LIFE and WORKS of RIZAL: REPUBLIC ACT 1425

“Jose Rizal remains the supreme hero of the Philippines because of the quality of his sacrifice,
his absolute dedication to the interest of his people, and his achievement in many fields of
endeavors”.
-Sponsored by Claro M. Recto and Jose P. Laurel
-Signed by Ramon Magsaysay
-June 12, 1956 and would take effect on August 16, 1656
- AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND
PRIVATESCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COURSES ON THE LIFE,
WORKSAND WRITINGS OF JOSE RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HIS NOVELS NOLI
METANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING
ANDDISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
SOURCE 1: https://www.academia.edu/5360705/Republic_Act_No_1425
The Board of National Education is given the mandate to carry out and enforce the Rizal Law. It was
approved on 12 June 1956.Senate bill 438 known as Rizal Bill which was first authored by Senator Claro
M. Recto -requiring the inclusion in the curricula of all private and public schools, colleges and universities
the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo - is
considered as one of the most controversial bills in the Philippines. Normally, before the bill was approved
and implemented in all schools and was signed into a law known as Republic Act 1425, it had been brought
to the Upper and Lower House of the Congress for deliberations. But what made it controversial is that the
bill was not just fiercely opposed by people from Legislative Arm but also by the Catholic Church due to the
inclusion of compulsory reading of Rizal's novels in which according to them, catholic dogmas are
humiliated.
Senator Recto brought the bill to the Senate and Senator Jose B. Laurel Sr. who was then the Chairman of
the Committee on Education sponsored the bill that consequently led to exchange of arguments from the
Congress. The bill was headedly opposed by three senators namely Senator Francisco Rodrigo who was a
former Catholic Action President, Senator Mariano Cuenco and Senator Decoroso Rosales who was the
brother of Julio Rosales, an archbishop. Other oppositors were from Lower House namely Congressmen
Ramon Durano, Marciano Lim, Jose Nuguid, Manuel Soza, Godofredo Ramos, Miguel Cuenco, Lucas
Paredes, Congressmen Carmen Consing and Tecia San Andres Ziga. The Catholic Church was indirectly
included in the debates and played a major role for the intervention of signing of the bill into a law. Allied
with the church in battle against Rizal Bill were the Holy Name Society of the Philippines, Catholic Action of
the Philippines, Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus and Daughters of Isabela.
Oppositions argued that the bill would go against freedom of conscience and religion, The Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) submitted a pastoral letter to which according, Rizal violated Canon
Law 1399 which forbids or bans books that attack or ridicule the catholic doctrine and practices.
Oppositions argued that among the 333 pages of Noli MeTangere, only 25 passages are nationalistic while
120 passages are anti-Catholic. While upon scrutiny of the two novels by some members of catholic
hierarchical, 170 passages in Noli Me Tangere and 50 in El Filibusterismo are against catholic faith.
Furthermore, oppositions pointed out that Rizal admitted that he did not only attack the friars who acted
deceptively on the Filipinos but also the catholic faith itself. They suggested a reading material for students
as to what they called Rizalian Anthology, a collection of Rizal's literary works that contain the patriotic
philosophy excluding the two novels.
Of course, Recto and Laurel defended the bill and argued that the only objective of the bill is to keep the
memory of the national hero alive in every Filipino's mind, to emanate Rizal as he peacefully fought for
freedom, and not to go against religion. Senators Lorenso Tanada, Quintin Paredes and Domocao Alonto
of Mindanao also defended Rizal Bill which was also favored by Representatives from the House namely
Congressmen Jacobo Gonzales, Emilio Cortez, Mario Bengson, Joaquin Roxas, Lancap Lagumbay and
Pedro Lopez. Other supporters of the bill were Mayor Arsenio Lacson call anti-rizal bill "bigoted and
intolerant" and walked out of a mass when the priest read a pastoral letter from the Archbishop denouncing
the Rizal Bill and General Emilio Aguinaldo with groups like the Knights of Rizal, Women Writers of the
Vernacular, Philippine Veterans Legion, Colleger Editors' Guild and Philippine School Teachers'
Association.
Excitement and intense scenes were eventually arisen in settling the Rizal Bill. One of which was the
debate of Cebu Representative Ramon Durano and Pampanga Representative Emilio Cortes that ended
with a fistfight in Congress. Bacolod City Bishop Manuel Yap threatened to campaign against pro-rizal bill
legislators and to punish them in future elections. Catholic Schools Representatives threatened to close
down their schools if the Rizal Bill was passed. Recto told them that if they did, the State could nationalize
the catholic schools. When there was a proposal to use the expurgated novels as textbooks and put the
original copies under lock and key in the school libraries, Recto rejected this amendment and expressed:
"The people who would eliminate the books of Rizal from the schools...would bot out from our minds the
memory of the national hero...this is not a fight against Recto but a fight against Rizal...now that Rizal is
dead and they can no longer attempt at his life, they are attempting to blot out his memory."
Due to apparently never-ending debate on the Rizal Bill, approved amendments were formulated through
ideas of three senators. Senator Laurel' created an amendment to the original bill in which, other than Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, works written by Rizal and works written by others about Rizal would be
included and reading of the unexpurgated(unedited)  [ when asked about bakit hindi nlng ung edited
version] revision of the two novels would no longer be compulsory to elementary and secondary levels but
would be strictly observed to college level. Senator Lim suggested the exemption to those students who
feel that reading Rizal's novels would negatively affect his or her faith. Senator Primicias created an
additional amendment that promulgates the rules and regulations in getting an exemption only from reading
the two novels through written statement or affidavit and not from taking the Rizal Course. According to
historian Ambeth Ocampo, no student has ever availed of this exemption. After the revised amendments,
the bill was finally passed on May 17, 1956 and was signed into law as Republic Act 1425 by President
Ramon Magsaysay on June 12 of the same year.
 SOURCE 2: https://ourhappyschool.com/history/importance-jose-rizal-subject
- 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.
- senator Claro M. Recto—the main proponent of the Rizal Bill—was even dubbed as a communist and an
anti-Catholic.
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.“
- 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
- Jose P. Laurel, then 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.
Goals of Rizal Law
1. To rededicate the lives of 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 through the study of Rizal’s life, works, and writings.
- 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.
Other Rizal Laws
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.
! SIGNIFICANCE !
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. It
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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
 SOURCE 3: https://www.coursehero.com/file/29810389/RA-1425-Rizal-Lawpdf/
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON THE RIZAL BILLS
The Catholic Church was the major institution to express its vigorous objection on the passage of a law that
would make Rizal’s Noli and El Fili as compulsory reading matters in all schools, colleges and universities
in the Philippines.
REASONS WHY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH EXPRESSED AN OPPOSING VIEW
1. The novels of Rizal show open criticism to the Catholic Church.
2. In the “compulsory” teaching of the unexpurgated versions of Rizal’s Noli and El Fili, a teacher would
have the tendency to discuss—or worse, to criticize—certain Church doctrines.
3. The inevitable criticism of Church doctrines might lead to the jeopardy of the faith of people.
THE CHURCH’S ATTACK
The Church alleged, in a pastoral letter, that the novels of Rizal do not promote nationalism but more of
criticism against it. It further alleged in that letter the presence of 170 passages from the Noli and 50
passages from the Fili which intend to diminish its good image.
THE CHURCH’S CAMPAIGN
The Catholic Action of Manila (CAM) was one of the principal organizations that initiated campaigns against
the bills. Its two attempts were: 1) to release articles of resistance daily, instead of weekly, through the
Sentinel, its official organ and 2) To convince the Catholics to write the senators and the congressmen to
junk the bills.