Rizal Law

Republic Act No. 1425

House Bill No. 5561
Senate Bill No. 438

An Act to Include in the Curricula of All Public and Private Schools, Colleges and Universities courses on
the Life Works and Writings of JOSE RIZAL, particularly his novels NOLI ME TANGERE and EL
FILIBUSTERISMO, Authorizing the Printing and Distribution Thereof, and for Other Purposes.

Whereas, today, more than other period of our history, there is a need for a re-dedication to the ideals of
freedom and nationalism for which our heroes lived and died.

Whereas, it is meet that in honoring them, particularly the national hero and patriot, Jose Rizal, we
remember with special fondness and devotion their lives and works that have shaped the national
character;

Whereas, the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, are a constant and inspiring source of patriotism with which the minds of the youth,
especially during their formative and decisive years in school, should be suffused.

Whereas, all educational institutions are under the supervision of, and subject to regulation by the State,
and all schools are enjoined to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience, and to
teach the duties of citizenship; Now therefore,

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled

SEC.1
Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and universities, public or private;
Provided, That in the collegiate courses, the original or unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and
El Filibusterismo or their English translations shall be used as basic texts.

The Board of National Education is hereby authorized and directed to adopt forthwith measures to
implement and carry out the provisions of this Section, including the writing and printing of appropriate
primers, readers and textbooks. The Board shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act
promulgate rules and regulations, including those of a disciplinary nature, to carry out and enforce the
regulations of this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations providing for the exemption of
students for reason of religious belief stated in a sworn written statement, from the requirement of the
provision contained in the second part of the first paragraph of this section; but not from taking the course
provided for in the first part of said paragraph. Said rules and regulations shall take effect thirty (30) days
after their publication in the Official Gazette.

SEC.2
It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and universities to keep in their libraries an adequate
number of copies of the original and expurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as
well as Rizals other works and biography. The said unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo or their translations in English as well as other writings of Rizal shall be included in the list
of approved books for required reading in all public or private schools, colleges and universities.

The Board of National Education shall determine the adequacy of the number of books, depending upon
the enrollment of the school, college or university.

SEC.3
The Board of National education shall cause the translation of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo,
as well as other writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and the principal Philippine dialects; cause
them to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and cause them to be distributed, free of charge, to persons
desiring to read them, through the Purok organizations and the Barrio Councils throughout the country.

SEC.4
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amending or repealing section nine hundred twenty-seven of the
Administrative Code, prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines by public school teachers and other
persons engaged in any public school.

SEC.5
The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any fund not
otherwise appropriated in the National Treasury to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SEC.6
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.


Spain and the Philippines 19
th
Century

The growth of commercial agriculture resulted in the appearance of a new class. Alongside the
landholdings of the church and the rice estates of the pre-Spanish nobility there arose haciendas of
coffee, hemp, and sugar, often the property of enterprising Chinese-Filipino mestizos. Some of the
families that gained prominence in the 19th century have continued to play an important role in Philippine
economics and politics.
Not until 1863 was there public education in the Philippines, and even then the church controlled the
curriculum. Less than one-fifth of those who went to school could read and write Spanish, and far fewer
could speak it properly. The limited higher education in the colony was entirely under clerical direction,
but by the 1880s many sons of the wealthy were sent to Europe to study. There, nationalism and a
passion for reform blossomed in the liberal atmosphere. Out of this talented group of overseas Filipino
students arose what came to be known as the Propaganda Movement. Magazines, poetry, and
pamphleteering flourished. Jos Rizal, this movements most brilliant figure, produced two political
novelsNoli me tangere (1886; Touch Me Not) and El filibusterismo (1891; The Reign of Greed)which
had a wide impact in the Philippines. In 1892 Rizal returned home and formed the Liga Filipina, a modest
reform-minded society, loyal to Spain, that breathed no word of independence. But Rizal was quickly
arrested by the overly fearful Spanish, exiled to a remote island in the south, and finally executed in 1896.
Meanwhile, within the Philippines there had developed a firm commitment to independence among a
somewhat less privileged class.
Shocked by the arrest of Rizal in 1892, these activists quickly formed the Katipunan under the leadership
of Andres Bonifacio, a self-educated warehouseman. The Katipunan was dedicated to the expulsion of
the Spanish from the islands, and preparations were made for armed revolt. Filipino rebels had been
numerous in the history of Spanish rule, but now for the first time they were inspired by nationalist
ambitions and possessed the education needed to make success a real possibility.


Rizal and his childhood in calamba

19 June 1861
JOSE RIZAL, the seventh child of Francisco Mercado Rizal and Teodora Alonso y Quintos, was
born in Calamba, Laguna.

22 June 1861
He was baptized JOSE RIZAL MERCADO at the Catholic of Calamba by the parish priest Rev.
Rufino Collantes with Rev. Pedro Casaas as the sponsor.

28 September 1862
The parochial church of Calamba and the canonical books, including the book in which Rizals
baptismal records were entered, were burned.
1865
When he was four years old, his sister Conception, the eight child in the Rizal family, died at the
age of three. It was on this occasion that Rizal remembered having shed real tears for the first
time.

1865 1867
During this time his mother taught him how to read and write. His father hired a classmate by
the name of Leon Monroy who, for five months until his (Monroy) death, taught Rizal the
rudiments of Latin.

At about this time two of his mothers cousin frequented Calamba. Uncle Manuel Alberto, seeing
Rizal frail in body, concerned himself with the physical development of his young nephew and
taught the latter love for the open air and developed in him a great admiration for the beauty of
nature, while Uncle Gregorio, a scholar, instilled into the mind of the boy love for education. He
advised Rizal: "Work hard and perform every task very carefully; learn to be swift as well as
thorough; be independent in thinking and make visual pictures of everything."

6 June 1868
With his father, Rizal made a pilgrimage to Antipolo to fulfill the vow made by his mother to take
the child to the Shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo should she and her child survive the ordeal of
delivery which nearly caused his mothers life.

From there they proceeded to Manila and visited his sister Saturnina who was at the time
studying in the La Concordia College in Sta. Ana.

1869
At the age of eight, Rizal wrote his first poem entitled "Sa Aking Mga Kabata." The poem was
written in tagalog and had for its theme "Love of Ones Language."

Earliest Childhood Memories:
Jose Rizal had many beautiful memories of his childhood in his native town Calamba.
Its scenic beauties and its industrious, hospitable, and friendly folks profoundly affected
his mind and character. The happiest period of Rizals life was spent in this lakeshore
town.
The first memory of Rizal, in his infancy, was in the family garden when he was 3yrs. old.
Because he was a frail, sickly and undersized, he was given the tenderest care by his
parents. His father built a Nipa cottage for him to play in the daytime.
Another childhood memory was the daily Angelus prayer. By nightfall, his mother
gathered all the children at the house to pray the Angelus.
He also remembered the aya (nurse maid) related to the Rizal children amy stories
about the fairies; tales of buried treasure and trees blooming with diamonds, and other
fabulous stories.
Of his sisters, Jose loved most the little Concha ( Concepcion), who was a year younger
than him. He played with her and from her he learned the sweetness of sisterly love.
Unfortunately, Concha died of sickness in 1865 when she was only 3yrs. old. Jose cried
bitterly at losing her. The death of Concha brought him his first sorrow.
Rizal grew up a good catholic. At age of 3, he would take part in the family prayers.
When he was 5yrs. old, he was able to read the Spanish family bible.
He loved to go to church, to pray, to take part in novenas, and to join religious
processions.
One of the men he esteemed and respect in Calamba was the scholarly Father Leoncio
Lopez, the town priest. He used to visit him and listen to his stimulating opinions on
current events and sound philosophy of life.
On June 6, 1868, Jose and his father left Calamba to go on a pilgrimage to Antipolo, in
order to fulfill his mothers vow, which was made when Jose was born. After praying at
the shrine of the Virgin of Antipolo, Jose and his father went to Manila to visit Saturnina,
who was a boarding student in La Concordia College in Santa Ana.
Of the stories told by Dona Teodora, Jose remembered the Story of the Moth. The tragic
fate of the young moth, which died a martyr to its illusions, left a deep impress on
Rizals mind. He justified such noble death, asserting that to sacrifice ones life for it,
meaning for an ideal, is worthwile. And, like that young moth, he was fated to die as a
martyr for a noble ideal.
At age of 5, he began to make sketches with his pencil and to mould in his clay and wax
objects. Jose had the soul of a genuine artist. He also loved to ride the pony that which
his father gave him and take long walks in the meadows and lakeshore with his black
dog named Usman.
Aside from his sketching and sculpturing talent, Rizal possessed a God-given gift for
literature. At age of 8, Rizal wrote his first poem in the native language entitled Sa Aking
Mga Kababata (To My Fellow Children).
After writing his first poem, Rizal who was then 8yrs. old, wrote his first dramatic work
which was a Tagalog comedy.
Rizal was also interested in magic. He learned various tricks, such as making a coin
disappear and making a handkerchief vanish in thin air. He read many books on magic
and attended performances of the famous magicians in the world.






















Family Tree Father and Mother side