RIZAL CHAPTER 1

REPUBLIC ACT 1425 – THE RIZAL LAW

• Signed on June 12, 1956

• Took effect 30 days after publication in Official Gazette (now only 15 days either in O.G. or newspaper of
general circulation)
• Intended Purpose/Main Points (according to the author Senator Claro Recto):
• Re-dedication to the ideals of nationalism and freedom for which our heroes suffered to death for this country since our
country is overpowered by foreign influence among other factors.
• Since schools are under the supervision of the state (concept of Police Power), all schools are advised to develop moral
character, civic consciousness, personal discipline, and learn the duties of citizenship.

• Rizal’s life, works, writings, including Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, must be included in the
curriculum of all Private and Public Universities.
 CRITICISMS AGAINST THE RIZAL BILL BEFORE
IT BECAME A LAW
• According to some legislators and the Catholic Church itself, the mandatory reading of his works would create a
rift between the Catholics since his works attacked the dogmas of the Roman Catholic Church.
• The bill would go against the Freedom of Religion and Conscience, and that such bill violates the 1939 Canon
Law which prohibits books that attack the Catholic doctrine and practices.
• The opposition argued that of the 333 pages of Noli Me Tangere, only 25 passages were nationalistic while 120
passages were Anti-Catholic. Furthermore, 50 passages in El Filibusterismo were against the Catholic Faith.
• Opposition also claims that Rizal himself admitted that not only did he attack the friars during Spanish
Occupation but the Catholic Faith itself.
 RIZAL LAW - OBJECTIVES

• According to Senator Jose P. Laurel, co-author of the Rizal Bill, Filipinos,

particularly the youth, should know about and imbibe the high ideals for which
the hero died. Accordingly, the Rizal Law aims to:
• 1. To rededicate the lives of the youth to the ideals of independence and nationalism, for
which our heroes lived and died.
• 2. To dignify our national hero for devoting his life and works in shaping the Filipino
character.
• 3. To stimulate patriotism through the study of Rizal’s life, works, and writings.
 ESSENTIALS OF STUDYING RIZAL

• 1. “He who controls the past, controls the future.” Accordingly, we should learn from the past in order to avoid
the same mistakes in the future. Rizal, in his works and writings, has always pointed out our mistakes in the past.
Perhaps his works and writings are his message for the future. Example: Spanish Friars always interfering with
the affairs of the government which led to disorder, injustice and inequality in Philippine Society. Today, we
rectified that by virtue of our Constitution. The separation of church and state shall be inviolable.
• 2. It helps people understand us, Filipinos, better. If we question how our present society was molded into what it
is today, we should study the past.
• 3. It teaches nationalism and patriotism. Nationalism requires the desire to acquire freedom and political
independence, while patriotism denotes proud devotion and loyalty to one’s nation.
 ESSENTIALS OF STUDYING RIZAL

• 4. It provides several valuable life lessons. Rizal teaches to respond to adversities with decency and
righteousness. People will see his convictions and priorities leading to understand how noble, selfless and a great
national hero he was. Rizal taught us that there are more things more important than PERSONAL FEELING and
HAPPINESS. (Example: Voting for a political candidate who is more qualified than more famous.)
• 5. It helps in developing logical and critical thinking. In other words, learning the life philosophies and principles
of Rizal allows someone to act and make decisions based on facts and logic instead of hearsay and rumors.
Opinions don’t matter but only facts that are based on real events and proven evidence.
• 6. Rizal is a valuable model and that he is an inspiration to every Filipino who loves his/her country. By studying
his life, we can learn to distinguish facts from fiction in relation to his life.
 RIZAL AS AN AMERICAN SPONSORED HERO?

• One could make a case for argument that the Americans had its sight on acquiring the Philippines from
the Spaniards and that Rizal was the man the Americans relied on to create instability in the Spanish
Government in the Philippines leading to their expulsion and subsequent independence of the
Philippines.
• Accordingly, William Howard Taft in 1901 proposed Rizal as our National Hero because:
• Rizal was already dead by the time the Americans colonized the Philippines.
• He did not make any negative or embarrassing remarks against Americans.
• Martyrdom of Rizal was a symbol of Spanish oppression.
• He urged reform from within by publicity, by public education, and appeal to public conscience. (In other words, he
lobbied for all Filipinos to have the right to free basic education).
 RIZAL, PIONEER ASIAN NATIONALIST LEADER

• A lot of Asian Leaders and Heroes patterned their principles and philosophies similarly to Rizal.
• It was through Rizal that the essence of democracy was first brought to Asia.
• According to the Historian Fisher, Rizal was the pioneer of Liberal Democracy in Asia. His ideals include:
• The worth and dignity of the individual (Divine Law)
• Inviolability of human rights
• The innate impartiality of all men and races (all men are born equal, same principle of Abraham Lincoln)
• The necessity for a constitutional government (a government of laws and not of men)
• Due process (Article III, Sec. 1, 1987 Constitution)
• Popular Sovereignty as the basis of all political jurisdiction (leaders should be voted upon)
• Faith in human reason and wisdom (persons should act morally and not according to feelings)
• The rights of the masses to public education
• Belief in social progress through freedom
 ASSIGNMENT

• Using a yellow paper, in not less than 200 words, which do you prefer as a national hero?
Jose Rizal or Andres Bonifacio? Why? It must be handwritten. Use back portion of
yellow paper if necessary.
• Deadline: Wednesday next week. Submit it to me personally at the Social Sciences Office
(41-104).