Lesson 1: THE STUDY OF RIZAL IN HISTORICAL nationalism that would help them understand
AND CRITICAL APPROACH the importance of sovereignty.
R.A. 1425 “RIZAL LAW” OBJECTIVES OF RIZAL LAW
*An act to include in the curricula of all public *To rededicate the lives of youth to the ideals
and private schools, colleges, and universities of freedom and nationalism, for which our
courses on The Life, Works, and Writings of heroes lived and died
Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me *To pay tribute to our national hero for
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, authorizing the devoting his life and works in shaping the
printing and distribution thereof, and for Filipino character
other purposes. *To gain an inspiring source of patriotism
through the study of Rizal’s life, works, and
*Mandates the teaching of life, works, and writings
writing of Rizal in all schools in the country. *All educational institutions are under the
supervision of, and subject to regulation by
*Passed on May 17, 1956, in Congress and the state, and all schools are enjoined to
signed by President Ramon Magsaysay on develop moral character, personal character,
June 12, 1956. and civic conscience, and to teach the duties
of citizenship.
Sen. Claro M. Recto
*the main proponent of the Rizal The Importance of Studying Rizal
Bill (Senate Bill 438) *It teaches nationalism and patriotism
*he believed that studying the life and works *The subject provides insights on how to deal
of Jose Rizal would be instrumental in with current problems
teaching the youth to stand up for their There is a dictum, “He who controls the past
country, therefore embodying the values and controls the future”
ideals of Rizal.
Nationalism involves the desire to attain
Jacobo Z. Gonzales freedom and political independence,
*House Bill 5561 especially by a country under a foreign power,
an act to include the compulsory teaching of while Patriotism denotes proud devotion
*Noli me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in the and loyalty to one’s nation.
Curricula of all Public and Private schools,
colleges and universities Critical Thinking refers to discerning,
evaluative, and analytical thinking.
Jose P. Laurel
*The head of the Senate Committee on NOTABLE PERSON AND ORGANIZATIONS
Education. WHO SUPPORT ITS APPROVAL
*He helped Sen. Recto defend the viability *Sen. Jose P. Laurel
and practicality of having the bill enacted into *Sen. Claro M. Recto
law. *Cong. Jacobo Gonzales
*He firmly believed that the passing of the bill *Knights of Rizal
into law will be integral in achieving the noble OPPOSITIONS
intent of bringing to the Filipinos a sense of *Sen. Decoroso Rosales *Sen. Mariano
*Cuenco Francisco Rodrigo * Jesus Paredes
Reasons for Blocking Its
Approval
*The novels belong to the past and that
teaching would misrepresent the current
conditions.
*The catholic students would be affected if
the compulsory reading of the unexpurgated
version were pushed through.
*The novels are very damaging to the clerics.
*The novel constitutes a violation of
Philippineconstitutional provision (freedom of
conscience and religion).
SALIENT POINTS OF RIZAL
LAW
*Courses on the life, works, and writings of
Dr. Jose Rizal, particularly, his novels Noli me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be
included in the curricula of all schools,
colleges, and universities, public and private.
*It obliged all schools, colleges, and
universities to k e e p in their libraries an
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
*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 circulations.
