
 Philippines to Spain by becoming a province of Spain so that the Filipinos and Spaniards will be
equal and Filipinos will enjoy the liberties enjoyed by the Spaniards.
 The Ilustrados organized the Propaganda movement which exposed the condition of the
Philippines under the Spanish rule and campaigned for reforms that the country needed. They
also campaigned for representation to Spanish Cortes (legislature), freedom of the press,
economic liberalization, secularization and equality before the law of Filipinos and Spaniards.
 The Propaganda movement expressed their campaigns in the La Solidaridad – the official
newspaper of the movement. The Propagandists did not only expose the social conditions of
the Philippines and ask for reforms but they also wrote about Philippine history, culture and
identity.
 According to Zeus Salazar, one legacy of the Propaganda movement is the tripartite view of
Philippine history. They propagated the idea that the Philippines, contrary to the accounts of
the Spaniards, had a culture and civilization before the coming and colonization of Spain.
 Reasons for the failure of the Propaganda movement:
 Spain was too busy resolving her internal problems and the friars remained powerful
and influential and thus no tangible reforms were implemented.
 The Propaganda movement also suffered financial problems to continue its
publication.
 Internal conflicts arose among the members of the Propaganda movement caused by
‘petty jealousies’ (e.i. Rizal –del Pilar conflict). “Most of the members. Of the
Propaganda movement were conservative and lacked the courage and the
vigorous hope necessary to continue an unequal struggle.” (Agoncillo, 1990)
 Despite the failure of the Propaganda movement, it was successful in exposing the abuses and
incompetence of Spanish authorities. It also served an eye-opener for the Filipinos’ common
experience and struggle which became a catalyst for the emergence of Filipino consciousness
and nationalism.
 The disbandment of Jose Rizal’s La Liga Filipina marked the end of the Propaganda movement.
An unintentional effect of the failure of the Propaganda movement was founding of the
Katipunan which aimed for freedom and independence through an armed struggle.

III. Implications of Filipino Nationalism

The development of Filipino consciousness and nationalism has fuelled the struggle of Filipinos for
freedom and emancipation from Spain. Because of it Philippines became the first Asian country to wage
a revolution and won its freedom from a European power. It has also shaped our national identity and
our history as a nation.
Lesson 3

I. Personal Background of Jose Rizal

 Full name: Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda. Protaciois a patron saint of children
and a martyr.
 Born in June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna
 Father: Francisco Mercado, a descendant of Domingo Lamco, a Chinese from Amoy, China and
was baptized or Christianized in Manila. He became a farmer and a tenant in the hacienda
owned by Dominican friars in Calamba, Laguna.
 Mother: Teodora Alonso y Quintus, from a family whose members were lawyers, priests,
government officials and merchants.
 The surname Rizal was adopted by the Mercado family 1850 to abide by the royal decree that
sought to remedy the confusion resulting from many unrelated Filipinos having the same or no
last names. ‘Rizal’ was not taken from the government lists but appears to have been selected
because of its appropriateness to the family’s source of living(Craig, 1909).Various meaning of
Rizal: (1) shortened form of the Spanish word for "second crop"; (2) green fields or green fields
ready for harvesting
 The Rizal family was a large one. Jose was the seventh of the eleven children and the younger of
two boys.
 Among the Rizal children, Jose’s birth was the hardest for he has an irregularly large head. As a
child, Jose was not physically strong and wassickly. His big head was not proportionate to his
frail body. Conscious of his physical features, Jose became interested in the stories of power
especially the stories of great and strong men and giants. Jose’s childhood diaries reflected that
at young age he already acquired curiosity and interest in nature particularly in botany and
zoology. This was shaped by the geographic features of his surroundings. There’s a scenic view
of Mt. Makiling from their house, the Laguna de Bay is located at the end part of Calamba(where
Rizal used to go and wander) and there were different kinds of fruit-bearing trees at the back of
their house. It is believed that Jose’s interest in folklores was also influenced by his surroundings
and his ‘aya’ or nanny who told Jose stories about folk myths and legends.
 Most of the time Jose was quiet and a thinker, and liked to spectate.Jose also liked drawing and
was always creating things like statues made from wax and clay. He usually surprised the people
around him through his pencil drawing and sketches and figures molded by clay or wax.

II. Intellectual Developmetn of Jose Rizal

 Young boy in Calamba
 At a young age, Jose showed his eagerness to learn how to read and write. He was taught by
his family members. His mother taught him how to read, write and do basic arithmetic. His
brother Paciano guided him and taught him patriotism. His eagerness to learn was furthered
by the ‘huge’ collection of books by his father in their library. One of the books the he read
was "Children's Friend" by Abbé Sabatier. The story of the moth or the “Foolish Butterfly”
had left an impact to him.
 Jose was also taught by three of his uncles (brothers of his mother). His Uncle Manuel taught
him physical exercises, riding a horse and swimming and in time he became strong and
healthy.
 At age three he learned his alphabet from his mother.
 His father hired a private tutor who also taught Rizal reading, writing, and the rudiments of
Latin.
  At age seven he was sent to a private school in Calamba to be educated but was sent home
after a few weeks for he had already learned everything that the teacher has to teach.
 Jose was eight years old when he wrote the poem “Sa AkingMgaKabata”. A poem which
promotes the love for one’s language.
 Young boy in Biñan
 Jose was nine years old when he was sent study in Biñan under Justiniano Aquino-Cruz, who
was a strict disciplinarian.
 After a few months, Jose was sent home because he has already learned as much as his
teacher.
 A Student in Ateneo
 He entered Ateneo Municipal when he was eleven years old. It was the start of Jose’s formal
education.
 In 1872, Ateneo Municipal is the only modern school in Manila and was known for its equal
treatment to Filipino and Spanish students.
 Rizal earned excellent marks in his subjects. He wrote the award-winning poetry “Junto Al
Pasig” in Ateneo Municipal. He practiced drawing, painting and clay modelling.
 In a class of 12 students, he was one of the nine students who graduated as ‘sobresaliente’
[excellent].
 On March 14, 1877 he received his bachelor’s degree in art with the highest honors.
 A Student in UST
 After he graduated from Ateneo, he entered the University of Sto. Tomas and took up
Philosophy and Letters. He earned his land surveyor’s and assessor’s degree from Ateneo while
he was studying in UST.
 Upon learning that his mother was going blind Jose opted to study ophthalmology at the UST
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. He was not able to complete the course when he became
politically isolated by adversaries among the faculty and clergy who demanded that he should
be assimilated to their system. It is also because of this that his academic performance was not
as excellent as he had in Ateneo Municipal as reflected by his report card.
 In UST, he excelled in poetry and won in literary contests. In 1879, his poem “A La Juventud
Filipina” won first prize. In the following year his prose “Consejo de los dioses” won against
Spanish peninsulars who wrote in their own language.
 In the latter part of his stay in UST, he was in confidential consultation with Paciano. On May
03, 1887 Rizal boarded a Spanish ship that took him to Singapore and Europe.
Lesson 4
I. Events before Jose Rizal’s departure to Europe
 Jose Rizal was a victim of a brutal assault. He was wounded in his back by a lieutenant of the
Civil Guards whom he did not notice and pay attention to when he passed their barracks. His
complaint about the incident has fallen into deaf ears.
 Jose Rizal was disgusted with the method of instruction in the Dominican-owned University
(UST) and the racial prejudice of Dominican professors against Filipino students – who were
regarded as second-class citizens. II. Reasons for Jose Rizal’s travel to Europe
 Since no written document was left to state the real motive of Jose Rizal’s travel to Europe,
historians and scholars could only infer from the context and accounts of eyewitnesses. •
According to NiloOcampo (1995:81-89) Jose Rizal, his brother Paciano and their uncle Antonio
Rivera agreed to send Jose to Europe for a mission – to acquire knowledge by observing keenly
the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and commerce, and government and
laws of the European nations. The knowledge he had acquired will be used for demanding
reforms from Spain and to end Spanish tyranny, oppression and injustice to the Filipinos in the
Philippines.
 This could also be inferred from Paciano’s letter to Jose, telling their parents’ reaction to Jose’s
departure. He also told Jose that to the people’s knowledge Jose was going to Europe to further
his studies and become a doctor.

II. Reasons for Jose Rizal’s travel to Europe

• Since no written document was left to state the real motive of Jose Rizal’s travel to Europe,
historians and scholars could only infer from the context and accounts of eyewitnesses.

 According to NiloOcampo (1995:81-89) Jose Rizal, his brother Paciano and their uncle Antonio
Rivera agreed to send Jose to Europe for a mission – to acquire knowledge by observing keenly
the life and culture, languages and customs, industries and commerce, and government and laws
of the European nations. The knowledge he had acquired will be used for demanding reforms
from Spain and to end Spanish tyranny, oppression and injustice to the Filipinos in the Philippines.
 This could also be inferred from Paciano’s letter to Jose, telling their parents’ reaction to Jose’s
departure. He also told Jose that to the people’s knowledge Jose was going to Europe to further
his studies and become a doctor.

III. Jose Rizal in Europe

 Jose Rizal identified himself as José Mercado, a native of Sta. Cruz in his passport when he
boarded the steamer ‘Salvadora’ bound for Singapore.
 On May 03, 1882, Jose Rizal left with seven hundred pesos from Paciano and a diamond ring given
by his sister Saturnina which he could use in times of emergency.
 Rizal observed the people and the things on the ship. Among the sixteen passengers, he was
the only ‘indio’ and the rest were Spaniards, Englishmen and Indian negroes.
 Rizal noted the low standards of the ship and how the Spanish passengers narrated their
experiences and criticisms of the Philippines especially the way it was governed.
 After reaching and visiting Singapore, he boarded the French mail steamer Djemnah to continue
his trip to Spain.
 On June 12, 1882, Jose Rizal reached Marseilles, France.
 While in Barcelona, Spain, he wrote the ‘El Amor Patrio’under the pseudo name ‘Laong-laan.’
 The essay is about love for one’s country. It contains “political ideas and patriotic sentiments
which had been percolating in the young Rizal while still on Philippine soil”.
  Rizal was able to explain his views through this essay indicating that the Philippines is the
country for Filipinos.
 His essay was sent to the Philippines and was translated to Tagalog by Marcelo H. Del Pilar to
be published in the local newspaper of Manila called Diariong Tagalogwhich was published by
BasilioTeodoro in August 20, 1882. It was reprinted in La Solidaridadin October 31, 1890.
 Rizal continued writing articles for this magazine during the short time it lived.
 From Barcelona, he went to Madrid and enrolled at Universidad Central de Madrid in Spain and
took a course leading to a licentiate in medicine. He also took up a course in Philosophy and
Letters. He also studied painting and sculpture in the Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando and
took lessons in French, German, and English under private instructors.
 Jose became a member of Circulo Hispano-Filipino. It is an organization of Filipino students in
Madrid which aims to expose the conditions in the Philippines under the Spanish rule. The Circulo
was short-lived and Jose Rizal in his diaries noted the reasons for this – lack of funds to continue
publication, too much individualism and lack of unity in purpose.
 The Filipino students in Spain knew Rizal by reputation, many of them had been his schoolmates,
and they enthusiastically welcomed him, but in their gaiety he took no part. The affectation and
love of display of some of his countrymen disgusted him.
 Rizal was actively involved in the Propaganda movement composed of Filipinos in Spain who
sought to direct the attention of Spaniards to the concerns of the Spanish colony in the
Philippines. He wrote articles for publications in Manila and abroad; convened with overseas
Filipinos to discuss their duty to the country; and called on Spanish authorities to institute reforms
in the Philippines, such as granting freedom of the press and Filipino representation in the Spanish
Cortes.
 In a year or two, Rizal’s money dwindled because his father was having a hard time sending him
money for the fear of being questioned by the Dominican friars. Jose struggled to make both ends
meet by cutting expenses in food and daily needs.
 Jose Rizal devoted his time in reading and studying as a way of relieving himself from
homesickness.
 While studying, he encountered books that had left deep imprint on his philosophies and ideals :
- Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher’s Stowe
- The Wandering Jew by Eugene Sue
- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
- Other stories were “Picturesque America", "Lives of the Presidents of the United States", "The
Anglo-Saxons", "The English Revolution” which were stories of ‘free people’ that interested him.
 In 1884, he received the degree of Licentiate in Medicine and in 1885, on his twenty-fourth
birthday; he finished his degree in Philosophy and Letters with highest honors.
 Also in 1884, Juan Luna’s Spoliariumand Felix Resurrecion Hidalgo’s Las
VirgenesCristianasExpuestas al Populacho (The Christian Virgins Exposed to the Populace) won in
the prestigious ExposiciónNacional de BellasArtes de Madrid (Madrid Art Exposition, May 1884).
Jose Rizal was asked to give a congratulatory toast (brindis) for the two artists.
This speech reached Manila and was interpreted as an open challenge to the Spanish regime in
the Philippines.
 Other studies:
 June, 1885: He went to Paris to study under Dr. Louis de Wecker and mastered the
technique of eye operations.
 February 1886: he went to Germany to attend lectures at the University of Heidelberg.
 April 22, 1886: Jose Rizal wrote the poem "A Las Flores de Heidelberg" which shows his
feeling of nostalgia for his parents and his country. Full text of this poem could be accessed in
http://www.rizalinfo.net/PoemsDetails.asp?TableIndex=83http://www.rizal
info.net/PoemsDetails.asp?TableIndex=82
 August, 1886: Jose Rizal transferred to the University of Leipzig to study psychology and
history.
 He completed the writing of the Noli Me Tangere on February 22, 1887 in Berlin, Germany.
Because of lack of funds, he was disheartened and discouraged to publish the book. However, his
friend Maximo Viola, a Filipino doctor from a wealthy family in Bulacan lent money to Rizal in
order to publish the book. Bound copies were sent to Barcelona and Madrid. Some copies also
reached the Philippines but were later banned and confiscated.
 Jose Rizal andMaximo Viola went on trips to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy before he
went back to the Philippines.
  He arrived in Manila in August, 1887.

Lesson 5

Jose Rizal’s Life, Works and Studies in Europe (Part 2)

I. Jose Rizal’s First Homecoming
 August, 1887 : Rizal arrived in the Philippines from Europe
 Prior to his homecoming, Jose Rizal was advised by his friends not to go back to the country due
to the impact created by the Noli Me Tangere that has made him more popular even to the
authorities.
 While in Calamba, Laguna he operated his mother’s cataracts. It is the first time that such
operation was done in the Philippines at that time. He also put up a clinic for eye
operations/surgery and was successful in his operations on people with cataracts. People
flocked to Calamba and he became famous.
 Jose Rizal was summoned to Malacañan Palace by the governor-general regarding the Noli Me
Tangere. The governor-general appointed a committee that will review the novel. In attempt to
spy on Jose Rizal, the governorgeneral assigned JoseTaviel de Andrade a young Spanish official
of the Civil Guard to serve as Rizal’s personal escort.
 The committee’s review of the Noli concluded that the novel is :
 “Impious, heretical, or scandalous”
 It is against the doctrine, against the church and the religious orders.
 It is against the institutions, civil, military, social and political which the Government of Spain
implanted in the Philippines
 it aims to inspire among the loyal and submissive sons of Spain in these distant islands,
profound,and furious hate to the mother country…"  In January 1888, Jose Rizal wrote a
petition to the Administrator of Public Islands of Laguna about the Haciendas of the friars in
Calamba. He cited all the grievances of the Calamba folks and tenants against the supposed
owner of the hacienda. He said the owner didn’t help in the improvement of agriculture, in
the celebration of the town fiesta, in the education of the children, and that the profit of the
hacienda increased due to the increased rentals  In March 1888, a manifesto was sent to the
governor-general to petition the ouster of Spanish friars from the Philippines. It was
considered as the first public reaction to the Noli Me, Tangere. The manifesto was regarded
by Spanish authorities as subversive and anti-clerical and the 28 people who signed it were
jailed and punished. The manifesto was also debated in the Senate of Spain and all of the
legislators agreed to the action done by the Spanish authorities in the Philippines.

II. Reasons of Jose Rizal’s travel to Europe

The friars became furious to Jose Rizal because of the Noli Me Tangere and his petition
regarding the grievances of Calamba people and tenants. They lobbied for the confiscation and
prohibition of the Noli and the consequent arrest of Jose Rizal. In order to avoid persecution, Paciano
and Narcisa Rizal convinced Jose to go out of the country. Through the help of some of his family
members, Rizal left the Philippines in February, 1888.

III. Jose Rizal in Hong Kong, Macau and Japan

Jose Rizal reached Hong Kong on February 08, 1888 and boarded in the house of Jose Maria
Basa. After visiting Hong Kong, he left and visited Macau then left for Japan. In Japan, Rizal studied the
habits and customs of the Japanese people, their language, theaters and commerce.He wrote
Blumentritt about the honesty, courtesy, cleanliness and industry of the Japanese people. However, he
also expressed his disgust on the use of the man drawn jinrikisha. Rizal met Usui Seiko [O Sei-san] They
had love affair but it was short lived. On April 13, 1888, Rizal left Yokohama for San Francisco, on board
the Belgic.

IV. Jose Rizal in U.S.A.

Jose Rizal allotted three weeks to tour around U.S. but it was not followed because he was
quarantined for eight days in San Francisco for the custom officials refused to admit the 800 Chinese on
board the ship. He was not greatly impressed of the U.S. and he noted the prevalence of rampant
discrimination especially to the Chinese and ‘negro’. From New York, he boarded the ship City of Rome
and reached Liverpool, on May, 24, 1888. From there, he went to England.

IV. Jose Rizal in England

While in England, Jose Rizal started to work in the British Museum Library for the annotation of
Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas [Events in the Philipines 1609] wherein he refuted the
accusations of prejudiced Spanish writers against Filipinos Presented the 16th century Filipino culture
and showed that Filipinos had developed culture even before the coming of the Spaniards.
While completing his annotation to the Sucesos, he also began writing the El Filibusterismo, the
sequel of the Noli Me Tangere. On December 1888, Filipinos in Barcelona, Spain organized and founded
the La Solidaridad. The publication of the newspaper started on Feb 1889. Jose Rizal was in London but
was elected as the honorary president of the organization. The organization through the La Solidaridad
demanded for reforms and the assimilation of Philippines to Spain. Jose Rizal continued to contribute
articles in the La Solidaridad such as ‘The Philippines: A century hence’ and ‘To the Young Women of
Malolos’.

VI. El Filibusterismo
Jose Rizal finished the El Filibusterismo in 1891 in Ghent, Belgium. It is a sequel to the Noli Me
Tangere and was dedicated to the Gomburza. But due to lack of money, Rizal almost decided not to
publish it. Fortunately for him he got financial help from Valentin Ventura who lent him money for the
printing of the novel.

VII. El Filibusterismo
Jose Rizal went to Hong Kong to meet his family in December 1891. He expressed to them his
plan to establish a colony in Borneo to be free from the Spaniards but it his family members did not
approve it.
He put up a clinic in Hong Kong and became known as ‘Spanish doctor’. In June 21, 1892,
together with his sister Lucia sailed back to Manila. When they arrived in Manila, authorities who
searched their luggage claimed that his sister carried with her seditious writings under her pillow case.
The package included copies of a tract called “The Poor Friars - a caustic attack on the Dominicans.
Lesson 6

Jose Rizal’s La Liga Filipina and hid Exile in Dapitan

I. Establishment of the La Liga Filipina

On July 03, 1892, Jose Rizal and other nationalists and masons likeApolinarioMabini, Deodato
Arellano and Andres Bonifacio, gathered in the house of DoroteoOngjunco, a Chinese mestizoin
KalyeYlaya, Tondo, Manila for the establishment of the La Liga Filipina.
Jose Rizal started writing the La Liga Filipina’s constitution in Hong Kong. The constitution
embodies the organizational structure or blue print of the society.
 Aims of the La Liga Filipina
 To unite the whole archipelago into one compact, vigorous, and homogenous body;  Mutual
protection in every want and necessity;
 Defense against all violence and injustice;
 Encouragement of instruction, agriculture, and commerce; and
 Study and application of reforms

II. Disbandment of the La Liga Filipina

The Spanish authorities were so alarmed and considered the La Liga dangerous so they secretly
arrested Rizal on the night of July 6, 1892. After the arrest of Jose Rizal, the La Liga became inactive.
Through the efforts of some of its members it was reorganized. However, the society was split into two
different paths – reform and revolution. As Constantino (1975) puts it:
“At first the Liga was quite active. Bonifacio in particular exerted great efforts to organize
chapters in various districts of Manila. A few months later, however, the Supreme Council of the Liga
dissolved the society. The reformist leaders found out that most of the popular councils which Bonifacio
had organized were no longer willing to send funds to the Madrid propagandists because, like Bonifacio,
they had become convinced that peaceful agitation for reforms was futile. Afraid that the more radical
rank and file members might capture the organization and unwilling to involve themselves in an
enterprise which would surely invite reprisals from the authorities, the leaders of the Liga opted for
dissolution. The Liga membership split into two groups: the conservatives formed the Cuerpo de
Compromisarios which pledged to continue supporting the La Solidaridad while the radicals led by
Bonifacio devoted themselves to a new and secret society, the Katipunan, which Bonifacio had
organized on the very day Rizal was deported to Dapitan.”

III. Significance of the La Liga Filipina

 According to Renato Constantino (1975)
The La Liga Filipina “constituted a forward step in the reformist ideas of the times in the sense
that the new group [La Liga] sought to involve the people directly in the reform movement. Many
elements of society who were anxious for change were attracted to the Liga…”
 According to TeodoroAgoncillo (1990)
The La LigaFilpina is “a civic society” which embodies Jose Rizal’s vision for the betterment of
the Philippines.
 According to Floro C.Quibuyen (1999)
The La Liga Filipina is a society that aims to establish an independent and free nation. A nation
whose membership is not through blood but through cultural and moral sentiments that all
members share and embody
III. Jose Rizal in Dapitan
Jose Rizal by the order of the governor-general, was exiled to Dapitan, a remote place in
Zamboanga del Norte. On July 17, 1892, Jose Rizal reached Dapitan boarding the boat Cebu.He was
loved by the people of Dapitan because of the way he treated and cared for them.

 Jose Rizal as a Teacher

Jose Rizal put up a school which accommodated seventeen boys who were sons for the
most part of leading citizens of Dapitan. Formal classes were conducted between two and five
o'clock, he sat in a hammock, while the boys sat on a long bamboo bench. Jose Rizal taught his
students arithmetic, geometry, English and Spanish. In one day,Rizal requires them to speak only
English; on the next day, only Spanish. If any boy forgot and spoke the wrong language he had to
wear rattan handcuffs. The best student was called "emperor" and sat at the head of the bench.
The poorest sat at the foot, and had to jump, dance, and take exercises before the others. This
system was similar to the one he experienced in Ateneo Municipal. Another subject in Rizal’s
school was the "Nature study"wherein his students helped him collect specimens of flowers,
shells, insects, and reptiles. A large number of collection of shells, snakes and insects collected
by Jose Rizal and his students are housed in the Manila Jesuit Museum.

 Jose Rizal as a Doctor

Jose Rizal spent many months draining swamps to get rid of the malaria which infested
the region. He cared for the sick of Dapitan without ever accepting a fee. News about him
traveled fast and people from distant areas came to him for consultation and treatment, and
these he charged according to their financial capacity.

 Jose Rizal as a Scientist

Rizal found Mindanao a wonderful field for collecting specimens. Using his canoe, he
explored the coast, seeking specimens of shells, bugs, and new varieties of plants. He also
wrote to his friend Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt articles about the ethnography of the Philippines
and a detailed map of Mindanao. Rizal sent over four hundred articles of scientific value and
many specimens of animals, insects, and plants for identification to the Anthropological and
Ethnographical Museum of Dresden. He did not receive any monetary payment. He wanted in
exchange were scientific books, magazines and surgical instruments which he needed and used
in Dapitan. Rizal discovered some rare specimens which were named in his honor by the
scientists. Among these were Draco rizali (a flying dragon), Apogoniarizali (a small beetle), and
Rhacophorusrizali (a rare frog)

 Jose Rizal as a Community Organizer

Jose Rizal envisioned the establishment of the ‘New Calamba’ in Dapitan. Jose Rizal with
the help of Father Pastells ‘remade’the town plaza. He made a relief map of Mindanao outside
the town’s church. He directed the construction of a water system for Dapitan. He spent most of
his winnings in the lottery (6,000 pesos) for the improvement of Dapitan. He installedlamps for
the Dapitan streets from the money (500 pesos) he was paid for having successfully removed an
Englishman’s cataracts. He put up a hospital which was located opposite the house where he
dwelt.
 Jose Rizal as a Poet
Jose Rizal in his letter to Blumentritt, stated that he was working on a grammar of the
Tagalog language. His life experiences in Dapitan had inspired him to write poems.

 A Don Ricardo Carcinero.He wrote this poem in honor of Commandant Carcinero who became
his good friend.

 Hymn to the Talisay Tree. He wrote a poem in honor of his place which was named after the
tree. He also dedicated this poem to his students in Dapitan and made them sing it. (Read the
poem in http://joserizal.nhcp.gov.ph/Biography/man_and_martyr/chapter14. htm)

 MiRetiro. It is a poem wrote by Jose Rizal for his mother. It also expressed Jose Rizal’s serene
life and his acceptance of his destiny and whatever justice will be given him. (Read the poem in:
http://www.joserizal.com/mi-retiro/#sthash.MFtvUABF.dpuf ;
http://joserizal.nhcp.gov.ph/Writings/Poetry/poetry.lwp.htm)

III. Jose Rizal and Josephine Bracken

Jose Rizal and Josephine Leopoldine Bracken met when an American engineer named George
Taufer who was based in Hong Kong came to Dapitan for his cataracts to be treated by Jose Rizal.
Josephine was his adopted daughter. Accompanying them was Manuela Orlac, a Filipina who was on
intimate terms with a canon in the Manila Cathedral. Rizal found Josephine who was then 18 years old
extremely attractive. He described her as not highly educated, but was quick, witty, and eager to hear all
he had to say. Every time they met, Josephine seemed more in love with Jose Rizal. Within a month they
were engaged to be married, and asked Father Obach, the Dapitan priest, to marry them. However, they
were not married because the priest needed the sanction of the bishop of Cebu before he could marry
them and Jose Rizal’s family especially his mother was against it. Rizal’s family was suspicious of
Josephine Bracken due to her ‘cloudy’ origins and dubious company. They were convinced that she was
sent there to spy on him. However, there is no written evidence that Josephine was being used by
anyone to spy on Jose Rizal. Jose Rizal also became suspicious at first of Josephine as a spy, but found no
reason to continue his suspicion. Rizal tried relentlessly to persuade his family to accept Josephine
Bracken. Despite not being married, they spent their days in Dapitan in each other’s arms. Their love
affair has brought them a baby boy but unfortunately died a few hours after his birth.

IV. Jose Rizal and the Katipunan

In May 1896, Andres Bonifacio sent Dr. PioValezuela for an advice about the revolution. Rizal
refused to be rescued by the Katipunan and advised them to prepare first by means of acquiring
sufficient arms and ammunitions and securing the loyalty and support of the principalias or middle
classes.

V. Departure from Dapitan

In May 1896, Andres Bonifacio sent Dr. PioValezuela for an advice about the revolution. Rizal
refused to be rescued by the Katipunan and advised them to prepare first by means of acquiring
sufficient arms and ammunitions and securing the loyalty and support of the principalias or middle
classes.
On October 06, 1896, Jose Rizal was arrested for being implicated in the revolution and was sent
back to Manila and detained in Fort Santiago.
Lesson 7
Trial and Martyrdom of Jose Rizal
I. Timeline of Jose Rizal’s arrest, trial and martyrdom*
 August 1, 1896: Rizal bade farewell to the Dapitan students and neighbors, and sailed for
Manila with his wifeand sister.
 August 5, 1896: Andres Bonifacio prepared to save him. Emilio Jacinto and others, disguised as
sailors, went to the S. S. España on a launch. Jacinto started to swab down the deck until he had
a chance to speak to Rizal alone. Rizal refused to escape.
 September 3, 1896: Bearing letters of introduction from the Governor-General to the
Secretaries of War and Foreign Affairs in Spain, he departed for Barcelona. An attempt was
made to rescue Jose Rizalby Pedro B. Roxas, a fellow Filipinopassenger, and CaptainCamus,
while he was in Singapore bound for Spain

 October 6, 1896:
3:00 AM: On his 4th day of being held in his cabin at the MV Isla de Panay docked at Barcelona,
Spain on his way to Cuba, Rizal was awakened to be brought to Montjuic Prison in Barcelona,
Spain.
2:00 PM: Interview with General EulogioDespujol
8:00 PM: Aboard the Colon, Rizal left Barcelona for Manila. Another attempt was made to
rescue Jose Rizal by Dr. Antonio Regidor, Sixto Lopez when he was in Singapore going back to
the Philippines. The attempt was unsuccessful.

 November 3, 1896: Rizal was brought to Fort Santiago, where other patriots, including his
brother Paciano, were being tortured to implicate him. Paciano refused to sign anything despite
his body beingbroken and his left hand crushed.
 November 20, 1896: Preliminary investigation began with Rizal appearing before Judge
Advocate Colonel Francisco Olive. The investigation lasted five days.
 November 26, 1896: The records of the case were handed over to Governor-General Ramon
Blanco who then appointed Captain Rafael Dominguez as special Judge Advocate.
 December 8, 1896: From a list submitted to him by the authorities, he chose the brother of his
friend, Lt. Luis Taviel de Andrade to become his trial lawyer. He was only made to choose
among army officers and not a civilian lawyer.
 December 11, 1896: In his prison cell, Rizal was read the charges against him: “principal
organizer and the living soul of the Filipino insurrection, the founder of societies, periodicals and
books dedicated to fomenting and propagating the ideas of rebellion” [for the crime of having
founded illicit associations and for having incited and promoted rebellion].
 December 13, 1896: Ramon Blanco was replaced by Camilo de Polavieja, a more ruthless
character, as Governor-General of the Philippines. Dominguez submitted the papers of the Rizal
case to Malacañan Palace.
 December 15, 1896: Rizal issued his manifesto to certain Filipinos calling to end the “absurd”
rebellion and to fight for liberties with education as a prerequisite. The authorities suppressed
the manifesto.
 December 25, 1896: Rizal’s saddest Christmas, away from family and friends

 December 26, 1896:

 8:00 AM: Trial of Rizal began at the Cuartel de España. On the same day, the courtmartial
secretly and unanimously voted for a guilty verdict with the penalty of death before a firing
squad.
 December 28, 1896: Governor-General Camilo de Polavieja signs the death verdict.

 December 29, 1896:

6:00 AM: Rizal was read his verdict by Captain Rafael Dominguez: To be shot the next day at
7:00 AM at the Luneta de Bagumbayan (Rizal Park).
7:00 AM: Rizal was transferred to the chapel cell adorned by religious images to convince him
to go back to the Catholic fold. His first visitors were Jesuit priests Fathers Miguel Saderra Mata
and Fr. Luis Viza.
7:15 AM: After Fr. Saderra left, Rizal asked Fr. Viza for the Sacred Heart statuette which he
carved when he was an Ateneo student. From his pocket the statuette appears.
8:00 AM: Fr. Viza was relieved by Fr. Antonio Rosell who joined Rizal for breakfast. Lt. Luis
Taviel de Andrade joins them.
9:00 AM: Fr. Federico Faura, who once said that Rizal would lose his head for writing the Noli
Me Tangere, arrived. Rizal told him, “Father you are indeed a prophet.”
10:00 AM: Fathers José Vilaclara and Vicente Balaguer visited Rizal, followed by a Spanish
journalist, Santiago Mataix of El Heraldo de Madrid, for an interview.
12:00-3:30 PM: Rizal’s time alone in his cell. He had lunch, wrote letters and probably wrote his
last poem of 14 stanzas which he wrote in his flowing handwriting in a very small piece of paper.
He hid it inside his alcohol stove. The untitled poem was later known as Mi Ultimo Adios (My
Last Farewell). In its second stanza, he already praised the revolutionaries in the battlefield for
giving their lives “without doubt, without gloom.”
3:30 PM: Fr. Balaguer visits again and, according to him, talks to Rizal about retracting his anti-
Catholic writings and his being a mason.
4:00 PM: Visit of Rizal’s mother, Teodora Alonso. Then Rizal’s sister Trinidad entered to get her
mother and Rizal whispered to her in English referring to the alcohol stove, “There is something
inside.” They were also accompanied by Narcisa, Lucia, Josefa, Maria and son Mauricio Cruz.
Leoncio Lopez Rizal, Narcisa’s elevenyear-old son, was not allowed to enter the cell. While
leaving for their carriages, an official handed over the alcohol stove to Narcisa. After their visit,
Fathers Vilaclara and Estanislao March returned to the cell followed by Father Rosell.
6:00 PM: Rizal was visited by the Dean of the Manila Cathedral, Don Silvino Lopez Tuñon.
Fathers Balaguer and March left Father Vilaclara to be with the two.
8:00 PM: Rizal’s last supper where he informed Captain Dominguez that he already forgave
those who condemned him.
9:30 PM: Rizal was visited by the fiscal of the Royal Audiencia of Manila, Don Gaspar Cestaño
with whom Rizal offered the best chair of the cell. According to accounts, the fiscal left with “a
good impression of Rizal’s intelligence and noble character.”

 December 30, 1896:

3:00 AM: According to Father Balaguer’s account, Rizal asked to have confession, hear mass and
be given Holy Communion. Allegedly he also signed the document retracting his anti-Catholic
writings and his membership in masonry. This series of events is still a contentious issue among
Rizal experts.
5:30 AM: Rizal took his last meal. According to stories told to Narcisa by Lt. Luis Taviel de
Andrade, Rizal threw some eggs in the corner of a cell for the “poor rats,” “Let them have their
fiesta too.” Rizal also wrote to his family and to his brother.
5:30 AM: Teary-eyed Josephine Bracken and Josefa Rizal came. Josephine was gifted by Rizal
with the classic Thomas á Kempis book Imitations of Christ in which he inscribed, “To my dear
and unhappy wife, Josephine, December 30th, 1896, Jose Rizal.” They embraced for the last
time.
6:00 AM: Rizal wrote to his father, Francisco Mercado “My beloved Father, Pardon me for the
pain with which I repay you for sorrows and sacrifices for my education. I did not want nor did I
prefer it. Goodbye, Father, goodbye… Jose Rizal.” To his mother, he had only these words, “To
my very dear Mother, Sra. Doña Teodora Alonso 6 o’clock in the morning, December 30, 1896.
Jose Rizal.”
6:30 AM: Death march from Fort Santiago to Bagumbayan begins. Four soldiers with
bayoneted rifles lead the procession followed by Rizal, Taviel de Andrade, Fathers Vilaclara and
March and other soldiers. They passed by the Intramuros plaza, then turned right to the Postigo
gate then left at Malecon, the bayside road now known as Bonifacio Drive.
7:00 AM: Rizal, after arriving on the execution site at the Luneta de Bagumbayan, was checked
with his pulse by Dr. Felipe Ruiz Castillo. It was perfectly normal. Rizal once wrote, “I wish to
 show those who deny us patriotism that we know how to die for our duty and our convictions.”
“Preparen.” “Apunten.” Rizal shouted, “Consummatum est.” It is done.
7:03 AM: With the captain shouting “Fuego!” Shouts rang out from the guns of eight indio
soldiers. Rizal, being a convicted criminal was not facing the firing squad. As he was hit, he
resists and turns himself to face his executors. He falls down, and dies facing the sky. The
Spaniards shouted “Viva España! Muerte a los traidores!”
But in two years, the victorious Philippine revolutionaries will seal the fate of the Spanish Empire
in the east. Three hundred thirty three years of Spanish Colonialism ended in 1898.

 December 30, 1896, afternoon: Narcisa, after a long search, discovered where her brother’s
body was secretly buried, at the old unused Paco Cemetery. She asked the guards to place a
marble plaque designed by DoroteoOngjungco containing Rizal’s initials in reverse—“RPJ”.

II. Reactions to the Passage of Rizal Law

At present, the passage of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012
(Republic Act No. 10354) or popularly known as the R.H. Law was probably one of the most
controversial laws passed due to the opposing reactions of Filipinos to its passage. There were
that anti and pro RH Law who rallied for or against its implementation. Half a century ago,
similar thing happened to the Rizal Law. According to the historian Ambeth Ocampo (1990), the
debate was so intense that it ended in a fist fight between two hot –headed lawmakers. The
strongest opposition came from the Catholic Church, arguing that the law would violate the
freedom of conscience and religion. They argued that “Rizal violated the Church’s laws
specifically Canon Law 1399, which forbids books that attack or ridicule any of the catholic
dogmas or which defend errors condemned by the Holy See.”
They also argued that only 25 passages of the Noli Me Tangere were patriotic as compared to the 120
passages that were anti-catholic. Furthermore, they pointed out that Rizal retracted his ‘attacks’ on the
Catholic Church before he was executed. They maintained that Filipinos could still venerate him as a
national hero even without reading the two novels and that Filipino students could read other works
done by Rizal instead of the two Novels. The Catholic Church’ opposition went up to the extent of
threatening religious sanctions to all the supporters of the law. A bishop wrote a letter to Rafael Palma a
biographer of Rizal, saying that “we prohibit under the pain of sin and canonical sanctions the reading,
keeping or retention of the same [Noli and El Fili] whether in original or in translation in the Archdiocese
of Manila and Cebu.”

Read the full text of the CBCP’s statement opposing the Rizal Law in the following website:
http://www.cbcponline.net/documents/1950s/1956-novels_of_rizal.html

Among the prominent ‘defenders’ of Rizal Law was Sen. Claro M. Recto who was the author of the law
and fought hard for its passage despite the threat of losing votes and religious sanctions. He assailed the
people who opposed the law by saying that fighting against the law is like fighting Rizal and attempting
to “blot out his memory”. The supporters of the bill maintained that law would uplift Filipino sense of
identity and nationalism especially during that time when Filipino sense of identity and nationalism was
dwindling and the prevalence of American neocolonialism in the Philippines.

After long and divisive debates, the Rizal Law was passed with certain provisions that served as
compromise between two opposing sides. One of these compromises is the exemption given to those
who feel that their faith is damaged by reading of Rizal’s novels provided, that they file a sworn
statement stating as such as stated in Sec. 1o f the Rizal Law.

III. Jose Rizal and the 1896 Philippine Revolution

One of the most debated topics about Jose Rizal up to this day is his role or ‘participation’ in the
1896 Philippine revolution. Each side of the debate presents their arguments and evidence to prove
what was [if there was] Rizal’s role or participation in the revolution. Despite not reaching a conclusion
yet, the following facts are recognized as ‘factual and true’ by both sides:
1. Jose Rizal’s name was used as one of the passwords of the Katipunan, his portrait was hanged in the
meeting places of the Katipunan and his name was shouted in the battlefield.
2. The Katipunan through Pio Valenzuela heeded the advice of Jose Rizal regarding the planned
rebellion.
3. The Katipunan made two attempts to rescue Jose Rizal: while he was in Dapitan and when Rizal was
bound to Spain to go to Cuba.
4. Jose Rizal’s family members - his ‘wife’ Josephine Bracken, his brother Paciano Rizal and his sister
Trining joined the Katipunan.
5. Andres Bonifacio, the founder of Katipunan made a Tagalog translation of Jose Rizal’s last poem [‘Mi
Ultimo Adios] together with his other works which had inspired the revolutionaries [Ileto, 1979 in
Quibuyen, 1997] Jose Rizal in his last poem [‘Mi Ultimo Adios’] praised the revolutionaries for giving
their lives ‘without doubt’ and without gloom’

IV. Jose Rizal and the 1896 Philippine Revolution

The last poem written by Jose Rizal was untitled and undated. The title ‘Mi Ultimo Adios’ was given by
Mariano Ponce. It was believed to have written by Rizal on December 29, 1896 while he was alone in his
prison cell. Rizal hid it in an alcohol stove/burner. It is a 14-stanza poem and is considered as Jose Rizal’s
best poem. It was folded so many times when it was hidden in the lamparilla. Rizal’s sisters had to
unfold it delicately with their hairpins. The original manuscript has writing on both sides of the paper
which measured 9.5 x 15 cm.

Lesson 8

The Novels of Jose Rizal

I. The Rizal Law

The novels of Jose Rizal were so powerful that they served as eye-opener for Filipinos and
Spaniards on the social ills and defects perpetuated by Spanish authorities and clergies and imbibed by
some Filipinos. The novels reflected the social conditions of the Philippines at that time. Though it must
be noted that these novels particularly the Noli and El Fili were written in Spanish and their publication
and circulation were prohibited and punishable by the law, Jose Rizal through these novels had inspired
the revolution that ended more than three centuries of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. He also
expressed his views and ideas about the Philippine society and its people. His unfinished third novel was
another attempt to expose the social ills and defects he had observed plaguing the Philippines.

II. Noli Me Tangere

It was published in 1887 in Berlin, Germany through the financial aid from Maximo Viola. The
title means “Touch Me Not”. It is a Latin version of words spoken by Jesus in Mary Magdalene after the
resurrection (John 20:13-17). The original English translation is ‘The Social Cancer’. In the introduction,
Jose Rizal dedicated the novel to the Philippines [‘fatherland’] hoping that by exposing the social cancer,
reforms will be granted for its improvement. It was written in Spanish which intended to raise political
consciousness in relation to the current state of affairs in the Philippines. Jose Rizal hoped that through
this novel, Spain the mother country will be aware of the conditions of the Philippines and grant her the
needed reforms for the betterment and progress of the country and its people.

Thoughts and ideas of Jose Rizal in the novel

1. Social cancer
Jose Rizal referred to the social cancer as the abuses and injustices committed by the
Spanish authorities and clergies and the defects of Filipinos (See the Introduction of the Noli Me
Tangere) which constituted the prevailing social conditions of that time. The ‘flaws’ in the main
characters of the novel reflect the traits of Spanish authorities and clergies and the Filipinos who
have imbibed and/or assimilated these ‘defects’ cause and perpetuated by the Spanish colonial
regime.
2. Jose Rizal viewed the friars as the major cause of the social cancer.
Jose Rizal emphasized in the novel that the friars hindered the attainment of progress,
justice and reforms in the Philippines. The country became stagnant and backward because the
friars controlled almost every aspect of the Filipinos (this could also be inferred in his essay on
the ‘On the Indolence of the Filipinos’). Rizal also exposed the power and influence of the friars
that they were the ones who practically ran the government. He also showed the power struggle
between the Spanish civil authorities and Spanish clergies.
 3. Jose Rizal criticized religious fanaticism of Filipinos.
The Noli Me Tangere portrayed the religious fanaticism of Filipino through the mindless
religiosity exhibited by main characters in the novel. The Spanish clergies were blamed as the
perpetrators of religious fanaticism.
4. Jose Rizal emphasized that education is a prerequisite of reform, progress and social change.
Rizal emphasized through the character of Crisostomo Ibarra how education would
bring about progress and social change. In the novel Ibarra planned to establish a school that
will educate the Filipinos but was not realized due to the opposition of Spanish clergies who had
personal grudge on him.
III. El Filibusterismo

It was published in 1891 in Brussels, Belgium through the financial aid from Valentin Ventura.
The title was derived from the word filibustero a word which according to Jose Rizal was little known by
the Filipinos at that time and that the educated class feared the reach of the word. This word was also
used by the Spanish authorities to refer to a revolutionary person. Rizal further defined filibustero as a
dangerous patriot who will soon be hanged or a presumptuous man. Jose Rizal dedicated the novel to
the GOMBURZA –the three priests who were executed in Bagumbayan for being implicated in the Cavity
Mutiny in 1872. Like the Noli Me Tangere, it was written in Spanish and intended to raise political
consciousness in relation to the state of affairs in the Philippines observed by Rizal. The theme of the El
Filibusterismo focuses on revolution as an alternative solution to reforms that failed to create significant
change in the country. However, Jose Rizal also emphasized the danger of a revolution that is built upon
hatred and vengeance or personal vendetta.

Thoughts and ideas of Jose Rizal in the novel

1. Jose Rizal’s thoughts of how justice must be attained

Jose Rizal through the characters of Kabesang Tales and Simoun discussed the moral
issues in attaining justice especially when the injustices were committed by Spanish
authorities.

2. Revolution as an alternative to reform

Jose Rizal discussed the alternatives for the Philippines and Filipinos in the debate
between Simoun andBasilio about reform and revolution. Simoun tried to convince Basilio
that revolution is the only way to attain independence and progress. Basilio remained naïve
andmaintained that social change could be achieved through the reforms that Spain will
grant the Philippines. He was hoping to alleviate the physical ills of the Filipinos and live his
own life and fulfill his ambition of becoming a doctor.

Jose Rizal posited that rebellion or revolution that will topple the Spanish colonial
regime could be an alternative for the failure of reforms coming from Spain. The failure of
the rebellion was attributed not on the idea of rebellion as a means of social change but on
the motives and qualities of the people who supported and perpetrated the rebellion.

3. Qualities that a leader of social change must possess

Jose Rizal might be advocating rebellion as a means of social change but killed Simoun -
the main character that instigated rebellion against the Spanish authorities. Historians and
Rizal scholars inferred that Simoun was killed in the novel for he was not worthy to lead the
rebellion. It was pointed out that though the motive of rebellion is noble and justified (social
transformation), Simoun’s objectives were personal hatred and vengeance for the injustices
committed to him and to his family and loved ones. Simoun manipulated others to get his
vengeance.

The failure of revolution was further explained by Rizal through the character of
FatherFlorentino who stressed the importance of education, justice and morality in the
attainment of freedom.

4. The defects of the Spanish colonial regime and the Filipino people
Jose Rizal did not only focus on the evils of the Spanish authorities and clergies but also
the defects of the Filipino people. Rizal pointed out through the characters in the novel such
as those of Doña Victorina, Basilio, Simounand Kabesang Tales how Filipinos have imbibed
these defects brought about by the Spanish colonial regime.

III. Etikang Tagalog/Makamisa

 It is considered as the third and unfinished novel of Jose Rizal. It is believed that Rizal started
writing this in 1892 while he was in Hong Kong. The manuscript was first compiled under the drafts of
the Noli Me Tangere and was only discovered in 1987 by Prof. AmbethOcampo. ‘Makamisa’ is the title
given by Prof. AmbethOcampo who wrote the English translation of the novel. ‘Etikang Tagalog’ is the
title given by Dr. NiloOcampo who wrote the Tagalog translation of the novel.
The third novel is considered as more anti-clerical, satirical and humorous compared to the Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Jose Rizal began writing the novel in the Tagalog language and
dedicated this to the Filipinos. However, Rizal experienced difficulty in writing in Tagalog so he
continued writing it in Spanish.Rizal tried not to deal with politics in the novel and concentrated on the
qualities and defects of the Spanish clergies embodied by the character of Padre Agaton and of the
Filipinos.

Thoughts and ideas of Jose Rizal in the novel

1. The ‘defects’ of the Spanish clergies and the Filipinos
Jose Rizal exposed in the novel the qualities and defects of the Spanish clergies and the
Filipinos. The novel revolves around the qualities of Padre Agaton and his actions during and
after officiating a Sunday mass. The novel attempts to portray how the lives of the town
folks were affected by Padre Agaton (a Spanish friar). Rizal also portrayed the religious
fanaticism which the Filipinos had imbibed from the Spanish clergies.

Lesson 9
Selected Essays and Poems of Dr. Jose Rizal

I. Selected Essays of Jose Rizal

Three of Dr. Jose Rizal’s essays – The Philippines: A Century Hence, On the Indolence of the
Filipino and To the Young Women of Malolos contain his ideas and thoughts about the prevailing
conditions of the Philippines under the Spanish colonial regime. He emphasized through these works the
pervasive effects of colonization to the Philippines and Filipinos and how could these be addressed or
redressed. Rizal also used history as an effective tool to analyze the prevailing social conditions in the
Philippines; to rectify the errors and misconceptions on the Filipinos insinuated by the Spaniards; and to
present the probable situations that will happen in the Philippines.

A. The Philippines: A Century Hence

It is originally entitled “Filipinas dentro de cien años” and was published in the periodical La
Solidaridad in four installments from 30 September 1889 to 31 January 1890. Through this essay,
Rizal broaches the most basic question, “Will the Philippines continue to be a colony of Spain?” He
exposed the reasons for the failure of Spain to uplift the Philippine economic and social conditions
and projected the probable condition of the Philippines. Rizal presented a historical analysis of the
prevailing social, economic and political conditions of the Philippines using a tripartite view of the
country’s history. In this essay, he showed the importance of studying history in understanding and
analyzing the present conditions of the society and ‘predict’ possible stituations that would happen
within a century. It is important to note that Jose Rizal in this essay and other works such as On The
Indolence of the Filipino and his Annotation of Antonio de Morga’s Succesos de las Islas Filipinas
that he asserted that Filipinos have their own culture and history before the Spanish conquest.

B. On the Indolence of the Filipino

It was originally entitled “La Indolencia de los Filipinos” and was published in the periodical La
Solidaridad in five installments from July 15 to September 15, 1890. It’s a response of Jose Rizal to
the accusation of Spaniards that the indios (Filipinos) were indolent.
Contents:
Part I. Introduction
 Rizal defined the idea of indolence. He criticized that in the Philippines indolence is
blamed for shortcomings and misdeeds of a person. He argued that indolence is not the
cause of backwardness and trouble but the effect of trouble and backwardness.
 Jose Rizal admitted that Filipinos have the predisposition of laziness but he attributed
this to the tropical climate of the Philippines. He maintained that indolence is natural
and claimed that the Spaniards and other Europeans were more indolent for they use
climate as a reason for them not to work as hard as the natives in their colonies. They
 use the natives to do their work and enjoy their position and manipulation of the
situation.
Part II and III
 Rizal asserted that the indolence of the Filipinos is a chronic malady [illness] but it is not
hereditary, for Filipinos have not always been indolent. He used several accounts which
prove that Filipinos before the colonization of Spain were virtuous and industrious.

Part III
 In this part, Jose Rizal explained the reasons for the indolence of the Filipinos or the
“abandonment of industry, agriculture and commerce” by citing repressive policies
implemented by the Spanish authorities. He concluded that the Filipinos became
indolent because they didn’t benefit from their hard works.

Part IV
 In this part, Jose Rizal explained the conditions that foster/encourage and sustain the
indolence of the Filipinos. He explained thet these conditions had made the Filipinos
hopeless and uncertain of their future. Having no reason and motivation to work, he
remained inactive, unproductive and indolent.

Part V
 In this part, Jose Rizal explained the reasons of the indolence of the Filipinos which
emanates from them but was perpetrated by the Spaniards. He also explained the
causes and effects of the lack of national sentiments of Filipinos arguing that due to the
lack of national sentiment and the prevailing social conditions in the Philippines that
causes great hardships and miseries, the Filipinos lost their hope and motivation to work
and became indolent. For Jose Rizal indolence of the Filipinos and the backwardness of
the Philippines were caused by the Spaniards.
C. To the Young Women of Malolos
It is a letter written by Dr. Jose Rizal in December, 1888 to the young women of Malolos in
response to the request of Marcelo H. Del Pilar after learning that a group of twenty young women in
Malolos petitioned the Governor-general to open a ‘night school’ to study Spanish language. This was
unheard of in the Philippines during those times and had caused a stir in the country and in Spain. The
petition was opposed by the parish priest thus it was turned down by the Governor. The young women
of Malolos persisted until they were allowed. The school lasted for three months.
Jose Rizal also explained in this essay the important role of women in the society and the
qualities of his ideal women. He gave advice to the women of Malolos about the qualities of men that
they should look for. In this essay, Rizal stated his bcriticisms on religious and Spanish clergies.

II. Selected Poems of Jose Rizal

A. To My Fellow Children
It is a Tagalog poem written allegedly by Jose Rizal when he was 8 years old.[Up to this day,
the authorship is still debated.] Whether or not it was written by Jose Rizal, the poem had inspired
nationalism among Filipinos.
Ideas of Jose Rizal:
1. Love of one’s language
2. The Tagalog language was equated by Jose Rizal to other languages like the Spanish, English and
Latin.
B. To the Filipino Youth
It is a poem submitted by Jose Rizal to a poetry contest which had been organized for Filipinos
by the Manila Lyceum of Art and Literature in 1879. He won the first prize and received a silver pen.

In this poem, Rizal challenged the youth to study, and develop their full potential for they are the
fair hope of our motherland. They should be able to think and act independently, seek solutions
from within themselves for the betterment of the country.

C. To the Flowers of Heidelberg

This poem was written by Jose Rizal in August, 1886 while he was in Germany studying
techniques of eye operations. He was fascinated by the flowers in spring in Heidelberg and wrote
this poem with a feeling of deep longing for his family and his country. This poem reflects Rizal’s
hopes for the betterment of the country and the lives of the Filipinos.

D. MiRetiro
 It is a poem written by Jose Rizal for his mother which expressed Jose Rizal’s serene life in
Dapitan. This poem shows Rizal’s acceptance of his destiny and whatever justice will be given him.

E. ‘Mi Ultimo Adios’

It is an untitled and undated poem written by Jose Rizal.This poem expresses Jose Rizal’s
undying love for the Philippines and his loved ones. He reiterated that dying for one’s conviction and
for the country is a great honor.

Lesson 10

I. Jose Rizal and the Selection of Philippine National Hero

Of the countless great men and women in our country’s history, Jose Rizal was considered and
venerated as the national hero, thus becoming more special and valuable than other heroes. To
have an clear understanding of this, it is helpful to read the executive summary of the SELECTION
AND PROCLAMATION OF NATIONAL HEROES AND LAWS HONORING FILIPINO HISTORICAL FIGURES
from the Reference and Research Bureau Legislative Research Service, House of Congress which
could be accessed at http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/cultureprofile/culture-
profile-nationalhero.php. This document is prepared by the National Heroes committee which
states the following:
 No law or any legislation has been issued or enacted which proclaims any Filipino historical
figure as the national hero but there are laws enacted in order to honor the significant
contributions of these heroes to nation-building
 Jose Rizal was not explicitly proclaimed as national hero, but his position as the national hero is
a tribute to the continued veneration and acclamation of the Filipinos.
 Andres Bonifacio is also given an implied recognition as the national hero aside from Jose Rizal.
 Heroes need not be recognized through legislation, but are still revered, appreciated and
acclaimed for their contributions to Philippine history.
 Criteria for National Heroes
1. Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the
nation’s freedom.
2. Heroes are those who define and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order for the
nation.
3. Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation.

 Additional criteria for Heroes

1. A hero is part of the people’s expression.
2. A hero thinks of the future, especially the future generations.
3. The choice of a hero involves not only the recounting of an episode or events in history, but of
the entire process that made this particular person a hero.

 Historical Figures Recommended as National Heroes:

a. Jose Rizal
b. Andres Bonifacio
c. Emilio Aguinaldo
d. ApolinarioMabini
 e. Marcelo H. del Pilar
f. Sultan DipatuanKudarat
g. Juan Luna
h. Melchora Aquino
i. Gabriela Silang

 Conclusion
Since the submission of the report/recommendations by the National Heroes
Committee to then Secretary Ricardo T. Gloria of the Department of Education, Culture and
Sports on November 22, 1995, no action has been taken. This was probably because this might
trigger a flood of requests for proclamations. Another possibility is that the proclamations can
trigger bitter debates involving historical controversies about the heroes.

II. Issues and Controversies on the Heroism of Dr. Jose Rizal

1. Retraction Controversy: Did Rizal retract his works and words?
Four documents surfaced which contained the retraction of Jose Rizal a day before he
was executed. The retraction states Jose Rizal’s rejection of masonry and repudiation of his
words, writings, publication and conduct that were against the Catholic Church. The alleged
retraction of Jose Rizal was a requirement for him and Josephine Bracken to be married.
Scholar who question the existence and authenticity of the alleged retraction of Jose
Rizal argue that it is a forgery based on the analysis of the handwriting, existence of different
versions of the document, the alleged confession of the forger and discrepancies in the contents
of the different versions of the document. The also doubted the existence of the document
pointing out that no member of Rizal’s family has seen it, it did not save Rizal from being
executed and there is no public record of the marriage of Rizal and Bracken.

2. American sponsorship: Is Jose Rizal an American-sponsored hero?

In his seminal work, Veneration Without Understanding, historian Renato Constantino
argued that Rizal’s pre-eminence among our heroes was partly the result of American
sponsorship by citing laws enacted by the Americans that ‘reduced’ the role of other historical
figure in our history in order to emphazed the role of Jose Rizal. He argued that the Americans
made Jose Rizal more special than other heores by encouraging a cult by enacting laws such as
Act No. 137 which created the Rizal province, Act No. 243 whcih gave way to the erection of
Rizal monument in Luneta and Act No. 346 which sets December 30 as day of observance for
Rizal. He also argued that Rizal was selected because his peace-loving and compromising image
and the perception that he never advocated independence will suit their (American)
imperialistic interests in the Philippines.
On the other side of the debate, Profesor Ambeth Ocampo, a known Rizal ‘expert’
refuted the claims of Constantino saying that Jose Rizal was already venerated long before the
Americans sponsored him pointing to the December 20, 1898 proclamation of President Emilio
Aguinaldo which set every December 30 as national day of mourning in Honour of Jose Rizal. He
argued that “The Americans just built on the prevailing sentiment of the people” towards Rizal.
They used Rizal: anti-Spain, assimilate, reformist and peace-loving stance to further their
colonial/imperialistic agenda.
3. Was Jose Rizal anti-revolution?
For historian Renato Constantino, Rizal was anti-revolution and had betrayed the
Philippines on two occasions – when he volunteered to served as a doctor for the Spanish
armies in the Cuban revolution and when he issued his December 15, 1898 wherein he did not
only deny his participation in the revolution but also condemned and called it disastrous and
waste of lives. Other historians and scholars emphasize Rizal’s assimilist stance as proof of being
anti-revolutionary.
In his book, A Nation Aborted: Rizal, American hegemony and Philippine nationalism,
Professor Floro Quibuyen argued that Rizal was revolutionary. He cited several evidence such as
the letters of Rizal explaining his ideas regarding the revolution and the latest testimonies of Dr.
Pio Valenzuela. He also provided a different reading and interpretation of the Dec 15 manifesto
of Jose Rizal noting that he did not rejected the revolution but viewed it as premature and
lacked proper preparations. He argued that in Rizal’s last poem, he praised the revolutionaries
and this poem also became an inspiration for the revolutionaries. He also argued that Jose Rizal
could not be anti-revolution for many of his family members joined and held important position
in the Katipunan.
4. Was Rizal an ambivalent hero or fence sitter?
The conception of Jose Rizal as an ambivalent hero resulted from four contradicting
testimonies of Pio Valenzuela (2 in 1896 while being a prisoner in Fort Santiago) and in 1914 and
1917. These testimonies are all about his conversation with Jose Rizal in Dapitan. The first two
testimonies state that Rizal totally repudiated the revolution while in the other two; he claimed
that Rizal did not repudiate the revolution and he had given instructions for the Katipunan to
ensure the success of the rebellion.
Some historians would say that Rizal was ambivalent, pointing to some of his works in
which he rejected armed struggle as means for social transformation and his other works which
express his support of the revolution. On the other hand, some historians argued that in order
to answer whether or not Rizal was ambivalent, Jose Rizal must be read in proper context and
perspective. They further argued that Jose Rizal was a product of his time and society and thus
Rizal must be read according to the context of the 19th century Philippines and in the
perspective of the Filipinos during that time.

5. Is Jose Rizal still relevant?

 Jose Rizal is still relevant because the social problems or ‘ills’ that he had exposed, criticized
and tried to solve still exist. Corruption, injustices, unqualified and/or incompetent
government officials and poverty are among the perennial problems that plague the
Philippines.
 The qualities of Jose Rizal are worth emulating. He serves as a role model and inspiration for
Filipino youth to love and serve the Philippines and countrymen.
 Studying Jose Rizal and the country’s history makes us aware of the ideals on which our
nation was built upon. Studying the sacrifices of our ancestors for the country’s freedom
and sovereignty develops nationalism and pride of our national identity.
 Jose Rizal will always be part in the development of Philippine nationalism.