Chapter 1

The study of Dr. Jose P. Rizal course and republic Act 1425
The study of Dr. Jose P. Rizal life works and
writings has been mandated by Republic Act
no. 1425 known as the Rizal Law approved on
June 12, 1956 provides for the integration of
the study of the life and works of Dr. Jose P.
Rizal in the curriculum of the tertiary level and
took effect on August 16, 1956.
Who is the father of Rizal Law?
CLARO M. RECTO
THE REPUBLIC ACT NO 1425 (RIZAL LAW)

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425

House Bill No. 5561
Senate Bill No. 438
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 THA PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION
THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
• WHEREAS, today, more than other period of our history there
is a need for a re-dedication to the ideals of freedom and
nationalism for which our heroes live and died.
• WHEREAS, it is met that in honoring them particularly the
national hero and patriot, Jose Rizal, we remember with
special fondness and devotion to their lives and works that
have shaped the national character;
• WHEREAS, the life, works and writings 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, especialy during their formative and
decisive years in school should be covered.
• WHEREAS, all educational institution 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 citizeship; Now therefore,
Be it enacted by Senate and House of Representative
of the Philippines in Congress assembled.

Approved- JUNE 12, 1956

Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 2 Series of 1996
directs the Committee on Education for the inclusion of the Rizal
Course as a 3- unit lesson with the following aims and purposes:
1. The law aims and desire to re-establish that the Filpinos
themselves be imbued with the principle of freedom and sense of
nationalism. The rationale of which is to perpetuate the memories
of our hero’s death and sacrifices.
2. The law aims to honor the heroes particularly Dr. Jose P. Rizal
and to remind us of his sacrifices and his two novels- Noli Me
Tangere and El Filipusterismo that paved the way to the
nationalism and patriotism of the entire country.
3. The law aims to cultivate and inculcate among the
students in all schools the chracter development, self-
discipline, civic consciousness and to teach the duties of
citizenship which became the primary reasons for the
enactment of the law for reforms and chnges.
Rizal time was deemed to be the height of the ,maladministration
of Spain and its decay that obscured the Philippine skies. The
Filipino people suffered intensely beneath the bondage of
Spanish misrule for they were ill-fated victims of the evils,
injustice, prejudice and sudden collapse of colonial power.
Among these baneful features were the following
1. Instability of colonial administration
2. Corrupt Spanish officials
3. No Philippine representation to the spanish cortes
4. Human rights denied to Filipino
5. No equality brfore the law
6. Maladministration of justice
7. Racial discrimination
8. Frailocracy and Secularization of Filipino priest
9. Force labor and excessive taxes
10. Haciendas owned by friars and Spanish officials
11. The abuses of guardua civil, church officials and
political leader.
Dr. Jose P. Rizal was chosen as the Greatest
Philippine National Hero
I die, without seeing the day dawning on my country... you
will see it... and forget not those who fell during the night...
Dr. Jose P. Rizal
A hero is a peron admired for achievement and noble
qualities and a prominent or central personage taking an
admirable action. Also, a person of distinguished valor or
enterprise in danger and an individual honored after death
by public worship because of laudable and exceptional
service to mankind.
The difference between hero and martyr is that hero is a real
person of great bravery who carries out extra ordinary deeds
while martyr is one who willingly accept being put to death for
adhering openly to ones religious belief.

Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda was a

man of many talents. The Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo provided the ember that awakened the Filipino
nationalism and paved the way for the Philippine revolution of
1896. He proved that the “Pen is Mightier than the Sword” to
redeem a people from thier political slavery.
The Americans, particularly Civil Governor William Howard Taft
being the Chairman of the Philippine commission address
messengers. Pardo de Tavera, Legarda, Gregorio Araneta,
Cayetano Arellano the choosing of the Phillipine national hero.
Among the nominated were Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Gen. Antonio
Luna, Gregorio Lopez Jaena, Emilio Jacinto and Jose Rizal.
Dr. Otley H. Bayer, an anthropologist and technical member of
the panel of the Philippine commission recommended the
following criterion in choosing the Philippine national hero.
1. The must be a Filipino.
2. The person is a peace-loving and pacifist.
3. The person must have a great sense of patriotism.
4. The person must have die for country as a martyr.
Reason why Rizal was chosen and declared as the
Philippine’s National Hero.
1. He was the first filipino to unite and awaken the Filipino
people to peacefully rise for Independence.
2. He is model for being the peacemaker by his complete
self-denial, his complete abandonment of his personal
interest and to think only of his country and people.
3. He was a towering figure in the propaganda campaign
from 1882-1896.
4. He was a martyr at Bagumbayan where he willingly died
for our country.
What other great men said about the Pen and Sword.
Napoleon I who was a great conqueror and ruler said.
“ There are only two powers in the world, the sword
and pen; and in the end the former is always
conqured by the latter.”
Sir Thomas Browne said “ Scholars are men of peace;
they bear no arms but their tongues are sharper than the
sword. Thier pen carry further and give a louder report
than thunder. I rather stand in the shock of basilisk than
in the fury of a merciless pen.
Honors accorded to Rizal as the Philippine National
Hero
1. The day of his birth and day of his execution are fittingly
commemorated by all classes of people throughout the
country and other Filipinos abroad.
2. No other Filipino hero can surpass Rizal in the number of
monuments erected in his honor in towns, barrios and
schools.
3. His name is a by-word in every home and his pictureis
printed and used in postage stamps.
4. The paper money / coin with his image have the widest
circulation that the poorest of the poor can take hold.
5. Streets, Boulevard, Educational institution and persons
were named Rizal.
6. His noble thoughts and teaching had been frequently
invoked and qouted by speakers.
7. The union of Manila and Morong to be a province was
named after the illustrious Filipino hero thus Rizal
povince was established.