MAPUA UNIVERSITY

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

MENDOZA, Paul Joseph S.
(RZL10/B2)
Writing Task I
Significance of R.A. 1425

The Rizal Bill became the Republic Act No. 1425, known as the Rizal Law. The full name of the law
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.
The first section of the law concerns mandating the students to read Rizals novels. The last two sections
involve making Rizals writings accessible to the public they require the schools to have a sufficient number of
copies in their libraries and mandate the publication of the works in major Philippine languages.

Rizal Law as a mandated subject.

o To rededicate the lives of youth to the ideals of freedom and nationalism, for which our heroes
lived and died.
o To pay tribute to our national hero for devoting his life and works in shaping the Filipino
character.
o To gain an inspiring source of patriotism through the study of Rizals life, works, and writings.

Concept of being a Hero

o We all know that being a hero means you have done something historical and very big to have an
effect in our country for the greater good. However, what does being a hero mean? Dr. Esteban
de Ocampo, a known historian, stated in his book about Rizal that a hero means a prominent or
central personage taking an admirable part in any remarkable action or event; a person of
distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, or fortitude in suffering; and a man honored after
death by public worship because of exceptional service to humanity. The true heroes of
Philippine history deserve to be called so for they did not have any idea that one day they will be
measured up; they just acted upon their principles. Therefore, the concept of being a hero is
simply to act based on your principle and having the thought of making your country a better
place for its people even if it costs ones life.

Rizal as a National hero?

o As for me, I consider Jose Rizal became the National hero because he fought from freedom in a
silent but powerful way. He expressed his love for the Philippines through his novels, essays,
articles and poems rather than a force of aggression. He was a very amazing person at his time.
He was humble, fighting for reforms through his writings instead of through a revolution. He
used his intelligence, talents and skills in a more peaceful way.
o Jose Rizal became a national hero of the Philippines as a reformist who advocated peacefully for
liberty rather than violent means. He was forerunner of Gandhi and along with Sum Yat Sen and
Tagone; the thought climate will change throughout Asia. His work and the work of others led to
the attrition of colonialism.

References: (1)http://ourhappyschool.com/history/importance-jose-rizal-subject (2) http://nhcp.gov.ph/the-

gates-to-heroism-defining-a-filipino-hero/ (3) https://prezi.com/mlta5lred8si/why-did-rizal-become-the-
philippine-national-hero/