R.A.

1425: The Rizal Law

Mary Antoinette B. Fajardo

Discussant
 The Making of Rizal Law
 In 1956, Sen. Jose
Laurel filed S.B.
438 or the Rizal
Bill. Its passage
was rough due to
several persons
who tried to block
its approval.
Notable persons who tried to block its
approval were:
 Sen. Decoroso Rosales – brother of
Archbishop (Cardinal) Rosales
 Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo – president of
Catholic Action in the Philippines
 Sen. Mariano Cuenco – brother of
Archbishop Cuenco
Notable persons who tried to block its
approval were:
 Jesus Paredes – radio commentator
 Fr. Jesus Cavana – member of the
Paulist Order
 The Friars
Notable persons who
fought for its
approval were:
 Sen. Jose Laurel
 Claro Recto
 Other Illustrious
Nationalists
 Congress passed
the Rizal Bill (S.B.
438) and was
signed into Rizal
Law (R.A. 1425) by
President Ramon
Magsaysay on
June 12, 1956.
Intentions/Reasons of Persons Who
Pushed for the Approval of Rizal Bill

 There is a need for a rededication to the

ideals of freedom and nationalism for
which our heroes lived and died.
 There is a need to remember with special
fondness and devotion the lives and works
of our heroes who shaped the national
character.
Intentions/Reasons of Persons Who
Pushed for the Approval of Rizal Bill

 The life, works and writings of Dr. Jose

Rizal particularly, his novels Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo are 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.
Intentions/Reasons of Persons Who
Pushed for the Approval of Rizal Bill

 There is a need to develop moral

character, personal discipline, civic
conscience and to teach the duties of
citizenship.
Intentions/Reasons of Persons Who
Blocked the Approval of Rizal Bill

 The Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo

are very damaging to the clerics.
 The novels were written when Dr. Jose
Rizal, estranged for a time from Catholic
faith and religion, did contradict many of
the Christian beliefs.
Intentions/Reasons of Persons Who
Blocked the Approval of Rizal Bill

 To compel Catholic students to read a

book which contains passages
contradicting their faith constitutes a
violation of a Philippine constitutional
provision (Art. 3, Sec. 1, Par. 7).
Intentions/Reasons of Persons Who
Blocked the Approval of Rizal Bill
 The novels do contain teachings contrary
to Catholic faith and so, the Church is
opposed to the proposed compulsory
reading in their entirety of such books in
any school in the Philippines where
Catholic students may be affected.
 Salient Points of Rizal Law

 Courses on the life, works and writings of

Dr. Jose Rizal, particularly the novels
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo,
shall be included in the curricula of all
schools, colleges and universities, public
and private.
 Salient Points of Rizal Law

 It obliged all schools, colleges and

universities to keep in their libraries
adequate number of copies of the
original or unexpurgated editions of the
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo as
well as Rizal's other works and
biography.
 Salient Points of Rizal Law
 It authorized and directed the Board of
National Education to work for the
translation of Noli me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo as well as other writings of
Dr. Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and
other principal dialects and their printing
in cheap or popular editions and their
circulation.
Important Issuances Relative to the
Implementation of Rizal Law
 Approval of R.A. 1425 on
June 12, 1956
 Presidential
Memorandum Order 247
dated Dec. 26, 1994 –
President Ramos
directed the DECS and
CHED to immediately
and fully implement R.A.
1425.
 Important Issuances Relative to the
Implementation of Rizal Law
 CHED Memorandum
Order 6 dated Feb.
15, 1996 – CHED
ordered all colleges
and universities to
offer Rizal course as a
separate three-unit
course fully and
immediately.
Rizal: A Legislated and Mandated
Course
 Legislated – it is
founded on R.A. 1425
(Rizal Law)
 Mandated – it is
ordered by Presidential
Memorandum Order
247 and CHED
Memorandum Order 6.
Thank you!