THE TRIALS OF THE RIZAL BILL

Republic Act. No. 1425

known as Rizal Law

It was filed by the Committee on Education on April 3, 1956, Senate Bill No.438.
On April 17, 1956 Senator Jose P. Laurel, began his sponsorship.

The original version of Senate Bill No. 438

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.

 Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are
hereby declared compulsory reading matter in all public
1 and private schools, colleges and universities in the
Philippines.
The works mentioned in Section 1 of this Act shall be in
the original editions or in their unexpurgated English
2 and National Language versions.
The Department of Education shall take steps to
promulgate rules and regulations for the
3 immediate implementation of the provisions of
this Act.
No provision of this Act shall be construed as
4 prohibiting or limiting the study of the works to
other Filipino heroes
Any public or private college or university found
5 violating, falling to comply with, or circumventing the
provisions of this Act shall be punished accordingly:
5A: the head of any public college or university charged with implementing the
provisions of this Act, who shall have been found guilty violating, falling
comply with, or circumventing the provisions thereof, shall be dismissed
immediately from service and shall be disqualified from teaching in any public
or government recognized private school, college or university.
5B: Government recognition of any private college or university
found violating or circumventing the provisions of this Act shall
be immediately withdrawn, and the responsible Head and
professor or professors concerned shall be disqualified from
teaching in any Government-recognized college or university
6 This Act shall take effect upon its approval

Sponsorship speech:
“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 in a mirror; our
defects as well as our strength,
our virtues as well as our vices.
only then would we become
conscious as people, and so learn
to prepare ourselves for painful
sacrifices that ultimately lead to
self-reliance, self-respect and
freedom.”
Persons Who Fought
For Its Approval
Sen. Jose P. Laurel Sen. Claro M. Recto
Intentions for Approval
There is a need for a rededication There is a need to develop
to the ideals of freedom and moral character, personal
01 04
nationalism for which our heroes discipline, civic conscience and
to teach the duties of
lived and died.
citizenship.
There is a need to remember with
special fondness and devotion the
02
lives and works of our heroes who
shaped the national character.
The life, works and writings of Dr.
Jose Rizal particularly, his novels
03
Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo are 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.

 Persons Who Tried

To Block Its Approval

Sen. Francisco Soc Rodrigo Sen. Mariano J. Cuenco Sen. Decoroso Rosales

Intentions for Disapproval

The novels were written when Dr. Rizal,

T h e N o l i M e Ta n g e r e a n d E l estranged from Catholic faith and religion
01 Filibusterismo are very damaging to 02
and contradict many of the Christian
the clerics. beliefs.

03 To compel Catholic students to read a book
which contains passages contradicting their
faith constitutes a violation of a Philippine
constitutional provision (Art. 3, Sec. 1, Par.
7).
04 The novels do contain teachings contrary to
Catholic faith and so, the Church is opposed
to the proposed compulsory.
Catholic students may be affected.

The conflict reached the House Representatives on April 19, 1956

• Cong. Jacobo Gonzales introduced House Bill No. 5561 Opponents of the bill
• Debates started on May 9, 1956
• Ramon Durano • Miguel Cuneco
Senator Laurel propose in his own name an • Jose Ninguid • Carmen D. Consing
amendment by substitution which read in full as • Marciano Lim • Tecla San Andres Ziga
follows: • Manuel Zosa • Godofredo Ramos
• Lucas Paredes
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 Whereas, the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels
and El Filibusterismo, authorizing the printing Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, are a constant and inspiring source
and distribution thereof, and for other purposes. of patriotism with which the minds of the youth, especially during their
formative and decisive years in school, should be suffused;
Whereas, today, more than in any other period of
our history, there is a need for a re-dedication to Whereas, all educational institutions are under the supervisions of , and
the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which subject to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience and
our heroes lived and died. to teach the duties of citizenship; Now therefore

Whereas, it is meet that in honoring then,

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;

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled;

Section 1 Section 4
Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his nothing within the act shall be considered as an act
novel Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the of amendment or repealing of the administrative
curricula of all schools, colleges and universities, public or private: code 927.
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.
Section 2 Section 5
It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and universities to keep in the sum of three hundred thousand pesos
their libraries an adequate number of copies of the original and (300,000) was the amount that was appropriated in
unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, the national treasury for the purpose of carrying out
as well as of Rizal’s other works and biography. The said of the said act.
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.
Section 3 Section 6
The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of the Noli the act shall take effect upon its approval.
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.

Explaining the amendment, Senator Laurel stated that:

In the substitute bill, not only the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo were included
but also all the works and writings of Rizal and even those written by other people about
him.
The idea of compulsory reading of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo was
removed at the substitute bill.
If Rizal was a hero, then there might be no debate. But if Rizal is a national hero, the
books that he has written, whenever read must be unexpurgated and must be at its
original form.

If not, Senator Laurel prefers that the bill shall be defeated.

Senator Rodrigo, still in opposition. Suggested the removal of the provision in section 1,
but the change was rejected by the sponsor.

Senator Lim, proposed the exemption of students from the requirements of the bill on
certain conditions.
This development was quite propitious for, owing to the impasse among its members on the
original Gonzales bill.
On May 14,1956, Congressman Tolentino, sponsored an amendment by substitution
identical to Laurel’s substitute bill
The anti-climax was dramatic.
On June 12,1956, the bill was signed into law by President Magsaysay and became Republic Act
No. 1425.