Lesson 1.

1 Rizal Law (Republic Act 1425) Proponents

 Rizal’s novels were considered as “a constant
Trials of the Bill and inspiring source of patriotism”
 Enable the Filipino to grasp the ideals of freedom
(Claro M. Recto) and nationalism
 Senator Claro M. Recto was the main proponent  To develop “moral character, personal discipline,
of the Rizal Bill civic consciousness and… teaching the duties of
 He sought to sponsor the bill at congress. citizenship”
However, this was met with stiff opposition from  His writings will serve as a document of the
the catholic church achievements, development, and
 He was charged with being communist and a transformation of Philippine society, culture, and
anti-Catholic for mandating the reading of Rizal’s nation
novel  SOCIAL CHANGE / TRANSFORMATION is its core
principle – the need for transforming
consciousness and society, and the truthful,
(Jose P. Laurel, Sr.) realistic depiction of Philippine society
 He so-authored in the Philippine Senate together
with Claro M. Recto the Rizal bill in 1956 Rationale
 He was the Chairman of the Committee on  The bill was an important example of the state’s
Education who sponsored the bill in the senate effort (attempt) to decolonize the “culture” of
 He vigorously fought for the act, braving the the Philippines
wrath of the entire Catholic Church and incurring  The Philippines has lived through;
the intense animosity of his very wife Paciencia o 333 years of Spanish rule
o 50 years of American “tutelage
o 5 years of Japanese occupation
Senate Bill 438
“AN ACT TO MAKE NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL What is “Filipino” culture?
FILIBUSTERISMO COMPULSORY READING MATTER IN And how do we go about preserving it or reshaping it?
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES” 1. Colonial Mentality – mindset of foreign products
or country will always be superior than what we
Republic Act 1425 have locally
“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 Transformation will only be possible when a people have
RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HIS NOVELS NOLI ME TANGERE knowledge on his/her country’s “true” history, condition
AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO…” and course of development.

Opposition How precisely, does one move from knowledge to

 An attempt to discreet Catholic Religion action?
 The two novels contained views inimical to the “Open your children’s eyes so that they may jealously
tenets of Catholic faith guard their honor, love their fellowmen and their native
 The compulsory nature of the bill is a violation of land, and do their duty. Always impress upon them that
religious freedom it is better to die with honor than live in dishonor”
 Novels were heretical and impious - Jose Rizal
 Violate freedom of conscience and religion
 it belong to the past and harmful to read because
it presented a false picture of the conditions in
the country at the time
 Attack on the clergy
 Endanger the youth’s salvation; “The young are
too opt to take as literally true whatever they see
in the print”
 Bias

(Senator Francisco Rodrigo)

 “A vast majority of our people are at the same
time Catholics and Filipino citizens. As such, they
have two great loves; their country and their
faith. These two loves are not conflicting loves.”
 “This is the basis of my stand. Let us not create a
conflict between nationalism and religion;
between the government and the church.”
Lesson 1.2: Nationalism  The government attains its right to exist and to
govern by “the consent of the governed.”
What is NATIONALISM?
 “Even a fool can love one's country” - Alejandro Baron de Montesquieu
Lichauco  Believed having 3 branches in government would
 For nationalism; only an aspect NOT the essence prevent tyranny
o Executive (enforces laws)
Important because…? o Legislative (makes the laws)
 It is among the oldest and most lethal of all o Judicial (applies laws)
idelogies  Having a separation of powers would prevent
 The most powerful politocal idea of the past any one branch from gaining too much power
several hundred years over the other two
 It has had great impact on every person in every  “In order to have…liberty, it is necessary that
modern society government be set up so that one man need not
be afraid of another.”
History of Nationalism
It started in France… Voltaire
 In 16th Century  Fought for civil liberties- rights/freedoms of
France was in chaos under the rule of King Louis XVI citizens
o Freedom of Speech
 High Taxes o Freedom of Religion
The monarch find it right to impose heavy taxes to cope o Separation of Church and State
up with their expenses  “I may not agree with a word you say, but I will
defend to the death your right to say it.”
 Depletion of the monarch’s treasury
Due to excessive expenses, France’s treasury was near its The French Society (Estates General)
depletion  FIRST ESTATE - The Clergy
 SECOND ESTATE - The Nobility
 Age of Enlightenment  THIRD ESTATE - The Common People
The idea of having a government of the people, by the
people, and for the people French Revolution - Liberty! Equality! Fraternity

Nation
Age of Enlightenment  A nation exist when there is a union of people
 The Enlightenment was a political movement based on similarities in language, ethnicity,
that originated in France during the mid-1700s culture, history, or even simple geographic
 It focused mainly on politics and society and proximity.
involved ideas that challenged the concept of  The term nation symbolizes the social unity of a
absolute monarchy people.
 DIVINE RIGHT – Theory that stated that Kings
had God given right to rule their nation as they Nation-State
wished.  When a nation of people manage to create a
state of their own.
John Locke  The nation-state has become a focal point
 Believed that people are basically moral and around which people unify and through which
reasonable. They want to do the right thing. they identify themselves and assess political
 All people are born free & equal with three events.
natural rights- life, liberty, and property
 If the government fails to protect these rights, State
the people may change or replace the  A description of the state normally includes 4
government. elements: people, territory, and government.
 Remember— a social contract is an arrangement  States have laws, taxation, government, and
where people give up their rights to be protected bureaucracy.
by the government

Jean Jacques Rousseau ASPECTS OF NATIONALISM

 Believed that people were naturally good, but  SENTIMENT
were corrupted by society A feeling of affection or love for one’s country
 Stressed the importance of the general will- the  PATRIOTISM
will of the people as a whole Act or gesture of loyalty or commitment to the nation-
 Believed the good of the community should be state
placed above individual interests- common good  PHILOSOPY
View of what a nation is, should be, and ought to be
THEORY OF NATIONALISM

1. Nationalism is the ideology of the nation-state.

People are asked to commit to an idea, to a tradition, to
a history, to a notion of fraternity.

2. Nationalism is exclusivist
Nationalism focuses on the national group as the
principal political unit and it demands that the national
group be served by a state – nation-state.
It demands that each individual give loyalty to only one
nation-state.

3. Nationalism is power
It gives the individual an identity and extend that identity
into something greater than self.
Nationalism can unify people, but it can also divide
people from other group.

4. Nationalism is a philosophy of power

It requires nation-state to cultivate strategies, methods
and processes of building, developing and nourishing the
state to amass power.
A nation-state must be strong because without strength
it is nothing.

5. Nationalism is product of a people’s experience

Nationalism cannot be understood apart from its
historical antecedents. In Asia, nationalism has been a
response to and defense against imperialism.

6. Nationalism is a dynamic concept

Nationalism is dynamic since a nation-state is ever
changing. The degree of solidarity and group
identification shifts according to time and circumstances.

Acts of Nationalism
 “Ask now what your country can do for you – ask
what you can do for your country,” John F.
Kennedy
 “My country, right or wrong…” Carl Schurz

What is your basis for claiming a Filipino identity?

 What matters is not so much being “Filipino by
blood” but being “Filipino at heart.” Floro
Quibuyen

For Rizal, a true Filipino is a good man, and therefore a

citizen of the world.