LEGIT RIZAL

• The Rizal Law was enacted in 1956
• The Rizal Law requires the inclusion of courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, in the curricula of all schools, colleges and universities, public or private
• The Rizal Law authorizes the Board of National Education to implement and carry out the provisions of the law, including the writing and printing of appropriate primers, readers and textbooks
• The Rizal Law requires 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 of Rizal's other works and biography
• The Rizal Law provides for the exemption of students for reasons of religious belief from the requirement to use the original or unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo as basic texts, but not from taking the course
• Republic Act 1425 or Rizal Law mandates the teaching of the life and works of Jose Rizal including his writings particularly Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo to all educational institutions in the Philippines
• Rizal Law


  Also known as Republic Act 1425
• Claro M. Recto


  Main author of the Rizal Law
• Jose P. Laurel


  Sponsor of the Rizal Law
• The Rizal Law contains 6 sections
• Rizal Law was approved and signed by President Ramon Magsaysay


  June 12, 1956
• The Rizal Law mandates the study of the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal in all schools in the Philippines
• Goals of the Rizal Law


  • Recognize the relevance of Rizal's ideals, thoughts, teachings, and life values to present conditions
  • Apply Rizal's ideas in the solution of day-to-day situations and problems in contemporary life
  • Develop an understanding and appreciation of the qualities, behavior, and character of Rizal
  • Foster the development of moral character, personal discipline, citizenship, and vocational efficiency among the Filipino youth
• Sections of the Rizal Law

  1. Mandates inclusion of Rizal's life, works and writings in school curricula

  2. Mandates schools to have adequate copies of Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo and Rizal's other works

  3. Orders publication of translated versions of Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo and Rizal's other writings

  4. Prohibits discussion of religious doctrines by public school teachers

  5. Appropriates 300,000 pesos to carry out the law

  6. States the law takes effect upon approval
• The Catholic Church opposed the Rizal Law, claiming it would violate freedom of conscience and religion
• Claro M. Recto was dubbed a communist and anti-Catholic for sponsoring the Rizal Law
• Catholic schools threatened to close down if the Rizal Law was passed
• Lawmakers like Congressman Miguel Cuenco and Senator Francisco "Soc" Rodrigo voiced the church's opposition to the Rizal Law
• The Rizal Law was opposed by the Catholic Church claiming that Rizal's novel Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo would violate freedom of conscience and religion
• Recto was even dubbed as a communist and an anti-Catholic by the Church
• Church spokesmen argued that Catholics could read selected passages from Rizal's work, but to compel Catholics to read Rizal's novels in its "unexpurgated" or uncensored version was to force heresy on them and violate their freedom of conscience
• Catholic schools put up a good fight and even threatened to close down if the Rizal bill was passed
• Claro M. Recto calmly told them to go ahead so the state could then nationalize all the schools and teach what it wanted
• The Church retreated but threatened to "punish" erring legislators in future elections
• Recto was undaunted
• Congressman Miguel Cuenco and Senator Francsisco "Soc" Rodrigo voiced the opposition of the church in both houses of Congress
• Rodrigo commented that he would not let his teenage son read the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo lest he endangers his Catholic faith
• Rodrigo proposed that the novels be footnoted, and annotated versions of the novels be used instead compared to the unexpurgated versions required in the Recto Bill
• Recto did not want an adulterated reading of the novels, he did not want a watered-down bill and declared, "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. Now that Rizal is dead and they can no longer attempt at his life, they are attempting to blot out his memory"
• To accommodate the compromise, the Committee on Education chairman Laurel inserted the objections of the Catholic Church which is "Only the college students would have the option to read the unexpurgated versions of the clerically-contested materials. It was then approved unanimously on May 12, 1956'
• Heresy


  Belief of theory that is contrary to the church dogma
• Religious doctrines


  A legal rule, tenet, theory, or principle in one's religion
• Adulterated


  Corrupted or something pure is already made impure
• Expurgated


  Amended by removing words that are deemed to be morally harmful
• Opposed


  To set or place in opposition or resistance or dissent
• Jose Rizal was born in the 19th century under the colonization of Spain
• 19th century


  • Century of change
  • Birth of modern life
  • Birth of many nation-states around the globe
• Galleon Trade


  Ship trade carrying goods
• Prior to the coming of the Spaniards in the Philippines, Filipinos are already trading with its neighboring countries such as China, Japan, Siam, India, Cambodia, Borneo, and the Moluccas
• Manila Galleon Trade


  Trade between Manila and Acapulco