LESSON 1

UNDERSTANDING
THE RIZAL LAW

VALLARAN, ALVIN
H.
Learning Objectives;

At the end of the rating period, student should be able

to:
1. locate the passage of the Rizal Law within its
historical context;
2. determine the issues and interest at stake in the
debate over the Rizal Bill; and
3. relate the issues to the present-day Philippines
Republic Act. No. 1425

Also known as the Rizal Law has been enacted on June 12,
1956 and was sponsored and authored mainly by the late
Senator Jose P. Laurel and Senator Claro M. Recto. Rizal
Law is a mandate to include in the course curricula of all
public and private schools, colleges and universities the life,
works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
The Congress

Senate of the Philippines House of Representatives

Number of 24 Members Not more than 250 members, subject to
Members increase by law
80% District 20% Party-List
Representatives Representatives
Tenure 6 years per term 3 years per term
Max. of 2 consecutive terms
Manner of At-large By Congressional At-Large
Election District
Leadership Senate President Speaker of the House
President Pro-Tempore Deputy Speakers (per geographical area)
Floor Leaders Floor Leaders (Majority/Minority)
(Majority/Minority)
 THE
CONTEXT
OF THE
RIZAL BILL
FROM THE RIZAL BILL TO THE RIZAL LAW
TIMELINE
April 3, 1956 Senate Bill No. 438 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 proposed legislation
April 19, 1956 The debates on the Rizal Bill also ensued in the House of Representative. House
Bill No. 5561, an identical versions of SB 438, was filed by Representative Jacobo
Z. Gonzales
April 23, 1956 Debates Started
May 2, 1956 The House on Committee on Education approved the bill without amendments

Debates commenced. A major point of the debates was whether the compulsory
May 9, 1956 reading of the texts.

President Magsaysay signed the bill into law which became the Republic Act No.
June 12, 1956 1425.
THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FOLLOW THE SAME LEGISLATIVE PROCEDURE.
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS EMENATE FROM A NUMBER OF
SOURCES. THEY 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;
• OR INITIATED BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE
GOVERNMENT WITH THE PRESIDENT’S LEGISLATIVE
AGENDA.

ONCE A LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL, LIKE A BILL IS

READY, IT WILL GO THROUGH THE STEPS.
STEP 1:
BILL IS FILED IN
THE SENATE
OFFICE OF THE
SECRETARY.
 
STEP 2:
FIRST READING.
 
STEP 3:
COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
 
STEP 4:
SECOND READING.
 
STEP 5:
VOTING ON THE
SECOND READING.
 
STEP 6:
VOTING ON THIRD
READING.
 
STEP 7:
CONSOLIDATION OF
VERSION FROM THE
HOUSE.
 
STEP 8:
TRANSMITTAL OF THE
FINAL VERSION TO
MALACAÑAN.
 An act to include in the curricula of all
• Republic Act public and private schools, colleges, and
No. 1425 universities courses on the life, works,
• House Bill No. and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly
his novels Noli Me Tangere and El
5561
Filibusterismo, authorizing the printing
• Senate Bill No. and distribution thereof, and for other
438 purposes.
Section 1:

Courses on the life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal,

particularly his novels 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 text.
Section 2:

It shall be an 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 Rizal’s other
works and biography.
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 of 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 the 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

Thank you for listening!

"The youth is the hope of our future.“

--Rizal