Rizal Day 2023: December 30 is designated as Rizal Day, a national holiday in the Philippines honoring the life and contributions of José Rizal, the country’s national hero. December 30 marks the anniversary of Rizal’s execution at Bagumbayan, Manila, in 1896.
Rizal Day: History
One of the main figures in initiating the uprising against the Spanish colonists is said to have been Dr. José Rizal. On June 19, 1861, he was born in the Calamba town. Rizal was both a physician and a writer. In his 1887 book “Noli me Tanger,” he denounced the corrupt Spanish administration over the Philippines. The ideas he presented in that book and “El filibusterismo” (the Reign of Greed), according to many historians, were what ignited the revolution.
At Bagumbayan Field, Rizal was put to death by firing squad on December 30, 1896. Despite never having engaged in combat, he was detained and put on trial for treason.
First Rizal Day was observed as a national day of sorrow for Rizal and all the victims of the Spanish colonial authority of the Philippines in 1898 by Emilio Aguinaldo, the country’s first president. Daet, Camarines Norte, which erected a monument with funding from the residents of Camarines Norte and the surrounding Bicol Region, was the first municipality to follow the directive. Lt. Col. Antonio Sanz was the architect.
After America triumphed over Spain in the Spanish-American War, the Americans seized sovereignty of the Philippines in 1901. Declaring Rizal a national hero of the Philippines, American Governor-General William Howard Taft showed that they were more pro-Filipino than the Spaniards. A year later, on February 1, 1902, the Philippine Commission officially declared December 30 to be Rizal Day with Act No. 345.
To guarantee the solemnity of the occasion, President Elpidio Quirino signed Republic Act No. 229 into law on June 9, 1948. Every December 30, the law forbids cockfighting, horse racing, and jai-alai. It also mandates that flags are flown at half-staff nationwide.
On December 30, 1996, the centennial of Rizal’s death was commemorated with a reenactment of his death and a flag-raising ceremony. The event involved retracing Rizal’s final steps from his cell at Fort Santiago to the execution site.
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Things to do on this day
Participate in a flag service or wreath-laying ceremony
The Philippine flag is flown at half-mast nationwide on this day. At the Rizal Monument in Manila, the Philippine President conducts the service. Both the Rizal Monument in Baguio City and the Rizal Shrine in Calamba host wreath-laying events.
Honor the life of Jose Rizal or commemorate his birth
There have been various requests in recent years to shift this holiday to June 19, Rizal’s birthday, since it will be more appropriate to honor his birth rather than his passing. The proximity of Christmas and New Year’s Day also lessens the significance of the December 30 holiday.
Take the day off from your job.
December 30 is Rizal Day, a unique non-working holiday. For most workers, the day off is considered a compensated workday. On Rizal Day, those who must work are paid twice as much as they would otherwise.
5 fascinating facts about Rizal Day:
It’s also the day of the inauguration.
Rizal Day served as the inauguration day of the Philippines’ new president, beginning in 1936.
On December 30, cockfighting will be forbidden.
President Elpidio Quirino signed Republic Act No. 229 into law on June 9, 1948, outlawing cockfighting, horse racing, and jai-alai on December 30 to preserve the dignity of Rizal Day.
Known as a “National hero,” Rizal
William Howard Taft, the American governor-general, designated Rizal as a “National hero” of the Philippines in 1901.
Presidents oversee the celebrations on Rizal Day.
The President or Vice President of the Philippines officiates the Rizal Day festivities in Manila’s Rizal Park, typically early in the morning.
Rizal did not participate in the uprising immediately.
Although Rizal did not actively participate in the nationalist uprising or engage in combat, he was apprehended, prosecuted for treason, and hanged.
Why It’s Important To Marzal Day
José Rizal is honored as the Philippines’ national hero.
One of the main figures in initiating the uprising against the Spanish colonizers is said to have been Dr. Jose Rizal. The anniversary is marked with ceremonies that include the raising of the national flag at the Independence Flagpole and a flypast by the Philippine Air Force.
It’s a day of national grief.
In Malolos, December 30 is recognized as a national day of sorrow for Rizal and all those who perished during the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines. There are flag-raising services, speeches, and wreath-laying ceremonies among the many provinces and municipalities across the nation that host these rituals.
Ceremonies for laying wreaths at Rizal Park
In Manila’s Rizal Park, there are celebrations for Rizal Day. The president and vice president are normally in charge of this, which takes place early in the morning. It includes the President giving a television broadcast year-end address and placing a wreath at the Rizal Monument.
RIZAL DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | December 30 | Saturday |
| 2024 | December 30 | Monday |
| 2025 | December 30 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | December 30 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | December 30 | Thursday |
