THE LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS OF RIZAL

RIZAL LAW - R.A. 1425

JUNE 12, 1956
Authored by: claro m. recto
co-authored by: jose p. laurel
SIGNED BY: pRES. rAMON mAGSAYSAY
LEARNING OUTCOMES
THE LEARNERS ARE EXPECTED TO:
Explain the history
of the Rizal Law and
its important
provisions
Critically assess the
effectiveness of the
Rizal Course
HISTORY TIME!
THE STORY
OF RIZAL
LAW
 THE FILING OF THE RIZAL BILL
In 1956, Sen. Claro M. Recto filed a
measure which became the original
Rizal Bill. Under the bill it shall be
obligatory for college and university
students to study the life and works of
Rizal.
Senator Claro M. Recto was the main
proponent of the Rizal Bill. He sought to
sponsor the bill at Congress. However,
this was met with stiff opposition from
the Catholic Church.
CLARO M. RECTO
 During the 1955 Senate election, the church
charged Recto with being a communist and an
anti-Catholic. After Recto's election, the Church
continued to oppose the bill mandating the
reading of Rizal's novels Noli Me Tángere and El
Filibusterismo, claiming it would violate
freedom of conscience and religion.
 On May 12, 1956, a
compromise inserted by
Committee on Education
Chairman Jose P. Laurel
that accommodated the
objections of the Catholic
Church was approved
JOSE P. LAUREL
unanimously.
 The bill specified that only college
(university) students would have the
option of reading unexpurgated versions
of clerically-contested reading material,
such as Noli Me Tángere and El
Filibusterismo.
On June 12, 1956, the bill was approved
by the Philippine Legislature as Republic
Act 1425; otherwise known as Rizal Law.
Incidentally, June 12 was declared as
Flag Day.
 AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE
CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES COURSES ON THE LIFE,
republic WORKS AND WRITINGS OF JOSE
act no. RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HIS NOVELS
NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL
1425 FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE
PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION
THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
WHEREAS, today, more than any
other period of our history, there
is a need for a re-dedication to
the ideals of freedom and
nationalism for which our heroes
lived and died;
WHEREAS, it is meet that in
honoring them, particularly the
national hero and patriot, Jose
Rizal, we remember with special
fondness and devotion their lives
and works that have shaped the
national character;
 WHEREAS, the life, works and writing
of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, are a
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;
WHEREAS, all educational institutions
are under the supervision of, and
subject to regulation by the State, and
all schools are enjoined to develop
moral character, personal discipline,
civic conscience and to teach the duties
of citizenship; Now, therefore,
 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 all schools,
SECTION 1 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.
The Board of National Education is hereby
authorized and directed to adopt forthwith
measures to implement and carry out the provisions
of this Section, including the writing and printing of
appropriate primers, readers and textbooks. The
Board shall, within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and
regulations, including those of a disciplinary nature,
to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act.
The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations
providing for the exemption of students for reasons
of religious belief stated in a sworn written
statement, from the requirement of the provision
contained in the second part of the first paragraph
of this section; but not from taking the course
provided for in the first part of said paragraph. Said
rules and regulations shall take effect thirty (30)
days after their publication in the Official Gazette.
 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
SECTION 2 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
.
The Board of National Education shall determine the
adequacy of the number of books, depending upon
the enrollment of the school, college or university.
 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
SECTION 3 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, through
the Purok organizations and Barrio
Councils throughout the country.
 Nothing in this Act shall be
construed as amendment or
repealing section nine hundred
twenty-seven of the
SECTION 4 Administrative Code, prohibiting
the discussion of religious
doctrines by public school
teachers and other person
engaged in any public school.
 The sum of three hundred
thousand pesos is hereby
authorized to be appropriated
SECTION 5 out of any fund not otherwise
appropriated in the National
Treasury to carry out the
purposes of this Act.
 This Act shall take
SECTION 6 effect upon its
approval.
Approved: June 12, 1956

Published in the Official

Gazette, Vol. 52, No. 6, p. 2971
in June 1956.
critical
analysis of
the rizal
law
THE EFFECTS OF
THE RIZAL LAW
 POSITIVE EFFECTS:
According to Hernando Abaya, 1984, the nationalist
reawakening began on the UP campus, sparked by the
teaching of Rizal’s life and his writings made compulsory
by the Noli-Fili law, co-authored by Recto and Laurel.

This is a statement from a person who was able to

witness the condition of the country before and after the
Rizal law was implemented. He saw the change and the
positive effect of the law to our country back then.
 POSITIVE EFFECTS:
The youth was made aware of the contributions
and the principled life of Jose Rizal who was an
emblem of substantial nationalism and
unconditional love for the country. He embodies
brilliance coupled with humility and prestige that
goes along with service. This Republic Act has
pushed for Rizal to be a role model for the youth
of this country.
 POSITIVE EFFECTS:
Through this republic act the essence of
freedom and independence was emphasized
to the youth. Also, it has been implied through
this act that national identity is a very
important legacy that our heroes have
achieved through sacrificing their own lives.
They have passed it on to us, and it is our role
to nurture and protect it.
 NEGATIVE EFFECTS:
The R. A. 1425 just caused havoc within educational
institutions. Take the case of UP a couple of years
after this law’s implementation. The UP Student
Catholic Action and numerous publications and
students were pushed to go against their President,
Dr. Singco because they feel that the University is
starting to become godless. It has just caused a
mass confusion between faith and nationalism.
 NEGATIVE EFFECTS:
The faith of the people is being
compromised. This law is endangering
the Christian growth of the students who
are still in their formative years. This can
drive the youth to question the
credibility of the church and its
teachings and traditions.
 NEGATIVE EFFECTS:
According to a survey that we have
conducted in our university, the Rizal
course is not actually significant for the
students. It has just been a laborious
subject that adds unnecessary work load
to students, and it sometimes drives the
students to lose focus on their majors.
why study
rizal?
It is of great importance that students
understand the rationale behind having to take
up a Rizal course in college. For high school
students, the Noli Me Tangere and the El
Filibusterismo are injected into the Filipino
subject as part of the overall curriculum.In
tertiary education, however, Rizal is a subject
required of any course, in any college or
university in the Philippines.
 The Rizal Law, enacted in 1956, seeks
to accomplish the following goals:
•To rededicate the lives of youth to the
ideals of freedom and nationalism, for

1.BECAUSE IT
which our heroes lived and died
•To pay tribute to our national hero for
IS MANDATED devoting his life and works in shaping

BY LAW
the Filipino character
•To gain an inspiring source of
patriotism through the study of Rizal’s
life, works, and writings.
 •To recognize the importance of Rizal’s
ideals and teachings in relation to

2.BECAUSE OF
present conditions and situations in the
society.
THE LESSONS •To encourage the application of such

CONTAINED
ideals in current social and personal
problems and issues.

WITHIN THE •To develop an appreciation and deeper

understanding of all that Rizal fought
COURSE and died for.
•To foster the development of the
Filipino youth in all aspects of
citizenship.
 TO BE CONTINUED....
NEXT TOPIC: THE PHILIPPINES IN THE
19TH CENTURY AS RIZAL’S CONTEXT