Rizal Law and the Teaching of Rizal Course

Republic Act 1425, otherwise known as the Rizal Law, mandates the teaching of the life,
works, and writings of Rizal in all schools in the country. According to the late Senator Jose P.
Laurel, who sponsored the said law, since Rizal was the founder of Filipino nationality and the
architect of the Filipino nation, there is a need to know and imbibe the great ideals and principles
for which he died.

 Incorruptible
 Confidence
 Direction
 Courage
 Determination

From the policy statements of the Rizal Law enacted in 1956, it is evident that the teaching of
the life, work, and writings of our national hero seeks to accomplish the following objectives:

 To rededicate the lives of the youth to the deals of the freedom and nationalism, for
which our heroes lived or died.
 To pay tribute for our national hero for devoting his life and works in shaping the Filipino
character;
 To gain an inspiring source of patriotism thru the study of Rizal’s life, works, and
writing’s.

The teaching of Rizal Course in higher education institutions in our country today is
anchored on the patriotic policy statements of Rizal’s Law and the patriotic goals set by the then
Board of Education (Capino et al 1997). These goals as follows:

 To recognized the relevance of Rizal’s Ideals, thoughts, teachings, and life values to
present conditions in the community;
 To apply Rizal’s ideas in the solution of day-to-day situations and problems in
contemporary life;
 To develop an understanding and appreciation of the qualities, behavior and character of
Rizal; and
 To foster the development of moral character, personal discipline, citizenship and
vocational efficiency among the Filipino
 Rizal, Pioneer Asian Nationalist Leader

Rizal was born in the decade when the other nationalist leaders of Asia were born:

Mohandas Gandhi; Rabindaranath Tangore and Sun Yat-Sen. According to Coates

(1968), all the four challenged the West. Rizal was the first exponent of Asian nationalism since
he was the source of inspiration for the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution of 1896 ( De
Ocampo, 1969).

Rizal was the first exponent of Asian nationalism since he was the source of inspiration for the
outbreak of the Philippine Revolution of 1896 ( De Ocampo, 1969).

Fisher (1962) even called Rizal the Pioneer Exponent of Liberal Democracy in Asia. According
to her, even before Gandhi and Sun Yat-Sen began their career of political agitation, Rizal
through his essays, letters, and novels had already spoken out with firmness and courage ideas on
liberal democracy. These ideas include the following:

 The worth and dignity of the individual;

 The inviolability of human rights;
 The innate equality of all men races;
 The necessity for constitutional government;
 Due process of law;
 Popular sovereignty as the basis of all political authority;
 Faith in human reason and enlightenment;
 The rights of the masse of public education; and
 Belief in social progress through freedom.

According to Fisher that Rizal deserve to be the First Asian Nationalist Leader.

Prepared by:

Raffy G. Bulawan

Prepared to:

Mr. Ariel Ramos

 CHAPTER 1.
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF RIZAL’S LIFE,
WORKS AND WRITING

Prepared by:
Raffy Bulawan
Diana Fe Yaza
Chester Del Valle