Chapter 1

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Introduction to the
Course and
RA 1425
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What is
 Otherwise known as the RIZAL LAW. 
Republic Act
1425?
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Who sponsored RA 1425?

 It was SEN. CLARO M. RECTO and was co-
authored by SEN. JOSE P. LAUREL
What is
Republic Act What prompted Sen Recto to sponsor the Rizal Bill?

1425? - Because in the 1950s, Filipinos found it hard to

think and act as Filipinos because of COLONIAL
MENTALITY.
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Who opposed the bill?

 It was the CATHOLIC CHURCH because of
What is Rizal’s criticisms of the Spanish friars.
Republic Act When was the bill passed?
1425?
- It was in JUNE 12, 1956 (National Flag Day).
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-AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA

OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS,
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COURSES
Full Text of ON THE LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS OF
Republic Act JOSE RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HIS NOVELS
1425 NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL
FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE
PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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Full Text of -WHEREAS, today, more than any other period

of our history, there is a need for a re-dedication
Republic Act to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for
1425 which our heroes lived and died;
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- WHEREAS, it is meet that in honoring them,

Full Text of particularly the national hero and patriot, Jose
Republic Act Rizal, we remember with special fondness and
1425 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
Full Text of and El Filibusterismo, are a constant and
Republic Act inspiring source of patriotism with which the
1425 minds of the youth, especially during their
formative and decisive years in school, should
be suffused;
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- WHEREAS, all educational institutions are

Full Text of under the supervision of, and subject to
regulation by the State, and all schools are
Republic Act enjoined to develop moral character, personal
1425 discipline, civic conscience and to teach the
duties of citizenship; Now, therefore,
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- SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and

writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be
Full Text of included in the curricula of all schools, colleges
Republic Act and universities, public or private: Provided,
1425 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.
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- 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
Full Text of regulations, including those of a disciplinary nature, to

Republic Act carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. The
Board shall promulgate rules and regulations providing
1425 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.
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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
Full Text of as of Rizal’s other works and biography. The
Republic Act said unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me
1425 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.
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The Board of National Education shall

Full Text of determine the adequacy of the number of
Republic Act books, depending upon the enrollment of the
1425 school, college or university.
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SECTION 3. The Board of National Education

shall cause the translation of the Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as other
Full Text of writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and
the principal Philippine dialects; cause them to
Republic Act be printed in cheap, popular editions; and
1425 cause them to be distributed, free of charge, to
persons desiring to read them, through the
Purok organizations and Barrio Councils
throughout the country.
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SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act shall be

Full Text of construed as amendment or repealing section
nine hundred twenty-seven of the
Republic Act Administrative Code, prohibiting the discussion
1425 of religious doctrines by public school teachers
and other person engaged in any public school.
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SECTION 5. The sum of three hundred

Full Text of thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be
Republic Act appropriated out of any fund not otherwise
1425 appropriated in the National Treasury to carry
out the purposes of this Act.
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 SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon

Full Text of its approval.
Republic Act  Approved: June 12, 1956
1425  Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 52,
No. 6, p. 2971 in June 1956.
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Are you one of the students who resent the

presence of the Rizal course in the curriculum?
Why?
The Rizal Law - Because Rizal and his ideas have no more
Today bearing in their lives today (Youtube, Facebook,
Instagram, other online social interactions and
games).
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Why study Rizal?

- What characterized a Filipino sick society in
Rizal’s is essentially the same society that it is
The Rizal Law today.
Today - The Malady still exists and it needs medical
attention to restore this patient-country back to
wellness.
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- The Noli and Fili bare the same circumstances

of that sick society, past and present, that Rizal
dealt with and exposed
- Until now, there are still Corruption,
The Rizal Law irregularities in the conduct of election, police
Today brutality through extra-judicial killings, the poor
getting poorer, laws favoring the rich and
mighty, justice only for the rich and educated,
etc.
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- Until today, Philippines is still a nation for all

the defects that remain glaringly visible.
- The Challenge: To make Rizal obsolete
The Rizal Law
As Renato Constantino says in his essay, “Our
Today
Task: to make Rizal obsolete”
Obsolete – by way of dissipating the defects
and vices Rizal bared and criticized.
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If these blemishes are gone, then Rizal has

already gone obsolete, he has nothing with
The Rizal Law which to criticize anymore. Then, the Rizal
Today course may no longer be needed.
- FOR AS LONG AS THESE BLEMISHES
REMAIN, RIZAL’S RELEVANCE REMAINS.
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1. To make Rizal’s novels mandatory reading in

OBJECTIVES all colleges and universities throughout the
of the Rizal country, public or private

Law 2. For the Filipino youth to value freedom and

nationalism
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- It is not only focused on RIZAL but the

OTHER HEROES as well
- It communicates a deep sense of appreciation
for heroes’ collegial efforts for the country
More about
Rizal Law - The outcome of the Filipino heroes’ blood and
toil (freedom of the press and of association,
freedom of religion, right to education, equal
protection of the laws, civil liberties) is taken for
granted today.
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- RA 1425 provides a break to the monotony of

life by learning something new and profound
about the man considered as the national hero.
More about - Distance creates APATHY and NUMBNESS.
Rizal Law Thus, there is a need to study the life of Rizal
and for the younger generation to remember
history. Re-reading Rizal’s works with profound
reflections can be the antidote to this apathy.
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 You may not have a choice but to engage

Message for Rizal if only for the sake of getting a passing
all college grade in the mandatory course, TRY TO
students APPROACH THE SUBJECT WITH SENSE
OF CURIOSITY AND MYSTERY.
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 Work with your groupmates. Create a digital

bulletin board with every student answering
the question: “How effective is the Rizal Law
in instilling patriotism among college
students?” Put also your personal
PT 1 information like name, age and address.
 Examples are:

https://padlet.com, https://noteapp.com