Why Study Rizal: Because It Is Mandated by Law
Why Study Rizal: Because It Is Mandated by Law
1864
Rizal’s Birth and Early Childhood
Barely three years old, Rizal learned the
alphabet from his mother.
In Calamba, Laguna:
19 June 1861 – birth 1865
22 June 1861 – baptized When he was four years old, his sister
1864 - learned the alphabet from his Conception, the eighth child in the Rizal family,
mother died at the age of three. It was on this occasion
1865 - his sister Conception (8th child) that Rizal remembered having shed real tears
died at the age of three. for the first time.
Best Student in School On June 10, 1872, Jose together with his brother
went to Manila to grant his wish of enrolling Jose
In academic studies, Jose beat all Biñan boys. in San Juan de Letran. Jose Rizal took the
He surpassed them all in Spanish, Latin, and entrance examination and passed them with
other subjects. flying colors, and then he went back to Calamba
to stay for a while with his family and attend their
Some of his older classmates were jealous of his town fiesta only to find out that his father’s wish
intellectual superiority. They wickedly squealed changed instead of enrolling him to San Juan de
to the teacher whenever Jose had a fight outside Letran he wished to enroll him to Ateneo de
the school, and even told lies to discredit him Manila.
before the teacher’s eyes. Consequently the
teacher had to punish Jose. Thus, being an obedient child, upon his return to
Manila accompanied again by his brother
Life and Studies at Ateneo Paciano, they proceeded to Ateneo Municipal. At
first Father Magin Fernando, who was the
The Jesuits were considered the best educators college registrar, denied them of admittance for
of Spain, and perhaps of Europe, and so, when two reasons: Late for registration and Sickly and
they were permitted to return to the Philippines, undersize for his age. Jose Rizal was then
although their power to administer parishes was eleven years old.
restricted except in the remote regions of
Mindanao, the privilege of founding colleges, However, they sought the intercession of Manual
they had to apply to the City of Manila for Xerez Burgos, nephew of Father Burgos. As a
subsidies. That is why the college which began result, he was reluctantly admitted at the Ateneo.
to function in the year 1865 was called the
Ateneo Municipal. First Year in Ateneo (1972-73)
To enter the Ateneo, a candidate was subjected Jose Rizal belonged to the class composed of
to an entrance examination on Christian Spaniards, mestizos and Filipinos. His first
doctrine, reading, writing, grammar, and teacher was Fr. Jose Bech. As a newcomer and
elementary arithmetic. Jose did not take his knowing little Spanish, he was considered as
entrance examinations Jose did not remain in inferior and placed at the bottom of the class. He
Manila but returned first to his town to celebrate was an externo hence he was assigned to the
the fiesta of its patron saint; it was then that his Carthaginians, an occupant of the end of the
father changed his mind and decided to send line.
him to the Ateneo instead.
He proved he was no inferior for at the end of the
Since Mercado, the first surname of the family, month he became the emperor and received a
had come under suspicion of the authorities prize, a religious picture. To improve his
because it was the name used by Paciano when Spanish, Jose Rizal took private lesson in Santa
he was studying and working with Father Isabel College during the noon recess while
students were playing and gossiping. In the As a newcomer, Jose was at first put at the tail of
second half of the first year, his performance the class, but he was soon promoted and kept
declined and was not able to maintain his on being promoted so that at the end of one
academic supremacy that he held during his first month he had attained to the rank of Emperor. At
half of the term for the reason that he was the end of the term he obtained marks of
affected so much by the remarks of some excellent in all the subjects and in the
professors. He placed second at the end of the examinations. He had reason to feel proud of his
year although his grades were marked advancement; and so when he went home on
excellent. vacation that year, he ran alone to see his
mother in the prison and tell her the happy news.
According to AmbethOcampo there were only
twelve students in a class, nine of which, He must have uttered this exclamation on
including Jose Rizal, graduated sobresaliente learning from his mother that they had played
with the same excellent mark in all their subjects her a mean trick. The judge, who was a blind
in school year 1876-77. partisan of the friars having been a domestic of
theirs, told her that if she confessed her
In the first two terms the classes were divided culpability he would release her at once. With the
into groups of interns and externs: the first desire to see her children again, she pleaded
constituted the Roman Empire and the second, guilty; but the judge, instead of releasing her,
the Carthaginian Empire. In each empire there convicted her. In a few months the judge asked
were five dignitaries: Emperor, Tribune, her forgiveness for what he had done because
Decurion, Centurion, and Standard-Bearer. according to him his conscience hurt him, but the
These dignities were won by means of individual case had no remedy because it was already on
competitions in which it was necessary to catch appeal.
one’s adversary in error three times. The
empires considered themselves in perpetual Second year in Ateneo (1873-74)
warfare, and when an individual of one empire
was caught in error by one belonging to the The second year, Jose had the same professor
enemy empire, a point was counted in favor of as in the previous year; but instead of lodging
the latter. At the end of each week or two, the outside the City, he resided at No. 6
points in favor of each were added and the CalleMagallanes. At the end of the term he
empire, which obtained more point, was declared obtained a medal, and upon returning to his
winner. town, he again visited his mother in jail alone.
This was three months before her release.
There was a fraternity of Mary and Saint Louis
Gonzaga, to which only those who distinguished The rejoicing that her release produced in his
themselves in the class for their piety and spirit had much influence on the result of his
diligence could belong. This fraternity met on studies in the third year, for he began to win
Sundays and after mass held public programs in prizes in the quarterly examinations.
which poems were recited or debates were held.
With all these inducements it was only natural About that time he devoted himself to reading
that should be a spirit of emulation, a striving to novels, and one of those he enjoyed most was
surpass ones colleagues found in the Ateneo. Dumas’ (father) The Count of Monte Cristo, the
sufferings of the hero of twelve years. He also
The first professor Jose had was Fr. Jose Bech, asked his father to buy him a copy of The
whom he describes as a man of high stature; Universal History by Cesar Cantanu, and
lean body, bent forward; quick gait; ascetic according to himself he profited much from its
physiognomy, severe and inspired; small, perusal.
sunken eyes; sharp Grecian nose; thin lips
forming an arch with its sides directed toward the The family, who saw in Jose great aptitude for
chin." He was somewhat of a lunatic and of an study, decided to place him as intern or boarding
uneven humor; sometimes he was hard and little student in the college the following year. In the
tolerant and at other times he was gay and corner of the dormitory facing the sea and the
playful as a child. Among Jose’s classmates pier Jose passed his two years of internship.
were Peninsulares and sons of Peninsulares; Jose Rizal repented having neglected his studies
Francisco G. Oliva, very talented but not very the previous year. He studied harder this year
studious; Joaquin Garrido, endowed with a poor and regained his leadership composure and
memory but with much talent and industry; and became an emperor again.
Gonzalo Marzano, who occupied the throne of
Emperor. His Favorite Books
From the first days Jose learned to systematize ‘Count of Monte Cristo’ (Alexander
his work; he fixed a program of what he had to Dumas) – characterized by Edmond Dantes (the
do in the twenty-four hours of the day and did not hero) in prison, is spectacular escape from the
in the least deviate from it. Thus he disciplined dungeon of Chateau d’ If, the finding of buried
his will and subjected it to the commands of his treasure on the rocky island of Monte Cristo, and
reason. his dramatic revenge on his enemies who had
wronged him; An incident which demonstrates Jose’s
independence of character took place at this
‘Travels in the Philippines’ (Dr. Feodor Jagor) – a time. Fr. Leoncio Lopez, parish priest of the
German scientist-traveler who visited the town, who was a great friend of his father, also
Philippines in 1859-1860. What struck him most liked Jose as a little friend. He was cultured but
in this book were Jagor’s keen oberservations of at the same time timid and tender. One day
the defects of Spanish colonization and his Jose’s mother showed Father Lopez a poem of
prophecy that someday Spain would lose the his young friend and that the latter must have
Philippines and that America would come to copied it from a book. Jose, who heard this,
succeed her as colonizer; answered the priest violently, for which his
mother reprehended him. Afterward Father
‘Universal History’ (Cesar Cantu) – a non-fiction Lopez came to know from the Jesuits
historical work. He was able to acquire an themselves that Jose was a pupil who excelled
expensive set of this book by convincing his in poetry; and, in spite of his age, made a trip to
father that this book would be of great aid in his Manila expressly to apologize to Jose. That
studies and enabled him to win more prizes. gesture of Father Lopez’ won him Jose’s esteem
and they became good friends again, lending
Third year in Ateneo (187-75) each other the books they had.
Jose Rizal returned to Ateneo shortly before the Last year in Ateneo (1876-77)
classes began to start his junior year. He met his
mother and informed him that she was finally In the fifth years Jose had other professors: Frs.
released from prison, just as he predicted when Vilaclara and Mineves. He studied philosophy,
he visited her to her prison cell in Santa Cruz, physics, chemistry, and natural history, but his
Laguna. devotion to poetry was such that his professor in
philosophy advised him once to leave it, which
However, he was disappointed to the result of made him cry. But in his rest hours he continued
his class performance as in the previous year, cultivating the Muses under the direction of his
although his grades remained excellent in all old professor, Father Sanchez. Jose had then
subjects. He won a single medal in Latin. He written a short story (leyenda), which was only
failed to win a medal in Spanish because his slightly corrected by his professor, and a
spoken Spanish was not that fluent. A Spaniard dialogue, which was enacted at the end of the
who delivered Spanish with fluency and right course, alluding to the collegians’ farewell.
accentuation defeated him. However, philosophy, just and serve, inquiring
into the wherefores of things, interested him as
Fourth Year in Ateneo (1875-76) much as poetry; physics, drawing back the veil
that divine drama of nature was enacted, natural
On June 16, 1875, he became a boarder in history seemed to him somewhat uninteresting
Ateneo. He befriended his professor Fr. although he much liked the shells and
Francisco de Paula Sanchez, whom he regarded sometimes imagined seeing a goddess in each
as great educator and scholar. He inspired him shell he was on the shelf.
to write poetry and to study harder. Fr. Sanchez
recognized his God-given talents. Because of Jose was considered small of stature and he
the inspiration and recognition given, he tried to correct this defect by applying himself
regarded the Jesuit professor as “model of regularly to gymnastics in the college. He also
uprightness, earnestness, and love” for the engaged in other physical exercises, such as
advancement of his students. fencing. After his baccalaureate, he surprised his
family with his skill in handling the sword when
Consequently, he resumed his studies with vigor he gave an exhibition bout with the best
and dedication and topped all his classmates in swordsman of the town.
all subjects and won five medals at the end of
the school term. He also devoted time to painting and sculpture.
In drawing and painting he was under the
In the fourth year of his course he had Fr. guidance and direction of the Ateneo professor,
Francisco Sanchez as professor. Jose describes the Peninsula Don AugustinSaez, who honored
him as a model of rectitude, a solicitude, and him with his affection and consideration because
love for the student, and his studied of his progress. In sculpture his instructor was a
mathematics, rhetoric, and Greek, and he must Filipino, Romualdo de Jesus, who felt proud in
have progressed much, for at the end of the year the last years of his life of having had such an
he-obtained five medals, which pleased him excellent pupil.
immensely because with them I could repay my
father somewhat for his sacrifices. Although there was a great improvement in his
performance but his previous years of
His aptitude for poetry revealed itself performance made a great effect, he graduated
early, and from that time on he did not on March 23, 1877 (16 years old) and received
cease to cultivate it. the degree of Bachelor of Arts, with highest
honors and not a valedictorian.
Extra-Curricular Involvement Ateneo, who had been good to him during his
days in Ateneo, asking for advice in the choice of
-an emperor inside the classroom career. Unfortunately, Father Rector was in
-campus leader Mindanao and during those days it several
-active member and became a secretary, months to travel a letter from Manila to
the Marian Congregation Religious Mindanao. Consequently during his first
Society term (1877-78) in the University of Santo
-member of the Academy of Spanish Tomas he studied Cosmology, Metaphysics,
Literature and the Academy of Natural Theodicy and History of Philosophy.
Sciences
-poet It was during the school term (1878-79) that
-studied painting under the famous Rizal took up medicine, enrolling simultaneously
Spanish Painter, Agustin Saez in preparatory medical course and the regular
first year medical course.
-improved his sculpture talents under the
supervision of Romualdo de Jesus
The reasons why he studied medicine:
-Engaged in gymnastics and fencing and
continued the physical training under his
He wanted to be a physician so that he may cure
sports-minded Tio Manuel.
his mother’s failing eyesight.
Finishes Surveying course in Ateneo
(1878)
The Father Rector of the University, whom he
consulted for a choice of career, finally answered
During his term in University of Santo
his letter, and recommended medicine.
Tomas (1877 – 78), Rizal also studied at Ateneo;
he took the vocational course leading to a title
Decision to study abroad
of porito agrimensor (expert surveyor)). In those
days it should be remembered, the college for
After finishing the fourth year of his medical
boys in Manila offered vocational courses in
course, Rizal decided to study in Spain. He could
agriculture, commerce, mechanics and
no longer endure the rampant bigotry,
surveying.
discrimination, and hostility at UST. His uncle,
Antonio Rivera, Leonor’s father, encouraged him
Rizal’s unhappy days at UST. Rizal’s Ateneo boy
to go abroad. Both Paciano and Saturnina,
wonder, found the atmosphere at the UST a
whom he contacted secretly, were of similar
suffocating to his sensitive spirit. He was
opinion.
unhappy of this Dominican Institution of high
learning because:
For the first time, Rizal did not seek his parent’s
decision and blessing to go abroad, because he
the Dominican professors were hostile to knew that they, especially his mother will
him disapprove his plan. He did not also bring his
the Filipino students were racially beloved Leonor in his confidence. He had
discriminated, and enough common sense to know that Leonor,
the method of teachings were obsolete being a woman, and young and romantic at that,
and repressive could not keep a secret. Thus, Riza’s parent,
Leonor, and the Spanish authorities knew
Discontented days at UST nothing of his decision to go abroad in order to
finish his medical studies in Spain, where the
Fearful of the Spanish authorities who seem to professors were more tolerant and
frown on those Filipinos who learn too much, she understanding than those of the University of
warned her husband. “Do not send Jose again to Santo Tomas.
Manila. If gets to know too much, they will cut off
his head!” Jose, who was present in their family With his parent’s blessings and unknown to
council when his mother said this, was shocked. Spanish authorities, Rizal left Manila on May 8,
He knows her mother was a woman of education 1882. He went to Spain where he completed his
and culture: she even taught him and inspired university study, improved his knowledge in
him to write poetry; she came from a family of language and arts. At that time, the government
high learning – her own brother (and his uncle) in Spain was a constitutional monarchy.
Jose Alberto Alonso had been educated abroad
and could speak multiple Spanish, French, Secret departure on Spain
English and German.
Rizal’s departure in Spain was kept secret in
Rizal enters the university. In April 1877, Rizal, order to avoid detection by the colonial officials
who was barely 16 years old, matriculated in the and the friars. Even his own parents did not
University of Santo Tomas taking up Philosophy know that he was leaving. Only Uncle Antonio
and Letters. He enrolled in this course for two Rivera, Paciano and sisters and some close
reasons: (1) his father like it and (2) he was “still friends knew. Paciano gave him 700 pesos.
uncertain to what career to follow”. He had Saturnina gave hima diamond ring which helped
written to father Pablo Ramon, Rector of the him very much during his days of poverty in
Europe. To maintain his studies and Sojourn of Suez, the Red Sea terminal of the Suez
abroad, he needed a monthly allowance of 35 Canal.
pesos, and this amount Paciano promised to
send regularly through Uncle Antonio. Naples and Marseilles
Rizal used a passport obtained by a cousin From Port Said, the Djemnah proceed to its way
named “Jose Mercado”. To outwit the Spanish to Europe. On June 11, Rizal reached Naples.
authorities, he went to Calamba ostensibly to On the night of June 12, the steamer docked at
attain the town fiesta. A cryptic telegram by the French harbor of Marseilles.
Manuel T. Hidalgo from Manila arrived,
announcing that the Spanish steamer Salvadora Barcelona
was scheduled to sail Singapore. Early in
Morning in May 1, 1882, he left Calamba by At Marseilles, Rizal took the train for the last lap
carromata, reaching manila after 10 hours of for his trip to Spain. After the passport
travel. He had time to book travel. He had time to inspection on Port-Bou, Rizal continued his trip
book passage on the Salvadora, to write farewell by rail, finally reaching destination, Bacelona.
letters to his family and friends, and bid good-
bye to his friends. The kind Jesuit father, whom Rizal became a Mason
he visited to say adios, gave him letters of
recommendation to members of their Society in In Spain, Rizal came in contact with the liberal
Barcelona. He said also a tearful farewell and republican elements, most of whom were
meeting to his beloved, Leonor. This proved to Masons. Being young and lonely in foreign
be their last meeting, for they were destined country, he was easily impressed by the way of
never to meet again. the prominent Spanish attacked the government
and the Church.
Singapore
In due time, his friends who were Masons
During the voyage, Rizal keenly observed the persuade him to join Masonry. In 1883 he joined
persons and things around him and compared the Masonic Lodge Acacia in Madrid. His
him with those in Philippines. He was the only Masonic name was Dimasalang.
Filipino on board. His fellow passengers were
foreign travelers and some Spanish imployees Two reasons why he joined Masonry:
and merchants returning to Spain. “Almost all of
those men” he wrote, speaking of the Spanish The bad friars in the Philippines, by their
travelers, “spoke ill of the country for which they abuses unworthy of their priestly habit or
have gone for pecuniary reasons”. calling, Rizal drove to desperation and
Masonry.
After five days of sailing, the Salvadora reached He needed the help of Masons to fight the
the English colony in Singapore. For the first bad friars in the Philippines, for Masonry,
time, Rizal saw Singapore and was impressed to Rizal, was a shield to use in his fight
by its progress and beautiful sights. He against the evil forces of tyranny.
particularly admired “the confidence which the
native Singapore seemed to have their Rizal became a master of Masons in Lodge
government” surely a great contrast to “the fear Solidaridad on November 15, 1890. Later, on
of their shown in the Filipinos”. February 15, 1892, he became a Master Mason
of Le Grand Orient France in Paris.
First trip through Suez Canal
Rizal’s salute to Luna and Hidalgo.
In Singapore, Rizal boarded in Djemnah, a
French steamer, which was sailing to Europe. It At the National Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid
was Larger and cleaner than the Salvadora. He in 1884, both Luna and Hidalgo won signal
tried to Speak French in some passengers, but honors for their country. They entered this art
to his surprise, the bookish French which he competition against many painters in Europe,
learned in Ateneo could not be understood. He and emerged triumphant.
had to speak it with a mixture of Latin and
Spanish words, aided with much gesticulation Studies completed in Spain.
and frequent sketching on paper, to him
understood. Rizal completed his medical course in Spain. He
was awarded the degree of Licentiate in
A week after leaving Singapore, the steamer Medicine by the Universidad Central de Madrid
reached Point de Galle. In the morning of May on June 21, 1884. The next academic year
18, voyage was resumed, and in the afternoon (1884-85) he studied and passed all subjects
on the same day the steamer docked at the leading to the degree of Doctor of
Colomb, Ceylon. From Colombo the steamer Medicine. “Due to the fact that he did not present
crossed the Indian Ocean to Café Guardafui in the thesis required for graduation nor paid the
Africa. On May 18, he saw for the first time the fees, he was not awarded his Doctor’s Diploma”.
coast of Africa.On June 2, he arrived in the city
Paris to Berlin After the Noli came off the press in Berlin, Rizal
planned to visit the important places in Europe.
After completing his studies in Madrid, Rizal Dr. Maximo Viola agreed to be his traveling
went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize componion. Rizal had received Paciano’s
in ophthalmology. remittance of 1,000 pesos which was forwarded
by Juan Luna to Paris. He immediately paid
In Gay Paris (1885-86) Viola the sum of 300 pesos which the latter
kindly loaned so that the Noli could be printed.
Shortly after terminating his study in Universidad Having paid his debt, and with adequate fund in
Central de Madrid, Rizal, who was then 24 years his pocket, he was ready to see Europe before
old and already a physician, decided to go to returning to Calmba. First, he and Viola visited
Paris in order to acquire more knowledge Potsdam, a city near berlin, which Frederick the
in ophthalmology. Great made famous.
After sightseeing in Lausanne, Rizal and Viola Some of the other guests knew that Rizal was a
left on a little boat, crossing the foggy Leman skilled painter and asked him to draw a portrait
Lake to Geneva. of Segunda. He obliged, and reluctantly worked
on a pencil sketch of the girl. "From time to time,
Rizal in Italy she looked at me, and I blushed."
From Hongkong, she arrived in Dapitan in that two nations (Spain and the Philippines)
February, 1895 with his blind foster father, came into an agreement, through blood
George Taufer, and a Filipina named Manuela compact, for purposes of friendship and
Orlac. Rizal's fame as an opthalmic surgeon alliance. As a colonizer, you do not simply
reached overseas, and one of Rizal's imposed leadership and power to the country
friends, Julio Llorente referred the group to Rizal. you colonize, but you have to learn how to earn
Rizal and Bracken instantly fell in love with each the attention of the foreign land you are
and in just one month, they agreed to marry colonizing so that all your plans will be
which appalled and disturbed Taufer. However, successful.
the parish priest of Dapitan, Father Pedro
Obach, refused to do so unless they be Not all of his friends appreciated his intention of
permitted by the Bishop of Cebu. colonizing foreign nations, but this is exactly the
purpose of the treaty that started between
Week 4 Lesson Legaspi and Sikatuna. The said treaty or
THE MORGA AND RIZAL’S SEARCH FOR agreement is a very serious matter for both
ORIGINS parties because the act of drinking mixed blood
into a cup of wine meant a lot than just a simple
promise to keep.
1. PACTO DE SANGRE: WHY WERE
CONQUERED?
Pacto de sangre was used to signify the
PACTO DE SANGRE( Blood Compact) right of Filipinos to withdraw from the pact their
ancestor had entered into”.
1565- BOHOL, the blood compact happens The treaty can signify our intention to
involving Sikatuna and Legazpi. withdraw from the pact their ancestors had
entered into previously. This is the same
The two principal narratives strands were intention of the blood compact that took place
Marcelo del Pilar and Andres Bonifacio different during the Katipunan for wanting to withdraw
owing to divergent political projects. from the hands of the spaniards.
WHITE- death and defeat Radiac- emphasis on his formative years, and
has clinical fascination,
Under Spanish colonial rule, the popularly of
cockfighting (like the prevalence of the anting- Guierrero- opus is magnum. It’s a massive tome
anting amulets widely used in the pit) could be has 24 pagesof bibliographical references, study
attributed to the game’s subtle subversion of the is basically an extended essay and a tentative
dominant colonial order. one.
Guerrero sees Rizal as the first man to use The colonial state’s maneuver of implicating
the term Filipino in its present sense, and members of the secular clergy as leading as
stresses the role in the revolution- also paints a separatist uprising and executing Mariano
cruel picture of Rizal sitting comfortably in a Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora made
ships cabin, filibuster a terror-filled word. The members of
the native elite who actually planned the failed
Radaic –Rizal is “a mystery still tobe revealed” a revolution- Maximo Inocencio, Crisanto de los
sphinix when even in the impulsive confessions Reyes and Enrique Paraiso were condemned to
of his youth death.
In 1871, when Jose was ten years old, his His zeal as a social reformer, his dedicated
mother was accused of poisoning a neighbor, efforts to improve his countrymen, all his patriotic
forced to walk twenty miles to prison and held labors were directed to one goal--- reforms. If we
there for over 2 years before being released. His revere Rizal, if we wish to honor him, if we want
elder brother Paciano, a student of Father to follow his footsteps, our task is clear.
Burgos, the leader of garrotted priests, narrowly
escaped arrest and was forced to discontinue his That task is to make Rizal obsolete. To do this,
education. Under these circumstances, in 1882, we must eradicate the ills of present-day society
with his brother’s support, Jose left quietly for the so that Rizal’s teachings will become what they
relative freedom of Spain to continue his medical were meant to be, a mirror of the past; and the
studies. future Philippine society, a realization of Rizal’s
dream. Rizal would then be obsolete as a critic
He spent the next 5 years in Europe, studying on of the present, although he will forever remain
and off, but also traveling widely--- to Bismarck’s the courageous and wise commentator of the
Germany and Gladstone’s England, as well as past whose life and works guided his people to
Austro- Hungary, Italy, and France--- and picking worthy achievments.
up French, German and English with the ease of
an obsessive and gifted polyglot. Europe Tullisanes in Cadillacs
affected him decisively. The two most
astonishing features of Noli Metangere are its In page after page of his Noli Metangere and El
scale and its style. Its characters come from Filibusterismo we read indictments of our
every stratum of late colonial society, from the present society. In Chapter IX El Filibusterism,
liberal-minded peninsular Captain-General down Simoun addressing the Friars and the military
to the racial tiers of colonial society—creoles, and civil functionaries, said, “The evil is not in
mestizos, chinos to the illiterate indio masses. Its that there are tulisanes in the mountains and
pages are crowded with Dominicans, shady uninhabited parts--- the evil lies in the tulisanes
lawyers, abused acolytes, corrupt policemen, in the towns and cities” when we consider the
Jesuits, small-town caciques, mestizo school widespread corruption in our society today, we
girls, ignorant peninsular carpetbaggers, hired can agree with Simoun’s verdict.
thugs, despairing individuals, social climbing
A tulisan is someone who disregards and
devotes, dishonest journalist, actresses, nuns,
contemptuous of the law and who by fair means
gravediggers, artisans, gamblers, peasants,
or foul, is bent n getting for himself whatever he
market-women, and so on. The context is
desires regardless of the consequences of
located in the colonial capital Manila. This
antisocial actions.
restriction made clear to Rizal’s readers that “the
Philippines” was a society in itself even though it A Broken People
did not have yet a common name. That he was
the first to imagine this social whole explains why In the indolence of the Filipinos, Rizal rebuked
he is remembered today as the first Filipino. his countrymen for their lack if nationalist
sentiment by stating that “A man in the
Our task: To make Rizal obsolete Philippines is only an individual, he is not a
member of the nation.” Many Filipinos today, like
Prof. Renato Constantino
the Filipinos Rizal was referring to, are working
The validity of Rizal’s teachings today is both a merely for their own interests, hardly taking to
measure of his greatness and of our lack of consideration the common good.
greatness as a nation. Rizal’s ideas for our
Basilios in our Midst communications and education languishing
under its most backward state. It was because of
Basilio forgot his past, the murder of Crispin, the this social malady that social evils like inferiority
death of Sisa. These experiences were not complex, cowardice, timidity and false pride
enough to motivate him to work so that others pervaded nationally and contributed to the decay
would not be victims of the injustices his family of social life. This stimulated and shaped Rizal’s
has endured. Instead of making him more life philosophy to contain if not eliminates these
determined to defend his fellowmen from social ills.
oppression, his experience with cruelty and
injustice turned him into a timid man who wanted Educational Philosophy
only to be left in peace.
Rizal’s concept of the importance of education is
A Nation Of Rizal clearly enunciated in his work entitled instruction
wherein he sought improvements in the schools
Rizal was never like Basilio. Rizal’s personal and in the methods of teaching. He maintained
goals were always in accordance with what he that the backwardness of his country during the
considered to be in the best interest of the Spanish ear was not due to the Filipinos’
country. We need a nation of heroes who live indifference, apathy or indolence as claimed by
and work with patriotic dedication to realize the rulers, but to the neglect of the Spanish
Rizal’s dream. authorities in the islands. For Rizal, the mission
of education is to elevate the country to the
From Dream To Reality highest seat of glory and to develop the people’s
mentality. Since education is the foundation of
To make him obsolete does not mean to forget society and a prerequisite for social
him. We have realized Rizal’s dream and progress, Rizal claimed that only through
appreciate his greatness because of the great education could the country be saved from
values of his ideals. When Rizal becomes domination.
obsolete we will no longer be infected with
Donya Victorinas, because the triumph of For Rizal, Education is important in the
nationalism will make us proud of our race, no development of a nation and its people.
Basilios because everyone will consider it Rizal peaches the need of education and said
beneath his manhood to be considered only with that “ignorance is slavery.”
personal, material success, no Simouns
motivated by personal revenge. A reorientation
of our ways and our thoughts along nationalist Rizal’s philosophy of education,
lines will fulfill the dreams of Rizal and at the therefore, centers on the provision of proper
same time make them obsolete as goals motivation in order to bolster the great social
because the dream will have become a reality. forces that make education a success, to create
in the youth an innate desire to cultivate his
Philosophies in Life of Rizal intelligence and give him life eternal.
Being one of the prominent representatives of 1. The bondage and slavery of the
Filipino personalities, Jose Rizal is a fit subject conquered ;
whose life philosophy deserves to be 2. the Spanish government’s requirement of
recognized. forced labor and force military service
upon the n natives;
Having been a victim of Spanish brutality early in 3. the abuse of power by means of
his life in Calamba, Rizal had thus already exploitation;
formed the nucleus of an unfavorable opinion of 4. the government ruling that any complaint
Castillian imperialistic administration of his against the authorities was criminal; and
country and people. 5. Making the people ignorant, destitute and
fanatic, thus discouraging the formation of
Pitiful social conditions existed in the Philippines a national sentiment
as late as three centuries after his conquest in
Spain, with agriculture, commerce, Rizal’s guiding political philosophy proved to be
the study and application of reforms, the 2. influential factors in human life;
extension of human rights, the training for 3. racial problems;
self government and the arousing of spirit of 4. social constant;
discontent over oppression, brutality, 5. social justice;
inhumanity, sensitiveness and self love. 6. social ideal;
7. poverty and wealth;
8. reforms;
Ethical Philosophy 9. youth and greatness;
10. history and progress;
The study of human behavior as to whether it is 11. FuturePhilippine
good or bad or whether it is right or wrong is that
science upon which Rizal’s ethical philosophy
was based. The fact that the Philippines was The above dealt with man’s evolution and his
under Spanish domination during Rizal’s time led environment, explaining for the most part human
him to subordinate his philosophy to moral behavior and capacities like his will to live; his
problems. This trend was much more needed at desire to possess happiness; the change of his
that time because the Spaniards and the mentality; the role of virtuous women in the
Filipinos had different and sometimes conflicting guidance of great men; the need for elevating
morals. The moral status of the Philippines and inspiring mission; the duties and dictates of
during this period was one with a lack of man’s conscience; man’s need of practicing
freedom, one with predominance of foreign gratitude; the necessity for consulting reliable
masters, one with an imposition of foreign people; his need for experience; his ability to
religious worship, devotion, homage and racial deny; the importance of deliberation; the
habits. This led to moral confusion among the voluntary offer of man’s abilities and possibilities;
people, what with justice being stifled, limited or the ability to think, aspire and strive to rise; and
curtailed and the people not enjoying any the proper use of hearth, brain and spirit-all of
individual rights. these combining to enhance the intricacies,
beauty and values of human nature. All of the
To bolster his ethical philosophy, Dr. Rizal had above served as Rizal’s guide in his continuous
recognized not only the forces of good and evil, effort to make over his beloved Philippines.
but also the tendencies towards good and evil.
As a result, he made use of the practical method
of appealing to the better nature of the
conquerors and of offering useful methods of
solving the moral problems of the conquered.
Social Philosophy
1. man in society;