Why Study Rizal?

It is of great importance that students understand the rationale behind having to take up a Rizal course
in college. For high school students, the Noli Me Tangere and the El Filibusterismo are injected into the
Filipino subject as part of the overall curriculum. In tertiary education, however, Rizal is a subject
required of any course, in any college or university in the Philippines.

Usually, during the first day of the course, the professor asks the well-overused questions:

Why study Rizal?

What is the importance of studying Rizal?

Why is Rizal one of the minor subjects taken up in college?

Why is Rizal included in the course outline?

What relevance does Rizal have in college education?

The answer to such questions can be summed up in two points:

First and foremost, because it is mandated by law.

Secondly, because of the lessons contained within the course itself.

Let us discuss those reasons one by one:

WHY STUDY RIZAL: BECAUSE IT IS MANDATED BY LAW

The teaching of Jose Rizal’s life, works, and writings is mandated by Republic Act 1425, otherwise known
as the Rizal Law. Senator Jose P. Laurel, the person who sponsored the said law, said that since Rizal was
the founder of Philippine nationalism and has contributed much to the current standing of this nation, it
is only right that the youth as well as all the people in the country know about and learn to imbibe the
great ideals for which he died. The Rizal Law, enacted in 1956, seeks to accomplish the following goals:

To rededicate the lives of youth to the ideals of freedom and nationalism, for which our heroes lived and
died

To pay tribute to our national hero for devoting his life and works in shaping the Filipino character
To gain an inspiring source of patriotism through the study of Rizal’s life, works, and writings.

WHY STUDY RIZAL: BECAUSE OF THE LESSONS CONTAINED WITHIN THE COURSE

Aside from those mentioned above, there are other reasons for teaching the Rizal course in Philippine
schools:

To recognize the importance of Rizal’s ideals and teachings in relation to present conditions and
situations in the society.

To encourage the application of such ideals in current social and personal problems and issues.

To develop an appreciation and deeper understanding of all that Rizal fought and died for.

To foster the development of the Filipino youth in all aspects of citizenship.

Learning about the life of Jose Rizal is essential to anyone who has ever experienced colonialism and
how the imperialist country that dominates the colony exerts rules and regulations that are not always
fair. In Rizal's case, his country (the Philippines) was once a colony of Spain. As it often happens, Spain
was making demands and setting rules that hurt the Pilipino community. Rizal was one of the first
opponents of such regulations and he was both outspoken and actively participating in different
manifestations to denounce the injustice.

As a typical martyr of a cause, Rizal stood out from other protesters in that he was poised, extremely
well-educated (he was a medical doctor), intelligent, charismatic, and loved by the people. Those are the
main characteristics of a true leader, and Rizal possessed them all. This means that he could also make a
great study on leadership styles. He was a warrior without the need for war, and his fight against the
injustices committed against his country were both truthful and worthy.

Another factor on martyrdom is sacrifice. Rizal ultimately paid with his own life the unfair tactics of
factions who accused him falsely of belonging to sectarian movements.

Another awesome study in leadership, Rizal represents every man and woman who has ever lost their
own lives to the consequences of the very cause that they tried to go against. Ultimately, it took a long
time to get to where the Philippines finally got their independence from Spain. Therefore, Rizal's
influence over the independence movement was both symbolic and necessary for this significant and
historic change to happen.
The Importance of Studying Rizal

The academic subject on the life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal was not mandated by law for nothing.
Far from being impractical, the course interestingly offers many benefits that some contemporary
academicians declare that the subject, especially when taught properly, is more beneficial than many
subjects in various curricula.

The following are just some of the significance of the academic subject:

1. The subject provides insights on how to deal with current problems

There is a dictum, “He who controls the past controls the future.” Our view of history forms the manner
we perceive the present, and therefore influences the kind of solutions we provide for existing problems.
Jose Rizal course, as a history subject, is full of historical information from which one could base his
decisions in life. In various ways, the subject, for instance, teaches that being educated is a vital
ingredient for a person or country to be really free and successful.

2. It helps us understand better ourselves as Filipinos

The past helps us understand who we are. We comprehensively define ourselves not only in terms of
where we are going, but also where we come from. Our heredity, past behaviors, and old habits as a
nation are all significant clues and determinants to our present situation. Interestingly, the life of a very
important national historical figure like Jose Rizal contributes much to shedding light on our collective
experience and identity as Filipino. The good grasp of the past offered by this subject would help us in
dealing wisely with the present.
3. It teaches nationalism and patriotism

Nationalism involves the desire to attain freedom and political independence, especially by a country
under foreign power, while patriotism denotes proud devotion and loyalty to one’s nation. Jose Rizal’s
life, works, and writings—especially his novels—essentially, if not perfectly, radiate these traits. For one
thing, the subject helps us to understand our country better.

4. It provides various essential life lessons

We can learn much from the way Rizal faced various challenges in life. As a controversial figure in his
time, he encountered serious dilemmas and predicaments but responded decently and high-mindedly.
Through the crucial decisions he made in his life, we can sense his priorities and convictions which
manifest how noble, selfless, and great the national hero was. For example, his many resolutions
exemplified the aphorism that in this life there are things more important than personal feeling and
happiness.

5. It helps in developing logical and critical thinking

Critical Thinking refers to discerning, evaluative, and analytical thinking. A Philosophy major, Jose Rizal
unsurprisingly demonstrated his critical thinking skills in his argumentative essays, satires, novels,
speeches, and written debates. In deciding what to believe or do, Rizal also proved his being a
reasonably reflective thinker, never succumbing to the irrational whims and baseless opinions of anyone.
In fact, he indiscriminately evaluated and criticized even the doctrines of the dominant religion of his
time. A course on Rizal’s life, works, and writings therefore is also a lesson in critical thinking.

6. Rizal can serve as a worthwhile model and inspiration to every Filipino

If one is looking for someone to imitate, then Rizal is a very viable choice. The hero’s philosophies, life
principles, convictions, thoughts, ideals, aspirations, and dreams are a good influence to anyone.
Throughout his life, he valued nationalism and patriotism, respect for parents, love for siblings, and
loyalty to friends, and maintained a sense of chivalry. As a man of education, he highly regarded
academic excellence, logical and critical thinking, philosophical and scientific inquiry, linguistic study, and
cultural research. As a person, he manifested versatility and flexibility while sustaining a strong sense of
moral uprightness.

7. The subject is a rich source of entertaining narratives

People love fictions and are even willing to spend for books or movie tickets just to be entertained by
made-up tales. But only a few perhaps know that Rizal’s life is full of fascinating non-fictional accounts.

For instance, it is rarely known that (1) Rizal was involved in a love triangle with Antonio Luna as also part
of the romantic equation; (2) Rizal was a model in some of Juan Luna’s paintings; (3) Rizal’s common-law
wife Josephine Bracken was ‘remarried’ to a man from Cebu and had tutored former President Sergio
Osmeña; (4) Leonor Rivera (‘Maria Clara’), Rizal’s ‘true love’, had a son who married the sister of the
former President of the United Nations General Assembly Carlos P. Romulo; (5) the Filipina beauty queen
Gemma Cruz Araneta is a descendant of Rizal’s sister, Maria; (6) the sportscaster Chino Trinidad is a
descendant of Rizal’s ‘first love’ (Segunda Katigbak); and (7) the original manuscripts of Rizal’s novel (Noli
and Fili) were once stolen for ransom, but Alejandro Roces had retrieved them without paying even a
single centavo.