THE TRIALS OF THE RIZAL
BILL
By: Dr. J.B. LAUREL, Jr.
Why we need to study RIZAL
 Required by the law
 Lesson and values
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425
600 B.C.
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House
of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo are hereby declared
compulsory reading matter in all public
and private schools, colleges and
universities in the Philippines.
SECTION 2. The works mentioned in
Section 1 of this Act shall be in the
original editions or in their unexpurgated
English and Natural Language versions.
SECTION 3. The Department of
Education shall take steps to
promulgate rules and regulations for the
immediate implementation of the
provisions of this Act.
SECTION 4. No provision of this Act
shall be constructed as prohibiting or
limiting the study of the works of other
Filipino heroes:
SECTION 5. Any public or private
college or university found violating,
failing to comply with, or circumventing the
provisions of this Act shall be punished
accordingly:
Approved: June 12, 1956
Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 52,
No. 6, p. 2971 in June 1956.
APRIL 3, 1956
Senate Bill No. 438
In 1956 , Senator Claro M. Recto filed a
measure 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.
The original version reads as follows:
"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."
APRIL 17, 1957
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.
"The objective of the measure was to
disseminate the ideas and ideals of the great
Filipino patriot through the reading of his
work, particularly Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo"
*APRIL 19, 1956
-House Bill No. 5561
"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."
-The time when the conflict reached the
House of Representatives. The Bill is
identical copy of Senate Bill No. 438.
APRIL 23,1956
Debates in Senate Bill begun
 Senator Mariano J. Cuenco,
 Francisco Rodrigo
 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.
 "Let us not create a conflict between
nationalism and religion; between
the government and the church."
Rodrigo said.
 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
Notable Defenders:
 Congressmen Emilio Cortez
 Mario Bengzon, Joaquin R. Roces
 Rancap Lagumbay
Outspoken Opponents:
 Congressmen Ramon Durano
 Jose Nuguid
 Marciano Lim, Manuel Zosa
 Lucas Paredes
 Godofredo Ramos
 Miguel Cuenco
 Congresswomen Carmen D. Consing
 Tecla San Andres Ziga
 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 to the amendment state:
"The Board shall promulgate rules and
regulations providing for the exemption of
students for reason 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."
 The amendment is unanimously
approved.
 The second reading also approved
unanimously.
MAY 14, 1956
 Congressman Arturo 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.
 Congressman Miguel Cuenco -
"measure was unconstitutional"
 Congressman Bengzon - "The
substitute bill represented a complete
triumph of the Church Hierarchy"
 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.
1. Senate Bill No. 438 was approved in
third reading with 23 votes in favor.
2. House Bill No. 5561 was also
approved on third reading with 27
votes in favor (6 were against, 2
abstained and 17 were absent).
3. This bill was passed by the latter
Chamber without amendment.
4. Provided that the number of the
Senate bill should appear in enrolled
courses.
JUNE 12, 1956
President Ramon Magsaysay
 He was a Filipino statesman who
served as the 7th President of the
Philippines, from December 30,
 1953 until his death in an aircraft
disaster.
 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.
 This fulfilled the words of Rizal who
through Filosofo Tasio in Noli Me
Tangere, said:
"I am writing for the generations of
Filipinos yet to come, a generation that will
be enlightened and educated, a generation
that will read my books and appreciate them
without condemning me as a heretic."
December 26, 1994
President Fidel V. Ramos
 In the preparation for the centennial
commemoration of Dr. Jose Rizal's
martyrdom, President Fidel V.
Ramos issued Memorandum Order
No. 247, directing the Secretary of
the Department of Higher Education,
Culture and Sport (DECS) and the
Chairman of the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) to take
steps to fully implement to the letter
the intent and spirit of R.A. 1425,
popularly known as Rizal Law.
On November 15, 1995 , the Technical
Committee after deliberation and careful study
based on Dr. Onofre D. Corpuz’ and Dr. Alfredo
Lagmay’s criteria selected the following nine
Filipino historical figures to be recommended
as National Heroes:
 Jose Rizal
 Andres Bonifacio
 Emilio Aguinaldo
 Apolinario Mabini
 Marcelo H. del Pilar
 Sultan Dipatuan Kudarat
 Juan Luna
 Melchora Aquino
 Gabriela Silang
Criteria/ Standards
 Concept of nation: aspire and struggle
for nations freedom
 Contribute to system of life of freedom
and order
 Contribute to quality of life and destiny
of nation.
 Part of people expression
 Thinks of the future
 Entire process
Rizal wass Choosen because?
 Encourage people to unite in fighting
Spaniards
 Model of peace
 Filipino sentimental