RA 1425

RIZAL LAW
 THE RIZAL LAW AND THE
TEACHING OF RIZAL COURSE
• RIZAL LAW: Republic Act 1425

• Mandates the teaching of the life, works and writings of

Rizal in all schools in the country.

• Sen. Jose P. Laurel sponsored the law

• According to Sen Laurel: Since Rizal was the founder
of Filipino nationality and the architect of the Filipino
nation, there is a need to know and imbibe the great
ideals and principles for which he died.
• By reading and studying Rizal’s life, teachings and
writings, Filipinos will be able to gain confidence,
direction, courage and determination to move forward in
our people’s journey towards an abundant life.
 POLICY STATEMENTS OF RIZAL
LAW (1956)
• The teaching of the life, works and writings of our national hero seeks to
accomplish the following objectives:
• 1. to rededicate the lives of the youth to the ideals of freedom and
nationalism for which our heroes lived and died.
• 2. To pay tribute to our national hero for devoting his life and works in
shaping the Filipino character;
• 3. To gain an inspiring source of patriotism thru the study of Rizal’s life,
works and writings.
 RA 1425
• Commonly known as RIZAL LAW.

• A law signed by Pres. Ramon Magsaysay on June 12, 1956

that requires all schools in the country to include Rizal’s
life, works and writings in the curriculum. The rationale
behind the law was that there is a need to.
 RIZAL LAW
• Republic Act No. 1425, known as the Rizal Law, mandates all educational
institutions in the Philippines to offer courses about Jose Rizal.

• Signed: June 12, 1956

• Enacted by: Congress of the Philippines

• Enacted: June 12, 1956

 HISTORY OF THE RIZAL LAW
• The measure was strongly opposed by the Roman Catholic Church in the
Philippines due to the anticlerical themes in Noli Me Tángere and El
Filibusterismo.

•  Senator Claro M. Recto was the main proponent of the Rizal Bill
• .  Jose P. Laurel sponsored the law.

•  During the 1955 Senate election , the church charged Recto with being a
communist and an antiCatholic.

•  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
• Fr. Jesus Cavanna argued that the novels belonged to the past and that
teaching them would misrepresent current conditions.

•  Catholic Action of the Philippines, the Congregation of the Mission,

the Knights of Columbus, and the Catholic Teachers Guild organized
opposition to the bill;
•  Countered by Veteranos de la Revolucion (Spirit of 1896), Alagad in
Rizal, the Freemasons, and the Knights of Rizal.

•  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.
•  In 1994, President Fidel V. Ramos ordered the Department of
Education, Culture and Sports to fully implement the law as there had
been reports that it has still not been fully implemented.

•  June 12, 1956, Pres. Ramon Magsaysay signed the law as Republic
Act 1425.
• 1952 = several drafts of pastoral letter written by Horacio de la
Costa, survive.

• De la Costa’s Rizal emerges as an outstanding moral figure

whose devotion to the truth made his novels a source of moral
as well as social and political wisdom for Filipinos.
 WHO PROPOSED RA 1425?
• Senator Claro M Recto was the author of the Rizal Bill.
 WHO SPONSORED THE RIZAL
LAW?
• Senator Jose P. Laurel, the person who sponsored the said law,
said that since Rizal was the founder of Philippine nationalism
 WHY WE NEED TO STUDY RIZAL
LAW?
• Because it is mandated by law.
• The teaching of Jose Rizal’s life, works, and writings is mandated by Republic Act
1425, otherwise known as the Rizal Law. 
• Senator Jose P. Laurel, the person who sponsored the said law, said that since Rizal
was the founder of Philippine nationalism and has contributed much to the current
standing of this nation, it is only right that the youth as well as all the people in the
country know about and learn to imbibe the great ideals for which he died.  The
Rizal Law, enacted in 1956, seeks to accomplish the following goals:
• Because of the lessons contained within the course.
• Aside from those mentioned above, there are other reasons for teaching
the Rizal course in Philippine schools:
• To recognize the importance of Rizal’s ideals and teachings in
relation to present conditions and situations in the society.
• To encourage the application of such ideals in current social and
personal problems and issues.
• To develop an appreciation and deeper understanding of all that
Rizal fought and died for. 
• To foster the development of the Filipino youth in all aspects of
citizenship.
• According to Schumacher, the bill drafted by de la Costa show that there
was, within the Catholic Church,, a totally different attitude towards Rizal.

• Before Senator Recto introduced the Rizal bill, de la Costa had made five
(5) drafts of the bill.

• Spanish priests, like Fr Cavana, argued that the novels ‘Noli” and “Fili”
belong to the past and would be harmful to read because of the false
picture of the country.
• Laurel and other supporters of the Rizal Bill rejected the proposed objection by the
priests.

• Public hearing had already given opportunity to the church to be fully heard.

• The Rizal bill was finally approved on May 12, 1956 but it was an expurgated
edition.

• A face-saving compromise.
• Victory for the church because the unexpurgated edition did not materialize;
• Success for the senators because the bill was enacted into law.
• MARTYR = one who makes great sacrifices or suffers much in order to
further a belief, cause or principle.

• PATRIOTISM = devoted love, support and defense of one’s country.

• National loyalty; being proud of one’s country
• NATIONALISM = advocacy of political independence for a
particular country
• Marked by a feeling of superiority over other countries.
• HAGIOGRAPHY = the writings of the lives of saints or venerated persons;
• Maybe used to refer to the biography of a saint or highly developed spiritual being in
any of the world’s spiritual traditions.

• SHRINE = a place regarded as holy because of its association with a divinity or a

sacred person or relic, typically marked by a building or other construction.
• A small area or monument dedicated to someone.
 RA 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;
• 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. Note:
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be the original copy.
• 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.
• 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. Note:
School libraries should have sufficient copies.
• 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.
• Note: Board of National Education must handle the translation of Rizal’s works.
• 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.
• 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;
END OF PRESENTATION