OPPOSING VIEWS SENATE BILL NO.

438 REPUBLIC ACT 1425

(The Rizal Bill)
(THE RIZAL LAW)

Supporters: • Requires mandatory inclusion of • Mandatory inclusion of courses about

courses on Jose Rizal’s life, works, and Jose Rizal in all public and private
• Nationalism: Foster national identity, writings in all public and private schools, colleges, and universities in
patriotism, and critical thinking about schools, colleges, and universities in the Philippines.
Philippine history. the Philippines. • Courses focus on life, works, writing,
• Historical Understanding: promotes • Covers Rizal’s life, works, writing, with particularly the novels Noli Me
awareness of Rizal’s contribution to emphasis on novels Noli Me Tangere Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
Philippine independence and reform and El Filibusterismo. • Aim foster nationalism, patriotism,
movements.
• Requires reading an unexpurgated and love of country among Filipinos.
• Educational Value: critical analysis of version. • Unexpurgated versions of Rizal’s work
Rizal’s works cultivates analytical skills
• Aim to instill national consciousness, required (with exceptions for
and social consciousness.
patriotism, and love of country conscientious objectors).
• Cultural preservation: upholds among Filipinos. • Libraries must have adequate copies
Filipino cultural heritage and identity.
• Introduced in 1956 by Senator Claro of works and biography.
Opponents: M. Recto. • Translations available in English and
• Faced opposition from catholic church major Philippine languages.
• Censorship and indoctrination: critics due to portrayal of clergy in novel. • Exempted Groups: religious
argue the law promotes a biased and • Eventually passed and sign into law in Institutions, schools run by foreign
selective interpretation of history, 1956. Churches, and individuals with “Bona
favoring Rizal’s perspective over
Fide” Religious objections.
others.
• Passed in 1956 after facing opposition
• Academic freedom: some see it as an
from the catholic church due to anti-
infringement on academic freedom by
clerical themes in Rizal’s novels.
imposing a mandated curriculum.
• Debate sparked discussions about
• Religious objection: the catholic
academic freedom, censorship, and
church, object to the portrayal of
historical interpretation.
clergy in Rizal’s novels, claiming it
promotes anti-religious sentiment.
• Effectiveness: some question the
effectiveness of the law in achieving
its intended goals, citing issues like
rote memorization and lack of critical
engagement