On dying Filipino patriotism, does the passage of Rizal Law really warranted its objectives?

The Senate Bill No.438 entitled An Act to Make Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo Compulsory Reading Matters in All Public and Private Schools, Colleges and Universities and for Other Purposes was proposed by Senator Claro M. Recto for he believed that reading the novels of Rizal would strengthen the Filipinism among youth and would foster nationalism and patriotism. Senator Jose P. Laurel, the sponsor of the SB 438, believed that the novels and ideas of Rizal would open the mind of the Filipinos to the effects of colonization and teach how to live the way characterized by strong love for the country and strong desire to build a great nation, thus these ideas should be exposed to youth. These two educated nationalist desired the future generations to independently stand and govern the nation, away from foreign impacts. Congressmen Jesus Paredes and Arturo Tolentino also believed in reliving the kind of life Rizal led and his vision for the country among youth because the youth shall serve as future leaders in the future generations. Also, similar version of the bill which was House Bill No. 5561 was filed by Representative Jacobo Gonzales of First District of Laguna. He said, “The bill selects the writings of Rizal because he is the greatest of our national heroes, the staunchest apostle of nationalism, the greatest man the Malayan race has ever produced and a universal genius and hero of humanity. We have chosen the Noli and the Fili for in their pages we see our lives as before a mirror our defects as well as our strengths, our virtues as well as our vices.”

In general, the following are the objectives conceived by authors, sponsors and supporters of the Rizal Bills: First, to rededicate the life of youth to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which, our heroes lived and died. Next, to honor our heroes, particularly national hero, Jose Rizal for their devotion of their lives and works that shaped Filipino character. Lastly, to suffuse the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly El Fili and Noli, which are a constant and inspiring source of patriotism to the mind of youth, especially in their formative years in schools. I think those objectives were validated as the Senate Bill No. 438 and House Bill No. 5561 by Senator Claro M. Recto and Congressman Jacobo Gonzales were signed and converted by President Ramon Magsaysay into Republic Act 1425 or Rizal Law.

Researchers say, learning about heroes inspires and motivates youth to become heroic themselves and exhibit the cherished values, admired qualities, ways of overcoming challenges and heroic acts that the heroes possessed or done. Students can learn from Jose Rizal’s experiences and life and be inspired and acquire his values and beliefs such as patriotism. Personally, from what I have learned in class, I am eager to finish my education despite the struggles and doubt around me just like Jose Rizal who was bullied in his early education in Biñan and took exams starving and had biscuits as breakfast when he was short on fund abroad. Also, literature can play a significant role in shaping a country’s destiny and history because it can be an instrument to awaken national spirit. For example, the novel Max Havelaar written by Eduard Douwes Dekker, which tells the story of a Dutch colonial leader and his treatment of Indonesian people, ignited the Indonesian youth’s spirit of nationalism that led to the Awakening Movement in 1908. Of course, another great example is the novels of Rizal that is a wake up call for Filipinos and indirectly sparked the revolution. According to Tullock in his article “America Will Be!” — The Importance of Literature and History in Teaching Patriotism to Children, literature is one of the great touchstones of both pride and open-mindedness simultaneously and it must be used to foster both to the youth. This modern tendencies of patriotic education is part of the American children’s curriculum. This may play a huge role in the country’ sense of patriotism given the fact that in a 2021 statistics, 85% of Americans consider themselves as being patriotic, and 64% even own an American flag. It is evident that literature can boost the citizens’ sense of patriotism and nationalism, especially youth. Teaching the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo would impart patriotism to the youth and influence self-reliance, self-respect and freedom.

In conclusion, the passage of Rizal Bills into law warranted the objectives conceived by sponsors in 1956. Teaching courses about Rizal’s life, works and writings particularly Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, having libraries with the adequate amount of Rizal’s novels, and translating, printing and distributing these novels free of charge would lead the growth of sense of patriotism among the youth, honoring the hero they’re studying about and suffuse Rizal’s ideals and values from his writings.

References:

http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2011/08/why-study-rizal.html?m=1#:~:text=The%20Rizal%20Law%2C%20enacted%20in,in%20shaping%20the%20Filipino%20character

https://www.doinggoodtogether.org/dgt-newsletter/why-heroes-matter

https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/america-will-be-the-importance-of-literature-and-history-in-teaching-patriotism-to-children

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thejakartapost.com/amp/life/2016/05/20/how-literature-awakens-nationalism-in-times-of-uncertainty.html

https://www.statista.com/topics/2482/patriotism-in-the-us/#topicHeader__wrapper

College essay # 3