RA No.
1425 - RIZAL LAW -The bill was opposed by three senators:
Author: Claro M. Recto Senator Francisco Rodrigo, Senator Mariano
Sponsored the Bill in the Senate: Jose P. Laurel Cuenco and Senator Decoroso Rosales.
Signed: June 12, 1956
-The Catholic Church was indirectly included
in the debates and played a major role for the
Significance of R.A. 1425
intervention of signing of the bill into a law.
. It provides insights on how to deal with current
problems:
-The Catholic Bishops Conference of the
. It helps to understand better ourselves as
Philippines (CBCP) submitted a pastoral letter to
Filipinos;
which according, Rizal violated Canon Law 1399
. It teaches nationalism:
which forbids or bans books that attack or
· It provides various essential life lessons; and
ridicule the catholic doctrine and practices.
· It serves as a worthwhile inspiration to every
Filipino -Rizalian Anthology, a collection of Rizal' s
literary works that contain the patriotic
Particularly the Rizal Law aims to: philosophy excluding the two novels.
-to rededicate the lives of the youth to the
ideals of freedom and nationalism, for which our - Due to apparently never-ending debate on
heroes lived and died the Rizal Bill, approved amendments were
-to pay tribute to our national hero for formulated through ideas of three senators
devoting his life and works in shaping the
Filipino character 1.) Senator Laurel - other than Noli Me Tangere
-to gain an inspiring source of patriotism thru and El Filibusterismo, works written by Rizal and
the study of Rizal' s life, works and writings works written by others about Rizal would be
included and reading of the unexpurgated
History of the Rizal Law revision of the two novels would no longer be
Senate bill 438 known as Rizal Bill, authored by compulsory to elementary and secondary levels
Senator Claro M. Recto - is considered as one of but would be strictly observed to college level.
the most controversial bills in the Philippines.
2.) Senator Lim - suggested the exemption to
Recto' s original bill made it obligatory for those students who feel that reading Rizal' s
college and university students to study the life novels would negatively affect his or her faith.
and works of Jose Rizal.
3.) Senator Primicias - promulgates the rules
But what made it controversial? and regulations in getting an exemption only
from reading the two novels through written
-What made it controversial is that the bill statement or affidavit and not from taking the
was not just fiercely opposed by people from Rizal Course.
Legislative Branch but also by the Catholic
Church due to the inclusion of compulsory
reading of Rizal' s novels in which according to
them, catholic dogmas are humiliated.
SECTION 6.
Provisions of the Rizal Law
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
SECTION 1.
Approved: June 12, 1956
Courses on the life, works and writings of
Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me Tangere By integrating Rizal in the curriculum, this would
and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the benefit the Filipino Youth as well as the whole
curricula of all schools, colleges and universities, nation to acquire the following traits:
public or private.
Incorruptible
Direction
SECTION 2.
Determination
It shall be obligatory on all schools, Confidence
colleges and universities to keep in their Courage
libraries an adequate number of copies of the Patriotism
original and unexpurgated editions of the Noli Nationalism
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as of
Rizal' s other works and biography.
Reference: Mr. Marvin Cabañero
SECTION 3.
The Board translation Filibusterismo, as well as
other writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog
and the principal Philippine 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.
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 person engaged in
any other 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.
