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Rizal Day

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Rizal Day
President Benigno Aquino III offering a wreath at the Rizal Monument in Manila on Rizal Day 2015
Observed byPhilippines
TypeNational
SignificanceCommemoration of the life and works of José Rizal
DateDecember 30
Next timeDecember 30, 2025 (2025-12)
FrequencyAnnual
First timeDecember 30, 1898

Rizal Day (Spanish: Día de Rizal, Filipino: Araw ni Rizal; Tagalog: [riˈsal]) is a Philippine national holiday commemorating life and works of José Rizal, a national hero of the Philippines. It is celebrated every December 30, the anniversary of Rizal's 1896 execution at Bagumbayan (present-day Rizal Park) in Manila.

History

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The First Rizal Monument in Daet, Camarines Norte

Rizal Day was first instituted with a decree dated December 20, 1898 signed by President Emilio Aguinaldo in Malolos, Bulacan, celebrating December 30, 1898 as a national day of mourning for Rizal and all the victims of the Spanish colonial rule of the Philippines.[1][2] Daet, Camarines Norte was the first town to follow the decree, building a monument designed by Lt. Col. Antonio Sanz, led by Sanz and Lt. Col. Ildefonso Alegre, and financed by the townsfolk of Camarines Norte and the rest of the Bicol Region.[1][3] Finished in February 1899, the three-tiered stone pylon inscribing Rizal's novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, and Morga, for Antonio de Morga, author of Sucesos de las islas Filipinas, a book about the early days of the Spanish colonization in the Philippines.[3]

With the victory of the Americans against the Spaniards in the Spanish–American War, the Americans took control of the Philippines. In an effort to demonstrate that they were more pro-Filipino than the Spaniards, the American Governor-General William Howard Taft in 1901 named Rizal a Philippine national hero. A year later, on February 1, 1902, the Philippine Commission enacted Act No. 345, which made December 30 a public holiday.[1]

Prohibited acts and activities during the commemoration of Rizal Day

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Rizal Day Law
Congress of the Philippines
  • An Act to prohibit cockfighting, horse racing, and jai-alai on the thirtieth day of December of each year and to create a committee to take charge of the proper celebration of Rizal Day in every municipality and chartered city, and for other purposes.
CitationRepublic Act No. 229
Territorial extentPhilippines
Signed byElpidio Quirino
SignedJune 9, 1948
Keywords
Jose Rizal, gambling
Status: In force

To underscore the solemnity of the event, President Elpidio Quirino signed Republic Act No. 229 into law on June 9, 1948 which prohibits cockfighting, horse racing and jai-alai every December 30.[1] The law also requires that flags across the country remain at half staff throughout the day and that every city and municipality in the Philippines should hold a solemn commemoration in their respective areas.[4]

Those contravening Republic Act No. 229 shall be liable to a fine not exceeding ₱200 or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both, at the discretion of the court. If the offender holds the position of mayor in a municipality or city, an additional penalty of suspension from office for a duration of one month shall apply.[5]

Ceremonies

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President Elpidio Quirino leads the 1949 Rizal Day ceremony.
President Rodrigo Duterte (center) leads the flag-raising ceremony during the 125th martyrdom anniversary of Rizal at the Rizal Park in Manila on December 30, 2021.

Rizal Day ceremonies are held at Rizal Park in Manila. This is usually held early in the morning, led by the president and vice president, and involves the raising of the national flag at Independence Flagpole, followed by a flypast by the Philippine Air Force and the laying of a wreath at the Rizal Monument. The president also usually has a year-end address that is first broadcast on this holiday.[6]

Rites are also held elsewhere in the country, with the chief executive of a province, city, or town presiding. These rites are similar to the one in Manila, and most often include flag-raising, speeches, and wreath-laying ceremony at the locale's own monument to Rizal.[citation needed]

Rizal Days in history

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On his Rizal Day address on December 30, 1937, President Manuel L. Quezon declared through Commonwealth Act No. 184 the adoption of Tagalog as the national language. Under Japanese occupation during World War II, the Rizal Day program of 1942 attended by Benigno Aquino Sr., and President Jose P. Laurel included the recital of Rizal's final poem Mi último adiós in Japanese and the inauguration of the KALIBAPI.[1]

Rizal Day also doubled as the inauguration day of the incoming president, beginning in 1941 when President Quezon began his second term. Presidents usually chose Independence Grandstand (now known as Quirino Grandstand) as the inauguration venue because it faces the spot where Rizal was buried, and also the site of the independence ceremony in 1946, according to historian Manuel L. Quezon III.[7] In the inauguration of Ramon Magsaysay after winning the 1953 presidential election via a landslide, around 300,000 to 500,000 people attended the ceremonies.[1] With the approval of the 1973 constitution, inauguration days were moved to June 30.

On the centenary of Rizal's death on December 30, 1996, the program included retracing Rizal's last steps from his cell at Fort Santiago to the execution site, followed by a reenactment of his death and the customary flag-raising.[1]

On December 30, 2000, local terrorists, with the backing of Jemaah Islamiyah, bombed five areas in Metro Manila, killing 22 and injuring 100.[8]

Changing the day of commemoration

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Being that December 30 is sandwiched between Christmas and New Year's Day, National Historical Commission chairperson Ambeth Ocampo pushed for the moving of Rizal Day from December 30 to June 19, Rizal's birth. This would allow students to participate in commemoration activities as opposed to it being held on December 30 which is in the middle of the Christmas school break. The House of Representatives approved on its third reading a bill that would have changed it to June 19 on December 10, 2008,[9][10][11] but was not acted in time by the Senate after the 14th Congress ended its session and was thus not enacted.[citation needed]

Additionally, Rizal's birth anniversaries in 1958,[12] 1959,[13] 1961 to 1965,[14][15][16][17][18] and 2011 (observed on June 20) were declared as public holidays observed nationwide.[19] June 19 is also annually marked as a special non-working holiday in his home province of Laguna.[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Palafox, Queenie Ann. "Historical Context and Legal Basis of Rizal Day and Other Memorials in honor of José Rizal". NHI.gov.ph. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  2. ^ "Aguinaldo's Rizal Day Decree, 1898". Philippine Center for Masonic Studies. May 30, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Supetran, Bernard (December 29, 2009). "Jose Rizal's first monument revisited". Philippine Star. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  4. ^ "December 30, 2012: Celebrating Rizal and the National Language". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Government of the Philippines. December 21, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  5. ^ "Republic Act No. 229: AN ACT TO PROHIBIT COCKFIGHTING, HORSE RACING AND JAI-ALAI ON THE THIRTIETH DAY OF DECEMBER OF EACH YEAR AND TO CREATE A COMMITTEE TO TAKE CHARGE OF THE PROPER CELEBRATION OF RIZAL DAY IN EVERY MUNICIPALITY AND CHARTERED CITY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Government of the Philippines. June 9, 1948. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  6. ^ Sabillo, Kristine Angeli (December 30, 2014). "Aquino leads Rizal Day rites, recalls hero's wish to 'uplift' PH". INQUIRER.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  7. ^ Tan, Kimberly Jane (June 29, 2010). "A brief history of presidential inaugurations". GMANews.TV. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  8. ^ "Rizal Day bombing chronology". GMANews.TV. January 23, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  9. ^ Rosario, Ben (June 19, 2009). "Bill moving Rizal Day to June 19 approved". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  10. ^ "Rizal Day to move from Dec. 30 to June 19". Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 20, 2009. Archived from the original on June 23, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  11. ^ Fonbuena, Carmela (December 30, 2008). "Rizal Day may be moved to June 19". ABS-CBNnews.com. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  12. ^ Presidential Proclamation No. 514, s. 1958 (June 13, 1961), Declaring Thursday, June 19, 1958, as a Special Public Holiday, Supreme Court E-Library, retrieved January 9, 2024
  13. ^ "Official Week in Review: June 14 – June 20, 1959". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. June 22, 1959. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  14. ^ Presidential Proclamation No. 759, s. 1961 (June 13, 1961), Declaring Monday, June 19, 1961, as a Special Public Holiday, Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, retrieved January 9, 2024
  15. ^ Presidential Proclamation No. 32, s. 1962 (June 15, 1962), Declaring Tuesday, June 19, 1962, as a Special Public Holiday, The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation, Inc., retrieved January 9, 2024
  16. ^ Presidential Proclamation No. 118, s. 1963 (June 6, 1963), Declaring Wednesday, June 19, 1963, as a Special Public Holiday, Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, retrieved January 9, 2024
  17. ^ Presidential Proclamation No. 258, s. 1964 (June 12, 1964), Declaring Friday, June 19, 1964, as a Special Public Holiday, Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, retrieved January 9, 2024
  18. ^ Presidential Proclamation No. 405, s. 1965 (June 2, 1965), Declaring Saturday, June 19, 1965, as a Special Public Holiday, Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, retrieved January 9, 2024
  19. ^ "P-Noy declares June 20 a special no work day". Philstar.com. April 29, 2011. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
  20. ^ Republic Act No. 11144 (November 9, 2018), An Act Declaring June 19 of Every Year a Special Nonworking Holiday in the Whole Province of Laguna in Honor of the Birth Anniversary of Our National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, to Be Known as "Araw ng Kapanganakan ni Dr. Jose P. Rizal", Supreme Court E-Library, retrieved January 9, 2024
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