The document discusses the passage of Republic Act 1425, also known as the Rizal Law, which mandated the study of Jose Rizal's life, works, and writings in schools across the Philippines. The law was passed through a democratic legislative process that involved debate between proponents who argued it would promote nationalism and opponents who raised concerns about religion. Ultimately, a version was approved in 1956 that required teaching Rizal's works but removed compulsory reading and exemptions to address religious objections. The goals of the Rizal Law were to promote civic knowledge, national dignity, and patriotism among Filipino students.

2. #WhyStudyRIZAL?

3. Republic act 1425 “Rizal Law”

4. Lesson Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Discuss the democratic process that led to the
promulgation of the Rizal Law;
2. Examine the goals of the Rizal Law; and
3. Interpret the role of the youth as implied in the Rizal
Law.

5. The Birth of the Rizal Law
Amidst the destruction of building
infrastructures, roads, and bridges
brought by World War II, the
people saw the need to rebuild
the Filipino identity which was
equally affected by the war.
Education became the Primary
Weapon of orientation while
prioritizing the youth as the bearers
of country’s pride

6. Jose P. Laurel- the sponsor the said law
Senate bill No. 438
AN ACT TO MAKE NOLI ME
TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO
COMPULSORY READING MATTER
IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
April 3, 1956

7. Jose P. Laurel- the sponsor the said law
“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 in
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.”

8. The arguments were as follows:
1. The bill was an attempt to discredit the Catholic religion.
2. Inimical to the tenets of the faith to which 170 lines in Noli Me
Tangere and 50 lines in El Filibusterismo were offensive to the
church doctrine.
3. The bill might divide the nation
4. Compulsion to read something against one’s faith impaired
freedom of speech and religious freedom.

9. Heated exchange continued as part of the
democratic process
Senator Francisco "Soc" Rodrigo Stood to speak in
opposition to the bill.
“At the same time, the vast majority of our people
are Catholics and Filipino. As such, their country and
faith are two great loves. Both of these loves are not
contradictory. It's harmonic loves, like a child's love
for his father and his mother. That is the foundation
of my stand. We must not create a conflict between
nationalism and religion.”

10. Senator Claro M. Recto strongly refuting the
arguments in Opposition
• He declared that the novels did not intend to discredit the
Church. Moreover, the bill only seeks, faced with the
Spanish tyranny, to contextualize rizal's heroism. Then he
spoke the following words:
• “When he wrote such books, Rizal did not claim to teach
theology or religion. While he was criticizing the
undeserving conduct of several ministers of the Church, he
exercised exceptions to the worthy ones as a Dominican
friar, Padre Fernández and the virtuous native priest, Padre
Florentino and the Jesuit generally, in order to instill civic
knowledge, national dignity, personal pride, and
patriotismo.”

11. House Bill No. 5561
Similar bill has meanwhile been submitted to
the House of Representatives by Congressman
Jacobo Z. Gonzales. The bill was warmly
welcomed by disagreements. The bill was
attacked on the basis of its constitutionality
and religiosity, with different faces but similar
opinions. It seemed hopeless to pass the bill in
the latter part of april with this reversal in
both the Upper House and the Lower House

12. Senator Laurel proposed a substitute bill
Inclusion of all the
works and writings
of Rizal, not just
the two novels
He stressed the
removal of the term
“COMPULSION”

13. Approval of the Bill
Senator Laurel asserted the importance of reading the original and
unexpurgated edition of Rizal’s Novels
Last amendment was proposed – the provisions regarding the
“Exemption” of students from reading the two novels
May 12, 1956 – Senate bill No. 438 was unanimously
approved on second reading
May 14, 1956 – Approved in the House of
Representatives

14. The Trial of the Rizal Law in Congress
• On one hand, the role of opponents should not be overlooked
because their dissenting opinions broadened the scope of
democratic process.
• On the other hand, the proponents had perfected their bill
because of the criticism they received.
June 12, 1956- President Ramon
Magsaysay signed the bill to make it a
law, thus giving birth to Republic Act
1425 (Rizal Law)

15. Three Main Goals of Rizal Law

16. Contents of the Rizal Law
• Section 1: This section mandates the courses on the life, works
and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall included in the curricula of
all schools, colleges and universities, public or private.
• Section 2: This section mandates the schools have to “an
adequate number” of copies in their libraries.
• Section 3: This section orders the Board of National Education
to publish the works in English, Tagalog, and other major
Philippine languages.

17. Contents of the Rizal Law
• Section 4: It prohibits the discussion of religious doctrine
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