THE TRIALS OF THE RIZAL BILL
AUTHOR: JOSE B. LAUREL, JR
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 NOVEL NOLI ME
TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO,
AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING AND
DISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.”
Approved: June 12, 1956, Published in the
Official Gazette, Vol. 52, No. 6, p. 2971 in
June 1956.
Because of that law, “Rizal” is a required
subject in most colleges in the Philippines
APRIL 3, 1956
Senate Bill No. 438
 In 1956, Senator Claro M. Recto filed a
measure that became the original RIZAL
Bill recognizing the need to instill
heroism among the youth at the time
when the country was experiencing
social turmoil.
The original version reads as follows:
"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."
APRIL 17, 1956
 Senator JOSE P. LAUREL, as Chairman of
the Committee on Education, began his
sponsorship of the measure and began
delivering speeches for the proposed
legislation.
 "The objective of the measure was to
disseminate the ideas and ideals of the
great Filipino patriot through the
reading of his work, particularly Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo"
APRIL 19, 1956
House Bill No. 5561
JACOBO GONZALES
"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"
The time when the conflict reached the
House of Representatives. The Bill is an
identical copy of Senate Bill No. 438.
APRIL 23,1956
Debates in Senate Bill begun
Senator Mariano J. Cuenco, Francisco
Rodrigo and Decoroso Rosales are
identified as rabid Catholics opposed the
said Bill. The Catholic church claimed that
the two novels contained news inimical to
the tenet of their faith and includes the
violation of religious freedom. "Let us not
create a conflict between nationalism and
religion; between the government and the
church," Rodrigo said. But, Senator Recto
claimed that the sole objective of the bill
was to foster a better appreciation of Rizal's
times and of the role he played in
combating Spanish tyranny in this country.
The Catholic Church Against Rizal Law and
Senator Claro M. Recto
• When the Catholic Church in the
Philippines found out about Recto’s bill, it
mobilized its forces to prevent the bill from
becoming law.
• Ironically, almost 70 years after the
publication of Noli Me Tangere, the Church
still viewed Rizal’s novels as blasphemous.
• The Catholic Church of 120 years ago used
the same influence in preventing the novels
to be read by Filipinos.
• No less than Manila Archbishop Rufino
Santos penned an impassioned pastoral
letter protesting the bill. It was read in all
masses in the country, much to the ire of
then Manila Mayor Arsenio Lacson, who
allegedly walked out of the mass when he
heard the pastoral letter being read. Lacson
was one of the most vocal supporters of the
Rizal Bill.
• In his pastoral letter, Archbishop Santos
argued that the compulsory reading of the
original versions of Rizal’s novels would
negatively affect students.
• Those who opposed the Rizal Bill painted
Recto as communist and anti-Catholic.
• According to Abinales and Amoroso
(2005), the Church feared the bill would
violate freedom of conscience and religion.
• A coalescence of religious groups within
the church rallied to block the passage of
the bill in the Senate.
• Among the most active groups that
opposed the Rizal Bill were the Catholic
Action of the Philippines, the Knights of
Columbus, the Congregation of the Mission,
and the Catholic Teachers Guild.
• The Catholic Church urged its faithful to
write to lawmakers to make their
opposition to the bill known. Catholic
groups organized symposiums on why it
should not become law.
• In one of these symposiums, Fr. Jesus
Cavanna allegedly argued the novels would
misrepresent current conditions in the
church. Cavanna was the author of the
book, Rizal's Unfading Glory: A
Documentary History of the Conversion of
Dr. José Rizal, published in 1956 after the
passage of the Rizal Law. The book details
Jose Rizal’s conversion to Catholicism.
• Several Catholic schools around the
country banded together in opposition to
the Rizal Bill. It came to a point when a
number of Catholic schools threatened to
close down if the Rizal Bill became law.
• Senator Recto responded by saying the
government would simply take over the
administration of these schools if they
closed, and nationalize them.
• However, Senator Laurel, sensing the
futility of further strife on the matter, rose
to propose in his own name an amendment
by substitution.
MAY 12, 1956
Senator Lim, proposed the exemption of
students from the requirements of the bill.
The amendment to the amendment state:

• “The people who would eliminate the "The Board shall promulgate rules and
books of Rizal from the schools would blot regulations providing for the exemption of
out from our minds the memory of the students for reason of religious belief stated
national hero. This is not a fight against in a sworn written statement from the
Recto but a fight against Rizal,” Recto said.
requirement of the provision contained in
MAY 2, 1956 the second part of the first paragraph of
this section; but not from taking the course
Report of Committee on Education,
provided for in the first part of said
recommending approval without
paragraph. “
amendment.
The amendment is unanimously approved.
MAY 9, 1956
The second reading was also approved
Debate about the amendment of original
unanimously.
bill started
• Congressman Tolentino, the brilliant
• Notable Defenders: Congressmen Emilio
House Majority Floor Leader, sponsored the
Cortez, Mario Bengzon, Joaquin R. Roces,
amendment by substitution identical to
W. Rancap Lagumbay
Senator Laurel's substitute bill as amended
• Outspoken Opponents: Congressmen and approved on second reading in the
Ramon Durano, Jose Nuguid, Marciano Lim, Upper House.
Manuel Zosa, Lucas Paredes, Godofredo
• Congressman Miguel Cuenco - "measure
Ramos, Miguel Cuenco and Congresswomen
was unconstitutional"
Carmen D. Consing and Tecla San Andres
Ziga • Congressman Bengzon - "The substitute
bill represented a complete triumph of the
• As the daily debates wore in Congress and
Church Hierarchy"
throughout the country, it become more
apparent that no agreement could be
reached on the original version of the Bill.
• No less than 51 congressman appearing as
its co-authors, including the majority and
minority leadership in the Chamber.
May 17, 1956
Congress was to adjourn since it would due
in few days, the President (Ramon
Magsaysay) had declined to certify to the
necessity of the immediate enactment of
measure. There is need of complying with
the constitutional requirement that printed
copies thereof be distributed among the
Congressmen at least three calendar day
prior to its final approval by the House.
Ateneo de Manila is at the forefront of Rizal
studies, especially with fellow columnist
and Rizalist Ambeth Ocampo teaching
there. Ateneo’s main library is named after
Rizal.
This fulfilled the words of Rizal who through
Pilosofo Tasio in Noli Me Tangere, said: "I
am writing for the generations of Filipinos
yet to come, a generation that will be
enlightened and educated, a generation
that will read my books and appreciate
them without condemning me as a heretic."
PRES. FIDEL V. RAMOS

1. Senate Bill No. 438 was approved in third
reading with 23 votes in favor.
2. House Bill No. 5561 was also approved
on third reading with 27 votes in favor (6
were against, 2 abstained and 17 were
absent).
3. This bill was passed by the latter
Chamber without amendment.
4. Provided that the number of the Senate
bill should appear in enrolled courses.
On December 26, 1994, In the preparation
for the centennial commemoration of Dr.
Jose Rizal's martyrdom, President Fidel V.
Ramos issued Memorandum Order No. 247,
directing the Secretary of the Department
of Higher Education, Culture and Sport
(DECS) and the Chairman of the Commission
on Higher Education (CHED) to take steps to
fully implement to the letter the intent and
spirit of R.A. 1425, popularly known as Rizal
Law.

PRES. RAMON MAGSAYSAY

a Filipino statesman who served as the 7th

President of the Philippines, from
December 30, 1953 until his death in an
aircraft disaster.

On June 12, President Ramon Magsaysay

signed the bill as Republic Act 1425. More
than 50 years after the “Rizal Law”, Catholic