1.-Life-and-Works-of-Rizal.Lesson 1 and lesson 2

history

1. Life and Works of Rizal

2. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425 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.

3. The World of Rizal’s Times

4. February 19, 1861 (4 months before Rizal’s birth) Czar Alexander II, issued a proclamation emancipating 22,500,000 serfs. June 19, 1861 (when Rizal was born), the American Civil War (1861-1865) was raging furiously in the United States over the issue of Negro Slavery. September 22, 1863 , President Abraham Lincoln issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation. The Times of Rizal saw the flowering of Western imperialism. While imperialist powers were enjoying the fruits of their colonial rule Spain who was once upon a time the “Mistress of the World”, was stagnating as a world power.

5. The Philippines of Rizal’s Time s Among these evils of the Spaniards in the Philippines were as follows: Instability of Colonial Administration. * King Ferdinand VII (1808-1833) marked the beginning of political chaos in Spain. * Political instability affected the Philippines because it brought frequent periodic shifts in colonial policies and periodic rigodon of colonial officials.

6. The Philippines of Rizal’s Times Corrupt Colonial Officials * General Rafael de Izquierdo (1871-73) a boastful and ruthless governor general aroused the anger of the Filipino by executing the innocent Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, the Martyr of 1872. * Admiral Jose Malcampo (1874-77) was a good moro fighter but was an inept and weak administrator. * General Fernando Primo de Rivera (1880-83) and (1897-98) enriched himself by accepting bribes from gambling casinos in manila which he scandalously permitted to operate.

7. The Philippines of Rizal’s Times Corrupt Colonial Officials * General Valeriano Weyler (1888-91) arrived in Manila a poor man and returned to Spain a millionaire. * General Camilo de Polavieja (1896-97) an able militarist but heartless governor general, was widely detested by the Filipino people by executing Dr. Rizal.

8. The Philippines of Rizal’s Times Philippine Representation in Spanish Cortes * From 1810-1813, the Philippines experienced his first period representation in the Spanish Cortes. It was fruitful with beneficent results for the welfare of the colony. * Ventura de los Reyes – history demonstrate as the first Philippine delegate who took active part in framing of the Constitution of 1812. * 1837 the representation of the overseas colonies (including Philippines) in the Spanish Cortes was abolish.

9. The Philippines of Rizal’s Times Human Rights Denied to Filipinos * Since the adaptation of the Spanish constitution of 1812 and other constitution in succeeding years, the people of Spain enjoyed freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of association and other human rights (except freedom of religion). But the Spanish authorities who cherished these human rights or constitutional liberties in Spain denied them to the Filipinos in Asia.

10. The Philippines of Rizal’s Times No Equality Before the Law * Spanish missionaries who brought Christianity into the Philippines taught us that men regardless of color and race are children of God and such they are brothers, and equal before God. * Leyes de Indias ( Laws of the Indies) These law were promulgated by the Christian monarch of Spain to protect the rights of native in Spain ‘s overseas colonies and to promote their welfare. * The Spanish Penal Code – imposed heavier penalties on native Filipinos or mestizos and lighter penalties on the Spaniards.

11. The Philippines of Rizal’s Times Maladministration of Justice The court of Justice in the Philippines during Rizal’s time were: * Notoriously corrupt * Injustice as far as the Filipino were concern * Costly, Partial and Slow Racial Discrimination * During Rizal’s time a white skin, a high nose, and Castilians lineage were badge of vaunted superiority.

12. The Philippines of Rizal’s Times Frailocracy * Owing to the Spanish political philosophy of union of church and state, there arose a unique form of government in Hispanic Philippines called “ frailocracy ” ( frailocracia ) – a government of friars. The friars (Augustinians, Dominicans, and Franciscans) controlled the religious education life of the Philippines and later they came to acquire tremendous political power, influence and riches.

13. The Philippines of Rizal’s Times Forced Labor * Known as Polo – the compulsory labor imposed by the Spanish authorities on adult Filipino male from 16-60 years old render a forced labor 40 days a year. * Royal decree of July 12, 1883, implemented by the new regulation promulgated by the council of state of February 3, 1885 increase the minimum age of Polistas (those who performed a forced labor) from 16 years old to 18 years old and reduced the days of labor from 40 days to 15 days. * The same royal decree provide that not only native Filipinos must rendered the force labor but also male Spanish residents from 18-60 years old. * To avoid the Polo, they will be paying the Falla , which was a sum of money paid to the government to be exempted from the polo.

14. The Philippines of Rizal’s Times Haciendas Owned by the Friars * During Rizal’s time, the Spanish friars belonging to different religious orders were the richest landlords, for the owned the best haciendas (agricultural lands) in the Philippines.

15. The Philippines of Rizal’s Times Guardia Civil * The last hated symbol of Spanish tyranny was the Guardia Civil (Constabulary). * Created by the Royal Decree of February 12, 1852 as amended by the Royal Decree on March 24, 1888 for the purpose of maintaining the peace and order in the Philippine. * The Guardia Civil in the Philippines had rendered meritorious services in suppressing the bandits, but later they became infamous for their rampant abuses.