Lesson 1 - RA 1425

• APRIL 17, 1956

  • Senator Jose P. Laurel Sr. Who was then the Chairman of the Committee on Education sponsored the Noli-Fili Bill and presented it to The Upper House . 
• Proponents

  • Senator Claro M. Recto
  • Senator Jose P. Laurel

  Oppositions

  • Senator Francisco Soc Rodrigo
  • Senator Mariano Cuenco
  • Senator Decoroso Rosales
• Noli Fili Bill or Senate 438

  • College and University Students are obliged to study the unexpurgated or original versions
• Debates Started April 23, 1956

  • 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 
• Rizal Bill was said to be Anti-Church

  • Because Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo contains passages that were anti-Catholic 
  • It violates their constitutional FREEDOM OF RELIGION and conscience
• Senator Mariano Cuenco

  Arguments 

  • The bill was an attempt to discredit the Catholic Religion
  • Inimical to the tenets of the faith to which 170 lines in Noli and 50 lines in El Fili were offensive to the Catholic Doctrine
  • The bill might divide the nation
• Senator Francisco Rodrigo

  Argument

  • Compulsion to read Something against one’s faith impaired freedom of speech and Religious freedom
  • They presented a false picture of conditions in the country at that time and it contains error in the church doctrine
• Senator Decoroso Rosales

  Intention/ Reason

  • He believed that the approval of the bill will lead to the closure of all the Catholic schools all throughout the country.
  • Would affect the number of Catholics in the Philippines. 
• The novels have no intentions of discrediting the Church.
• Rizal did not pretend to teach religion or theology when he wrote those books.
• Rizal aimed at inculcating civic consciousness in the Filipinos.
• Rizal's novels emphasized national dignity, personal pride, and patriotism.
• Rizal criticized and ridiculed the unworthy behavior of certain ministers of the Church, but made exceptions in favor of the worthy ones like the Dominican friar, Padre Fernandez, and the virtuous native priests Padre Florentino, and the Jesuits in General.
• The Catholic Church charged Recto as being a Communist and Anti –Catholic.
• REPUBLIC 1425

  June 12, 1956

  • the bill was signed into law by President Ramon Magsaysay

  R.A. 1425/ Rizal Law

  •  Is an act to include in the Curricula of all public and private schools, colleges & universities courses on the life, works and writings of Dr. Jose Rizal
• The novels have no intentions of discrediting the Church.
• Rizal did not pretend to teach religion or theology when he wrote those books.
• Section 1

  • This section mandates the students to read the two great novels of Rizal. This will be included in the curricula of all schools, colleges, and universities, public and private.
• Rizal aimed at inculcating civic consciousness in the Filipinos.
• Rizal's novels emphasized national dignity, personal pride, and patriotism.
• Rizal criticized and ridiculed the unworthy behavior of certain ministers of the Church, but made exceptions in favor of the worthy ones, like the Dominican friar, Padre Fernandez, and the virtuous native priests Padre Florentino, and the Jesuits in General.
• The Catholic Church charged Recto as being a Communist and Anti –Catholic.
• Section 2

  • This section mandates the schools to have “adequate number” of copies in the library
• Section 3

  • This section orders the Board of National Education to publish the works in English, Tagalog, and other major Philippine languages
• Section 4

  • It prohibits the discussion of religious doctrines by persons engaged in any public school.
• Section 5

  • A sum of 300 thousand pesos is appropriated to carry out the purposes of the law.
• Section 6

  • It shall take effect upon its approval.
• National Commission for Culture and the Arts

  • NO Law, Executive order, or proclamation declaring any Filipino historical figure a national hero has been enacted or issued.
• Public Acclamation

  • In recognition of his contribution to the country
• National Historical Commission

  • Prescribe the passage of 50 years before a person is confirmed as a HERO. If the person is still admired after that time, he is regarded as a HERO. It was the Americans who proclaimed Rizal as national hero.
• Executive Order No. 75

  • Created the National Heroes Committee
  • study, evaluate, and recommend Filipino national personages/heroes in due recognition of their sterling character and remarkable achievements for the country.
• William H. Taft

  • Made Rizal became the National Hero of the Philippines
• December 30

  • National Mourning in honor of Jose Rizal
• Executive Order 52

  • undertake the construction of the National Cultural Shrine and other memorials to dedicate to Rizal.
• Act 137 of the Taft Commission

  • Rename the province of Mooing into the province of Rizal.
• Philippine Commission Act 345

  • Making December 30 as Rizal Day and making it as one of National Holiday
• Philippine Commission Act 243

  • enacted the building of a statue of Rizal using public land in Luneta, Manila.
• Republic Act 229

  • prohibited cockfighting, horse racing, jai alai, every 30th of December every year.
• 1. The subject provides insights into how to deal with current problems

  • Our view of history forms the manner we perceive in the present, and therefore influences the kind of solutions we provide for existing problems
• 1. It helps us understand ourselves better as Filipinos. 

  • 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