INTRODUCTION:

The Rizal law was made so that the Filipinos, especially the youth, will not forget him. The
teaching of the Rizal course in the classroom is intended to awaken the sense of patriotism and
nationalism in every Filipino youth and push them to apply the principles bequeathed by Rizal as
solutions to present day problems.

Strengthening not only the Rizal course but the subject of Philippine history is important. We will
not only be inspired by Rizal but also by other heroes. Filipinos are capable of achieving great
things in life and, like our heroes, we can excel in our ways.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

 Explain the history of the Rizal law and its provisions

DISCUSSION
CHAPTER 1: LESSON 1
Introduction to the course
Republic act 1425
THE RIZAL BILL was as controversial as Jose Rizal himself.

            The mandatory Rizal subject in the Philippines was the upshot of this bill which later
became a law in 1956. The bill involves mandating educational institutions in the country to
offer a course on the hero’s life, works, and writings, especially the ‘Noli Me Tangere’ and ‘El
Filibusterismo’. The transition from being a bill to becoming a republic act was however not
easy as the proposal was met with intense opposition particularly from the Catholic Church.

Largely because of the issue, the then senator Claro M. Recto—the main proponent of the Rizal
Bill—was even dubbed as a communist and an anti-Catholic. Catholic schools threatened to stop
operation if the bill was passed, though Recto calmly countered the threat, stating that if that
happened, then the schools would be nationalized. Afterward threatened to be punished in future
elections, Recto remained undeterred.

Concerning the suggestion to use instead the expurgated (edited) version of Rizal’s novels as
mandatory readings, Recto explained his firm support for the unexpurgated version, exclaiming:
“The people who would eliminate the books of Rizal from the schools would blot out from our
minds the memory of the national hero. This is not a fight against Recto but a fight against
Rizal.” (Ocampo, 2012, p. 23)

The bill was eventually passed, but with a clause that would allow exemptions to students who
think that reading the Noli and Fili would ruin their faith. In other words, one can apply to the
Department of Education for exemption from reading Rizal’s novels—though not from taking
the Rizal subject. The bill was enacted on June 12, 1956.

RA 1425 and other Rizal laws

The Rizal Bill became the Republic Act No. 1425, known as the ‘Rizal Law’. The full name of
the law 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.“ Following are the provisions:

Section 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, Particularly his novels 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 of their English translation
shall be used as basic texts.

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 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 all
public or private schools, colleges and universities.

Sction 3: The Board of the 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 the Barrio Councils throughout the country.

The first section of the law concerns mandating the students to read Rizal’s novels. The last two
sections involve making Rizal’s writings accessible to the general public—they require the
schools to have a sufficient number of copies in their libraries and mandate the publication of the
works in major Philippine languages.

Jose P. Laurel, the senator who co-wrote the law, explained that since Jose Rizal was the founder
of the country’s nationalism and had significantly contributed to the current condition of the
nation, it is only right that Filipinos, especially the youth, know about and learn to imbibe the
great ideals for which the hero died. Accordingly, the Rizal Law aims to accomplish the
following goals:

 To rededicate the lives of youth to the ideals of freedom and nationalism, for which our
heroes lived and died.
 To pay tribute to our national hero for devoting his life and works in shaping the Filipino
character.
 To gain an inspiring source of patriotism through the study of Rizal’s life, works, and
writings.

So far, no student has yet officially applied for exemption from reading Rizal’s novels.
Correspondingly, former President Fidel V. Ramos in 1994, through Memorandum Order No.
247, directed the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports and the Chairman of the
Commission on Higher Education to fully implement the RA 1425 as there had been reports that
the law had still not been totally carried out. In 1995, CHED Memorandum No. 3 was issued
enforcing strict compliance to Memorandum Order No. 247.

Not known to many, there is another republic act that concerns the national hero. Republic Act
No. 229 is an act prohibiting cockfighting, horse racing, and jai-alai on the thirtieth day of
December of each year and to create a committee to take charge of the proper celebration of
Rizal day in every municipality and chartered city, and for other purposes.

The Importance of Studying Rizal

The academic subject on the life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal was not mandated by law for
nothing. Far from being impractical, the course interestingly offers many benefits that some
contemporary academicians declare that the subject, especially when taught properly, is more
beneficial than many subjects in various curricula.

            The following are just some of the significance of the academic subject:

1. The subject provides insights on how to deal with current problems

There is a dictum, “He who controls the past controls the future.” Our view of history forms the
manner we perceive the present, and therefore influences the kind of solutions we provide for
existing problems. Jose Rizal course, as a history subject, is full of historical information from
which one could base his decisions in life. In various ways, the subject, for instance, teaches that
being educated is a vital ingredient for a person or country to be really free and successful.

2. It helps us understand better ourselves as Filipinos

The past helps us understand who we are. We comprehensively define ourselves not only in
terms of where we are going, but also where we come from. Our heredity, past behaviors, and
old habits as a nation are all significant clues and determinants to our present situation.
Interestingly, the life of a very important national historical figure like Jose Rizal contributes
much to shedding light on our collective experience and identity as Filipino. The good grasp of
the past offered by this subject would help us in dealing wisely with the present.

3. It teaches nationalism and patriotism

Nationalism involves the desire to attain freedom and political independence, especially by a
country under foreign power, while patriotism denotes proud devotion and loyalty to one’s
nation. Jose Rizal’s life, works, and writings—especially his novels—essentially, if not perfectly,
radiate these traits. For one thing, the subject helps us to understand our country better.

4. It provides various essential life lessons

We can learn much from the way Rizal faced various challenges in life. As a controversial figure
in his time, he encountered serious dilemmas and predicaments but responded decently and high-
mindedly. Through the crucial decisions he made in his life, we can sense his priorities and
convictions which manifest how noble, selfless, and great the national hero was. For example,
his many resolutions exemplified the aphorism that in this life there are things more important
than personal feeling and happiness.

5. It helps in developing logical and critical thinking

Critical Thinking refers to discerning, evaluative, and analytical thinking. A Philosophy major,
Jose Rizal unsurprisingly demonstrated his critical thinking skills in his argumentative essays,
satires, novels, speeches, and written debates. In deciding what to believe or do, Rizal also
proved his being a reasonably reflective thinker, never succumbing to the irrational whims and
baseless opinions of anyone. In fact, he indiscriminately evaluated and criticized even the
doctrines of the dominant religion of his time. A course on Rizal’s life, works, and writings
therefore is also a lesson in critical thinking.

6. Rizal can serve as a worthwhile model and inspiration to every Filipino

If one is looking for someone to imitate, then Rizal is a very viable choice. The hero’s
philosophies, life principles, convictions, thoughts, ideals, aspirations, and dreams are a good
influence to anyone. Throughout his life, he valued nationalism and patriotism, respect for
parents, love for siblings, and loyalty to friends, and maintained a sense of chivalry. As a man of
education, he highly regarded academic excellence, logical and critical thinking, philosophical
and scientific inquiry, linguistic study, and cultural research. As a person, he manifested
versatility and flexibility while sustaining a strong sense of moral uprightness.

7. The subject is a rich source of entertaining narratives

People love fictions and are even willing to spend for books or movie tickets just to be
entertained by made-up tales. But only a few perhaps know that Rizal’s life is full of fascinating
non-fictional accounts.
For instance, it is rarely known that (1) Rizal was involved in a love triangle with Antonio Luna
as also part of the romantic equation; (2) Rizal was a model in some of Juan Luna’s paintings;
(3) Rizal’s common-law wife Josephine Bracken was ‘remarried’ to a man from Cebu and had
tutored former President Sergio Osmeña; (4) Leonor Rivera (‘Maria Clara’), Rizal’s ‘true love’,
had a son who married the sister of the former President of the United Nations General Assembly
Carlos P. Romulo; (5) the Filipina beauty queen Gemma Cruz Araneta is a descendant of Rizal’s
sister, Maria; (6) the sportscaster Chino Trinidad is a descendant of Rizal’s ‘first love’ (Segunda
Katigbak); and (7) the original manuscripts of Rizal’s novel (Noli and Fili) were once stolen for
ransom, but Alejandro Roces had retrieved them without paying even a single centavo.

Enrichment Activities:

I. TRUE OR FALSE
Instruction: Read the following sentence below, write TRUE if the underlined word/s in
the sentence is correct, and false if the underlined word/words is incorrect.

______________ 1. Life and Works of Rizal is full of historical information in which one could
base her decision in life.
______________ 2. El Filibusterismo, Latin for “Touch Me Not” is an 1887 novel by José Rizal
during the colonization of the Philippines by Spain to describe perceived inequities of the
Spanish Catholic friars and the ruling government.
______________ 3. One of the provisions of Rizal course is to provide various essential life
lessons to the readers.
______________ 4. Jose P. Laurel is the main proponent of the Rizal Law.
______________ 5. One of the aims/ goals of the Rizal Law is to rededicate the lives of youth to
the ideals of freedom and nationalism, for which our heroes lived and died.

_______________ 6. Patriotism involves the desire to attain freedom and political independence,
especially by a country under foreign power.

_______________ 7. Republic Act No. 1435 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.
_______________ 8. According to a popular saying, “Heroes are not made, they are born.”
_______________ 9.one of the significance of Rizal subject is to provide various essential life
lessons in which we can learn much from the way Rizal faced various challenges in life.

_______________ 10. Reading the Noli and El Fili would ruin the faith of every students.

Self-Assessment Question
1. As a youth, what will you do and able to sacrifice to save your country in the hands of merely
and abusive people. -
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2. What are the traits and qualities of Rizal you want to imitate? Why?
______________________________________________________________________________
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References:

https://ourhappyschool.com/history/importance-jose-rizal-subject

https://opinion.inquirer.net/20093/do-we-really-know-rizal-rizal-law-ineffective

Dr. Augusto V. DeViana, Helena Ma. F. Cabrera, DBA Emelita P. Samala, Myrna M. De Vera, Janet
Atutubo. Jose Rizal: Social Reformer and Patriot: A study of His Life and Times. Manila Philippines. Rex
Bookstore.