Week 1: Rizal Law and 19th Century Philippines Flashcards
(9 cards)
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.”
Republic Act 1425 (R.A. 1425), also known as the Rizal Law
The strongest opposition to the Rizal Law came from….?
The Catholic Church
He was among the prominent defenders of the Rizal Law, and was the law’s author.
Sen. Claro M. Recto
What did the supporters of the bill maintain?
They maintained that the law would uplift the Filipino sense of identity and nationalism.
The Rizal Law was passed with certain provisions that served as a compromise between the opposing sides. What is one of the compromises?
Exemptions are given to those who feel that reading Rizal’s novels damages their faith, provided they file a sworn statement stating such as stated in Sec. 1 of the Rizal Law.
What was Spain going through in the 19th century?
- Spain was in turmoil, especially when France conquered it.
- In the Philippines, Spain had no clear program for uplifting the country’s economy.
Governor Generals initiated reforms in commerce and agriculture but were not enough to boost economic growth.
- Governors General who were assigned to the Philippines failed to implement effective policies that would promote development, yet returned to Spain richer.
- The colonizers failed to implement effective policies of cultural and educational advancement.
- Catholicism was still used as a tool for the subjugation of Filipinos, and friars were very powerful, which made them de facto administrators.
- Inequalities among social classes, discrimination, injustices, corruption, and slavery were rampant.
These injustices and social ills suffered by Filipinos became the subject of protest of the Propaganda Movement.
What is the Propaganda Movement?
It aimed to expose the worsening conditions in the Philippines and ask for reforms needed to improve the lives of the Filipinos.
- Its members came from wealthy middle class families in the Philippines.
- Propagandists discussed the social conditions in the Philippines in the 19th century.
What are the three works created by the Propagandists which exposed the “social ills”?
- Monarchism in the Philippines by Marcelo H. del Pilar
- The Distressing Situation of the Philippines by Graciano Lopez-Jaena
- On the Indolence of the Filipinos by Dr. Jose Rizal
When was the Rizal Law (RA 1425) passed?
June 12, 1956
