INTRODUCTION: REBUPLIC ACT 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
THE RIZAL LAW & IT’S IMPORTANCE
• Republic Act. No. 1425, also known as the Rizal Law has been enacted
on June 12, 1956 and was sponsored and authored mainly by the late
Senator Jose P. Laurel and Senator Claro M. Recto. Rizal Law is a
mandate to include in the course curricula of all public and private
schools, colleges and universities the life, works and writings of Jose
Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
• It is important to note that before the enactment of the Rizal Law,
Senate Bill No. 438 was submitted to the Senate Committee on
Education on April 3, 1956. It 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.
• On April 17, 1956 the bill was sponsored and presented to the members of the
Senate or the Upper House by the late Senator Jose P. Laurel, who was then
the Chairman of the Committee.
• According to the late Senator Jose P. Laurel the dissemination of ideas and
ideals of Jose Rizal through the reading of his works, notably the NOLI ME
TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO is the main purpose of the bill.
• He stated that “Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be read by all
Filipinos. They must be taken to heart, for in their pages we see ourselves as a
mirror, our defects as well as our strength, our virtues as well as our vices.
Only then would we become conscious as a people, and so learn to prepare
ourselves for painful sacrifices that ultimately lead to self-reliance, self-
respect and freedom (Laurel,Jr.,131).
• Meanwhile, Congressman Jacobo Z. Gonzales also filed a
similar bill called House Bill No. 5561 to the House of
Representatives. Unfortunately, akin to Senate Bill No. 438,
House Bill No. 5561 had also been opposed contending its
constitutionality and religiosity. It was then that a substitute bill
has been proposed to include all the works and writings of Jose
Rizal, ruling out the exclusivity of Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo as the main features of the previous bills.
• Moreover, the late Senator Jose P. Laurel asserted the
importance of reading the original and unexpurgated edition of
Rizal’s novel because the true purpose of studying these will be
defeated if not followed. On May 12, 1956 and May 14, 1956,
Senate Bill No. 438 and House Bill No. 5561 were both
unanimously approved on the second reading and in the Lower
House.
• On June 12, 1956, the bill was signed into law by President
Ramon Magsaysay, giving birth to Republic Act 1425 or the
Rizal Law.
• Think about this again: Why study the life and works
of Rizal? It is apparent that during Rizal’s time, the
Filipino identity is already diminishing—this was the
rationale behind the enactment of the Rizal Law,
which 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 play tribute to our national hero for devoting
his life and works for shaping the Filipino character;
• 3) To gain an inspiring source of patriotism thru the
study of Rizal’s life, works and writings.
• The late Senator Jose P. Laurel, who sponsored the
said law emphasized the need to know and imbibe the
great ideals and principles for which Rizal died. After
all, Rizal was the founder of Filipino nationality and
the architect of the Filipino nation. It is by reading
and studying Rizal’s life, teachings and writings that
the young generation of the Philippines will be able to
gain incorruptible confidence, direction, courage and
determination to move forward in our people’s
journey towards an abundant life.
• The teaching of Rizal Course in higher education institutions in
our country today is anchored on the patriotic policy
statements of Rizal Law and the patriotic goals set by the then
Board on National Education (Capino et. Al, 1997). These goals
are as follows:
• 1) To recognize the relevance of Rizal’s ideals, thoughts,
teaching, and life values to present conditions in the
community;
• ) To apply Rizal’s ideas in the solution of day-to-day situations
and problems in contemporary life;
• 3) To develop an understanding and appreciation of the
qualities, behavior and character of Rizal; and
• 4) To foster the development of moral character, personal
discipline, citizenship and vocational efficiency among the
Filipino youth.
• Thus, the importance of the study of Rizal’s life,
works and writings is to instill in ourselves the
idea and ideals of Jose Rizal, and to develop a
deeper awareness and understanding of its
relevance so that in the long run, we may be able
to apply them in our daily lives and become an
active participant in nation-building.