MODULE #1: RIZAL’S LIFE AND EDUCATION

LESSON #2: Rizal Law and Rizal’s Early Biographers

OJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, you will be
able to:
 Discuss the concept of historical documentation and historical
imagination;

 Identify the issues on Rizal Law which can be a dissertational course for
the students who are not aware of the relevance of the course in relation
to their field of expertise; and
 Expand the relevance of the law in the nation building of a true Filipino.

INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the 2nd lesson of this module! In this lesson, you will be scholarly introduced to
the Rizal law and its analysis, its relation to the K-12 law, biography and autobiography, and
written historical accounts. This will only take up few minutes of your time. Hereafter is an
activity that will tickle your mind about you and your role in history.

ACTIVITY
Direction: Reflect on the quote below. Use your thoughts in answering the Application part
of this lesson.

ANALYSIS
Direction: Write TRUE if you think the statement is correct, and FALSE if you think the
stamen is incorrect. Input your answer in a document.
1. Nationalism involves the desire to attain freedom and political independence, especially by
a country under foreign power; while patriotism denotes proud devotion and loyalty to one's
nation.
2. The Rizal bill became the RA no. 14425, known as Rizal Law.
3. The Rizal Law aims to gain an inspiring source of patriotism through the study of Rizal's
life, works, and writings.
4. R.A 2299 is another RA that concerns the national hero, Jose Rizal.
 LESSON PROPER
The Rizal Law (R.A No. 1425)
One of the important legislation to boost Filipino nationalism is the Rizal Law or Republic
Act No. 1425 which highlights the following:
1. The study of Rizal’s Life, Works and Writings can support and foster the cause of
nationalism for Filipinos especially the youths;
2. The inclusion of the works of Rizal in the College Curriculum particularly the study
of his novels- Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are necessary to have a better
understanding of 19th century Philippines;
3. The inclusion also of other works of Rizal such as his letters, paintings, travels can
promote the cause of nationalism;
4. Funding of the law in order to give supplemental copies of the novels to public
libraries; and
5. The implementation of the law. Although this law is not declaring that Rizal is a
national hero, it can be a positive step towards enshrining him and other national
heroes of the country.
Analysis on Rizal Law
Students often wonder why they have to study Rizal course. What is its relevance to their
course or their field of expertise? There are several answers to this question:

1. The adoption and implementation of R.A No. 1425 which clearly states that the study
of Jose Rizal’s Life Works and Writings must be taught in all public and private
Schools, Colleges and Universities;
2. The study of Rizal’s work particularly his two important novels- Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo and other works (poems, diaries, essays) as well as their
translations in Filipino and English should be implemented and funded by the
government as provided for in the law;
3. The law also mandates the study of Rizal’s life, works and writings in the secondary
levels specifically the Noli Me Tangere on the 3 rd year level and El Filibusterismo in
4th year level. This forms part of the Filipino curriculum where the medium of
instruction is Filipino;
4. The Rizal course offers a wide range of thoughts on how Rizal and other heroes
(Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Andres Bonifacio and Apolinario Mabini and others) fought
for freedom for the sake of the country’s survival against the “evil emperialism” of
foreign invaders.
Rizal Law and the K-12 Law
The study of Rizal is still part of the K-12 Law and the new General Education Curriculum in
the sense that Rizal course is mandatory to college students with a view to develop their
historical thinking and national awareness. The study of Rizal may also give reflections on
the events of the past that formed part of the Philippine History and to awaken the minds of
the modern Filipinos who are popularly called “millennials”.
Biography and Autobiography
The words “biography” and “autobiography” are sometimes used by readers interchangeably.
When somebody writes your life from challenges to triumphs that is called, biography.
Therefore, the writings on Rizal’s life are divided into two-those that were written by others
and those that were penned by Rizal himself. The biographies of Rizal are one of the main
secondary sources of Rizalian History, Rizal’s autobiography was written on his “epistolario
Rizalinos” which was compiled by Teodoro Kalaw.
Writing Historical Accounts
Writing historical accounts is considered as one of the prime tasks of a historian. The coined
word is PEP for people, event, places which means that the story must have these three
important components. In Rizal’s biography for example, the people (noted personalities)
became the characters of his novel, Noli Me Tangere. The events that took place at that time
as well as the 1872 mutiny became one of the root causes of Rizal’s nationalism which led
him to write his second novel, El Filibusterismo. He dedicated El Fili to Gomburza, the
martyrs of Filipino secularization. Rizal also noted in his travels the notable places that he
clearly and poetically described.

Early Biographers of Dr. Jose Rizal

There are several biographers who attempted to write the life and works of Jose Rizal; several
of them considered as authentic as well as very fluent in terms of historical details and
analysis. Though there are several textbook writers who wrote the life history of Rizal, below
are prominent writers who wrote about the life of the great Filipino national hero.
Account of Wenceslao Retana
Wenceslao Retana is known to be one of Rizal’s contemporaries who was critical of Rizal’s
nationalistic fervor. Retana, in the newspaper “La Epoca”, attacked Rizal and the latter
challenged Retana to a fist fight. On the other hand, Retana apologized to Rizal and the two
became friends. Retana admired Rizal for being a gentleman. In the eyes of Retana then,
Spain was “wrong” when they executed Rizal (Medina, 1998). Retana believed that Rizal’s
execution was proof of the injustices committed by Spain towards Filipinos. That fateful
event led to the 1896 Philippine revolution.
The writer, Medina states why Retana’s accounts about Rizal must be read: “In my opinion,
what makes Retana most deserving of being read today is as a creditable witness of the
historical moment that has had the greatest impact on the Filipino consciousness, and how
Rizal transformed himself into its symbol. He gives witness as one who embodied and was
able to clearly state the meanings
that the mentality of those times ascribed to those events. Thus, I believe, he is able to
transmit to Filipinos a hundred years hence a vision that is both moving and explicative in a
culturally accurate manner- he succeeds in transporting us to that compelling time, so that we
may gain insights that a conventional academic approach cannot give. Given the distancing
that our North American colonization produced in the Filipinol psyche vis a vis the mythical
figure of Rizal and the legendary time he lived and died in, the Retana biography’s
availability today, translated and explained with cultural sensitivity, after the long forgetting
of both work and its creator’s fascinating figure, is an important cultural event during our
Centennial year.” Therefore, observation at par really helped wherein Retana’s personality
became one of the main figures in Philippine history.
Account of Carlos Quirino
One of the great biographers of Dr. Jose Rizal wrote Rizal’s biography because of a “writing
contest”. He answered to the invitation to several writers at that time to write about Rizal’s
life. The work of Carlos Quirino entitled, “The Great Malayan” won the 3 rd prize. However,
President Manuel Quezon awarded the monetary reward which was equivalent to the 1 st prize
of the contest. It was one of the classical best in Rizal’s biography- in pocketbook size. Based
on that work, Quirino described Rizal as an “ordinary person” with a great love for his
country, his compatriots and for the search of truth. His analysis of Rizal then was the
“product of his times”.

Account of Rafael Palma

One of the important biographers of Rizal was Rafael Palma. His work, Biografia de Rizal
(Biography of Rizal) was one of the greatest and finest biographies of the national hero.
Compared with Quirino’s writing, Palma’s writing can be considered as the primary source in
history as it is more serious and academic.
Account of Austin Coates
Austin Coates (1922-1997) is known for his detailed work on Rizal’s biography entitled,
Rizal, Philippine Nationalist and Martyr which was published in 1968 by Oxford University
Press. Though it is lacking in academic standards, Coates discussed Jose
Rizal as one of the greatest patriot ever generated in his times which is no other than 19 th
century. Also, he wrote Rizal’s biography from the eyes of a foreigner whose details and
authenticity cannot be found in the local college textbooks.
Account of Leon Maria Guerrero
One of the most readable biographies of Rizal was the work of Leon Ma. Guerrero which is
entitled, The First Filipino. Leon Ma. Guerrero (1853-1935) was one of the popular writers of
Rizal’s biography. In his introductory statements, he described the 2 types of Spain; one was
great and the other was evil. The evil side of Spain was where Rizal moulded his nationalism.
Guerrero also described other events of the 19 th century that may not be appreciated by the
individual who does not know or has not read the history of Spain in the Philippines.
Furthermore, his book is one of the best source and rich in Rizaliana historiography, one of
the finest after Palma’s work.
Account of Ambeth Ocampo
One of the modern historians is no other than Ambeth Ocampo who discussed history in a
“telling to a friend” approach. His journalistic pattern of writing earned him the title of the
best modern historian in our time. His work on Rizal’s biography is entitled, “Rizal Without
an Overcoat”. With the same style of Quirino’s writings, he makes or even remakes Rizal as
an ordinary Filipino. He exposed Rizal as person with big ambitions for his countrymen. He
believed that education was the best weapon to expel the evil Spanish tyranny. Ambeth
Ocampo,being one of the contemporary historians shares his thoughts regarding the most
“updated” details in history-from the physical evidences to historical analyses, being trained
as a scholar. Reading Ambeth’s works as well as listening to his several lectures in Ateneo
and Ayala Museum can be a great historical experience.

APPLICATION
Direction: Using your insights, discuss the essence of RA no. 1425 in encouraging patriotism.
(Copy and answer this question in the document you’ve used in the analysis above.)
Congratulations! You are done with Module 1 Lesson 2! You definitely did well! On to
the next lesson! Keep safe!