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 any 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 met 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 writing 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,

SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel 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
translation 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 provisions of this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations
providing for the exemption of students for reasons 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.

SECTION 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 unexpurgated editions of the Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal's 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.

SECTION 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 Barrio Councils throughout the country.
SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amendment or repealing section nine
hundred twenty-seven of the Administrative Code, prohibiting the discussion of religious
doctrines by public school teachers and other person engaged in any public school.
SECTION 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.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved: June 12, 1956

THE TRIALS OF THE RIZAL BILL

The Republic Act 1425 or known as the Rizal Bill underwent a very harsh feedback which
resulted to long disputes when it was first proposed in the House of Representatives. Senate Bill
No. 438 authored by Claro M. Recto was filed by the Committee on Education on April 3, 1956 and
was supported by all but three of the members of the Upper House and seemed, to all appearances,
a non-controversial measure. But when on April 17, 1956, Senator Jose P. Laurel, as Chairman on
the Committee on Education, began his sponsorship of the measure the rumbles of the gathering
storm sounded an ominous warning. This was to mark the start of long-drawn disputations, both
enlightened and acrimonious, that would engross and divide the nation for three tense weeks
(Laurel, 1960). According to Laurel (1960). "Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be read
by all Filipinos. They must be taken to heart, for in their pages we see ourselves as in a mirror, our
defects as well as our strength, our virtues as well as our vices. Only then would be become
conscious as a people, and so learn to prepare ourselves for painful sacrifices that ultimately lead
to self-reliance, self-respect, and freedom."
The defense of Senator Laurel silenced some of the antagonists of the bill. However, faithful
Catholics looked at the measure as an attempt to discredit their religion. They find the Noli and El
Fili as containing views inimical to the tenets of their faith; they particularly challenged the
compulsory nature of the bill as violative of religious freedom (Jose B. Laurel, 1960). What caused
the Senate Bill No. 438 became a subject for dispute was because of the compulsion of the Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. The Catholic elements would insist that it should not be a
compulsory reading for the novels contain attacks on the Catholic Church and its clergy. They
would not want the students, especially those coming from the Catholic schools, be demoralized.
Thus, Senator Laurel revised the measure by allowing not only the reading of the Noli and Fili but
also other related books written about Rizal. Moreover, the compulsory reading was also removed
and exempt students from not taking the course for reasons of religious belief. Since the reading
of the Noli and Fili is not anymore compulsory, Senator Laurel added in his motion to ensure that
the reading of the novels should be in its unexpurgated or original form.
After months of standoff, the bill was filed, authored by Sen. Jose P. Laurel, based on the
proposals of Senators Roseller Lim and Emmanuel Pelaez. On June 12, 1956, the Republic Act No.
1425 (Rizal Law) came into effect.

ISSUES AGAINST RIZAL

If you are a popular Filipino public figure, the interest to scrutinize your private life is far
higher than your contributions to the society. One may blame it to the "crab-mentality" of the
Filipinos, or just their keen eye to notice flaws and inconsistencies. In the case of Rizal, numerous
issues were raised against him. The following are selected issues over the life of Rizal, carefully
arranged from nonsense to sensible issues depending on the readers' perspective.
Issues hinge to Rizal range such as from being the father of Adolf Hitler and Mao Zedong,
having an illegitimate child from a short-lived relationship with Seiko Usui (O-Sei-san). Suspected
as Jack the Ripper in London, being a pro-Spanish, his work on the treatment and cure of the
bewitched, American sponsored hero, the comparison between Rizal and Andres Bonifacio-whose
humble beginnings, lack of a European education, and his execution-has traditionally been the
underdog compared to other heroes like Jose Rizal, Aguinaldo, or Apolinario Mabini. It is difficult
to compare heroes, rather it would be better to look at their contribution to the formation of the
Filipino nation-state. If Rizal did really retract at the last hour of his life, he would be contradicting
himself on such action. Lastly, the issue on the creation of the so-called R.A. 1425 commonly
known as Rizal Law where the life and works of Rizal be included in the curricula of all schools,
colleges and universities, public and private.
On the issue of having various affairs, Rizal was involved on two remarkable occasions
resulted to misunderstandings. One of which was his involvement with the daughter of Don Pablo
Ortiga Y Rey (whom was smitten to one of his daughters), Consuelo Ortiga Y Rey. As an expression
of his desire to such beauty, he wrote a poem entitled, A la Señorita C.O.y.R which resulted to a
conflict, not that he was still engaged to Leonor Rivera, to his fellow reformist Eduardo de Lete
who was also madly mesmerized by the beauty of the Señorita. Second is with Nellie Boustead,
Rizal having lost Leonor Rivera, entertained the thought of courting other ladies. While a guest of
the Boustead family at their residence in the resort city of Biarritz, he had befriended the two pretty
daughters of his host, Eduardo Boustead. Rizal used to fence with the sisters at the studio of Juan
Luna. Antonio Luna, Juan's brother also a frequent visitor of the Bousteads, courted Nellie but she
was deeply infatuated with Rizal. In a party held by Filipinos in Madrid, a drunken Antonio Luna
uttered unsavory remarks against Nellie Boustead. This prompted Rizal to challenge Luna into a
duel. Fortunately, Luna apologized to Rizal, thus averting tragedy of the compatriots.
On the allegation of Rizal being a pro-Spanish, it was because of the alleged advice to the
Katipunan during the visit of Pio Valenzuela, a doctor and member of the Katipunan. Pio made two
separate statements regarding the advice on two different occasions what really Rizal advised
during his visit in Dapitan regarding the planned revolution. First statement, according to Pio, was
that the revolution is not a possible solution, and it will only result to destruction. Second, that the
Katipunan is not ready, and that what the society should do is to train, ask a financial support from
wealthy Filipinos. On that matter, it leads us to compare Bonifacio, Aguinaldo to Rizal as more
appropriate to be considered as a national hero.
The most puzzling issue is the question whether Rizal really retracted or not, since there
are a lot conflicting issues involving him. It would be better to recall some points in his life that
would help us come to a sound judgment. It is necessary, as a point of reflection, to show such
instances we are able to participate the possible decision made by Rizal as he was presented with
the retraction at the last hour of his life, his conflicts, such as the incident with Antonio Luna and
with the French businessman in Dapitan, which could have led to bloody end of fate if not been
intervened, and the validity of his marriage to Josephine Bracken. These instances in Rizal's life are
not exclusive considerations but only due to limited references.
It is important to put into mind that a hero is a human being. A hero is a product of his time,
a product of his environment which includes his society, his surroundings, and the conditions
prevalent at his time. A hero's frailties might surface but such frailties should not distract in studying
his life. In capsule, we have to give more weight on the contribution of the hero for the betterment
of this country.

Fernandez et.al, 2018. The Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Mutya Publishing House, Inc.