Name of Student: Renz Junessa B.

Malaubang
Course & Year: BSCE-3
Subject: Rizal Course
Class Schedule: MWF/3:00-5:00pm
Name of Instructor: April Farell M. Relacion
Date of Submission: January 29, 2021

Timeline of the Trials of the Rizal Bill

April 3, 1956
- The committee on education, Senator Claro M. Recto, filed the Senate Bill No. 438 which
became the original RIZAL Bill recognizing the need to instill heroism among the youth at the
time when the country was experiencing social turmoil.
April 17, 1956
- Senator JOSE P. LAUREL, as Chairman of the Committee on Education, began his
sponsorship of the measure and began delivering speeches for the proposed legislation.
April 19, 1956
- The time when the conflict reached the House of Representatives when Congressman Jacob
Z. Gonzales introduced House bill No. 5561 which is identical copy of Senate Bill No. 438.
April 23, 1956
- Debates in Senate Bill begun
- Senator Mariano J. Cuenco, Francisco Rodrigo and Decoroso Rosales are identified as rabid
Catholic opposed the said Bill.
- The Catholic church claimed that the two novels contained news inimical to the tenet of their
faith and includes the violation of religious freedom.
- But, Senator Recto claimed that the sole objective of the bill was to foster the better
appreciation of Rizal's times and of the role he played in combating Spanish tyranny in this
country.
May 2, 1956
- Report of Committee on Education, recommending approval without amendment.
May 9, 1956
-Debate about the amendment of original bill started
-As the daily debates wore in Congress and throughtout the country, it become more apparent
that no agreement could be reached on the original version of the Bill.
- However, Senator Laurel, sensing the futility of further strife on the matter, rose to propose in
his own name an amendment by substitution.
May 12, 1956
-Senator Lim, proposed the exemption of students from the requirements of the bill. 
-The amendment is unanimously approved.
-The second reading also approved unanimously.
May 14, 1956
-Congressman Tolentino, the brilliant House Majority Floor Leader, sponsored the amendment
by substitution identical to Senator Laurel's substitute bill as amended and approved on second
reading in the Upper House.
-No less than 51 congressman appearing as its co-authors, including the majority and minority
leadership in the Chamber.
May 17, 1956
- Congress was to adjourn sine due in few days, since the President had declined to certify to
the necessity of the immediate enactment of measure. There is need of complying with the
constitutional requirement that printed copies thereof be distributed among the Congressmen at
least three calendar day prior to its final approval by the House.

-Senate Bill No. 438 was approved in third reading with 23 votes in favor.

-House Bill No. 5561 was also approved on third reading with 27 votes in favor (6 were against,
2 abstained and 17 were absent).

-This bill was passed by the latter Chamber without amendment.

-Provided that the number of the Senate bill should appear in enrolled courses.

June 12, 1956

-On June 12, President Ramon Magsaysay signed the bill as Republic Act 1425. More than 50
years after the “Rizal Law”, Catholic Ateneo de Manila is at the forefront of Rizal studies,
especially with fellow columnist and Rizalist Ambeth Ocampo teaching there. Ateneo’s main
library is named after Rizal.