PC ( LIFE AND WORK OF RIZAL)

RIZAL LAW ( RA 1425 )

RIZAL LAW ( RA 1425)
● Is a Philippine law that requires all school in the Philippines, both
public and Private , to offer courses on the life ,works, and writings of
the Philippine national hero. Dr. Jose Rizal
WHY STUDY HIM?
Why study Rizal: From the perspective of Lawmakers
Many Filipino observed that the sense of Filipino identity was waning
● In response , nationalist policy-makers took action to redirect the nation
back to its roots by emphasizing the importance of history as a foundation
for national hope and pride.
April 3,1956
Senator Claro M. Recto proposed SENATE BILL No.438 and
submitted it to the Senate Committee on Education
SENATE BILL No.438
Titled “ An Act to make Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
compulsory reading Matter in all public and private Colleges and
Universities and for other purposes”
Senate Bill No.438 = NOLI-FILI BILL
April 17,1956
● Senator P. Laurel,Sr, who was then the Chairman of the
committee on Education SPONSORED the NOLI-FIL BILL in the
senate and presented it to the Upper House
● The main purpose of the bill was to disseminate the ideas and
ideals of Jose Rizal through the reading of his novels, Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo
● Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be read by all
Filipinos. They must be taken to heart , for in their pages we see
ourselves as a mirror, our defects as well as our strength, our
virtues as well as our vices

Only then would we become conscious as a people , and so learn

to prepare ourselves for painful sacrifices that ultimately lead to self-
reliance, self-respect and freedom.
The Noli-Fili bill sounds good, right?
The Catholic Church’s Opposition to the Noli-
Fili bill
● Since Jose Rizal criticized the Catholic Church, the Noli-Fili Bill
was met with stiff opposition from the latter’s head and supporters.
● According to them , the Bill was an attempt to DISCREDIT the
Catholic religion
Father Jesus Cavanna
● Argued that Jose Rizal’s novel from the past should not be taught in schools
because they DO NOT ACCURATELY depict current conditions and may give
false impression of the country
Here are some additional criticisms of the
Catholic Church regarding the Noli-Fili Bill
● Among the 333 pages of Noli Me Tangere, only 25 passages are
nationalistic while 120 passages are anti-Catholic.
● 170 lines from Noli Me Tangere and 50 lines in El Filibusterismo
were offensive to the catholic doctrine.
● The Bill might divide the nation
● Compulsion to read something against one's faith impairs freedom
of Speech and religious freedom
● Rizal admitted that he did not only attack the Friars who acted
deceptively on the Filipinos but also the Catholic faith itself.
At that time Noli-Fili Bill was widely CONTROVERSAL
● These catholic groups organized opposition to the Bill:
1. Catholic Action of the Philippines
2. Congregation of the Mission
3. Knights of Columbus
4. Catholic Teachers Guild
● The church charged Recto why being a communist and an anti-
Catholic
● It even comes to the point where Catholic Schools threaten to close
down their schools if the bill was passed.
April 19,1956
● Congressmas Jacobo Z. Gonzales filed a similar bill called
House Bill No.5561 to the House of Representative

UNFORTUNATELY , akin to Noli-Fili Bill, House Bill No. 5561 had

also been opposed contending its constitutionality and religousity.
The Enactment of “ RIZAL LAW”
Senator Laurel proposed a substitute bill with a few tweaks to appease the opposition.
Truce?

1. Instead of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. ( the new

substitute bill now includes a wider range of works and writings by
Dr. Jose Rizal)
2. Reading is now OPTIONAL. ( if a student does not want to read the
two novels, they can request for an exemption)
Note: As of now, there s no record of any student requesting
for exemption , or if such a practice was even implemented
3. The implementation of reading UNEXPURGATED version of
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo will only be college or
university Student.
 UNEXPURGATED

Not censored or edited to remove offensive or objectionable content

 EXPURGATED

To remove or censored offensive or objectionable content, especially

from text
It’s important to read the original and UNEXPURGATED edition of
Rizal’s novels because the true purpose of studying these will be
defeated if not followed
- Senator Laurel
May 12,1956 and May 14, 1956
● Senate Bill No. 438 and House Bill 5561 were both unanimously
approved on the second reading and in the Lower House
June 12, 1956
● The Bill was signed into law by President Ramon Magsaysay ,
giving birth to republic Act 1425 or the Rizal Law
 Rizal Law
Act to include in the Curricula of all public and Private
Schools ,Colleges and Universities Courses on the Life , Works and
Writings od Dr. Jose Rizal, Particularly His Novels Noli Me Tangere
and El Filbusterismo , Authorizing the printing and distribution
thereof, and for other Purposes
PROVISIONS OF THE RIZAL LAW
● Section 1.
- Courses on the line , works and writings of Dr.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.
Section 2
It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and universities to keep
in their libraries on adequate number of copes of the original and
unexpurgated editions of Noli Me Tangere and El Filbusterismo as
well as of Rizal’s other works and biography.
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 amending 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.

The Goals of the Rizal Law can be Summarized in the Following
three points
1. To rededicate the lives of youth to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for
which our heroes lived and died
2. To pay tribute to our national hero for devoting his life and works in shaping
the Filipino character
3. To gain an inspiring source of patriotism through the study of Rizal’s works
and writings.