Understanding the Rizal Law

Republic Act
No. 1425
 1887-1956
“heretical”
“impious” “scandalous”
C ens ured until 1956
“subversive”
“libelous”
Special Faculty Committee of a certain university
which was established through the request of
Archbishop Pedro Payo
APRIL 3, 1956

CLARO M. RECTO
Senate Bill No. 438

Senate Committee on
Education
Chairperson: Jose P. Laurel Sr.
MA JOR POINT OF DEBATE
Whether the compulsory reading of the texts Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo appropriated in
the bill was constitutional?

The call to read the unexpurgated

versions was also challenged
 JUNE 12, 1956
The RIZAL BILL was passed into LAW and was later
known as
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425
 “Rizal did not pretend to teach religion
when he wrote those books. He aimed at
inculcating civic consciousness in the
Filipinos, national dignity, personal
pride, and patriotism and if references
were made by him in the course of his
narration to certain religious practices in
the Philippines in those days, and to the
conduct and behavior of erring ministers
of the church, it was because he
portrayed faithfully the general
situation in the Philippines as it then
existed.”
- Sen. Claro M. Recto
 In the collegiate
courses, the original
or unexpurgated
editions of Noli Me
The Board of Tangere and El
National Education Filibusterismo or their
shall determine English translation
the adequacy of shall be used as basic
the number of texts
books, depending
upon the
enrollment of the The Board of National
school, college or Education shall cause the
university translation of the writings
into English, Tagalog and
the principal Philippine
dialects
 Legal Mandates to Honor the Life of Rizal
(prior to the passage of R.A 1425)

• President Emilio Aguinaldo issued the Decree of December 20,

1898 that December 30 of every year be a day of national
mourning in commemoration of Rizal’s execution in Bagumbayan
in 1896 and of other heroes of the revolution.

• Act No. 137 (The Second Philippine Commission also known as

Taft Commission) converted the politico-military district of
Morong (a part of Manila) into the Province of Rizal as an honor
and tribute to the most illustrious Filipino and the most
illustrious Tagalog in the islands had ever known.
 Legal Mandates to Honor the Life of Rizal
(prior to the passage of R.A 1425)

• To celebrate his 50th birth anniversary, Act No. 1982 was enacted
on April 19, 1911 directing all public schools in the Philippines to
prepare programs referring to the life of Rizal. Also, on April 9,
1931, Acting Governor-General George C. Butte proclaimed that
June 19, the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Jose Rizal, be
celebrated in all schools in the Philippines.

• Also, in 1948, the Republic Act No. 229 was legislated prohibiting
gambling on the 30th day of December each year and to create a
committee for the celebration of Rizal Day in every municipality
and chartered cities.
 DID YOU KNOW….
CLARO M. RECTO
that the name of the author of Rizal Law
was derived from the Spanish words
“claro” which means “clear” and
“recto” which means straight?
Recto made it CLEAR and STRAIGHT to the Filipino people,
especially to the youth, the importance of studying the life,
works and writings of Dr. Jose P. Rizal
Question to ponder…
Is the Rizal Law
successful in instilling
the value of patriotism
and love for country in
the hearts and minds of
the Filipino people?