Republic Act No.

1425: Rizal Law

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

Presentation Outline:
- The History of Rizal Bill
- The Opposition and
Defence Party
- Rizal Law, Today.

Presentation by:
Maria Stella Diolata
Song Minseo
The Rizal Bill: Senate Bill 438
Mandates all educational institutions in the Philippines to offer courses
about Jose Rizal

First authored by Senator Claro M. Recto.

Senator Recto brought the bill to the Senate and propsed it to Senator Jose
B. Laurel Sr. who was current Chairman of the Committee on Education.
Senator Laurel sponsored the bill which led to many controversies.
It was considered as one of the most controversial bills in the Philippines.
It had been brought to the Upper and Lower House of the Congress for
deliberations.
It was not just opposed by the Legislative Arm but also by the Catholic
Church.
 The Opposition Party
● Senator Decoroso Rosales- brother of
Archbishop Rosales
● Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo
● Senator Mariano Cuenco
● Jesus Paredes
● Fr. Jesus Cavana
GROUPS
● The friars
● Catholic Action of the Philippines
● The congregation of the Mission
● The knights of Columbus
● The Catholic Teachers guilds
Oppositions argued that the bill would go against
the Catholic religion with Rizal’s famous novels
which were said to contain mostly scrutiny
against the friars and Catholic faith. The Catholic
Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)
submitted a pastoral letter to which according,
Rizal violated Canon Law 1399 which forbids or
bans books that attack or ridicule the catholic
doctrine and practices.
The Defence Party
● Senator Claro M. Recto- sought to sponsor
the bill at congress
● Arsenio Lacson- the mayor of Manila who
supported the Rizal bill too
● Senator Jose P. Laurel- filed the Rizal Bill in
1956
● Other illustrious nationalists
● President Ramon- who signed the bill on
June 12, 1956 and who directed the DECS
and CHED to immediately and fully
implement the Rizal bill
● Senator Lim
● Senator Primicias
The defending party emphasized that the only
objective of the bill is to keep the memory of the
national hero alive in every Filipino’s mind,
especially the youth, and to give heroic credit to
Rizal as he peacefully fought for freedom, and
not to go against religion.
●
The Rizal Bill: Senate Bill 438
After a series of exhaustive debates, compromises
were made, Senator Lim suggested the exemption
to those students who feel that reading Rizal’s
novels would negatively affect his or her faith.

Whereas, Senator Primicias created an additional

amendment that promulgates the rules and
regulations in getting an exemption only from
reading the two novels through a written statement
or affidavit but not excluded from taking the Rizal
Course.

According to historian Ambeth Ocampo, no student

has ever availed of this exemption.
After the revised amendments, the
bill was finally passed on May 17,
1956 and was signed into law as
Republic Act 1425 by President
Ramon Magsaysay on June 12,
1956.
Rizal Law, today.
The life and works of Rizal are included in the curricula of all schools and
universities as the collegiate course
○ Reading Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo is a must.
To help us to remember the national heroes, patriots, and Jose Rizal himself,
with special fondness and devotion of their lives and works that have shaped
the national character.
His works, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, are a constant inspiring
source for the youth of patriotism.
Not only remembering the past, but gives us the reason to love and serve the
country to the youth who are the future of our society.
References:
● “R.A. 1425.” Home, dimasalang.weebly.com/ra-1425.html.
● “Republic Act No. 1425: GOVPH.” Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, 12 June 1956,
www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-1425/.
● “PI10: A Brief History.” P.Jacinto, 20 May 2014, pjacintoblog.wordpress.com/portfolio/pi10-a-brief-history/.