Southern Christian College

United Church of Christ in the Philippines

College of Arts and Sciences
Midsayap, 9410 Cotabato, Philippines

cas@[Link]
(064) 229-9783

LIFE AND WORKS

OF RIZAL

Module 1

Mr. Marlon T. Naiz

Social Science and Philosophy Department
[Link]@[Link]
 Southern Christian College
United Church of Christ in the Philippines
College of Arts and Sciences
Midsayap, 9410 Cotabato, Philippines

Email address: cas@[Link]

Telephone number: (064) 229-9783

OVERVIEW LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Republic Act. No. 1425, also known as the Rizal Law has • Recognize the historical
been enacted on June 12, 1956 and was sponsored and background and context
authored mainly by the late Senator Jose P. Laurel and of the Rizal Law and its
Senator Claro M. Recto. Rizal Law is a mandate to include in important provisions;
the course curricula of all public and private schools, colleges • Critically assess the
and universities the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, effectiveness and
particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
significance of the Rizal
Course;
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS • Reflect upon themselves
the idea and principles of
Rizal in their life.
Read and understand carefully the topic of this module. It is
very important to understand the theory in studying ethics.
One cannot apply a theory without understanding them first
or worse, misunderstanding the theory.
The learning exercises will allow the students to measure
their understanding the topic. Students, therefore, should
understand every part of the module including the
instructions.

TOPICS

Topics below will be discussed under this module:

• Republic Act 1425

Ethical Behavior in Modern Society P a g e |1

 Southern Christian College
United Church of Christ in the Philippines
College of Arts and Sciences
Midsayap, 9410 Cotabato, Philippines

Email address: cas@[Link]

Telephone number: (064) 229-9783

MODULE 1
Republic Act 1425

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

This module is composed of learning activities. Answer these learning activities as posted
on your google classroom.

LEARNING CONTENT

Question 1
Refer to your google classroom activity
What do you know about Dr. Jose Rizal?

It is important to note that before the enactment of the Rizal Law, Senate Bill No. 438 was
submitted to the Senate Committee on Education on April 3, 1956. It 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.

On April 17, 1956 the bill was sponsored and presented to the members of the Senate or
the Upper House by the late Senator Jose P. Laurel, who was then the Chairman of the
Committee.

According to the late Senator Jose P. Laurel the dissemination of ideas and ideals of Jose
Rizal through the reading of his works, notably the NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL
FILIBUSTERISMO is the main purpose of the bill.

He stated that “Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be read by all Filipinos. They
must be taken to heart, for in their pages we see ourselves as a mirror, our defects as
well as our strength, our virtues as well as our vices. Only then would we become
conscious as a people, and so learn to prepare ourselves for painful sacrifices that
ultimately lead to self-reliance, self-respect and freedom (Laurel,Jr.,131).

Meanwhile, Congressman Jacobo Z. Gonzales also filed a similar bill called House Bill
No. 5561 to the House of Representatives. Unfortunately, akin to Senate Bill No. 438,

Ethical Behavior in Modern Society P a g e |2

 Southern Christian College
United Church of Christ in the Philippines
College of Arts and Sciences
Midsayap, 9410 Cotabato, Philippines

Email address: cas@[Link]

Telephone number: (064) 229-9783

House Bill No. 5561 had also been opposed contending its constitutionality and religiosity.
It was then that a substitute bill has been proposed to include all the works and writings
of Jose Rizal, ruling out the exclusivity of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo as the
main features of the previous bills.

Moreover, the late Senator Jose P. Laurel asserted the importance of reading the original
and unexpurgated edition of Rizal’s novel because the true purpose of studying these will
be defeated if not followed. On May 12, 1956 and May 14, 1956, Senate Bill No. 438 and
House Bill No. 5561 were both unanimously approved on the second reading and in the
Lower House.

On June 12, 1956, the bill was signed into law by President Ramon Magsaysay, giving
birth to Republic Act 1425 or the Rizal Law.

Think about this again:

Why study the life and works of Rizal? It is apparent that during Rizal’s time, the Filipino
identity is already diminishing—this was the rationale behind the enactment of the Rizal
Law, which seeks to accomplish the following objectives:
1) To rededicate the lives of the youth to the ideals of freedom and nationalism, for
which our heroes lived and died;
2) To play tribute to our national hero for devoting his life and works for shaping the
Filipino character;
3) To gain an inspiring source of patriotism thru the study of Rizal’s life, works and
writings.

The late Senator Jose P. Laurel, who sponsored the said law emphasized the need to
know and imbibe the great ideals and principles for which Rizal died. After all, Rizal was
the founder of Filipino nationality and the architect of the Filipino nation. It is by reading
and studying Rizal’s life, teachings and writings that the young generation of the
Philippines will be able to gain incorruptible confidence, direction, courage and
determination to move forward in our people’s journey towards an abundant life.
The teaching of Rizal Course in higher education institutions in our country today is
anchored on the patriotic policy statements of Rizal Law and the patriotic goals set by the
then Board on National Education (Capino et. Al, 1997). These goals are as follows:
1) To recognize the relevance of Rizal’s ideals, thoughts, teaching, and life values to
present conditions in the community;
2) To apply Rizal’s ideas in the solution of day-to-day situations and problems in
contemporary life;
3) To develop an understanding and appreciation of the qualities, behavior and
character of Rizal; and

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 Southern Christian College
United Church of Christ in the Philippines
College of Arts and Sciences
Midsayap, 9410 Cotabato, Philippines

Email address: cas@[Link]

Telephone number: (064) 229-9783

4) To foster the development of moral character, personal discipline, citizenship and

vocational efficiency among the Filipino youth.

Thus, the importance of the study of Rizal’s life, works and writings is to instill in ourselves
the idea and ideals of Jose Rizal, and to develop a deeper awareness and understanding
of its relevance so that in the long run, we may be able to apply them in our daily lives
and become an active participant in nation-building.

SELF-ASSESSMENT

Activity 1
Refer to your google classwork.

EVALUATION

Activity 2
Refer to your google classwork.

REFERENCES

Nery, Dr. Imelda, C. & Sion, Paul John G. (2019). The life and Works of Rizal. JTCA
Publishing. Parañaque City. Philippines.
[Link]

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