THE STORY OF

THE RIZAL
LAW
(RA 1425)
 THE RIZAL BILL
 1956 – Sen. Claro M. Recto filed a
measure which became the original Rizal
Bill. Under the bill it shall be obligatory
for college and university students to
study the life and works of Rizal.
 June 12, 1956 – a compromise bill was
filed and authored by Sen. Jose P. Laurel.
It is approved by the Philippine Legislature
as Republic Act 1425; otherwise known
as Rizal Law.
 SEN. CLARO M. RECTO
Claro M. Recto (1890-1960)
was a Philippine nationalist
leader and president of the
1934 constitutional
convention. He was one of
the most vocal advocates of
Philippine political and
CLARO M.
social autonomy.
RECTO
(1890-1960)
 Senator Claro M. Recto was the main
proponent of the Rizal Bill. He sought to
sponsor the bill at Congress. However, this
was met with stiff opposition from the
Catholic Church. During the 1955 Senate
election, the church charged Recto with
being a communist and an anti-Catholic.
After Recto's election, the Church continued
to oppose the bill mandating the reading of
Rizal's novels Noli Me Tángere and El
Filibusterismo, claiming it would
violate freedom of conscience and religion.
 On May 12, 1956, a compromise inserted by
Committee on Education chairman Laurel
that accommodated the objections of the
Catholic Church was approved
unanimously.
 The bill specified that only college
(university) students would have the option
of reading unexpurgated versions of
clerically-contested reading material, such
as Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo. 
 The bill was enacted on June 12, 1956, Flag
Day.
Republic Act No. 1425, known as the Rizal
Law, mandates all educational institutions
in the Philippines to offer courses
about José Rizal.
The full name of the law is 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.