INTRODUCTION:

Republic Act 1425

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Recognize the historical background and context of the
Rizal Law and its important provisions;
2. Critically assess the effectiveness and significance of the
Rizal Course;
3. Reflect upon themselves the idea and principles of Rizal
in their life.

1 The Life and Works of Jose Rizal Introduction: Republic Act 1425
 1 INTRODUCTION: Republic Act 1425
If you were to ask or say something to Dr. Jose Rizal, what would it be? Write at least
two (2) questions on the silhouettes beside our national hero below. Then, answer
the questions that follow.

https://www.google.com/search?q=jose+rizalandsource=lnmsandtbm=ischandsa=Xandved=2ahUKEwiPo6aIjcbmAhWIAYgKHZNeBlcQ_AUoAXoECBQQAwandbiw=1707andbih=760#imgdii=eK3EdrwKbbNsYM:andimgrc=gbn5m1TQ0wT-9M:

1. What do you know about Dr. Jose Rizal? ___________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2. What is your reason for asking or saying those things to Rizal? ________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3. Why do you think you need to study the life and works of Rizal? _______________
__________________________________________________________________________

THE RIZAL LAW AND ITS IMPORTANCE

Republic Act. No. 1425, also known as the
Rizal Law has been enacted on June 12, 1956 and
was sponsored and authored mainly by the late
Senator Jose P. Laurel and Senator Claro M. Recto.
Rizal Law is a mandate to include in the course
curricula of all public and private schools, colleges
and universities the life, works and writings of Jose
Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo.
https://www.google.com/search?
q=the+story+of+rizal+lawandsource=lnmsandtbm=ischandsa=Xandved=2ahUKEwi WzuHjnMbmAh-

2 The Life and Works of Jose Rizal Introduction: Republic Act 1425
 It is important to note that before the enactment of the
Rizal Law, Senate Bill No. 438 was submitted to the Senate
Committee on Education on April 3, 1956. It is “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.
On April 17, 1956 the bill was
sponsored and presented to the members Senator Jose P. Laurel
of the Senate or the Upper House by the https://www.google. com/search?q=senator+jose+p.+laurelands
ource=lnmsandtbm=ischandsa=Xandved=2ahUKEwikxPPXn8b

late Senator Jose P. Laurel, who was then

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bih=760#imgrc=6gpepMBrBHFxtM:

the Chairman of the Committee.

According to the late Senator Jose P. Laurel the
dissemination of ideas and ideals of Jose Rizal through the
Senator Claro M. Recto reading of his works, notably the NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL
FILIBUSTERISMO is the main purpose of the bill.
https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/921/today-in-philippine-history
-february-8-1890-claro-m-recto-was-born-in-tiaong-tayaba

He stated that “Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be read by all

Filipinos. They must be taken to heart, for in their pages we see ourselves as a mirror,
our defects as well as our strength, our virtues as well as our vices. Only then would
we become conscious as a people, and so learn to prepare ourselves for painful
sacrifices that ultimately lead to self-reliance, self-respect and freedom
(Laurel,Jr.,131).
Meanwhile, Congressman Jacobo Z. Gonzales also filed a similar bill called
House Bill No. 5561 to the House of Representatives. Unfortunately, akin to Senate Bill
No. 438, House Bill No. 5561 had also been opposed contending its
constitutionality and religiosity. It was then that a substitute bill has been proposed
to include all the works and writings of Jose Rizal, ruling out the exclusivity of Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo as the main features of the previous bills.
Moreover, the late Senator Jose P. Laurel asserted the importance of
reading the original and unexpurgated edition of Rizal’s novel because the true
purpose of studying these will be defeated if not followed. On May 12, 1956 and
May 14, 1956, Senate Bill No. 438 and House Bill No. 5561 were both unanimously
approved on the second reading and in the Lower House.
On June 12, 1956, the bill was signed into law by President Ramon Magsaysay,
giving birth to Republic Act 1425 or the Rizal Law.

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

3 The Life and Works of Jose Rizal Introduction: Republic Act 1425
 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, 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

4 The Life and Works of Jose Rizal Introduction: Republic Act 1425
 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.

Think about this again: Why study the life and works of Rizal? It is apparent
that during Rizal’s time, the Filipino identity is already diminishing—this was the
rationale behind the enactment of the Rizal Law, which seeks to accomplish the
following objectives:
1) To rededicate the lives of the youth to the ideals of freedom and
nationalism, for which our heroes lived and died;
2) To play tribute to our national hero for devoting his life and works for
shaping the Filipino character;
3) To gain an inspiring source of patriotism thru the study of Rizal’s life, works
and writings.
The late Senator Jose P. Laurel, who sponsored the said law emphasized the
need to know and imbibe the great ideals and principles for which Rizal died. After
all, Rizal was the founder of Filipino nationality and the architect of the Filipino
nation. It is by reading and studying Rizal’s life, teachings and writings that the
young generation of the Philippines will be able to gain incorruptible confidence,
direction, courage and determination to move forward in our people’s journey
towards an abundant life.
The teaching of Rizal Course in higher education institutions in our country
today is anchored on the patriotic policy statements of Rizal Law and the patriotic
goals set by the then Board on National Education (Capino et. Al, 1997). These
goals are as follows:
1) To recognize the relevance of Rizal’s ideals, thoughts, teaching, and life
values to present conditions in the community;
2) To apply Rizal’s ideas in the solution of day-to-day situations and
problems in contemporary life;
3) To develop an understanding and appreciation of the qualities,
behavior and character of Rizal; and
4) To foster the development of moral character, personal discipline,
citizenship and vocational efficiency among the Filipino youth.

Thus, the importance of the study of Rizal’s life, works and writings is to instill in
ourselves the idea and ideals of Jose Rizal, and to develop a deeper awareness
and understanding of its relevance so that in the long run, we may be able to
apply them in our daily lives and become an active participant in
nation-building.

5 The Life and Works of Jose Rizal Introduction: Republic Act 1425