Pangasinan State University

Bayambang Campus

College of Teacher Education

Reporters: Date Reported: February 7, 2020

Aries R. Sermonia Rating:__________

Donald M. Vinoya

Jessica F. Lamzon

TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING THE RIZAL LAW

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this chapter, the students should be able to:

locate the passage of the Rizal Law with its historical context;
determine the issues and interests at stake in the debate over the Rizal Bill; and
relate the issues to the present-day Philippines.

I. Introduction

In this topic, we will meet the life and works of Dr. Jose P. Rizal. In relation to this, we will
also study Republic Act 1425 within its context; discover the major issues and debates revolving
around the bill and its passage into law, and reflect on the impact and relevance of this legislation
across history, the current time, and the future.

Moreover, as we go on to the discussion the reporters will also tackle about how a bill
becomes a law in the Philippines and what are the steps should a bill needs to undergo in order
for it to become a recognized law so that we will fully understand what The Republic Act 1425
is all about.

II. Body

VOCABULARY

Bill – a measure which, if passed through the legislative process becomes a law.

Unexpurgated – a basically untouched. In the case of the novels of Rizal, unexpurgated versions
were those that were not changed or censored to remove parts that might offend people.

Bicameral- involving the chambers of Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Context of Rizal Bill

The postwar period saw a Philippines rife with challenges and problems. With a country
torn and tired from the stresses of World War II, getting up on their feet was a paramount
concern of the people and the government.

How a Bill Becomes a Law: The Legislative Process

The Senate and the House of Representatives follows the same legislative procedure. The
legislative proposal emanate from a number of sources. They maybe authored by the members of
the Senate or House as part of their advocacies and agenda; produced the lobbying from various
sectors; or initiated by the executive branch of the government with the President’s legislative
agenda. Once a legislative proposal, like a bill is ready, it will go through steps.

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

STEP 2: First Reading.

STEP 3: Committee Hearings.

STEP 4: Second Reading.

STEP 5: Voting on Second Reading.

STEP 6: Voting on Third Reading.

STEP 7: Consolidation of Versions from the House.

STEP 8: Transmittal of the Final Version to Malacanan.

From the Rizal bill from The Rizal Law

April 3, 1956 – Senate Bill No. 438vwas 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 proposed legislation. Claro M. Recto, and his allies in the
Senate entered into fierce battle arguing for the passage of SB 438.

April 23, 1956 – Debates started.

April 19, 1956 – House Bill No. 5561, an identical version of SB 438 was filed by
Representative Jacobo Z. Gonzales.

May 2, 1956 – The House Committee on Education approved the bill without amendments.

May 9, 1956 – The debates commenced. Whether the compulsory reading of the texts Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo appropriated in the bill was constitutional. Senator Jose P. Laurel
proposed amendments to the bill. In particular, he removed the compulsory reading of Rizal’s
novels and added that Rizal’s other works must also be included in the subject.

May 14, 1956 – similar amendments were adapted to the House version.

May 17, 1956 – the Senate and House versions were approved.

June 12, 1956 – the approved versions were then transmitted to Malacanang, President
Magsaysay signed the bill into law which became Republic Act 1425.

CLARO M. RECTO

(February 8, 1890 – October 2, 1960)

The main sponsor and defender of Rizal bill was Claro Mayo Recto. His political career
started in House of Representatives in 1919 when he was elected as representatives of the third
district of Batangas. He later became House Minority Floor Leader. From the House of
Representatives, he moved to the Senate in 1931 when he was elected as senator. In the Senate,
he held key positions such as Minority Floor Leader, Majority Floor Leader, and the Senate
President Pro-Tempore. In 1935, he became Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

Recto was also instrumental in the in drafting of the constitution of the Philippines in
1934-1935 as he was selected president of the assembly. Known as an ardent nationalist, Recto
was also a man of letters. He penned beautiful poetry and prose. On October 2, 1960, he died of
attack in Italy. He was survived by his wife, Aurora Reyes and their five children.

THE RIZAL LAW

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425

AN ACT INCLUDED IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE

SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COURSES ON THE LIFE, WORKS
AND WRITINGS OF JOSE RIZALN, PARTICULARLY HIS NOVELS NOLI ME
TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE PRONTING AND
DISTRIBUTION KTHEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli
Me Tangere and E Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and
universities, public or private: Provided, That in collegiate courses, the original or unexpurgated
editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo of their English translation shall be used
as basic texts.

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 Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo as well as of Rizal’s other works and biography.
The said unexpurgated editions of 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 and private schools, colleges and universities.

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 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 persons engaged in any public school.

SECTION 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated
in the National Treasury to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

III. Conclusion

IV. Reflection

Throughout the discussion we have learned what a bill is, what are the different procedures
on how to pass a bill, and how it works throughout the country. Besides from this, it added to our
knowledge what are the functions and roles of a bicameral which compose of Senate and House
of Representatives. We believed that as a student it is relevant to study the Rizal Law or
Republic Act 1425 which is the focus point our discussions.

Moreover, as we finish our discussion, we’ve learned that R.A 1425 has a great impact on
how we are in the present generation and of the future generation as to why it is necessary to
study the life and works of Rizal for us to reflect in the reality of a Filipino life. The topic is not
just to learrn more on laws but also to inculcate to the minds of every student how important this
law in upbringing the knowledgeof everyone about the hero named Jose Rizal.

V. Reference
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SIGNATURE