Is Jose Rizal an American Made Hero?

When Civil Governor William Howard Taft declared Jose Rizal as National Hero of the
Philippines in 1901, he began Rizal’s legacy. However, choosing Rizal was not solely because of
his contribution in shaping the nation’s history but also to further America’s agenda in promoting
public education in the Philippines. Nonetheless, this move started the “Rizal phenomenon”, Rizal
inadvertently became the necessary image for the Americans while he became the symbol for the
Filipinos hope for independence.
Then, in 1993, President Fidel V. Ramos issued Executive Order No. 75 creating the
National Heroes Committee. The work of this committee was to recommend Filipino national
personages as national heroes after a careful study and evaluation of their exemplary character and
remarkable achievements for the country (De Viana, 2014). In a round table discussion, the
committee adopted the importance of the element of nationalism in considering the act of heroism.
This means that a person can be considered a hero if he identifies himself with the nation and
would be willing to sacrifice for benefit of his nation (De Viana, 2014). Subsequently, the
Committee submitted the following criteria for national heroes:
1. Heroes are those who have a concept of
nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nation’s freedom.

2. Heroes are those who define and

contribute to a system or life of freedom
and order for a nation.

3. Heroes are those who contribute to the

quality of life and destiny of a nation.

4. Additional criteria: a) A hero is part of the people’s expression.

But the process of a people’s internalization of a hero’s life and works takes time, with
the youth forming a part of the internalization, (b)A hero thinks of the future, especially
the future generations, (c) The choice of a hero involves not only the recounting of an
episode or events in history, but of the entire process that made this particular person a
hero.
Recommended by the Committee were:
1. Jose Rizal
2. Andres Bonifacio
3. Emilio Aguinaldo
4. Apolinario Mabini
5. Marcel H. del Pilar
6. Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
7. Juan Luna
8. Melchora Aquino
9. Gabriela Silang
Legislation of the Rizal Law
When Philippines was given independence on July 4, 1946, by the Americans, after it was
devastated by the World War II, it was clamoring for identity and recognition. Aside from the
social, economic and political issues at that time, lawmakers like Claro M, Recto and Jose P.
Laurel, priorities the need to create a law to remind Filipinos of their patriotic responsibilities to
its motherland, thus RA 1425 or Rizal Law was born.

• R.A. 1465 is Rizal Law. The law that mandates all schools, colleges and universities, public or
private to include in the curricula a special course on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal.
• Jose P. Laurel is the Father of Rizal Law
• The main sponsor and defender of the Rizal Bill was Claro M. Recto.
• President Ramon Magsaysay signed the bill into law on June 12, 1956
• Former Vice President Salvador Laurel, son of Jose Laurel, facilitated the proper placement of
Rizal Law in the Academe.
• Carlos P. Romulo, in 1969 ordered the course Rizal to be offered as a 3 unit course and as a pre-
requisite for graduation.

FOR: AGAINGST
“ Rizal did not pretend to teach “A vast majority of our people, at the
religion when he wrote those books. same time, Catholic and Filipino
He aimed at inculcating civic citizens. As such, they have two great
consciousness in the Filipinos, loves: their country and their faith.
national dignity, personal pride, and These two loves are not conflicting
patriotism and if references were loves. They are harmonious
made by him in the course of his affections, like the lovefor his father
narration to certain religious and for his mother. This is the basis of
practices in the Philippines in those my stand. Let us not create a conflict
days, and to the conduct and between nationalism and religion,
behavior of erring ministers of the between the government and the
church, it was because he portrayed church”
faithfully the general situation in the
Philippines as it then existed”
-Senator Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo
- Senator Claro M. Recto
 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 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 AND EL
FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, today, more than any other period of our history, there is a need for a re-dedication
to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our heroes lived and died;

WHEREAS, it is meet that in honoring them, particularly the national hero and patriot, Jose Rizal,
we remember with special fondness and devotion their lives and works that have shaped the
national character;

WHEREAS, the life, works and writing of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo, are a constant and inspiring source of patriotism with which the minds of
the youth, especially during their formative and decisive years in school, should be suffused;

WHEREAS, all educational institutions are under the supervision of, and subject to regulation by
the State, and all schools are enjoined to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic
conscience and to teach the duties of citizenship; Now, therefore,

SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and
universities, public or private: Provided, That in the collegiate courses, the original or
unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their English translation
shall be used as basic texts.

The Board of National Education is hereby authorized and directed to adopt forthwith measures to
implement and carry out the provisions of this Section, including the writing and printing of
appropriate primers, readers and textbooks. The Board shall, within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and regulations, including those of a disciplinary nature,
to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and
regulations providing for the exemption of students for reasons of religious belief stated in a sworn
written statement, from the requirement of the provision contained in the second part of the first
paragraph of this section; but not from taking the course provided for in the first part of said
paragraph. Said rules and regulations shall take effect thirty (30) days after their publication in the
Official Gazette.

SECTION 2. 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 Rizal’s other works and biography. The said unexpurgated
editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their translations in English as well as
other writings of Rizal shall be included in the list of approved books for required reading in all
public or private schools, colleges and universities.
The Board of National Education shall determine the adequacy of the number of books, depending
upon the enrollment of the school, college or university.

SECTION 3. The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of the Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and the
principal Philippine dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and cause them
to be distributed, free of charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the Purok organizations
and Barrio Councils throughout the country.

SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amendment or repealing section nine
hundred twenty-seven of the Administrative Code, prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines
by public school teachers and other person engaged in any public school.

SECTION 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated
out of any fund not otherwise appropriated in the National Treasury to carry out the purposes of
this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 12, 1956

References:

Laurel, Jose B., Jr. 1960. The trials of the Rizal Bill. Historical Bulletin 4(2): 130-139
Republic of the Philippines. 1956. Republic Act 1425
Schumacher, John. 2011. The Rizal Bill of 1956: Horacio de la Costa and the Bishop.
Philippine Studies 59(4): 529-553.
Selection and Proclamation of National Heroes and Laws Honoring Filipino Historical Figures.
Reference and Research Bureau Legislative Research Service.
https://web.archive.org/web/20110604034938/http://www.congress.gov.ph/download/res
earches/rrb_0301_1.pdf