This document provides information about the Rizal Law in the Philippines. It discusses how the law came to be passed in 1956 requiring the study of Jose Rizal's life and works in schools. There was initial opposition from the Catholic Church who saw Rizal's writings as anti-Church. A compromise was reached to allow exemptions for religious reasons. The key points of the Rizal Law are that it mandates the inclusion of courses on Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, in all school curriculums. It also requires schools to keep copies of Rizal's unexpurgated works and to distribute cheap editions to the public.

1. Lesson 1
Introduction to the
Study
of Rizal Law

2. Criteria
for
National

3. Criteria
for
National
Selection And
Proclamation Of National
Heroes And
Laws Honoring Filipino
Historical Figures

4. WHO IS A
HERO?

5. A national hero, in general, is a person who has
made the most significant contribution to the country’s
sovereignty and independence, and has upheld the values
and ideals of nationalism. He or she serves as a model
of our cultural identity and gave rise to our freedom
as a nation

6. WHO IS A FILIPINO HERO?

7. A national hero of the Philippines is a Filipino who
has been recognized as a national hero for his or her
role in the history of the Philippines. Loosely, the
term may refer to all Filipino historical figures
recognized as heroes, but the term more strictly refers
to those officially designated as such.

8. No law, executive order or proclamation has
been enacted or issued officially
proclaiming any Filipino historical figure
as a national hero. However, because of
their significant roles in the process of
nation building and contributions to
history, there were laws enacted and
proclamations issued honoring these heroes.
Even Jose Rizal, considered as the greatest
among the Filipino heroes, was not
explicitly proclaimed as a national hero.
The position he now holds in Philippine
history is a tribute to the continued
veneration or acclamation of the people in
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

9. Aside from Rizal, the only other
hero given an implied recognition
as a national hero is Andres
Bonifacio whose day of birth on
November 30 has been made a
national holiday.
Despite the lack of any official
declaration explicitly
proclaiming them as national
heroes, they remain admired and
revered for their roles in
Philippine history. Heroes,
according to historians, should
not be legislated. Their
appreciation should be better

10. 1. Selection and Proclamation of
National Heroes
1.1 National Heroes Committee
On March 28, 1993 , President Fidel
V. Ramos issued Executive Order No.75
entitled “Creating the National
Heroes Committee Under the Office of
the President”.
The principal duty of the Committee
is to study, evaluate and recommend
Filipino national personages/heroes
in due recognition of their sterling
character and remarkable achievements
FIDEL V. RAMOS,
the 12th President
of the Philippines
(1992–1998)

11. 1.2 Findings and Recommendations of the
National Heroes Committee
In compliance with Executive Order No. 75 dated March
28, 1993 , the National Heroes Committee submitted its
findings and recommendations.
1.2.1 Criteria for National Heroes
The Technical Committee of the National Heroes
Committee held a series of meetings on June 3, 1993 ,
August 19,1993 , September 12, 1994 and November 15,
1995 , defining, discussing and deliberating upon the
merits of the various definitions and criteria of a
hero. The Committee adopted the following criteria as
basis for historical researchers in determining who
among the great Filipinos will be officially proclaimed

12. Criteria for National Heroes
1. Heroes are those who have a concept of nation and
thereafter aspire and struggle for the nation’s
freedom. Our own struggle for freedom was begun by
Bonifacio and finished by Aguinaldo, the latter
formally declaring the revolution’s success. In
reality, however, a revolution has no end. Revolutions
are only the beginning. One cannot aspire to be free
only to sink back into bondage.

13. 2. Heroes are those who define and contribute to a
system or life of freedom and order for a nation.
Freedom without order will only lead to anarchy.
Therefore, heroes are those who make the nation’s
constitution and laws, such as Mabini and Recto. To
the latter, constitutions are only the beginning, for
it is the people living under the constitution that
truly constitute a nation.

14. 3. Heroes are those who contribute to the quality of
life and destiny of a nation. (As defined by Dr.
Onofre D. Corpuz)

15. Additional Criteria for Heroes
(Adopted by the Technical Committee of the National Heroes
Heroes Committee on November 15, 1995, Manila)
1. A hero is part of the people’s expression. But the process of a
process of a people’s internalization of a hero’s life and works
and works takes time, with the youth forming a part of the
the internalization.
2. A hero thinks of the future, especially the future generations.
generations.
3. The choice of a hero involves not only the recounting of an
recounting of an episode or events in history, but of the entire
the entire process that made this particular person a hero. (As
hero. (As defined by Dr. Alfredo Lagmay)

16. 1.2.2 Historical Figures Recommended as National Heroes
On November 15, 1995 , the Technical Committee after
deliberation and careful study based on Dr. Onofre D. Corpuz’ and

19. Assignment:
Who must be the Philippine National Hero?
RIZALISTAS
BONIFACIONISTAS

20. RIZALISTAS
BONIFACIONISTAS

21. RIZALISTAS
BONIFACIONISTAS
Each speaker has only two minutes to defend his or her side.

22. 1st speakers will introduce their issue or topic.
1 1

23. Support the speeches of the 1st speakers.
2 2

24. Must find flaws from the speeches of 1st and 2nd speakers of
the opposing side.
3 3

25. REBUTTAL
Anyone from the audience group can ask two (2) questions to the
opposing audience group and rebut their answers. Each QA will only last

26. 4th speakers will summarize the strong points of their team,
and summarize the weak points of the opposing team.
4 4

27. CRITERIA
MATTER – 40%
MANNER – 40%
METHOD – 20%
Total: 100%

28. NOTE:
Walang personalan, i-enjoy lamang ;)

29. THE
RIZAL LAW

30. The Story of Rizal Law
In 1956, Senator Claro M. Recto filed a
measure, which became the original Rizal
Bill, recognizing the need to instill heroism
among the youth at the time when the
country was experiencing social turmoil.
This was the period when Recto submitted
his bill, calling for a return to patriotic
values enunciated by Filipino heroes like
Jose Rizal. Under the bill, it shall be
obligatory for college and university
students to study the life and works of Jose
Claro Recto y Mayo
February 8, 1890 –
October 2, 1960

31. The issuance of the bill was not welcomed
by various quarters. The Catholic Church
assailed the Rizal Bill as anti-Church
because it forces the students to read
Rizal’s works like Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo which contain passages that
were anti-Church.
They presented fears that the religious
beliefs of the young students would be
harmed by reading Rizal’s works while they
were at their formative years. Forcing the
students to read Rizal’s works which have
religious overtones would be a violation of

32. The Church continued its opposition of the bill by calling all
Catholic voters to reject lawmakers who supported Recto’s Rizal
bill. Pastoral letters were read in masses voicing opposition.
Bishops threatened to close down Catholic schools if the bill was
approved.
Recto, however, stood his ground and dared the Catholic Church
to shut down their schools, knowing that this was only an idle
threat since the Catholic learning institutions were its major
source of income.
After a month-long standoff, a compromise bill was filed. It was
authored by Senator Jose Laurel and it was based on the
proposals of Senators Roseller Lim and Emmanuel Pelaez.

33. On June 12, 1956, Republic Act No. 1425, better knows as the
Rizal Law, came into effect. The law accommodated the
objections of the Catholic Church. This could be seen in the
second paragraph of Section 1, allowing students to seek
exemption from reading Rizal’s works for religious reasons. To
the authors of the original bill, it was a complete victory but its
oppositors felt satisfied that at least they achieved something.
The law, however, still requires the reading of the unexpurgated
versions of Rizal’s novels. It also provided the funding of
publication of Rizal’s works and their distribution to the
countryside. The Rizal Law is more than 50 years old now, and it
may need revisions to make it more relevant.

34. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425
House Bill No. 5561
Senate Bill No. 438
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
WHEREAS, today, more than any other period of our history, there is a need
for a re-dedication to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our
heroes lived and died;
WHEREAS, it is meet that in honoring them, particularly the national hero
and patriot, Jose Rizal, we remember with special fondness and devotion
their lives and works that have shaped the national character;

35. WHEREAS, the life, works and writing of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, are a constant and inspiring source
of patriotism with which the minds of the youth, especially during their
formative and decisive years in school, should be suffused;
WHEREAS, all educational institutions are under the supervision of, and
subject to regulation by the State, and all schools are enjoined to develop
moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience and to teach the
duties of citizenship; Now, therefore,
SECTION 1. 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: Provided,
That in the collegiate courses, the original or unexpurgated editions of the
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their English translation shall be
used as basic texts.

36. The Board of National Education is hereby authorized and directed to adopt
forthwith measures to implement and carry out the provisions of this Section,
including the writing and printing of appropriate primers, readers and textbooks.
The Board shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate
rules and regulations, including those of a disciplinary nature, to carry out and
enforce the provisions of this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations
providing for the exemption of students for reasons of religious belief stated in a
sworn written statement, from the requirement of the provision contained in the
second part of the first paragraph of this section; but not from taking the course
provided for in the first part of said paragraph. Said rules and regulations shall take
effect thirty (30) days after their publication in the Official Gazette.
SECTION 2. 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 said unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and
El Filibusterismo or their translations in English as well as other writings of Rizal
shall be included in the list of approved books for required reading in all public or

37. The Board of National Education shall determine the adequacy of the number of
books, depending upon the enrollment of the school, college or university.
SECTION 3. 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.
SECTION 4. 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.
SECTION 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be
appropriated out of any fund not otherwise appropriated in the National Treasury
to carry out the purposes of this Act.

38. SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved: June 12, 1956
Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 52, No. 6, p. 2971 in June 1956.