Module 1

Introduction to the Course

At the end of this module, you
are expected to:

a. discuss and differentiate the

concept and ways of a hero,
martyr, patriotism and
nationalism;

b. explain the history of the Rizal

c. critically assess the
effectiveness of the Rizal Course
to the present day Philippines;
and

d. identify the outstanding

attributes of Jose Rizal why he is
considered as the national hero
of the Philippines.
 Section 1
Concepts: Hero, Martyr,
Patriotism, Nationalism
St. Stephen, Stoned to Death
St. Lawrence, Grilled to Death
What is common among
the three mentioned
saints?
What’s the word?

ism
National Aerospace
Laboratories
(acronym)

ism
How do we call
them?
Martyr

Patriotism

Nationalism

Hero
Etymology: The word hero comes from the
Greek ἥρως (hērōs), "hero" (literally
"protector" or "defender")

Person admired for achievements and noble

qualities.
Filipino National Heroes Rap - Mikey Bustos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLN9k27O7zI
Etymology : Old English martir, via ecclesiastical Latin
from Greek martur ‘witness’ (in Christian use, ‘martyr’).

A person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of

witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion, or a
person who sacrifices something of great value and
especially life itself for the sake of principle (Merriam
Webster Dictionary).
 “They” say, Filipinos talk a lot. So, let’s talk about this.
Based from your experience and judgment… Try this!
Who among them was the Patriot? Who was the
Nationalist?

Note: You may answer that both

of them may
be both, BUT, just pick one attribute to
GUIDE QUESTIONS
1. What did you consider in choosing
the attributes to our heroes? Why did
you consider it/those?

2. Do the attributes differ? Or, is there a

difference between Rizal and
Bonifacio?

3. What is Patriotism? What is

Nationalism?
How?
Do you consider yourself a patriot
or a nationalist?
What does Nationalism
mean?
Nationalism is a set of systems –
political, social, and economic –
characterized by the promotion of
interests of one nation anchored on the
aim to achieve and maintain self-
governance or total sovereignty. It holds
that a particular nation should govern
itself and should be free from external
interference.
 The five basic elements of nationalism
are culture, history, language,
religion, and territory.
In most contexts today, nationalism is “the
policy or doctrine of asserting the interests of
one’s own nation viewed as separate from the
interests of other nations or the common
interests of all nations.”

In short, nationalism is a kind of excessive,

aggressive patriotism.
What does Patriotism
mean?
The word patriotism is a noun that means
“devoted love, support, and defense of one’s
country; national loyalty.”

The term often brings to mind people

directly involved with the defense of a
nation.
Feelings of patriotism are based on the
positive values the country embraces—like
freedom, justice, and equality. The patriot
believes that both the system of government and
the people of their country are inherently good
and work together for a better quality of life.

In contrast, feelings of nationalism are based

on a belief that one’s country is superior to all
others. It also carries a connotation of distrust or
disapproval of other countries, leading to the
assumption that other countries are rivals.
Take Home Activity
– 1: Super-Me
– 2. Superhero Rescue
– 3 . Are You A Hero Or Villain Based On The Photos You
Choose?
– https://www.buzzfeed.com/treymanbyther/choose-a-photo-i
n-every-color-and-see-if-you-are-t-am7efcp0w2
– https://www.buzzfeed.com/eleanorbate/no-one-quizzes-like-
gaston
– https://www.gotoquiz.com/how_much_of_a_hero_are_you
 Section 2
RA 1425 (Rizal Law)
What is your L1?
(First Language)
How about your L2?
(Second Language)
Still, some of us
acquire an L3.
(Third Language)
But can you imagine
anyone acquiring
an L20?
 Can you think of a
person who
acquired 20 or more
languages?
But can you imagine
anyone acquiring
an L20?
DR. JOSE
P. RIZAL
• Spoke over 20
languages
• Not only a hero
and political
martyr
• Many-
splendored
genius
There will always be
something in Rizal
the youth of today
can emulate. There is
always something in
Rizal for everyone.
https://www.docsity.com/en/passage-of-rizal-law/
It is Senator Claro M. Recto who authored the
Rizal Bill. While Senator Jose P. Laurel, Sr., who
was then the Chairman of the Committee on
Education, sponsored the bill in the Senate.
Both of them were known for their great sense
of nationalism. This nationalism served as the
foundation to come up with this republic act, to
set our country free from the hands of others
and stand up on our own—exactly the ideals
and values that Rizal strove to fight for.
The original version of Senate Bill
No. 438 reads as follows:

“AN ACT TO MAKE NOLI ME TANGERE

AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO
COMPULSORY READING MATTER IN
ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLEGES
AND UNIVERSITIES AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES”
The Controversies behind
the Rizal Bill
Notable Persons Who Tried
To Block Its Approval:
Sen. Decoroso Rosales – brother of
Archbishop (Cardinal) Rosales

Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo – President

of Catholic Action of the Philippines

Sen. Mariano Cuenco – brother of

Archbishop Cuenco
Other oppositors from Lower House
namely:
Congressmen Ramon Durano, Marciano Lim,

Jose Nuguid, Manuel Soza,

Godofredo Ramos,
Miguel Cuenco,
Lucas Paredes,
Congressmen Carmen Consing and
Tecia San Andres Ziga.
The Catholic Church was indirectly
included in the debates and played a
major role for the intervention of
signing of the bill into a law. Allied
with the church in battle against Rizal
Bill were the Holy Name Society of
the Philippines, Catholic Action of the
Philippines, Legion of Mary, Knights
of Columbus and Daughters of
Isabela.
 Intentions/Reasons of Persons Who
Blocked the Approval of Rizal Bill

-the bill would go against freedom of

conscience and religion
-Rizal violated Canon Law 1399 which
forbids or bans books that attack or
ridicule the catholic doctrine and
practices
-among the 333 pages of Noli Me
Tangere, only 25 passages are
Intentions/Reasons of Persons
Who Pushed for the Approval of
Rizal Bill
-the only objective of the bill is to
keep the memory of the national
hero alive in every Filipino’s
mind, to emanate Rizal as he
peacefully fought for freedom,
and not to go against religion.
Compromises and development of
the Bill
Reading of the
unexpurgated revision of the
two novels would no longer
be compulsory to
elementary and secondary
levels but would be strictly
observed to college level.
Exemption to those students
who feel that reading Rizal’s
novels would negatively
affect his or her faith.
 The Signing of the
Law
After the revised
amendments, the
bill was finally
passed on May
17, 1956 and was
signed into law as
Republic Act 1425
by President
Ramon
Magsaysay on
June 12 of the
RA 1425
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 EL
FILIBUSTERISMO,
AUTHORIZING THE
RA 1425

Courses on the life, works

and writings of Jose Rizal,
particularly his novels Noli
Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, shall be
included in the curricula of
all schools, colleges and
universities, public or
private.
RA 1425
It shall be obligatory on all
schools, colleges and
universities to keep in their
libraries an adequate number of
copies of the original and
unexpurgated editions of the
Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, as well as of
It authorized and directed the Board
of National Education to work for
the translation of Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo as well as
other writings of Dr. Jose Rizal into
English, Tagalog and other principal
dialects and their printing in cheap
or popular editions and their
circulation.
 Teaching of Rizal Course
in College
 Rizal as a course has been taught in
College generally as a
supplementary course by teachers of
different specializations.
 In most cases, the focus of the
course is on Rizal's biography and
trivial matters, compounded by the
varying interpretations of the spirit
and the letter of Rizal law through
the years.
 Section 3

Supplementary
Laws and Directives to RA
1425
◾Gen. E. Aguinaldo (December 20,
1898) – issued decree designating
December 30 as the anniversary of
Jose Rizal’s death and also as “a
national day of mourning” for Rizal and
other victims of the Spanish
government throughout its three
centuries of oppressive rule.
◾February 1, 1902 - the Philippine
Commission enacted Act. No. 345
which set December 30 of each year
as Rizal Day, and made it one of the
◾Act No. 243 was enacted on
September 28, 1901 granting the right
to use public land
upon the Luneta in the City of Manila
upon which to erect a statue of Jose
Rizal.

◾President Quirino (June 9, 1948) -

Republic Act No. 229 which prohibits
cockfighting, horse racing and jai-alai
every 30th of December of each year,
◾Rizal National Centennial
Commission was created by
Executive Order No. 52, issued by
Pres. Ramon Magsaysay on August 10,
1954 to undertake the construction of
a National Cultural Shrine and other
memorials to be dedicated to Jose
Rizal. JRNCC became Rizal Presidential
Committee on 1 July 1962 after
President Diosdado Macapagal issued
Executive Order No. 14. February 1,
1902 - the Philippine Commission
◾No. 345 which set December 30 of
each year as Rizal Day, and made it
one of the ten official holidays of the
Philippines.

◾Pres. Garcia issued Executive Order

No. 429 on June 2, creating a
decoration intended to perpetuate
Rizal’s memory, to be known as the
Rizal Pro Patria Award.
 CHED Memorandum
Order 6 dated February
15, 1996 – CHED
ordered all colleges and
universities to offer
Rizal course as a
separate three-unit
course fully and
immediately.
 References:

“The Trials of the Rizal Bill”, Laurel, Jose Jr. Historical Bulletin vol. 4,
no.2 (1960): 130-139

“The Rizal Bill of 1956 : Horacio de la Costa and the Bishops by

Schumacher, John”, Philippine Studies 59 no.4(20111):529-553

“The Church Under Attack”, Locsin, Teoodoro. Philippine Free

Press, May 5, 1956
https://philippinesfreepress.wordpress.com/1956/05/05/the-church-
under-attack-may-5-1956/

6. Rizal Law (RA1425) Discussion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd9gvwdO4VY

https://www.slideshare.net/ezr001/rizal-78603043?from_action=sav
e
 Section 4

Rizal as a Hero
NO LEGISLATION SUPPORTING RIZAL AS
HERO
“ There has never been any law
passed to
recognize a national hero in the
country.”

Heraldry Section Chief Teodoro Atienza (National

Historical Commission of the Philippines NHCP)
The Transcendent Hero
Rizal is the epitome of everything
mentioned in the definitions of a
hero. He is a towering figure of the
Propaganda Movement and in other
affairs of the society. His works,
achievements, and contributions in
various fields have been remarkably
influential. Rizal, in the face of
danger, was bold despite the odds.
And lastly, he was honoured even
more after his death because of the
No law, executive order, or proclamation
has been enacted or issued that officially
proclaims any Filipino historical figures as
a national hero (NHCP, 2012).

Thus, Rizal’s title is sometimes

questioned. Accordingly, the title that
Rizal holds is more of a tribute to the
continued veneration or acclamation of
the people towards him.
In 1898, General Emilio Aguinaldo issued
a decree that declares December 30 as a
day of national mourning for the heroes
and victims of the Philippine Revolution,
including Rizal.
Then, in 1900, American Governor
General and Chairman of the
2nd Philippine Commission, William
Howard Taft, suggested to revere Rizal
as a national hero. This is to recognize
his contributions to the significant social
transformations that took place in the
Philippines (NCCA, 2015)
Despite the absence of an official
declaration, Rizal has been a symbol of what
the Filipinos lack as a race.

Rizal is a Filipino hero because he embodied

the qualities of a true hero and made
Filipinos the best of what they can despite
the difficult social conditions. Both his
struggles and triumphs inspired and ignited
the Katipunan-led revolution, making the
Philippines the first independent republic in
Asia. Up to this day, it is still what Rizal
fought for that leads this generation to
continue realizing his dreams of a nation
 “Jose Rizal remains the
supreme hero of the
Philippines because of the
quality of his sacrifice, his
absolute dedication to the
interest of his people, and his
achievement- Sen. in
Blasmany fields of
Ople
endeavors”.
Thank you very much!