GEC 9: The Life and Works of Rizal

Chapter: 1 Week: 2

Chapter 1
Understanding The Rizal Law

Objectives:
At the end of the rating period, students should be able to:
1. Locate the passage of the Rizal Law within its historical context.
2. Determine the issues and interest at stake in the debate over the Rizal
Bill; and
3. Relate the issues to the present-day Philippines.

Discussion:
INTRODUCTION
The mandatory teaching of Jose Rizal’s life with the emphasis on his landmark
novels is inscribed in legislation. Republic Act No. 1425, more popularly known as the
Rizal Law, was passed in 1956 leaving a colorful narrative of debate and contestation.

How a Bill Becomes a Law: The Legislative Process

STEP 1
Bill is filed in the Senate Office of the Secretary.

STEP 2
First Reading. The bill’s title, number, and author(s) are read on the floor. Afterwards, it
is referred to the appropriate committee.

STEP 3
Committee Hearings. The bill is discussed within the committee and a period of
consultations is held. The committee can approve (approve without revisions, approve
with amendments, or recommend substitution or consolidation with similar bills) or
reject. After the committee submits the committee report, the bill is calendared for
second reading.

STEP 4
Second Reading. The bill is read and discussed on the floor. The author delivers a
sponsorship speech. The other members of the senate may engage in discussions
regarding the bill and a period of debates will pursue. Amendments may be suggested
to the bill.

STEP 5
Voting on Second Reading. The senators vote on whether to approve or reject the bill.
If approved, the bill is calendared for third reading.

STEP 6
Voting on Third Reading. Copies of the final versions of the bill are distributed to the
members of the Senate who will vote for its approval or rejection.

STEP 7
Consolidation of Version from the House. The similar steps above are followed by
the House of Representatives in coming up with the approved bill. If there are
differences b/w the Senate and House versions, a bicameral conference committee is
called to reconcile the two. After this, both chambers approve the consolidated version.

STEP 8
Transmittal of the Final Version to Malacañan. The bill is then submitted to the
President for signing. The President can either sign the bill into law or veto and return
it to Congress.

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1st Semester AY 2020-2021
 GEC 9: The Life and Works of Rizal
Chapter: 1 Week: 2

Republic Act No. 1425 or the Rizal Law was set to address “a need for a re-
dedication to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our heroes lived
and died.” The passage of the law was met with fierce opposition from the Senate and
the House of Representatives.

From the Rizal Bill to the Rizal Law

April 3, 1956 - Senate Bill No. 438 was filed by the Senate Committee on Education.
April 17, 1956 – Senate Committee on Education Chair Jose P. Laurel sponsored the
bill and began delivering speeches for the propose legislation.
April 23, 1956 – debates started.

The debates on the Rizal Bill also ensued in the House of Representatives.
House Bill No. 5561, an identical version of SB 438, was filed by Representative Jacobo
Z. Gonzales on April 19, 1956. The House Committee on Education approved the Bill
without amendments on May 2, 1956 and the debates commenced on May 9, 1956. A
major point of the debates was whether the compulsory reading of the texts Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo appropriated in the bill was constitutional. The call to
read the unexpurgated versions was also challenged.

May 9, 1956 – Senator Jose P. Laurel proposed amendments to the bill.

May 14, 1956 – similar amendments were adopted to the House version.
Bureau of Printing – were asked to use the same templates for the Senate version in
printing the House version. Thus, on May 17, 1956, the Senate and House versions
were approved.

The approved versions were then transmitted to Malacañan and on June 12,
1956, President Magsaysay signed the bill into law which became Republic Act No.
1425.

CLARO M. RECTO (February 8, 1890 – October 2, 1960) - was the main sponsor and
defender of the Rizal Bill.

FURTHER READING

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 re-dedication 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,

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1st Semester AY 2020-2021
 GEC 9: The Life and Works of Rizal
Chapter: 1 Week: 2

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.

Evaluation:

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1st Semester AY 2020-2021
GEC 9: The Life and Works of Rizal
Chapter: 1 Week: 2

A. Direction: Reflect on the topics carefully. Write your short essay neatly in a long
size bond paper. It can be handwriting of yours or encoded on your respective
computer/s.
Short Essay No.1
Dr. Jose P. Rizal: A Global and Philippine National Hero

References:
a. RhodalynWani-Obias et.al., The Life and Works of Jose Rizal, C&E Publishing
Inc. 2018
b. Jose Rizal: First Global Filipino Hero, Ruben D. Maranan, PhD., C&E Publishing
Inc. 2015

Prepared by: Noted:

OSCAR H. FALCON AMIEL A. BRACINO

Instructor Program Chairperson of GEC Department

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1st Semester AY 2020-2021