GECC 108: THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD
WEEK 6: R.A. 1425 “Rizal Law & R.H. Bill
2nd Semester I S.Y. 2022-2023
Instructor: Mr. Isidrian Paolo S. Montes
Republic Act 1425 Summary:
• Approved on June 12, 1956
• Also called Rizal Law, mandating all
public and private schools to include
in their courses or subjects about the
life, works and writing of Jose Rizal,
particularly his noble Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo.
• The most controversial law-making
process under the presidential term
of late President Ramon Magsaysay.
Bonus trivia: There is no law-making Rizal
as the national hero. He is such by
tradition and acclamation.
Rizal was made “official” when the
Department of Education in the
1950s made a list of distinct icons of
national nature: the national tree is
narra, the national flower is
sampaguita, the national animal is
the carabao, the national hero is
Jose Rizal, etc.
ISSUES RAISED FOR R.A. 1425
• Re-dedication for the ideals of
freedom and nationalism for which
our heroes lived and died.
• Honoring our fallen heroes,
particularly the national heroes and
patriot Dr. Jose Rizal to remember
the fondness and devotion of their
works that shaped the national
character.
ISSUES RAISED AGAINST R.A. 1425
• The controversial part on the RA 1425
was in mandates the reading of Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
considering that the novel in some
parts were anti-Catholic. For the
church, it is not a constant and
inspiring source of patriotism for the
minds of the youth.
• The Catholic church finds some
passages of Rizal’s novels were
deemed offensive to the catholic
faith. Thus, the church argued that
Catholics just read selected passages
from the novels to compel its
uncensored version to force and
violate their freedom of conscience.
• A compromise was suggested with a
proposition to utilize “expurgated”
versions of the novels as books in the
course reading, with its copies to be
held and kept in the school libraries
only accessible with the authority of
higher school officials.
• A conflict in the Section 1 of the RA
1425 stating that “Courses on the life,
works and writings of Jose Rizal,
particularly his novels, 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 or their English
translations shall be used as basic
texts.”, thus for the action, the Board
of National Education authorized and
directed to adopt forthwith measures
to carry out on the provisions of this
section. The Board shall promulgate
rules and regulation providing the
exemptions of students, for reason of
strict conviction expressed in a
composed articulation, from the
necessity of the arrangement
contained in the second piece of the
principal passage of this segment; but
not from taking the course.
• For Section 2 of the RA 1425 directing
the schools to keep an adequate
number of copies of the novels in the
school libraries. The question here was
is there any enough supply for the
school to accommodate to give free
access to all students and as if the
school libraries have enough shelves
to contain them.
• Section 3 the printing of cheap copies
and popular editions of Rizal’s novel
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 WEEK 6: “R.A 1425 & RH BILL”
and distributing it in the barangays, free of
charge, or those who desire to read them.
RH BILL
₋ Law promotes education and
The reproductive health (RH) bill promotes
information on and access to both natural
and modern family planning methods,
which are medically safe and legally
permissible. It assures an enabling
environment where women and couples
have the freedom of informed choice on the
mode of family planning, they want to
adopt based on their needs, personal
convictions, and religious beliefs.
The bill does not have any bias for or against
either natural or modern family planning.
Both models are contraceptive methods.
Their common purpose is to prevent
unwanted pregnancies.
The bill will promote sustainable human
development. The UN stated in 2002 that
“family planning and reproductive health
are essential to reducing poverty.” The
UNICEF also asserts that “family planning
could bring more benefits to more people at
less cost than any other single technology
now available to the human race.”
Coverage of RH.
(1) Information and access to natural and
modern family planning
(2) Maternal, infant and child health and
nutrition (3) Promotion of breast feeding
(4) Prevention of abortion and management
of post-abortion complications
(5) Adolescent and youth health
(6) Prevention and management of
reproductive tract infections, HIV/AIDS and
STDs
(7) Elimination of violence against women (8)
Counseling on sexuality and sexual and
reproductive health
(9) Treatment of breast and reproductive
tract cancers
(10) Male involvement and participation in
RH; (11) Prevention and treatment of
infertility and (12) RH education for the
youth.
₋ The RH Bill and the Rizal Law
are separate legislative acts in the
Philippines. The RH Bill focuses on
reproductive health, while the Rizal
nationalism. Here are five of their
similarities and differences:
Similarities:
1. Both laws aim to promote the welfare of
Filipinos, although with a different emphasis:
the RH Bill on reproductive health and family
planning, and the Rizal Law on education
and nationalism.
2. Both laws have led to debate and
opposition from various segments of society.
Some religious organizations opposed the RH
Bill, while some academic and nationalist
organizations opposed the Rizal Law.
3. After years of debate and discussion,
Philippine presidents signed both laws.
4. Both laws aim to raise awareness and
educate people. The RH Bill promotes
reproductive health and family planning
education, whereas the Rizal Law promotes
the study of national hero Jose Rizal's life and
works.
5. Both laws are considered landmark pieces
of legislation in the Philippines and are
viewed as crucial in shaping the country's
social, political, and cultural landscape.
Differences:
1.The RH Bill primarily deals with reproductive
health, while the Rizal Law focuses on
education and nationalism.
2.The RH Bill was passed relatively recently, in
2012, while the Rizal Law has been in effect
since 1956.
3.The RH Bill is a controversial issue, with many
debates about its morality, while the Rizal
Law has been accepted by most Filipinos as
an important part of their education.
4.The RH Bill aims to provide affordable
access to contraceptives and reproductive
health services, while the Rizal Law aims to
promote the study of Jose Rizal's life and
works to enhance nationalism among
Filipinos.
5.The RH Bill focuses on health issues
affecting both women and men, while the
Rizal Law is concerned with the education of
the Filipino youth.
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