RIZAL LAW  The bill was headedly opposed by three senators namely Senator

Francisco Rodrigo who was a former Catholic Action President, Senator

 The Life and Works of Dr. Jose Rizal is a course that aims to widen
Mariano Cuenco and Senator Decoroso Rosales who was the brother of
our understanding about the history of the Philippines by studying
Julio Rosales, an archbishop. Opposition from the Lower House also
the life of an important historical figure, Dr. Jose Rizal.
took part in the discourse.
 This course also aims to provide us historical knowledge by
including within the discourse, many of Rizal`s relevant
contributions. THE OPPOSITION
 the course presents a contextualization of Rizal`s landmark novels  The opposition argued that the bill would go against freedom of
which is intended to broaden our national consciousness. conscience and religion.
 The mandatory teaching of this course is inscribed in legislation.  Rizal violated Canon Law 1399 which forbids or bans books that
Republic Act 1425, more popularly known as Rizal Law, was attack or ridicule the catholic doctrine and practices.
approved in 1956.  The opposition pointed out that Rizal admitted that he did not only
 The process of passing the law was met with debates and criticize the friars who acted deceptively on the Filipinos but also
contestations. The law is important to be discussed because it the Catholic faith itself.
provides specificities as to why the course shall be taught.
“A vast majority of our people are, at the same time, Catholic and Filipino citizens. As such,
they have two great loves: their country and their faith. These two loves are not conflicting
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425 loves. They are harmonious affections, like the love for his father and for his mother. This is
the basis of my stand. Let`s not create a conflict between nationalism and religion, between
AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND
the government and the church.” - Senator Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo
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
THE DEFENSE
 Recto and Laurel defended the bill and argued that the only
DISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
objective of the bill is to keep the memory of the national hero
alive in every Filipino’s mind, to emanate Rizal as he peacefully
 Senator Claro M. Recto authored Senate Bill 438 which was crafted to
fought for freedom, and not to go against religion.
require the inclusion in the curricula of all private and public schools,
colleges and universities a course that will educate the students of the
“Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be read by all Filipinos. They must be taken to
life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me heart, for in their pages we see ourselves in a mirror, our defects as well as our strength, our
Tangere and El Filibusterismo. virtues as well as our vices. Only then we would be conscious as a people and so learn to
 The bill sparked controversy upon being presented in the Upper and prepare ourselves for the painful sacrifices that ultimately lead to self-reliance, self-respect,
and freedom.” – Senator Jose P. Laurel
Lower House of the Congress. It was largely opposed as well by the
Catholic Church because with the novels of Rizal being taught, its
catholic dogmas are humiliated.
 Senator Recto brought the bill to the Senate and Senator Jose P. Laurel
who was then the Chairman of the Committee on Education sponsored
the bill that consequently led to exchange of arguments from the
Congress. AMENDMENTS
  On May 9, 1956, Senator Jose P. Laurel he created an amendment to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and cause them to be distributed,
to the original bill in which, other that Noli Me Tangere and El free of charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the Purok
Filibusterismo, works written by Rizal and works written by others organizations and Barrio Councils throughout the country.
about Rizal would be included and reading of the unexpurgated
revision of the two novels would no longer be compulsory to SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amendment or
elementary and secondary levels but would be strictly observed to repealing section nine hundred twenty-seven of the Administrative Code,
college level. prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines by public school teachers
 After the revised amendments, the bill was finally passed on May and other person engaged in any public school.
17, 1956 and was signed into law as Republic Act 1425 by President
Ramon Magsaysay on June 12 of the same year. SECTION 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized
to be appropriated out of any fund not otherwise appropriated in the
R.A. 1425 National Treasury to carry out the purposes of this Act.
AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COURSES ON SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
THE LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS OF JOSE RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HIS
“Rizal did not pretend to teach religion when he wrote those books. He aimed at teaching
NOVELS NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE
civic consciousness, national dignity, personal pride, and patriotism and if references were
PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES made by him in the course of his narration to certain religious practices in the Philippines in
those days, and to the conduct and behavior of erring ministers of the church, it was because
SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly he portrayed faithfully the general situation of the Philippines as it then existed.” – Senator
his novel Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the Claro M. Recto
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.

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.

SECTION 3. The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of TRACING JOSE RIZAL’S ROOTS
the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose  PEPE - In Spanish, the letter “P” is pronounced as “peh” giving rise
Rizal into English, Tagalog and the principal Philippine dialects; cause them to his nickname Pepe
  DOCTOR – completed his medical course in Spain and was conferred
the degree of Licentiate in Medicine by the Universidad Central de
Madrid
 JOSE – chosen by his mother who was a devotee of Saint Joseph
 PROTACIO – from Saint Protacio, the patron saint for June 19, who
was martyred in Milan, Italy
 RIZAL – “Ricial” which means the green of young growth or green
fields
 MERCADO – adopted by his great great-grandfather which in
Spanish means market
 ALONSO – old surname of his mother
 REALONDA – used by his mother from her godmother’s surname
based on the culture by that time

Dr. José Protacio Rizal Mercado y

Alonso Realonda
Birthdate: June 19, 1861
Birth Place: Calamba, Laguna
Baptismal date: June 22, 1861
Death Anniversary: December 30, 1896

Pepe’s Family Tree