This document provides background information on Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero. It discusses his early life, including being born with a large head that almost caused his mother's death. It also outlines the legislation behind the Rizal Law that mandates the study of Rizal in colleges. Key points covered include Rizal's full name, the origin of his family name, his childhood experiences, and the legal basis for requiring college students to take a course on his life and works.

2. HIS 007 : LIFE and
WORKS of RIZAL
Edwin B. Bartolay

3. Legal Basis of Rizal Course
Recognizing one’s purpose and
potential to become a hero
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
1. discuss the legal basis, and the importance of
Rizal course in college
2. articulate the potential to become a hero.

4. A HERO IS
BORN
1. trace the background of the Philippine
national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal
2. ascertain that one can achieve great things
regardless of his/her age and physical attributes.

7. 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, Rizal is a subject required of any
course, in any college or university in the Philippines.

8. Legislation of Rizal Law
• R.A. 1465 is Rizal Law
• Jose P. Laurel is the father of Rizal Law.
• Former Vice President Salvador Laurel, son of Jose Laurel facilitated the
proper placement of Rizal Law in the academe.
• Rizal died in 1896, and 60 years had passed before Rizal Law was
promulgated in 1956.
• Carlos P. Romulo, in 1969 ordered the course Rizal to be offered as a 3-
unit course and as pre-requisite for graduation

9. Legislation of Rizal Law
• Legal basis of Rizal course in college
➢ As mandated by Republic Act 1425, this course covers the life and
works of the country’s national hero, Jose Rizal. Among the topics covered
are Rizal’s biography and his writings, particularly the novels Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, some of his essays and various
correspondences.
➢ Rizal Law requires the teaching of the course Rizal in college and
orders the reproduction and reading of the uncut version of his two novels.
➢ The law has made the reading of both novels obligatory

11. Jose Protacio aka Pepe
Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonzo Realonda - full name of the
Philippine national hero.
Suggestive of his time, Rizal has 6 names. There are two given Christian
names and four surnames.
● Pepe - family and friends;
● Pepe Rizal - family’s friar-friends;
● Dr. Jose Rizal - as a medical practitioner,
● Dr. Jose Rizal, Jose Rizal or Rizal - in the academe.
● Lolo Jose - great grandchildren
● Joe - live-in partner, Josephine Bracken.

12. Background about Rizal
Jose Rizal
● born on June 19, 1861
● 7th child of Don Francisco Mercado and Doña Teodora
Alonso.
● was christened Jose Protacio, in honor of two saints. His
mother was a devotee of Saint Joseph while Saint
Protacio is the patron saint for June 19.

13. Story about Pepe’s Big Head
Jose Rizal’s mother almost died during the delivery because
of his big head. As he recounted many years later in his student
memoirs: “I was born in Calamba on June 19, 1861, between 11
o’clock and midnight, a few days before full moon. It was
Wednesday and my coming out in this vale of tears would have
cost my mother her life had she not vowed to the Virgin of
Antipolo to take me to her sanctuary by way of pilgrimage. “
(Zaide, 1997).

14. Story about Pepe’s Big Head
Fr. Rufino Collantes, who baptized Rizal, was impressed
by the baby’s big head, and told the members of the
family who were present: “Take care of this child, for
someday he will become a great man.” His words proved
to be prophetic, as confirmed by subsequent events.
(Zaide, 1997). And so, at the course of Rizal’s life, his “big
head” indeed contributed multifarious, patriotic great
events towards the shaping of the Filipino nationhood.

15. Who chose Rizal for a family name?
The great grandfather of Jose Rizal was a Chinese merchant Domingo
Lamco, who later on adopted the surname Mercado. In Laguna, many
families adopted the family name Mercado. So, to distinguish Lamco-
Mercado from other Mercados who are not related to them, the alcalde
mayor (their family friend) suggested addition of another surname, Rizal.
Domingo Lamco-Mercado was a merchant while Francisco Mercado-Rizal
was a farmer. Accordingly, the family name Rizal could be traced from the
word ricial which means green fields. This is a Spanish term which means
“a field where wheat stalks are cut still green, to sprout again (Daquila
2009).

16. The Child Rizal
● Jose was the 7th among the 11 children of Don
Francisco and Dona Teodora.
● He was a frail, sickly and undersized child.
● He experienced his first sorrow when his younger
sister Concepcion died at age 3.
● He fears when his nanny threatened that aswang,
tikbalang and heavy-bearded Bombay
● would take away if he would not eat his supper.
● Rizal was afraid of ghosts-like Pepe, many
children grew up fearing mysterious creatures

17. The Child Rizal
● At age three, he learned the alphabet from his
mother
● Rizal was a happy student. Unlike some students,
Rizal loved school
● At age 8, he wrote his first poem entitled “Sa Aking
Mga Kababata”
● Rizal couldn’t carry out a tune. He admitted in his
memoirs that singing was not his cup of tea.
● He was influenced by his three uncles – Jose,
Alberto, Gregorio, and Manuel.