JORIZAL

Republic Act 1425 “Rizal Law”

What is Rizal Law?

Republic Act 1425 also known as Rizal Law was approved on June 12, 1956, an act of mandating
all public and private institutions including state colleges and universities to include the Dr. Jose Rizal’s
life, works, and writings as a course across programs.

Full name of the law is “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.”

• An act to include the Life and Works of Rizal in all curricula.

• Strengthens our patriotism
• Re-dedicate the idea of freedom

History of the Rizal Law

• Senate bill 438 known as Rizal Bill, authored by Senator Claro M. Recto – is considered as one of
the most controversial bills in the Philippines.
• Recto’s original bill made it obligatory for college and university students to study the life and
works of Jose Rizal.
• What made it controversial is that the bill was not just fiercely opposed by people from Legislative
Branch but also by the Catholic church due to the inclusion of compulsory reading of Rizal’s
novels in which according to them Catholic dogmas are humiliated.
• The bill was opposed by three senators: Senator Francisco Rodrigo, Senator Mariano Cuenco and
Senator Decoroso Rosales.
• The Catholic Church was indirectly included in the debates and played a major role for the
intervention of signing of the bill into a law.
• 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.
• Rizalian Anthology, a collection of Rizal’s literary works that contain the patriotic philosophy
excluding the two novels.
• Due to apparently never-ending debate on the Rizal Bill, approved amendments were formulated
through ideas of three
• Senator Laurel – other than Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, works written by Rizal and
works written by others about Rizal would be included and reading of unexpurgated revision of
the two novels would no longer be compulsory to elementary and secondary levels but would be
strictly observed to college level.
• Senator Lim – suggested the exemption to those students who feel that reading Rizal’s novels
would negatively affect his or her faith.
• Senator Primicias – promulgates the rules and regulations in getting an exemption only from
reading the two novels through written statement or affidavit and not from taking the Rizal Course.

From Rizal Bill to the Rizal Law

• April 3, 1956 – Senate Bill No. 438 – Filed by the Senate Committee on Education
• April 17, 1956 – Jose P. Laurel sponsored the bill.
• The Catholic Church began to express opposition against the passage of the bill.
• Claro M. Recto, its main author, entered a fierce battle arguing for the passage of SB 438.
 • House Bill No. 5561, an identical version of SB 438, was filed by Rep. Jacobo Z. Gonzalez on
April 1956.
• May 2, 1956 – The House Committee on Education approved the bill without amendments.
• May 9, 1956 – Laurel proposed amendments to move the procedure to the next step. Debates
commenced on May 9, 1956.
• May 14, 1956 – Similar amendments were adopted to the House version.
• May 17, 1956 – The Senate and the House version were approved.
• Republic Act No. 1425 – This was known as the Rizal Law.
• June 12, 1956 – President Magsaysay signed the bill into law.

Provisions of the Rizal Law

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 the 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.

Section 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges, and universities to keep in their libraries
an adequate number of copies of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal’s
other works and biography. The said editions 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.

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.

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 approval.

• According to Senator Jose P. Laurel since Rizal was the founder of Filipino Nationality and the
architect of Filipino Nation there is the need to know and in vibe the great ideals and principles for
which he died.
• By integrating Rizal in the curriculum, this would benefit the Filipino Youth as well as the whole
nation to acquire the following traits: incorruptible, confidence, direction, courage, determination,
nationalism, and patriotism.