PI 100

The life and Works of Rizal

Course Outline:

1. Making sense of the Rizal Bill

What was the logic behind the formulation of the Rizal Bill? Did it achieve what it set out to do? How do we
make sense of it as UP students?

2. A critique of the Filipino nation, and nationalism

What is a nation? What are the principles behind nationalism? How natural is the Filipino nation?

3. The World in the 19th century

a. Mercantilism vs. Laissez Faire
b. The Industrial Revolution
What were the conditions in 19th century Europe from which the principles of nationhood emerged?
How did they shape Philippine History?

4. The Philippines in the 19th century

a. Social and Economic classes in the Philippines
b. The cultural milieu
What was the political and cultural backdrop from which Rizal’s nationalism was shaped? How did they
contribute to elevating a ‘Filipino’ consciousness?

5. The Ancestry of Rizal

What was Rizal’s familial background? How did that shape the man?

6. The Education of Rizal

Who and what influenced Rizal’s mind? How did those lead him to think of the world the way he did? Can
we see our own intellectual journey through Rizal’s experience?

7. The Travels of Rizal Part I

8. The Travels of Rizal Part II
What prompted Rizal to travel abroad? Which places did he go to and what did he do there? What did he
see and how did those shape his own outlook, especially with regard to nationalism?

9. Rizal and the Propaganda Movement

What was the Philippine Propaganda Movement of the 19th century? Why did it arise? What prompted Rizal
to participate in that endeavor? Who was he with and what were their outputs? How influential was its
contribution to Filipino nationhood?

10. The Deportation, Arrest, and the Trial of Rizal

Why was Rizal branded a criminal? How did he rationalize his exile and his arrest? What did he do in Dapitan
and how was that significant to our study of nationalism?
 11. The Execution of Jose Rizal
How did his trial and execution unfold? How did he defend his position against Spanish interrogation? What
meanings do people today draw from the historical mysteries around the last days of Rizal—why are things
like his supposed retraction relevant to us presently?

12. Rizal and the concept of the Filipino Nation

How did Rizal define and perceive the Filipino, and Filipino nationhood? What evolutions took place in his
understanding of the nation?

13. Rizal and the Philippine Revolution

What are the debates surrounding Rizal’s position on the Philippine Revolution? How did that influence,
and how does that continue to influence the way in which Rizal is understood today?

14. The Artworks of Rizal

An exploration into Rizal’s output in the Visual Arts

15. The Written works of Rizal:

a. The Noli and the Fili
b. Rizal’s Annotation of Morga
c. The Philippines a Century Hence
d. On the Indolence of the Filipinos
What was Rizal trying to say in his works, especially drawing from the texts listed? What do they reveal
about Rizal’s understanding of the Philippine nation, and vis-à-vis Spain? How do we contextualize
Rizal’s writing in today’s modern, globalized world?

16. Critiques of Rizal – ‘Veneration Without Understanding’ and ‘Denigration Without

Understanding’
What are some debates surrounding the ways in which Rizal is remembered? What positions can we take
with regard to Rizal’s apotheosis as the Father of the Filipino nation?

17. Rizal’s Romantic Liaisons

Which women were romantically linked with Rizal? How are they relevant to our study of Rizal?

18. Conclusion
References:

Guerrero, Leon Ma. The First Filipino. Guerrero Publishing, 2007

Ocampo, Ambeth. Meaning and History: The Rizal Lectures. Anvil, 2001
Ocampo, Ambeth. Rizal Without the Overcoat. Anvil, 1990
Quirino, Carlos. The Great Malayan. Philippine Education Company, 1958
Palma, Rafael. The Pride of the Malay Race. Prentice-Hall, 1949
Quibuyen, Floro. A Nation Aborted. ADMU, 1999
Constantino, Renato. Veneration Without Understanding. Foundation for Nationalist Studies, 1969
Grade Composition:

Class Attendance and Participation 15%

Quizzes/Assignments 15%
Report 15%
Long Exams 40%
Final Exam/Presentation 15%

Class Protocols:

1. Please be aware that you are only allowed 6 absences in this course. You will incur deductions to
your Class Attendance/Participation component for each absence.
2. If you are late for 30 minutes, I cannot consider your attendance. Try to come on time as our
quizzes will be given at the start of the class.
3. If I am late for 30 minutes without prior information, you may leave without any worry about your
attendance. You may worry instead about your love life.
4. Please refer to your class’ point person, or through our social media platform for any
announcements.
5. Treat each meeting as potentially having a quiz. Take at least ten minutes the day before to read
about the previous topic, and the succeeding topic. Really, it’s not that hard.
6. Pay attention to your quizzes and especially your long exams as they will bear most of the weight
of your grades. I’m afraid if you miss a quiz, you really miss a quiz.
7. Please go old school and use a pen and paper for taking notes. Ditch your cellphones and laptops
in our class. Anyone caught watching something like K-Pop videos in class will be sent to North
Korea for reeducation.
8. I will post my lecture notes online after every meeting. Please remember that this is only for your
reference—you will still need to read from other sources. Feel free to share any interesting
insights or information at our online group’s page. No ridiculous chain mails and the likes, please.
9. Please submit your assignments promptly. Your work will incur deductions if submitted late.
10. Please conduct yourselves accordingly in class. Imagine you are having dinner with his holiness
the pope, the UN Secretary-General, and Rowan Atkinson after a Mr. Bean taping.
11. Any form of dishonesty (e.g. cheating, plagiarism, forging letters of excuse) will entail a failing
grade. Moreover, I am obliged to file a case against you through the university.
12. Your opinion in how I handle the course is highly valued. Constructive criticism and suggestions
are very much welcome. TV series spoilers are not.
13. Please feel free to discuss your thoughts without fear of being judged or ridiculed.
14. Please do not have any anxieties about approaching me if you want to discuss anything about the
class – clarifications, further discussion, etc. I am at your service.
15. Leave the world a little better than you found it.
Ompoy
09179331941
OmpoyGonzales@Gmail.com