Understanding Rizal Law

• Rizal Law


  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 Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Authorizing the Printing and Distribution thereof, and for Other Purposes
• How a Bill becomes a Law: The Legislative Process


  1. Bill is filed in the Senate Office of the Secretary

  2. First reading

  3. Committee hearings

  4. Second reading

  5. Voting on second reading

  6. Voting on third reading

  7. Consolidation of Version from the House

  8. Transmittal of the Final Version to Malacañan
• Senate Bill 438 was filed


  April 3, 1956
• Main author of the Rizal bill

  Claro M. Recto
• Sponsor of the Rizal bill

  Jose P. Laurel
• Mandates


  • Schools to offer a course on Rizal's life, works and writings
• Rizal bill met intense opposition from the Catholic church

  Catholic schools threatened because of communist and anti-Catholic Recto and Laurel
• Archbishop of Manila, Rufino Santos, requested Recto


  To only require the "expurgated" version of Rizal's two novels
• Recto refused and insisted

  The use of "unexpurgated" version of Rizal's novels
• This is fight for Rizal's legacy
• Senators who opposed the bill

  • Francisco "Soc" Rodrigo
  • Mariano Cuenco
  • Decoroso Rosales
• Groups who opposed the bill

  • Catholic Action of the Philippines
  • Congregation of the Mission
  • Knights of Columbus
  • Catholic Teachers Guild
• R.A 1425


  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 Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Authorizing the Printing and Distribution thereof, and for Other Purposes
• Fidel Ramos directed CHED and DECS to fully implement the law through CMO No. 247 in 1994
• CMO No. 3 was issued to enforce strictly the law in 1995
• Important points of R.A. 1425

  • Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and universities, public or private
  • 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 of Rizal's other works and biography
  • The Board of 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 Barrio Councils throughout the country
  • Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amendment or repealing section nine hundred twenty-seven of the Administrative Code, prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines by public school teachers and other person engaged in any public school
• Significance of R.A. 1425

  • It provides insights on how to deal with current problems
  • It helps to understand better ourselves as Filipinos
  • It teaches nationalism
  • It provides various essential life lessons
  • It serves as a worthwhile inspiration to every Filipino
• Padre Florentino (El Filibusterismo, 1891): 'Our misfortunes are our own fault, let us blame nobody else for them. But as long as the Filipino people do not have sufficient vigor to proclaim, head held high and chest bared, their right to a life their own in human society and to guarantee it with their sacrifices, with their very blood if necessary. Why give them independence? What is the use of independence if the slaves of today, will become the tyrants of tomorrow? And no doubt they will, because whoever submits to tyranny, loves it!'