The Rizal’s Law (Republic

act 1425), The study of

Rizal and Literature and
The theory of nationalism
Why we should study
the Rizal’s Life?
 Republic Act No. 1425

It is known as the Rizal’s Law,

mandates all educational
institutions in the Philippines to
teach the life, works, and writings
of Jose Rizal. Its primary aim is to
inculcate in students an increased
sense of nationalism at a time when
the Filipino identity is threatened
 The Context of the Rizal
Bill

• Sen. Claro M. Recto is the main

proponent of the Rizal bill. He
believed that studying the life
and works of Jose Rizal would
be instrumental in teaching the
youth to stand up for their
country, therefore embodying
 The Context of the Rizal
Bill
• Sen. Jose P. Laurel, the head of the
senate committee on education
helped Sen. Recto defend the
viability and practicality of having
the bill enacted into law. He also
believed that the passing of the bill
into law will be integral achieving
the noble intent of bringing to the
 The Context of the Rizal
Bill
• The Catholic church opposed the
bill and accused Sen. Recto of
being a communist and anti-
Catholic. They believed that
mandating students to read Rizal’s
novels Noli me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, would violate the
freedom of conscience and
 The Context of the Rizal
Bill

• Fr. Jesus Cavanna, a staunch

oppositionist of the bill, argued
that the novel belonged to the
past and that teaching them
would misrepresent the current
conditions of the Philippines.
 The Context of the Rizal
Bill

• Jesus Paredes is a radio veritas

commentator said that
Catholics had the right to
refuse to read the novels as it
would endanger their
salvation.
Various group who supported
the Catholic church against the
passing of the bill also known
as Rizal’s Law:
• Catholic action of the
Philippines
• The Congregation of the
Mission
• The Knights of Columbus
Various group who supported
the passing of the bill also
known as Rizal’s Law:
• Veteranos de la Revolucion
(Spirit of 1986)
• Alagad ni Rizal
• Freemasons
• Knights of Rizal
 The Context of the Rizal
Bill

• On May 12, 1956, the bill, with the

compromise inserted by Laurel,
was approved unanimously. The
bill specified that only college
students would have the option to
read the unexpurgated versions of
the clerically-contested reading
materials.
 The Context of the Rizal
Bill

• There was also amendment made to

original bill that included the
teaching of Rizal’s other works,
aside from the two novels. Despite
all controversies, arguments and
opposition against the Rizal bill, it
was finally enacted on June 12,
1956.
 Why study rizal?

• In the 21st century, the challenge

for students is to understand the
purpose of studying Rizal.
Scholars and academicians are one
is saying that a mandated course
on Rizal is as helpful as any other
course that teaches values.
 Why study rizal?

• Studying Rizal in the 21st century

helps students make sense of the
present by looking back to the
past.
• With students exposed to many
foreign influences, studying Rizal
may remind and urge them to
understand the real essence of
 Why study rizal?

• The practicality of studying Rizal

in this day and age is seen in how
Rizal’s experiences and ideologies
are instrumental in grasping the
current context of Philippine
society.
• And finally, Rizal, then and now, is
a worthy role model and a
 The theory of nationalism

• Nationalism is a set of systems

of political, social and economic
characterized by the promotion
of the interests of one nation
anchored on the aim to achieve
and maintain self-governance
or total sovereignty.
 The theory of nationalism

• Another important facet of

nationalism is that is oriented
towards developing and
maintaining a national identity
based on shared characteristics
such as culture, language, race
and religion. It seeks to preserve
 The theory of nationalism

• Benedict Anderson is a prominent

historian and political who
explored the origins of
nationalism. Anderson argues that
the nation is imagined as a
community because regardless of
the actual inequalities that prevail,
the nation is always conceived as a
 The theory of nationalism

• Noli Me Tangere and El

Filibusterismo emerged as the
founding texts of Philippine
nationalism. These exposed ills of
the Spanish colonial government
and the evils prevailing in the
Philippine society by presenting a
narrative that contextualizes the
 The theory of nationalism

• Rizal was able to go against the

colonizers and show how literature
can be used to arouse people to be
catalysts of social change.
• Through his novels, Rizal emphasized
the values of nationalism and loving
one’s country. The scathing national
narrative Rizal presented became the
inspiration for strengthening the anti-