Section 2.

RA 1425 (Rizal Law) and Supplementary Laws and Directives to RA 1425 : RA 229,
CHED Memorandum Order No. 247, CHED Memorandum No. 3, s. 1995, Proclamation No. 3,
The Chairman of the Executive Commission : Malacañang Palace

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this section, the students are expected to:

1. Explain the history of the Rizal Law and its important provisions;
1. Critically assess the effectiveness of the Rizal Course to the present day
Philippines.

OVERVIEW

Republic Act 1425, known as the Rizal Law, mandates that all educational institutions in the
Philippines to teach the life, works and writing of Jose Rizal. Its primary aim is to inculcate in
students an increased sense of nationalism at a time when Filipino identity is threatened by
various factors.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND LEGAL BASIS OF RIZAL DAY AND OTHER MEMORIALS IN
HONOR OF JOSE RIZAL )(
By: Quennie Ann J. Palafox

For over a century now, the nation has never failed to observe the anniversary of the martyrdom
our great national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. This year, the President will lead the simultaneous
raising of Philippine flag at half-mast and wreath offering at the monument of Jose Rizal at the
Rizal Park in Manila, Calamba, Laguna and in Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte on December 30,
2010. The theme of this year’s commemoration is “Rizal: Haligi ng Bayan”.

Although frequently at the center of controversies and criticism of the public, the government must
be given credits for its efforts in ensuring that the memory of Rizal stays in our hearts through the
issuance of legislative acts, decrees and other proclamations honoring him.

Two years after the execution of Rizal in Bagumbayan, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo issued on Dec. 20,
1898 a decree designating Dec. 30 as the anniversary of Jose Rizal’s death and also as “a
national day of mourning” for Rizal and other victims of the Spanish government throughout its
three centuries of oppressive rule. He made a directive that all national flags shall be hoisted at
half-mast from 12 noon on Dec. 29 and all offices of the government shall be closed the whole
day on December 30 as a sign of mourning. On December 30, 1898, Filipinos celebrated Rizal
Day for the first time and chose Club Filipino in Manila to be the venue.

The Americans, to win the sympathy of the Filipinos, and to convince them that they were pro-
Filipinos more than the Spaniards, gave Rizal official recognition. This was to make them conform
to the new government. Rizal acquired the official title of title of Philippine National Hero in 1901
under the country’s first American civil governor, William Howard Taft. On the recommendation
of Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, the Taft Commission renamed the district of Morong into the
Province of Rizal through Act 137 on June 11, 1901. This was one of the first official steps taken
by the Taft Commission to honor Rizal. Since then, Jose Rizal came to be known as the National
Hero.

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It was also during the American times that Rizal’s death anniversary was made an official holiday.
On February 1, 1902, the Philippine Commission enacted Act. No. 345 which set December 30
of each year as Rizal Day, and made it one of the ten official holidays of the Philippines. As the
nationalist spirit of the Filipinos was at the highest point during that time, they were able to
convince the government to erect a monument for Rizal. Thus, Act No. 243 was enacted on
September 28, 1901 granting the right to use public land upon the Luneta in the City of Manila
upon which to erect a statue of Jose Rizal.

So important was the observation of Rizal Day that President Quirino approved on June 9, 1948
Republic Act No. 229 which prohibits cockfighting, horse racing and jai-alai every 30th of
December of each year, in order to have proper observance of Rizal Day.

To give ample time to prepare for the birth centenary of Jose Rizal in 1961, the Rizal National
Centennial Commission was created by Executive Order No. 52, issued by Pres. Ramon
Magsaysay on August 10, 1954 to undertake the construction of a National Cultural Shrine and
other memorials to be dedicated to Jose Rizal. JRNCC became Rizal Presidential Committee on
1 July 1962 after President Diosdado Macapagal issued Executive Order No. 14.

Jose Rizal’s vast role in the attainment of the nation’s freedom led to the issuance of Republic Act
1425 on June 12, 1956. Commonly known as the Rizal Act, it was sponsored by Senator Claro
M. Recto. It requires the curricula of private and public schools, colleges and universities courses
to include the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and
El Filibusterismo in order to educate the students about the concept of nationalism.

A few days before the celebration of the birth centenary of Jose Rizal in 1961, Pres. Garcia issued
Executive Order No. 429 on June 2, creating a decoration intended to perpetuate Rizal’s memory,
to be known as the Rizal Pro Patria Award. It was to be awarded by the President of the
Philippines to those who have rendered outstanding work for the benefit of their community.
Among the recipients of this decoration in the past were N. V. M. Gonzalez, Alejandro Roces,
Juan Nakpil, Felipe Padilla De Leon, and Wilfredo Ma. Guerero.

In Manila streets were named with reference to the national hero, Jose Rizal. In Sampaloc, two
streets are named after his pen names, Laong Laan and Dimasalang. Blumentritt, a main
thoroughfare, was named after Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt, Rizal’s friend, while Dapitan street
situated near the University of Santo Tomas was named after a municipality in Zamboanga del
Norte, where Rizal was deported in 1892. Other street names have references to Rizal’s novels
such as Sisa, Basilio, and Simoun.

Rizal monuments are concrete memorials to his legacy. The most prominent is the Rizal
monument in Manila, unveiled on December 30, 1913 in line with the 17th Anniversary of the
martyrdom of Jose Rizal. However, the Rizal monument in the town Daet in Camarines Norte
holds the distinction of the first ever erected in honor of Rizal.

In the 1920s, Rizal Day was very popular and a much awaited event with the entire city going to
Luneta to spot the parade of the Rizal Day, a parade as glamorous as the carnival parade of
February. In his memorable Rizal Day address, Pres. Quezon declared through Commonwealth
Act No. 184 the adoption of Tagalog as the basis of the national language of the Philippines on
December 30, 1937.

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The Rizal Day celebration of December 30, 1942 required the display of Japanese flags in Filipino
homes. Attended by Jorge Vargas Benigno Aquino, Sr, and Jose P. Laurel, Sr., a Nippongo
program on Rizal was held in 1942, during which the hero’s “Ultimo Adios” was recited in
Japanese. This event also witnessed the inauguration of Kalibapi.

Just after the war in 1946, the country saw floral offerings and a civic parade in observance of
Rizal Day in 1946. President Roxas was joined by high officials of the national government and
representatives of the United States Army and Navy and foreign nations who offered wreaths at
the foot of Rizal’s monument.

On December 30, 1950, all Philippine flags throughout the island were raised at half-mast in all
public buildings and vessels to commemorate the martyrdom of Rizal. There was also floral
offering at the Rizal monument at Luneta and concert in the afternoon.

A crowd estimated to be from 300-500, 000 persons gathered at the Luneta on December 30,
1953 to attend the inauguration of Ramon Magsaysay as president of the Republic of the
Philippines. The Constitution had made the Rizal Day event even more memorable having
specified the date of the day for the inauguration of President of the Republic as stipulated in Sec.
4 of Article VII of the 1935 Constitution. However, this was moved to June 30 by virtue of the 1987
Constitution which is being observed until now.

December 30, 1996 was the centenary of the martyrdom of Rizal. Highlights included the tracing
of the last walk of Rizal from his detention cell at Fort Santiago followed by the reenactment of
the hero’s execution and flag raising at Luneta Park, Manila. A monument of Rizal was also
inaugurated on 5 December 1996 along the Avenida de Las Islas Filipinas in Madrid, Spain.

Rizal Day is a day of appreciating Jose Rizal as a hero, an icon and a perfect example on how to
be a Filipino. To quote the late Sen. Blas Ople, “Jose Rizal remains the supreme hero of the
Philippines because of the quality of his sacrifice, his absolute dedication to the interest of his
people, and his achievement in many fields of endeavors”.

THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE IS THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF

THE PHILIPPINES. EDITED AT THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE
PHILIPPINES UNDER COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 638

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 and works that have shaped the
national character;

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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 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.

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