Introduction to the

Study of Rizal’s Life,

Works, and Writings
Objectives:
At the end of the lesson the you should be able to:
1.Define Hero.
2.Tell who can become a hero.
3.Explain why and who made Rizal our Foremost
National Hero.
4.Discuss Rizal Law.
5.Imbibe Rizal’s ideals.
Define HERO.
ACTIVITY
Make a mnemonic out of the word
HERO by answering/explaining the ff:
a. Define the word HERO.
b. What makes someone a HERO?
c. Who can become a hero?
 What is the meaning of the
word “hero”?
Dr. Esteban de Ocampo, a known historian, stated in his book
about Rizal that a hero means a prominent or central personage
taking an admirable part in any remarkable action or event; a
person of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, or fortitude
in suffering; and a man honored after death by public worship
because of exceptional service to mankind. The true heroes of
Philippine history deserve to be called so for they didn’t have any
idea that one day they will be measured up, they just acted upon
their principles.
Anybody can become a HERO.
Who can be a hero?
 Is there a law declaring Rizal as
National hero?
According to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines
(NHCP) ,the Philippines does not have a single, official national
hero because no law has been passed to recognize a national hero.
The title “national hero” came from the guidelines of the NHCP and
was granted through public acclamation, the NHCP said.
The guidelines, contained in an NHCP document dated November
1995 defined Filipino heroes as “those who have a concept of nation
and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nation’s freedom” and
those who “contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation,”
among other characteristics
 Is there a law declaring Rizal as
National hero?
According to the NHCP, Jose Rizal and Andres
Bonifacio are called national heroes because they are
recognized as heroes “on a national level.”
But while no laws have been passed proclaiming a
national hero, several laws and proclamations have
been issued honoring them, including those declaring
Bonifacio’s birth anniversary, Nov. 30, a holiday and
Rizal’s death anniversary, Dec. 30, a day of national
mourning.
Compiled by Inquirer Research
Sources: NHCP, NCCA
Why is Rizal our Foremost National
Hero?
There are some Filipinos who believe that Rizal is an
“American –made hero” because he became our
national hero due to the decision made by William
Howard Taft when the Philippines was under American
rule.
Why did Taft Chose Rizal as our
National hero?
“He was a towering figure in the Propaganda
Movement (1882-1896), having played an
admirable role therein. At the same time,
Rizal’s novels influenced the Filipino masses to
a great extent. Without Rizal, there would have
been no Bonifacio, who founded the
Katipunan”.- William Howard Taft
What do these people say about Rizal
and his works?
1. Antonio Ma. Regidor ( A Filipino exile in
London in 1872) to Rizal.
“The book was superior, if Don Quijote has
made its author immortal because he exposed
to the world the suffering of Spain, Noli will
bring you equal glory because it will expose to
the world the sufferings of the Filipinos”
Miguel Cervantes
Jose Rizal

Antonio Regidor
compares Rizal to
Cervantes
2. Ferdinand Blumentritt- Austrian ethnographer,
Rizal’s closest confidant/friend in Europe

“Your work as we Germans say, has been written with

the blood of your heart. Your work has exceeded my
hopes and I consider myself happy to have been
honored with your friendship. Your country is happy as
well for having in you a patriotic and loyal son. If you
continue so, you will be to your people one of those
great men who exercise a determinative influence over
the progress of their spiritual life.”
Blumentritt to Dr. Maximo Viola in May
1887, “Rizal was the greatest product of
the Philippines, and his coming to the
world was like the appearance of a rare
comet, whose rare brilliance appears only
every other century”.

Ferdinand Blumentritt Maximo Viola

3. Henry Allen Cooper - American congressman from
Wisconsin delivered a eulogy of Rizal and even recited
the Ultimo Pensamiento (Mi Ultimo Adios)to prove
the Filipinos’ capacity for self-government.

“ It has been said that, if American institutions had done

nothing else than furnish to the world the character of
George Washington, that alone would entitle them to
the respect of mankind. So, Sir, I say to all those who
denounce the Filipinos indiscriminately as barbarians
and savages, without possibility of a civilized future,
that this despised race proved itself entitled to their
respect and to the respect of mankind when it
furnished to the world the character of Jose Rizal”
The result of the appeal of Representative
Cooper was the approval of Philippine Bill of
1902.

Henry Allen Cooper

4. Dr. Frank Laubach, An American Biographer of
Rizal
“His consuming life purpose was the secret of
his moral courage. Physical courage, it is true,
was one of his inherited traits. But that high
courage to die among his murderers - that
cannot be inherited. If must be forged out of
the fires of suffering. It required courage to
write his two novels, standing almost alone
against the most powerful interests in his
country and in Spain, and knowing full well that
despotism would strike back. Then in his
Dapitan exile, when he was tempted to escape,
he said "No," not once but hundreds of times
for four long years.”
5. Rafael Palma- Rizalian, writer, educator and a famous mason in Philippines.
He also became the fourth President of the University of the Philippines.
“What is most admirable is his complete self-denial, his
complete abandonment of his personal interests in order to think
only of those of his country. He could have been whatever he
wanted to be, had he not dedicated himself to public matters.
But to him the voice of the species was stronger than the voice of
personal progress. He preferred to live far from his family and
sacrifice his personal affections for an ideal he had dreamed of.”
Even before the outbreak of the Revolution against
Spain in 1896 Rizal’s countrymen recognize his
leadership.
-He was elected honorary president of La Solidaridad in
the early part of 1889.
-He organized an became Chief of Indios Bravos
-In 1891, he was chosen Responsible (chief) of the
Spanish-Filipino Association.
-He was the founder and moving spirit of La Liga Filipina
in 1892
-Katipunan made him their honorary president and used
his family name as password.
-A year after Rizal’s execution, on December
29,1897 Emilio Aguinaldo and other leaders
in exile in Hong kong held a commemorative
program on the first anniversary of their
hero’s martyrdom.
-At the revolutionary capital in Malolos,
Bulacan, in December 20,1898 President
Aguinaldo proclaimed December 30 of that
year “Rizal Day” hoisting the Filipino flag in
half-mast and closing all government offices.
 Rizal’s friends and admirers praised him and
his novels but his enemies were equally loud
and bitter in attacking and condemning the
same.
-Permanent Censorship Commission in 1887
-Senator Fernando Vida
-Ex-deputy general Luis Pando
-Premier Praxedes Sagasta
lambasted and criticized Rizal and his
novels. Praxedes Sagasta
So who made Rizal our
National hero?
Throughout his libertarian struggle, Rizal
showed that indeed the pen is mightier than
the sword. The answer to the question, "who
made Rizal the foremost hero, according to
Esteban A. De Ocampo, is that no single person
or groups of persons were responsible. Rizal
himself, his own people and the foreigners all
together, contributed to make him the
greatest hero of the Malay race.
 What is the Rizal Law?
Republic Act No. 1425, known as the Rizal Law, mandates all
educational institutions in the Philippines to offer courses
about José Rizal. The full name of the law is 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 the Printing and Distribution Thereof, and for Other
Purposes.
Senator Claro M. Recto was the main proponent of the then Rizal
Bill. The law was passed on June 12, 1956.
Senator Claro M. Recto- Cardinal Rufino Santos-
Main proponent of Rizal Archbishop of Manila that
Law opposed the Rizal Law
The framers of Rizal law hoped that by studying Rizal’s
life, his teachings and works, the Filipino youth will be
able to:
-Gain inspiration and insights and involve themselves in
the community;
-Imbibe the virtues and values of Rizal and other
reputable leaders of the country; and
-Acquire proper direction and become better citizens.
 Relevance of Rizal Law Today
The debate during the enactment of the Rizal Law has
been compared to the Responsible Parenthood and
Reproductive Health Act of 2012 (RH Law) debate in 2011.
Akbayan representative Kaka Bag-ao, one of the
proponents of the RH bill, said, quoting the Catholic
hierarchy, that "More than 50 years ago, they said the Rizal
Law violates the Catholic's right to conscience and religion,
interestingly, the same line of reasoning they use to
oppose the RH bill.
ACTIVITY:
What are the ways you can show
your nationalism? How will you
demonstrate your appreciation for
what Rizal and other heroes did for
our country?
 Assignment:
1.Describe the conditions in the Philippines
when Rizal was born.
2.Describe the conditions in Europe in the 19th
century during the time of Rizal.
3.Study the cover of the Noli Me Tangere. Give
the symbols and their meaning.
4. Read and research about Noli Me Tangere.
Answer the questions in BigSky.