REPUBLIC ACT NO.

1425

AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND 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 DISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

WHEREAS, today, more than any other period of our history, there is a need for a
rededication 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,

SECTION 1. 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, 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.

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.
The Board of National Education shall determine the adequacy of the number of books,
depending upon the enrollment of the school, college or university.

SECTION 3. 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 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.

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 other person engaged in any 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.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 12, 1956

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 52, No. 6, p. 2971 in June 1956
MC III they are still required to take
TOPIC 1-2 courses on Rizal’s life and works.
5. Translation and Accessibility:
R.A. 1425 - Rizal Law The law also mandates the
translation of Rizal’s works into
- enacted in the Philippines on June English, Tagalog, and other major
12, 1956. Philippine dialects. These
- mandates the inclusion of courses translations are to be made
on the life, works, and writings of available to the public, even for
Jose Rizal—particularly his novels free, to encourage widespread
Noli Me Tangere and El reading.
Filibusterismo—in the curricula of
all public and private schools, This law aims to ensure that Filipinos are
colleges, and universities. educated about Rizal’s pivotal role in the
nation's history and the values he
1. Purpose of the Law: The Rizal promoted through his literature.
Law was created to promote
nationalism and a dedication to Opposition in Passing the Bill
freedom, especially by
remembering the contributions of Senate bill 438 known as Rizal Bill which
Jose Rizal, the national hero of the was first authored by Senator Claro M.
Philippines. His works inspire Recto - requiring the inclusion in the
patriotism and civic responsibility curricula of all private and public schools,
among the youth. colleges and universities the life, works
2. Educational Requirement: and writings of Jose Rizal particularly his
Schools are required to include novels Noli Me Tangere and El
Rizal’s works, specifically Noli Me Filibusterismo - is considered as one of
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, in the most controversial bills in the
their curricula. In college courses, Philippines. Normally, before the bill was
the unexpurgated or original approved and implemented in all schools
versions of these novels, or their and was signed into a law known as
English translations, must be used Republic Act 1425, it had been brought to
as core materials. the Upper and Lower House of the
3. Implementation and Regulation: Congress for deliberations. But what made
The Board of National Education is it controversial is that the bill was not just
tasked with creating measures to fiercely opposed by people from
implement the law, including Legislative Arm but also by the Catholic
providing primers and textbooks Church due to the inclusion of compulsory
and determining how many copies reading of Rizal's novels in which
of Rizal's works should be according to them, catholic dogmas are
available in libraries. humiliated.
4. Exemptions: The law allows
students to be exempt from Senator Recto brought the bill to the
reading the unexpurgated editions Senate and Senator Jose B. Laurel Sr.
of Rizal’s novels due to religious who was then the Chairman of the
beliefs, provided they submit a Committee on Education sponsored the
sworn written statement. However, bill that consequently led to exchange of
arguments from the Congress. The bill
was opposed by three senators namely bill is to keep the memory of the national
Senator Francisco Rodrigo who was a hero alive in every Filipino's mind, to
former Catholic Action President, emanate Rizal as he peacefully fought for
SenatorMariano Cuenco and Senator freedom, and not to go against religion.
Decoroso Rosales who was the brother of
Julio Rosales, an archbishop. Other Due to apparently never-ending debate on
oppositors were from Lower House the Rizal Bill, approved amendments were
namely Congressmen Ramon formulated through ideas of three
Durano,Marciano Lim, Jose Nuguid, senators. Senator Laurel' created an
Manuel Soza, Godofredo Ramos, Miguel amendment to the original bill in which,
Cuenco, Lucas Paredes, Congressmen other that Noli Me Tangere and El
Carmen Consing and Tecia San Andres Filibusterismo, works written by Rizal and
Ziga. The Catholic Church was indirectly works written by others about Rizal would
included in the debates and played a be included and reading of the
major role for the intervention of signing of unexpurgated revision of the two novels
the bill into a law. Allied with the church in would no longer be compulsory to
battle against Rizal Bill were the Holy elementary and secondary levels but
Name Society of the Philippines, Catholic would be strictly observed to college
Action of the Philippines, Legion of Mary, level. Senator Lim suggested the
Knights of Columbus and Daughters of exemption to those students who feel that
Isabela. reading Rizal's novels would negatively
affect his or her faith. Senator Primicias
Oppositions argued that the bill would go created an additional amendment that
against freedom of conscience and promulgates the rules and regulations in
religion, The Catholic Bishops Conference getting an exemption only from reading
of the Philippines (CBCP) submitted a the two novels through written statement
pastoral letter to which according, Rizal or affidavit and not from taking the Rizal
violated Canon Law 1399 which forbids or Course. According to historian Ambeth
bans books that attack or ridicule the Ocampo, no student has ever availed of
catholic doctrine and practices. Oppositors this exemption. After the revised
argued that among the 333 pages of Noli amendments, the bill was finally passed
Me Tangere, only 25 passages are on May 17, 1956 and was signed into law
nationalistic while 120 passages are as Republic Act 1425 by President Ramon
anti-catholic. Upon scrutiny of the two Magsaysay on June 12 of the same year.
novels by some members of catholic
hierarchy, 170 passages in Noli Me
Tangere and 50 in El Filibusterismo are
against catholic faith. Furthermore,
oppositors pointed out that Rizal admitted
that he did not only attack the friars who
acted deceptively on the Filipinos but also
the catholic faith itself. They suggested a
reading material for students as to what
they called Rizalian Anthology, a collection
of Rizal's literary works that contain the
patriotic philosophy excluding the two
novels. Recto and Laurel defended the bill
and argued that the only objective of the