Chapter 1 - Understanding the Rizal Law

Republic Act No. 1425 or Rizal Law

• The mandatory teaching of Jose Rizal’s life with emphasis on his
landmark
• Was passed in 1956 leaving a colorful narrative of debate and
contestation
Vocabulary
• Bill - a measure which becomes a law if passed through the legislative
process
• Unexpurgated - basically untouched
• In the novels of Rizal, unexpurgated versions were those that were not
changed or censored to remove parts that might offend people
• Bicameral - involving two chambers of Congress: the Senate and the
House of Representatives
The Context of the Rizal Bill
• The postwar period saw a Philippines rife with challenges and problems
• Getting up on their feet was a paramount concern of the people and the
government as the country is torn and tired from the stresses of World War 2
• As the Philippines grappled with various challenges, particularly the
call for nation-building, prominent individuals who championed nationalism came to
action
• Pursued government measures to instill patriotism and love for country
in the hearts and minds of the Filipinos
• Drew inspiration from the Philippine experience of the revolution for
independence against Spain and from the heroes of that important period in the
country’s history
• A passage of the RA 1425 was primarily set to address a need for a
rededication to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our heroes lived
and died
• This was met with fierce opposition in both the Senate and the House of
Representatives
How a Bill becomes a Law: The Legislative Process
• The Senate and the House of Representatives follow the same legislative
procedure.
• Legislative proposals emanate from a number of sources
• May be authored by the members of the Senate or House as part of their
advocacies and agenda
• Produced through the lobbying from various sectors
• Initiated by the executive branch of the government with the
President’s legislative agenda
• Once ready, it will go through the steps illustrated in the right
• Steps:
1. Bill is filed in the Senate Office of the Secretary.
• Given a number and calendared for first reading
2. First Reading.
• Bill’s title, number, and authors are read on the floor
• After, it is referred to the appropriate committee
3. Committee Hearings.
• Bill is discussed within the committee and a period of consultations is
held
• Committee can approve or reject
• Types of Aprovals:
⁃ Approve without revisions
⁃ Approve with amendments
⁃ Recommend substitution or consolidation with similar bills
• After the committee submits the report, the bill is calendared for
second reading
4. Second Reading.
• Bill is read and discussed on the floor
 • Author delivers a sponsorship speech
• Other members of the Senate may engage in discussions regarding the
bill and a period of debates will pursue
• Amendments may be suggested to the bill
5. Voting on Second Reading.
• Senators vote on whether to approve or reject the bill
• If approved, bill is calendared for third reading
6. Voting on Third Reading.
• Copies of the final versions of the bill are distributed to the members
of the Senate who will vote for its approval or rejection
7. Consolidation of Version from the House.
• Similar steps above are followed by the House of Representatives in
coming up with the approved bill
• If there are differences, a bicameral conference committee is called to
reconcile the two
• After, both chambers approve the consolidated version
8. Transmittal of the Final Version to Malacañan.
• The bill is submitted to the President for signing
• President can sign bill into law or veto it to Congress
From the Rizal Bill to the Rizal Law
• April 3, 1956 - Senate Bill was filed by the Senate Committee on
Education
• April 17, 1956 - Senate Committee on Education Chair Jose P. Laurel
sponsored the bill and began delivering speeches for the proposal legislation
• Main author: Claro M. Recto
• Controversial as the powerful Catholic Church began to express
opposition against its passage
• As the influence of the Church was felt with members of the Senate
voicing their opposition to the bill, Recto and his allies in the Senate entered
into a fierce battle arguing for the passage of SB 438.
• Debates started April 23, 1956
• Debates on the Rizal Bill also ensued in the House of Representatives.
• House Bill No. 5561 - identical version of SB 438
• Filed by Representative Jacob Z. Gonzales on April 19, 1956
• approved by the House Committee on Education without amendments on May
2, 1956
• Debates commenced on May 9, 1956
• Major point of debates was whether the compulsory reading of the texts
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo appropriated in the bill was constitutional.
• Call to read unexpurgated versions was also challenged
• Senator Jose P. Laurel proposed amendments to the bill on May 9, 1956
to move the procedure to the next step.
• He removed the compulsory reading of Rizal’s novels and added that
Rizal’s other works must also be included in the subject
• He remained adamant in his stand that unexpurgated versions of the
novels be read
• On May 14, 1956, similar amendments were adopted to the House version
• The amended version of the bills was also subjected to scrutiny but
seemed more palatable to the members of Congress
• Passage was almost hijacked by technicality since the House of
Representatives was about to adjourn in a fee days and President Ramon Magsaysay
did not certify the bills as priority
• Allies in the House skillfully avoided the insertion of any other
amendment to prevent the need to reprint new copies
• They tasked the Bureau of Printing to use the same templates for the
Senate version in printing the House version
• On May 17, 1956, the Senate and House versions were approved
• Approved versions were transmitted to Malacañan
• President Ramon Magsaysay singed the bill into law on June 12, 1956
which became Republic Act No. 1425
Claro M. Recto
• Born: February 8, 1890
• Died: October 2, 1960
• Born in Tiaong, Tayabas
• Parents: Claro Recto Sr. And Micaela Mayo
• Main sponsor and defender of the Rizal Bill
• Primary Education: hometown
• Secondary Education: Batangas
• College: Manila, AB Degree in Ateneo
• Law degree in 1914 from University of Santo Tomas
• Award: maxima cum laude in 1909
• Political Career:
• House of Representatives in 1919, elected as representative of the
third district of Batangas
• House Minority Floor Leader
• Senate in 1941, elected as senator
• Minority Floor Leader
• Majority Floor Leader
• Senate President Pro-Tempore
• Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1935
• Was instrumental in drafting of the constitution of the Philippines in
1934-1935
• Served as senator for several terms in the Commonwealth Period
• Served as diplomat and an important figure in international relations
• Known as ardent nationalist
• Penned beautiful poetry and prose
• Cause of death: Heart attack in Italy
• Has five children
• Wife: Aurora Reyes