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Overview To Rizal'S Life and Works

The document provides an overview of Jose Rizal's life and works, including reasons for studying him as the Philippine national hero. It discusses criteria used in choosing national heroes, focusing on contributing to freedom, order, and a nation's quality of life. It also examines deliberative cases for and against publishing Rizal's books, with opponents arguing they undermine Catholic teachings. While some felt studying Rizal was no longer necessary, the reflection maintains his writings inspired patriotism and illuminated colonial issues in a non-violent way, making the study of his life and works still significant.

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Jhoanne Marie Tedera
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171 views

Overview To Rizal'S Life and Works

The document provides an overview of Jose Rizal's life and works, including reasons for studying him as the Philippine national hero. It discusses criteria used in choosing national heroes, focusing on contributing to freedom, order, and a nation's quality of life. It also examines deliberative cases for and against publishing Rizal's books, with opponents arguing they undermine Catholic teachings. While some felt studying Rizal was no longer necessary, the reflection maintains his writings inspired patriotism and illuminated colonial issues in a non-violent way, making the study of his life and works still significant.

Uploaded by

Jhoanne Marie Tedera
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODULE 1

OVERVIEW TO RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS

ACTIVITY : Discuss the following questions below to the class.

1. Why is there a need to study the life and works of Jose Rizal?
- Jose Rizal's love for his nation drove him to his execution. It was a courageous gesture
for him to give up his life for an accusation and to serve as a role model in the Filipino
revolution. Studying Rizal may prove and offer us a different picture of him as we study
and delve into his life; nevertheless, studying his writings may also bring us to a better
vision of life. It is critical to not only study but also to honor Rizal, his writings and
contributions, particularly his novels, which may educate us about life before we gained
our independence. Knowing the fact that the contribution he gave to the country is truly
valuable. For some, studying our country's history may be frustrating, but we must
constantly remember that what happened in the past has resulted in who we are now. We
are now liberated from the governments or nations that colonized us and this has been
made possible by the efforts of our heroes and those who stood up for our country.

2. Reasons why Jose Rizal was chosen and declared as Philippine National Hero.
- Rizal became a national hero in the Philippines because he passed the criteria during the
American period. He displayed unconditional love for his country and battled for
independence in a silent but effective manner. Instead of being violent, he used his
intellect, abilities, and skills in a more peaceful manner. He used his works to help
Filipinos know the truth and perceive things in a new light. The fact that we are today
fortunate by his worthwhile death is justification enough to really respect and recognize
him as a hero.

3. Basis used by the Commission in choosing the National Hero.


- The Technical Committee of the National Heroes Committee held a series of meetings on
June 3, 1993 , August 19,1993 , September 12, 1994 and November 15, 1995 , defining,
discussing and deliberating upon the merits of the various definitions and criteria of a
hero. The Committee adopted the following criteria as basis for historical researchers in
determining who among the great Filipinos will be officially proclaimed as national
heroes:

Criteria for National Heroes


(Adopted by the Technical Committee of the National Heroes Committee on June 3, 1993
, Manila . Members of the Committee included Drs. Onofre D. Corpuz, Samuel K. Tan,
Marcelino Foronda, Alfredo Lagmay, Bernardita R. Churchill, Serafin D. Quiason,
Ambeth Ocampo, then known as Dom Ignacio Maria, Prof. Minerva Gonzales and Mrs.
Carmen Guerrero-Nakpil)
1. Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle
for the nation’s freedom. Our own struggle for freedom was begun by Bonifacio
and finished by Aguinaldo, the latter formally declaring the revolution’s success.
In reality, however, a revolution has no end. Revolutions are only the beginning.
One cannot aspire to be free only to sink back into bondage.
2. Heroes are those who define and contribute to a system or life of freedom and
order for a nation. Freedom without order will only lead to anarchy. Therefore,
heroes are those who make the nation’s constitution and laws, such as Mabini and
Recto. To the latter, constitutions are only the beginning, for it is the people living
under the constitution that truly constitute a nation.
3. Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation. (As
defined by Dr. Onofre D. Corpuz)

Additional Criteria for Heroes


(Adopted by the Technical Committee of the National Heroes Committee on November
15, 1995, Manila)
1. A hero is part of the people’s expression. But the process of a people’s
internalization of a hero’s life and works takes time, with the youth forming a part
of the internalization.
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. (As
defined by Dr. Alfredo Lagmay)

4. What is the deliberative case why and why not publish or study the life and book of Rizal?
- The bill was fiercely opposed by people from the Legislative Arm and by Catholic
Church due to the inclusion of compulsory reading of Rizal’s novels in which according
to them, catholic dogmas are humiliated. When the Catholic Church in the Philippines
became aware of the Rizal Law, it gathered its forces to prevent it from becoming law.
The Catholic Church allegedly stated that the novels would misrepresent actual church
situations and that requiring students to study the original versions of Rizal's writings
would have a negative impact on students. Despite the fact that Noli Me Tangere was
published over 70 years ago, the Church nevertheless considered Rizal's works to be
heretical. The Catholic Church used the same power 120 years ago to keep Filipinos from
reading the novels.

5. Who were the senators against in publishing the Rizal Book and the major reasons why they
do not want to publish the book of Rizal?
- They argued that the bill would infringe freedom of conscience and religion. The
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) sent a pastoral statement
claiming that Rizal breached Canon Law 1399, which restricts or prohibits publications
that challenge or ridicule Catholic teaching and practices. They further claimed that just
25 sections in Noli Me Tangere's 333 pages are patriotic, whereas 120 are anti-Catholic.
While certain members of the Catholic hierarchy examined the two novels, 170 sections
in Noli Me Tangere and 50 in El Filibusterismo were found to be anti-Catholic beliefs.
Furthermore, they emphasized that Rizal stated that he attacked not just the friars who
deceived the Filipinos, but also the Catholic faith itself. They recommended Rizalian
Anthology as a reading resource for students, which is a compilation of Rizal's literary
works that incorporate patriotic thought but do not include the two novels.

REFLECTION
What did you learn from the two deliberative issues between the two groups
and what is your personal stand about this issues

Dr. Jose Rizal is regarded as our country's national hero. However, we are aware that
some Filipinos do not see him as a national hero. Perhaps it was because he did not fight with
weapons as the other Filipino heroes did. He utilized his brains rather than his might and force to
inform the Filipino people of the truth. Many Filipinos believe that studying Rizal's life and
works is no longer necessary for us in this day and age. However, I believe it is still significant
and has a great influence on our current culture. Studying Rizal entails not just knowing and
reading his writings and other literary works, but also comprehending how those works aided in
the battle against colonizers in the past. We get to understand the significance of his books,
essays, and other literary works, which are not just for enjoyment. According to the reading,
Rizal's two famous works, Noli Me Tangre and El Filibusterismo, are a source of inspiration for
young patriotism. It instilled in the Filipino people, particularly the youth, the idea that they may
express their patriotism for their nation in ways other than fighting physically. Rizal was not one
of those who utilized violence to fight for our nation, but he nevertheless sacrificed his life by
writing those literary masterpieces that illuminated what was going on in our country in the
minds of Filipinos.

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