Rizal Law and Rizal, In His Times

Republic Act 1425

The Republic Act 1425 requires all schools, colleges and universities in the Philippines, whether private or public, to include the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal in the curriculum.

Republic Act No. 1425
House Bill No. 5561
Senate Bill No. 438

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.

According to the Section 1 of the Act, in the collegiate courses, the basic texts to be used is the original or unexpurgated edition of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their English translations. Thus, on the Section 2 of the act, the schools, colleges and universities are required to house enough number of copies of the original and expurgated, unexpurgated and Rizal’s biography, works and other writings on the library.

My Concept of a Hero

A Hero, for me, is someone who has a good heart; who took care of the nation more than himself. Someone who saves the planet, country, nation or community in  danger in any ways. A Hero for me is not like an ancient Greek Hero that needs to be a dead person and a religious figure.

Jose Rizal, An American-Sponsored Hero?

Somehow, yes, Jose Rizal is an American-sponsored Hero because it’s not the Filipinos who chose Jose Rizal to be the National Hero of the Philippines, furthermore, it’s not the Filipino people who suggested that the Philippine Islands should have a National Hero. It’s the Taft Commission or the Second Philippine Commission who suggested and declared Jose Rizal to be our National Hero. They chose Rizal over Aquinaldo, Bonifacio and Mabini.

But the fact that Jose Rizal is still our National Hero shows that he is still the one who the Filipinos want to be called our National Hero despite that other Filipinos believe that Andres Bonifacio should be our National Hero.

Who made Rizal our foremost hero and why?

William Howard Taft, as the head of the Second Philippine Commission or also known as the Taft Commission suggested that the Philippines should have a national hero. The American officials chose Jose Rizal among the four candidates including Emilio Aguinaldo, Andres Bonifacio and Apolinario Mabini because he enlighten the Filipinos especially Bonifacio trough his writings and without using any brutal ways or risking other’s life.

What were the international events that could have influenced Rizal’s philosophies during his time?

Discuss the evil practices that happened in the Spanish administration in the Philippines and compare it to the present administration.

During the Spanish Administration, people that against the government are being killed. Now, in some parts of the Philippines like Maguindanao, some killings still happens because of politics. Writing against the Administration during Spanish time are not allowed, today journalist, I believe, has the freedom of speech though are still being killed. There was no freedom during the Spanish era unlike now, we are in a democratic country.