Lesson 1: Rizal Law and 19th Century Philippines

1
Historical Context of the Rizal Law

Welcome to the first lesson on the course on the Life and Works of Jose Rizal. This lesson
provides a discussion on the historical context and contents of the Rizal Law and examines the
social, political, and economic conditions in the Philippines in the 19th century. Studying the
historical context of the RIzal Law allows us to better understand the contents, rationale and
importance of the law. Similarly, studying the 19th century is helpful in studying the life, works,
and ideas of Dr. Jose Rizal because this puts him in the appropriate context.

The following are the learning outcomes we are expected to achieve at the end of the lesson:

● Explain the rationale of the Rizal Law

● Discuss the historical context of the Rizal Law
● Describe the Spanish colonial government by reading excerpts from selected works of
propagandists
● Relate the passage of Rizal Law to nation-building, patriotism and nationalism.
● Examine the economic and socio-political milieu of the 19th century Philippines
● Compare the reactions of Filipinos to the passage of the Rizal Law

Accomplish the module exercises. Read the full text of the Rizal Law and the work of
propagandists.

I. The Rizal Law

Many Filipino students are curious why they are still required to study the life and
works of Jose Rizal in college despite having studied the biography of Jose Rizal and his
two novels in their high school years. They believe that it might just be a repetition of the
things they have learned and that it would be a waste of their time. Little did they know
that they are mandated by the law to study the life and works of Jose Rizal not only in
high school but also in college and they might not even have an idea what this law had
gone through in order to be passed and approved.

On June 12, 1956, Philippines Independence Day, the Republic Act 1425 (R.A.
1425) also known as the Rizal Law was passed. 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”.

Read the contents of the law and answer the following questions:

a. Why was it passed at the same time as the Philippine Independence Day?
b. Why only Jose Rizal was selected to be studied?
c. What are the goals or purpose of this law?
d. How will it be implemented?

II. Reactions to the Passage of Rizal Law

At present, the passage of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012
(Republic Act No. 10354) or popularly known as the R.H. Law was probably one of the most
controversial laws passed due to the opposing reactions of the Filipinos to its passage. There
were those who were anti and pro RG Lawwho rallied for or against its implementation. Half a
century ago, a similar thing happened to the Rizal Law. According to the historian Ambeth
Ocampo (1990), the debate was so intense that it ended in a fist fight between two hot-headed
lawmakers. The strongest opposition came from the Catholic Church, arguing that the law would
violate the freedom of conscience and religion. They argued that “Rizal violated the Church’s
laws specifically Canon Law 1399, which forbids books that attack or ridicule any of the catholic
dogmas or which defend errors condemned by the Holy See.”

They also argued that only 25 passages of Noli Me Tangere were patriotic as compared to the
120 passages that were anti-catholic. Furthermore, they pointed that Rizal retracted his ‘attacks’
on the Catholic Church before he was executed. They maintained that Filipinos could still
venerate him as a national hero even without reading the two novels and that Filipino students
could read other works done by Rizal Instead of the two Novels. The Catholic Church’s
opposition went up to the extent of threatening religious sanctions to all the supporters of the
law. A bishop wrote a letter to Rafael Palma a biographer of Rizal, saying that ‘we prohibit under
the paid of sin and canonical sanctions the reading, keeping or retention of the same [Noli and
El Fili] whether in original or in translation in the Archdiocese of Manila and Cebu.”

Read the full text of the CBCP's statement opposing the Rizal Law in the following website:
http://www.cbcponline.net/documents/1950s/1956-novels_of_rizal.html

Among the prominent ‘defenders’ of the Rizal Law was Sen. Claro M. Recto who was
the author of the law and fought hard for its passage despite the threat of losing votes and
religious sanctions. He assailed the people who opposed the law by saying that fighting against
the law is like fighting Rizal and attempting to “blot out his memory.” The supporters of the bill
maintained that the law would uplift Filipino sense of identity and nationalism especially during
that time when Filipino sense of identity and nationalism was dwindling and the prevalence of
American neo-colonalism in the Philippines.
 After long and divisive debates, the Rizal Law was passed with certain provisions that
served as compromise between two opposing sides. One of these compromises is the
exemption given to those who feel that their faith is damaged by reading Rizal's novels provided
that they file a sworn statement stating as such as stated in Sec. 1 of the Rizal Law .

III. Historical Background of the 19th Century: Spain and Philippines

Jose Rizal’s ideas and philosophies in life could be better understood in the context of
his time. The historical context of Jose Rizal allows us to see the prevailing social, economic,
political and cultural conditions of Spanish colonial regime in the Philippines and how these
influenced Rizal.

Conditions in Spain

During the first three quarters of the 19th century, Spain has been in turmoil especially
when it was conquered by France. When the monarchy was restored in 1814, Fernando VII
returned to absolutism [absolute power is vested in the monarch e.i. The king]. When he died he
passed his crown to his infant daughter Isabel, under the regency [a government or period in
which a person/regent rules in place of the king/queen] of her mother Maria Cristina. Civil war
broke out when Don Carlos, the king’s younger brother was claiming the throne. As a result,
revolts between the Liberals (supporters of Maria Cristina) and Carlists (supporters of Don
Carlos) ensued. In 1886, when Isabella became queen, a revolution against her took place and
she was forced to abdicate. Alfonso XII of Spain became king, which finally brought Spain into a
period of stability and reform.

Social Conditions in the Philippines

Events in Spain had implications on her colonies. The Philippines and Cuba are two of
the colonies that had waged a revolution for total emancipation from Spain. The political, social,
religious and economic changes in Spain during the latter part of the 19th century have
repercussions in the colonies. In the Philippines Spain has no clear program in uplifting the
country's economy. The Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade only served the Spanish and Chinese
people in the country but it did not help the colony as a whole. It only served as a trans-
shipment point between China and Mexico thus benefiting very few Filipinos. Governor-generals
initiated reforms in commerce and agriculture but were not enough to boost economic growth.

In terms of political development, Governor-generals who were assigned in the

Philippines for a short period of time have failed to implement policies that will promote
development, yet they returned to Spain richer. In the cultural and religious aspects, the
colonizers failed to implement effective policies of cultural and educational advancements.
Catholicism was still used as a tool for subjugation of the Filipnos and friars were very influential
and powerful that made them de facto administrators of the colony. Inequalities among social
classes, discrimination, infustices, corruption and slavery were very rampant. These injustices
and social ills suffered by Filipinos became the subject of the Propaganda movement and
served as the ‘unifying cause’ of the Philippines Revolution initiated by the Katipunan.

The social conditions in the Philippines during the 19th century were discussed by the
propagandists. The Propaganda Movement was organized by Filipinos in exile or studying in
Europe. They came from wealthy middle-class families in the Philippines The Propaganda
movement aimed to expose the worsening conditions in the Philippines and ask reforms needed
to improve the lives of the Filipinos. Three of the works done by the propagandists exposed the
‘social ills’ that were perennial and extensive. These works are:

1. Monarchism in the Philippines by Marcelo H. Del Pilar

2. The Distressing Situation of the Philippines by Graciano Lopez-Jaena
3. On the Indolence of the Filipinos by Jose Rizal
Lesson 2: Development of Filipino Nationalism
2
The Development of Filipino Consciousness and Nationalism

Welcome to the second lesson on the course on the Life and Works of Jose Rizal. This lesson
is about the development of Filipino nationalism. It discusses the historical context of the
development of Filipino nationalism. It also provides a discussion on the events that have
shaped or influenced it and its repercussions to the Spanish colonial regime and to the Filipinos

Objectives
The following are the learning outcomes we are expected to achieve at the end of the
lesson:
● Discuss the development of the meaning or connotation of ‘Filipino’;
● Identify the factors that have led to the evolution of the Filipino consciousness;
● Discuss Filipino nationalism;
● Discuss the relevance and significance of the development of Filipino consciousness at
present time
● Analyze the factors and reason which lead to the development of Filipino consciousness
● Examine the role of Jose Rizal and other propagandists in the development of Filipino
consciousness

Activities/Exercises
Accomplish the module exercises. Watch a documentary about the development of Filipino
consciousness and nationalism

I. The concept of Nationalism and Filippino Nationalism

Nationalism in its broadest sense is the ‘love’ of one’s country. It is a consciousness, a
feeling or sentiment of belongingness to a particular community, group or race as a result of
having a common or shared language, religion, tradition, history, and values system. It could
manifest as the attitude the members of a nation have when they care about their national
identity and the actions that they take in order to attain or sustain self-determination or
independence.

Filipino nationalism is a product of social, economic and political changes during the
19th century. Before the 19th century there was no national consciousness hence, no Filipino
nationalism. As historian Teodoro Agoncillo puts it, “Although united as one heographical unit
called Las Islas Filipinas during the Spanish colonial rule, the people called Filipinos applied
only to the Spaniards born in the Philippines (insulares), and the indigents were derogatorily
called indios. The indios were not united in words and in deeds, as the Spanish church and
state officials, mainly the friars, divided and ruled the natives. Thus, the “indios” became
“Filipino” only during the last years of Spanish regime. (Agocillo, 1990)

II. Events that have influenced the emergence/evolution of Filipino nationalism.

Filipino nationalism as many historians would say is a product of Spanish colonization
and the struggle of the Filipinos to create their own identity. Before the coming and colonization
of Spain, the Filipinos despite having a common Austronesian ancestry, were divided
geographically, thus, there was no concept of a nation nor of Filipino race and identity. The
Spaniards took advantage of this disunity and had successfully pacified them. They named
these islands “Filipinas” in honor of King Philip of Spain, hence, a country was formed out of
separate and sovereign islands of the archipelago.

It was only in the last century of Spanish rule that Filipino consciousness emerged. The
development of Filipino nationalism was a conglomeration of social, economic and political
phenomena that has happened in the world and in the Philippines.

1. Opening of the Philippines in the World Trade

The Opening of the port of Manila to international trade in 1834 resulted in tremendous
socio-economic changes in the Philippines after decades of economic stagnation brought about
by Spanish monopolistic policies. Despite economic restrictions, foreign investors flocked to the
Philippines resulting in the booming of different economic establishments and institutions. The
opening of the Philippines to world trade generated a great demand for export goods such as
rice, sugar, abaca, tobacco and indigo. This gave Filipno mestizos and Chinese merchants
huge profits.

● Transportation and communication system was also improved.

● 1839 - mail service between Cavite and Manila started
● 1846 - the first daily newspaper appeared
● 1852 - The Banco Espanol-Filipno de Isabel II and two British banks began to issue
paper money
● 1880s - the Hotel de Oriente in Binondo, the first hotel in the Philippines began its
operations

2. The Opening of the Suez Canal in 1869

● The Travel between Europe and Asia (Spain to Philippines) was shorter, faster and safer
which led to the influx of liberal ideas from Europe to the Philippines. The ideas of liberty,
equality and fraternity that were legacies of the French Revolution and the democratic
ideas from the United States have penetrated the minds of the Filipinos in the
Philippines.

3. Liberal administration and educational reforms

● As a result of the victory of the liberals in the Spanish revolution of 1868, Carlos Maria
dela Torre was sent to the Philippines to serve as Governor-general from 1869-1671. He
was different from his predecessors and had implemented reforms such as the
 abrogation of flagging as a punishment for Filipino deserters in the Spanish army,
abolished press censorship and encouraged freedom of speech.
● In education, a decree was passed in 1863 instructing the establishment of schools in
different places and admitted Indios and allowing them to learn the Spanish language as
the national language. Eventually, this led to the development of national identity when
insulares, Chinese mestizos and Indios began to identify themselves as Filipinos

4. Rise of the middle class

● As a result of great economic transformations in the life of the Filipinos, a middle class
(media clase) of Asian and Eurasian mestizos emerged in the Philippines social
pyramid. They formed the town principalia - an elite social group composed of former
gobernadorcillos, mine native bureaucrats, decorated personnel and school masters.
(Agoncillo, 1990)
● The wealth of the principalia particularly the Inquilinos came from the profits generated
from owned or rented lands (Gripaldo, et., al., 2009).
● The Illistradoes (‘the enlightened’) emerged from the principalias or middle class families
and were educated in universities in the Philippines and in Europe. They rallied for
reforms for the Philippines.

5. Secularization Movement
● Secularization of the parishes was the transfer of ministries established and run by
regular clergy [Spanish friars] to the secular priests [Filipino priests]. By the midst of the
19th century, the secularization movement was transmuted into a political and separatist
movement which exploded in the Filipinization of the church, and culminated in the
separation of the church from Roem during the Philippines revolution (Agoncillo 1990).
● The secularization was organized secretly by Padre Mariano Gomez and Padre Pedro
Pelaez. The conflict between regular and secular priests arose when the regular priests
(friars) attempted to seice the control of parishes from the secular priests and rampant
abuses and discrimination made by friars to the seculars (Grpaldo, et., al., 2009).

6. The Cavite Mutiny in 1872

● In January 20, 1872, 200 Filipino soldiers joined by some laborers in the arsenal of
artillery led by Sgt. La Madrid waged a revolt because of unjust deduction in their
wages, high taxes and discrimination of Filipino soldiers from Spanish soldiers.
● The Spanish authorities viewed the event as an overturning of the colonial rule in the
islands, even considering it as part of a greater national movement to liberate the
Philippines from Spain. (Agoncillo, 1990)
● It was abruptly abrogated or pacified and all those who participated were either executed
or exiled. After the ‘containment’ of the mutineers, the Spanish authorities initiated a
crackdown of those who have connections to the mutiny which ended up in the
implication of the GOMBURZA.
● The 1972 Cavite Mutiny is considered as the first workers’ strike (welga) in the
Philippines and in Asia.
7. The Execution of GOMBURZA
● Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora were prominent figures in
the secularization movement. They were implicated as leaders of the Cavite Mutiny. To
instill fear among Filipinos, they were publicly executed in February 07, 1872 in the
Bagumbayan.
● Father Gomez and Zamora served as spiritual adviser of the soldiers and workers who
joined the mutiny.
● Their execution was witnessed by many Filipinos and have left them with a great feeling
of indignation and injustice. They considered it as a way of Spanish authorities to silence
the secularization movement. This also fueled the hatred of Filipinos for the Spaniards
which ignited nationalistic sentiments of the Filipinos.
● The execution of the GOMBURZA had also inspired the Propaganda movement and the
Philippine revolution.

8. The Propaganda Movement (1880 - 1892)

● Due to abuses of Spanish authorities and clergies and the curtailment of freedom of
expression, Filipinos, specifically the Ilustrados campaigned for the assimilation of the
Philippines to Spain by becoming a province of Spain so that the Filipinos and Spaniards
will be equal and Filipinos will enjoy the liberties enjoyed by the Spaniards.
● The Ilustrados organized the Propaganda movement which exposed the condition of the
Philippines under the Spanish rule and campaigned for reforms that the country needed
they Also campaigned for representation in the Spanish Cortes (legislature), freedom of
the press, economic liberalization, secularization and equality before the law of Filipnos
and Spaniards.
● The propaganda movement expressed their campaigns in La Solidaridad - the official
newspaper of the movement. The Propagandists did not only expose the social
conditions of the Philippines and ask for reforms but they also wrote about Philippine
history, culture and identity.
● According to Zeus Salazar, one legacy of the Propaganda movement is the tripartite
view of the Philippine history. They propagated the idea that the Philippines, contrary to
the accounts of Spaniards, had a culture and civilization before the coming and
colonization of Spain.
● Reasons for the failure of the Propaganda movement:
○ Spain was too busy resolving her internal problems and the friars remained
powerful and influential and thus no tangible reforms were implemented.
○ The Propaganda movement also suffered financial problems to continue its
publication.
○ Internal conflicts arose among the members of the Propaganda movement
caused by ‘petty jealousies’ (e.i. Rizal-del Pilar conflict). ‘Most of the members of
the Propaganda movement were conservative and lacked the courage and
vigorous hope necessary to continue an unequal struggle.” (Agoncillo, 1990)
● Despite the failure of the Propaganda movement, it was successful in exposing the
abuses and incompetence of Spanish authorities. It also served as an eye-opener for the
 Filipinos’ common experience and struggle which became a catalyst for the emergence
of Filipino consciousness and nationalism.
● The disbandment of Jose Rizal’s La Liga Filipina marked the end of the propaganda
movement. An unintentional effect of the failure of the Propaganda movement was the
founding of the Katipunan which aimed for freedom and independence through an
armed struggle.

III. Implications of Filipino Nationalism

The development of Filipino consciousness and nationalism has fuelled the struggle of
Filipinos for Freedom and emancipation from Spain. Because of it, the Philippines became the
first Asian country to wage a revolution and won its freedom from a European power. It also
shaped our national identity and our history as a nation.