RA 1425

Republic Act No. 1425, known as the Rizal Law, requires all educational institutions in the
Philippines to include Rizal’s life, works and writings, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo in the curriculum. Libraries are required to have original and unexpurgated
copies of these novels as well as Rizal’s other works and biography. Translations into English and
Tagalog, and low-cost printing and production of Rizal’s writings shall be made to be distributed,
free of charge, to persons desiring them, through the Purok organizations and Barrio Councils
throughout the country.

The bill was approved on June 12, 1956 by President Ramon Magsaysay. The main
proponent of the law was Sen. Claro M. Recto who also sought to sponsor the bill at Congress.
However, this was met with opposition from the Catholic Church. On May 12, 1956, a compromise
inserted by Committee on Education chairman Jose Laurel that accommodated the objections from
the Catholic Church was approved unanimously.