University of the Philippines Baguio

Rizal: Life and Works

Course Description: The course offers insights to the study of Rizal at a
multidisciplinary approach covering the fields of Social
Sciences, Language and Literature, and the Natural
Sciences.
Course Objectives:
At the end of the course the student is expected to:
Discover new and alternative means of studying and
understanding the life and works of Rizal.
Analyze texts by and about Rizal using a multidisciplinary
approach
Appreciate relevance of Rizal not just as a historical figure
but as an expression of the Filipino people.
Apply the ideals of nationalism, respect and self worth
embodied by Rizal as productive members of the Philippine
society
Topics:
I.

Laying the Contexts

In the study of any historical figure, one cannot shy away from
questioning how are we to study his/her position in the unfolding
of a multi-faceted history. This is why before we are to even begin
studying Rizals life, it is imperative for us to understand why do
we have to study it and how are we going to approach it.
A. Course Expectations and requirements (an orientation).
B. Introduction to terms and ideas relevant to the course
1. Recto Bill
2. Philippine laws concerning National Heroism
3. Role of the Individual in History
a. Providentialism
b. Great Man Theory
c. Marxism
4. Life History methodology
5. Contexts of Colonization
C. The West and the Philippines in the 19th century
The Industrial Revolution / The Victorian Period
1. Science
2. Literature
3. History / Society / Religion

II.

Situating Rizal
At this part of the course, Rizal is now taken into the context as a
central figure. His influences in a multi faceted field are now given
more attention to, which would now create a situating of his
existence not only as a historical figure but a prime mover and an
influence in various fields such as science, society, literature etc.

A. Travels
B. The Scientific Aspect
1. Contributions in Philippine science and society
2. Issues on medicine and ophthalmology
3. The Rizal Genome Project (And other new Scientific
Studies on Rizal)
C. The Historical Aspect
1. The Revolution
2. Formation of Nationalism
3. The Filipino
4. Religious Notions / Views
III.

Critiquing: A Literary Approach

Critiquing works by, about, and for Rizal creates a new category for
understanding who he is in a new context where the student can
explore various fields of inquiry and not simply agreeing on
standardized interpretations of the text.

A. Approaching Texts:
1. Basics of Literary Criticism
2. Deconstruction and New Historicism
3. Cultural Criticism
a. Rizal the modern / marketing Icon
b. Analysis of Sample texts
c. The Victorian hero at present
d. An analysis of the word Hero
4. Post colonial
Orientalism
B. Views and Biographies: Formation of the hero, the myth, and
perceptions
1. Ambeth Ocampos Rizal Without the Overcoat
2. Leon Maria Guereros Rizal, the First Filipino
3. Ante Radaic: A Psychoanalytical Analysis on Jose
Rizal
4. Nick Joaquin: Is the Rizal Hero a Creole; Anatomy of
the Anti Hero
5. Gregorio F. Zaide Jose Rizal

6. Austin Coates Rizal- Filipino Nationalist and Patriot

C. Rizal and his texts
1. Rizal: Story teller, novelist, poet, play right, essayist.
2. Critique of texts written by Rizal
a. Writing Styles
b. Political, scientific and literary issues of texts
c. Technical problems with translation and
interpretation
3. Noli and Fili: an overview
IV.
Filipino

Defining Nationalism, Identities and the New

This part of the course now gives rise to issues of contention,

argumentation, and agreement where Rizal is not only taken under the
context of the past but as an entity having an impact at present and the
future. Modern ideals of what nationalism is and who the Filipino are
would be better analyzed and explained giving a new understanding and
respect for who we are as Filipino people.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

Nation at Nasyon
Rizal and the articulation of the mass
Global recognition of Rizal
Women, Patriarchy and Rizal
American Hegemony and Philippine Nationalism
The Indigenous Filipino and their apprehensions of Rizal / Rizal
and the Exposition
G. Rizal the Subversive
H. Rizal and the future

Course Methodology
Lectures, Seat-works, Film Viewings, Critical Analysis, Reaction
Papers
References
I.

Laying the Contexts

Boring, Edwin G. Great Men and Scientific Progress in
Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 94, No. 4
(Aug. 25, 1950).
Browne, Rey B. and Fishwick, Marshall W., eds. The Hero in
Transition. Ohio: Bowling Green University Press, 1983.

Carlyle, Thomas. On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and The Heroic in

History. New York: John Wiley, 1861.
Constantino, Renato. History: Myths and Reality. Quezon City:
Karrel, 1992.
Fast, Jonathan, and Jim Richardson. Roots of Dependency:
Political and Economic Revolution in the 19th century Philippines.
QC: Foundation for National Studies, 1979: Chapters II, VII, and
VIII.
Florendo, Maria Nela. Voices from the Margins: Local History and
Indigenous People, The Journal of History, 2003: Vol. 49, 35-49.
----------------------------. Grassroots Reconstruction of History:
Notes on Alternative Concepts of Temporality and Historical
Methodologies, History from the people: Kasaysayan mula sa
Bayan, 1999: 76-80.
----------------------------. Recapturing Historic Men and Women: The
Life History Methodology, Journal of History, 1999: Vol. 45, 1-11.
Hook, Sidney. The Hero in History: A Study on Limitations and
Possibility. New Brunswick and London: Transaction Publishers,
1991.
Joaquin, Nick. A Question of Heroes. Manila: National Bookstore,
1981.
Novack, George. Understanding History: Marxist essay.
Pathfinder Press, 1980.
Plekhanov, G. V. The Role of the Individual in History in
Theories in History. Patrick Gardiner ed. New York: The Free Press
of MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc., 1959.
Runyan, William McKinley. Life History, in Adam Kuper and
Jessica Kuper eds., The Social Science Encyclopedia. London:
Routledge & K. Paul, 1985.
II & III

Situating Rizal
______________Recent DNA studies only scratch the surface of
complex Pinoy genetics
http://www.ancestrygeneology.com/2013/08/recent-dna-studiesonly-scratch-the-surface-of-complex-pinoy-genetics/, October 16,
2013.

Albert, Daniel. Dates in Ophthalmology. Taylor & Francis.

England, 2002.
Almario, Virgilio. Rizal: Makata. Anvil pub, Philippines, 2012.
Almer, Richard and Michelfelder, Diane ed. Dialogue and
Deconstruction: the Gadamer Derrida-Encounter. University of
New York Press, Albany, 1989.
Brown, Daniel. The Poetry of Victorian Scientists: Style, Science,
and Nonsense. Cambridge University Press, 2013.
Coates, Austin. Rizal-Filipino Nationalst and Patriot. Soledaridad
Pub. Manila, 1995.
Darwin, Charles. Origin of Species, 1859.
Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory: An Introduction. Blackwell
Publishing, U.K. 2008
Foronda, Marcelino. The Canonization of Rizal. Manila 1960
Guerrero, Leon Ma. The First Filipino. National Historical
Comission, Philippines, 1974.
Ileto, Reynaldo C. Rizal and the Underside of Philippine History
in Filipinos and their Revolution: Event, Discourse and
Historiography. QC: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 1998.
Melendrez-Cruz, Patricia & Apolonio Chua. Himalay: Kalipunan ng
mga Pag-aaral kay Rizal. Manila: Sentrong Pangkultura ng
Pilipinas, 1991.
Ocampo, Ambeth. Rizal Without the Overcoat. Anvil Philippines,
1997-2012.
Ocampo, Nilo S. Si Rizal at ang Wikang Filipino. UP OVRCD.
Philippines, 2011.
Ocampo, Nilo S. Kristong Pilipino: Pnanampalataya Kay Jose Rizal.
Bagong Kasaysayan, Philippines, 2010.
Quibuyen, Floro C. A Nation Aborted: Rizal, American Hegemony
and Philippine Nationalism. QC: Ateneo de Manila University
Press, 2000.
Radaic, Ante. Rizal From Within.

Sarkisyanz, Manuel. Rizals Image: Archetypes, Influences,

Analogies and Impacts in Rizal and Republican Spain and other
Rizalist Essays. Manila: National Historical Institute, 1995.
Said, Edward. Orientalism. Penguin Books, U.K. 2003.
Schumacher, John N., S.J. The Propaganda Movement: 18801895. QC: Ateneo de Manila University Press, 1997: Chapters 5 &
12.
Zaide, Gregorio F. Jose Rizal. All Nations Publishing. Manila, 1994.

IV.

Defining Nationalism and the New Filipino

Anderson, Benedict. Imagined Communities .London. Verso,
2006.
Arcilla, Jose S. Rizal and the Emergence of the Philippine Nation.
QC: Office of Research and Publications, Ateneo de Manila
University, 1991.
Constantino, Renato. Veneration Without Understanding, in
Dissent and Counter-consciousness. QC. Malaya Books, 1970