Historical Context and Legal Basis of Rizal Day
and Other Memorials in honor of Jose Rizal
Posted on September 19, 2012
HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND LEGAL BASIS OF RIZAL DAY AND OTHER
MEMORIALS IN HONOR OF JOSE RIZAL
By: Quennie Ann J. Palafox
For over a century now, the nation has never failed to observe the anniversary of the
martyrdom our great national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. This year, the President will lead the
simultaneous raising of Philippine flag at half-mast and wreath offering at the monument of
Jose Rizal at the Rizal Park in Manila, Calamba, Laguna and in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte
on December 30, 2010. The theme of this year’s commemoration is “Rizal: Haligi ng
Bayan”.
Although frequently at the center of controversies and criticism of the public, the government
must be given credits for its efforts in ensuring that the memory of Rizal stays in our hearts
through the issuance of legislative acts, decrees and other proclamations honoring him.
Two years after the execution of Rizal in Bagumbayan, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo issued on Dec. 20,
1898 a decree designating Dec. 30 as the anniversary of Jose Rizal’s death and also as “a
national day of mourning” for Rizal and other victims of the Spanish government throughout its
three centuries of oppressive rule. He made a directive that all national flags shall be hoisted at
half-mast from 12 noon on Dec. 29 and all offices of the government shall be closed the whole
day on December 30 as a sign of mourning. On December 30, 1898, Filipinos celebrated Rizal
Day for the first time and chose Club Filipino in Manila to be the venue.
The Americans, to win the sympathy of the Filipinos, and to convince them that they were
pro-Filipinos more than the Spaniards, gave Rizal official recognition. This was to make them
conform to the new government. Rizal acquired the official title of Philippine National Hero in
1901 under the country’s first American civil governor, William Howard Taft. On the
recommendation of Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, the Taft Commission renamed the district of
Morong into the Province of Rizal through Act 137 on June 11, 1901. This was one of the first
official steps taken by the Taft Commission to honor Rizal. Since then, Jose Rizal came to be
known as the National Hero.
It was also during the American times that Rizal’s death anniversary was made an official
holiday. On February 1, 1902, the Philippine Commission enacted Act. No. 345 which set
December 30 of each year as Rizal Day, and made it one of the ten official holidays of the
Philippines. As the nationalist spirit of the Filipinos was at the highest point during that time,
they were able to convince the government to erect a monument for Rizal. Thus, Act No. 243
was enacted on September 28, 1901 granting the right to use public land upon the Luneta in the
City of Manila upon which to erect a statue of Jose Rizal.
So important was the observation of Rizal Day that President Quirino approved on June 9, 1948
Republic Act No. 229 which prohibits cockfighting, horse racing and jai-alai every 30th of
December of each year, in order to have proper observance of Rizal Day.
To give ample time to prepare for the birth centenary of Jose Rizal in 1961, the Rizal National
Centennial Commission was created by Executive Order No. 52, issued by Pres. Ramon
Magsaysay on August 10, 1954 to undertake the construction of a National Cultural Shrine and
other memorials to be dedicated to Jose Rizal. JRNCC became Rizal Presidential Committee on
1 July 1962 after President Diosdado Macapagal issued Executive Order No. 14.
Jose Rizal’s vast role in the attainment of the nation’s freedom led to the issuance of Republic
Act 1425 on June 12, 1956. Commonly known as the Rizal Act, it was sponsored by Senator Claro
M. Recto. It requires the curricula of private and public schools, colleges and universities
courses to include the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo in order to educate the students about the concept of
nationalism.
A few days before the celebration of the birth centenary of Jose Rizal in 1961, Pres. Garcia
issued Executive Order No. 429 on June 2, creating a decoration intended to perpetuate Rizal’s
memory, to be known as the Rizal Pro Patria Award. It was to be awarded by the President of the
Philippines to those who have rendered outstanding work for the benefit of their community.
Among the recipients of this decoration in the past were N. V. M. Gonzalez, Alejandro Roces,
Juan Nakpil, Felipe Padilla De Leon, and Wilfredo Ma. Guerero.
In Manila streets were named with reference to the national hero, Jose Rizal. In Sampaloc,
two streets are named after his pen names, Laong Laan and Dimasalang. Blumentritt, a main
thoroughfare, was named after Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt, Rizal’s friend, while Dapitan street
situated near the University of Santo Tomas was named after a municipality in Zamboanga del
Norte, where Rizal was deported in 1892. Other street names have references to Rizal’s novels
such as Sisa, Basilio, and Simoun.
Rizal monuments are concrete memorials to his legacy. The most prominent is the Rizal
monument in Manila, unveiled on December 30, 1913 in line with the 17th Anniversary of the
martyrdom of Jose Rizal. However, the Rizal monument in the town Daet in Camarines Norte
holds the distinction of the first ever erected in honor of Rizal.
