This document discusses the national symbols of the Philippines as mandated by law, including the national flag, anthem, coat of arms, language, motto, sport, tree, flower, bird, and gem. It notes that while Rizal is not officially designated as the national hero by law, he has remained the most popular choice for this role due to his significant contributions and ideals. The document questions how relevant Rizal's life and works are in addressing today's crises in the Philippines. It provides a reading list related to Rizal and Philippine nationalism.

1. ZGE 1109
LIFE AND WORKS OF
RIZAL
Prof.Aimee A. Dizon
Department of Social Sciences

2. National Symbols mandated by law:
• National flag - Republic Act No. 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the
Philippines
• National Anthem
• Coat of Arms
• National Language:
In any case Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution states that:
“The national language of the Philippines is Filipino. As it evolves, it shall be
further developed and enriched on the basis of existing Philippine and other
languages.”

3. Cont..
• National Motto:
Republic Act No. 8491 states that the national motto shall be: Maka-Diyos,
Maka-Tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa
• National Sport – Arnis
Republic Act No. 9850 which was signed into law by President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo on December 11, 2009, made arnis the national martial art
and sport of the Philippines.

4. Cont…
• National Tree – Narra
In 1934, the American Governor General Frank Murphy declared the narra
as the national tree, through Proclamation No. 652
• National Flower – Sampaguita
It was also Murphy who declared the sampaguita as the national flower in
the same proclamation.

5. Cont….
• National Bird
It was declared the national bird by President Fidel V. Ramos in 1995
through Proclamation No. 615. It is currently critically endangered.
• National Gem – South sea pearl
President Fidel V. Ramos contributed yet again to our list of national
symbols by declaring the south sea pearl, also known as the Philippine pearl as
the national gem in 1996 with Proclamation No. 905

6. What happens now to the other national
symbols?
Why is it that despite the absence of mandate of the law,
Rizal remained to be the most popular choice for national
hero?

7. Who is Jose Rizal?

9. Therefore;
As one respected Filipino historian once said:
“Jose Rizal is everywhere yet is nowhere.”

10. Possible reasons why we are still lost….
• Either we have not read him
• Or having read him but have not understood him
• Or having understood him but still ignore him…

11. Life and Works of Rizal in present time..
How relevant is Rizal in today’s crises?
THEREFORE,
In what sense can we make this course irrelevant in
our times?

12. Reading List:
• Romero, Ma. Corona S, et al. Rizal and Philippine Nationalism. San Mateo: Thinkbook
Enterprises,2018.
• Constantino, Renato. The Making of a Filipino: A Story of Philippine Colonial Politics. QC:
R.Constantino, 1982, pp. 244-247.Jose B. Laurel Jr. “The Trials of the Rizal Bill,”Historical
Bulletin. Vol. 4, No. 2 (1960): 130-139
• Republic Act 1425: The Rizal Law
http://www.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-1425/