Republic Act 1425 (Rizal Law)

Republic Act No. 1425, known as the Rizal Law, mandates all educational institutions in the Philippines to
offer courses about José Rizal. The full name of the law is 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. 
 
Dr. Jose Rizal and the Rizal law are part of our history. Dr. Jose Rizal, our national hero and Rizal the
course both have a reason and purpose for us. I'm not against this law because Dr. Jose Rizal deserve to
be remembered. Rizal stood as one of the great men produced by the Malay race. He died for the people
with no regrets, a hero that fight without violence but with his courage and intelligence. I salute him for
making novels or his masterpieces that records the past events especially the hardship and struggles of the
people in the hands of the conquerors. The law aims to put Rizal closer to our hearts.
His peaceful means of reform made him Asia’s first modern non-violent proponent of political reforms.
The Rizal law is an avenue for the youth to understand Rizal’s vision.

Noli Me Tangere
 
The statement “
“If I kill the head of a family, if I make a woman into a destitute widow and happy children into helpless
orphans, will I have satisfied eternal justice if I let them hang me, or confide my secret to someone who
has to keep it to himself, or give alms to the priests, who need it the least, or buy myself a papal pardon,
or weep night and day? And what about the widow and children? My conscience tells me I should
replace as much as possible the person I have murdered and dedicate myself completely and for my
whole life to the welfare of the family whose misfortune I have created. And even then, even then, who
will replace the love of a husband and father?”
-Don Rafael Ibarra to Lieutenant Guevara, page 26
 
From <https://www.gradesaver.com/noli-me-tangere/study-guide/quotes>
 
I chose this statement because of what happened to our Beloved City Mayor here in Calbayog
City, It's because of the cruel death of Mayor Onald by the hands of the murderers. Base on the
novel, Don Rafael Ibarra believes that true atonement cannot happen through confession and its
subsequent rituals alone, but can only occur if the guilty party completely dedicates themselves
towards making up for the crime they committed to its victims. To those people who made up
stories to cover up their cruel and injustice crimes even there were solid proofs and evidences, I
don't know if you really don’t have conscience left in you or are you inhumane. But we are still
thankful for that certain person who wrote the testimony even he was also part in that group, he
dedicated himself to bring justice and to open the cover to the unsolved killings here in Calbayog
even if it means putting his own life in danger. I don’t know what can I reflect to this statement
but all I can say is killing is not the only way to solve problems, many people now are confuse and
afraid of the messy government. For what happened, many residents were still mourning of the
loss of a loving, caring, responsible and he who always thought about his beloved people and the
place he was born, Mayor Onald Aquino. No one can replace the love of a husband, friend and a
father to all the residents here in Calbayog City.
 
 
"In life it's not criminals who provoke great hatred, it's honest men" - Elias to Ibarra
This statement encapsulates one of the key messages of Noli Me Tangere: good, ethical people often
provoke more controversy among others than those who are immoral or wicked inside. People who
bring good to others always envied by people who just want power over the people. I chose this
statement because of the consecutive and unsolved killings here in Calbayog City, especially to what
happened to our Beloved City Mayor. they were abandoned despite being good people with a genuine
desire to help others. Because of the people whose aiming higher power and authority they will do
anything even the means of planning and doing cruel things to others.
 

 
 
El Filibusterismo
 
The statement

“Youth is lazy. What galvanizes it is our opposition.”

 
In Calbayog City, as what I have observed many teenagers right now were lazy and always want to have
fun. Mostly of them were always going to parties or in social gatherings. Some are addicted to mobile
games that consume mostly of their time. They spend less time studying and bonding time with their
family. They should know what to priorities for their future. Start setting goals to achieve your dreams.
From <https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/314683-el-filibusterismo>

“The God they preach about is pure invention, a trick. They're the first ones to not believe in Him!”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo
 
From <https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/314683-el-filibusterismo>
“We must win when we deserve it, by elevating reason and the dignity of the individual, loving justice
and the good and the great, even dying for it.”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo
 
From <https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/314683-el-filibusterismo>
 
“When a people holds onto its language, it holds onto a semblance of freedom, like a man who holds
onto his independence when he retains his own way of thinking. Language is the thought of a people.”
“The glory of saving a country doesn't mean having to use the measures that contributed to its ruin!”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo
 
From <https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/314683-el-filibusterismo>
 
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo
 
From <https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/314683-el-filibusterismo>
“A lie among the stars
Is a comfortable lie.”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo
 
From <https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/314683-el-filibusterismo>
 
“Walang mang-aalipin kung walang paaalipin.”
― José Rizal, El Filibusterismo
 
From <https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/314683-el-filibusterismo>

The Rizal Law and It’s Significance

Today
My initial ideas about the Rizal law was that it was another uninteresting legislative
document that needs to be understood and memorized. Being a teenager, that’s my
way of thinking. I figured that since it is a law, it will tackle all about technicalities and
provisions. I also thought that the Rizal Law was made for the sole purpose of
perpetuating the name and works of our national hero. I was partly wrong. As I read the
Rizal Law, I was correct about it tackling about provisions and technicalities.

At the same time, I proved myself wrong with my assumptions of the Rizal Law being
uninteresting. More so, I was able to have a better grasp and understanding of what it is
to be nationalistic. What is it in the Rizal Law that caught my attention? To start with, my
thoughts about it being insignificant to me was changed. It had everything to do with
me. It was created precisely for students. How so? In the law, it tackles all about Rizal’s
works and/or life to be implemented in all schools. Who are the people in schools and
who will benefit from the Rizal Law? The students. The law was really interesting to
learn, as it turns out.

The Rizal Law and It’s Significance Today

Essay Example
Suddenly my opinions were turned upside down. It changed because the objectives of
the document were like speaking to me. The objectives being to reawaken the Filipino’s
nationalism, to open the eyes of the filipino from colonial mentality and to make the
students proud of the history. Those made re-examine myself and reflect upon my own
sense of nationalism. In the module, I was able to know what the Rizal law was for. The
law was to ignite the sense of nationalism of the country’s people. It’s not just some
typical law stating that everyone should have a background about the national hero and
his works.

Yes, it’s main point was to let every Filipino learn from the past as depicted in Dr. Jose
Rizal’s novels. And yes, it encourages us to at least know something about Dr. Jose
Rizal’s life. But it’s more than just that. The law itself is a beacon of hope and faith. The
law itself signifies the hardwork of our fellow countrymen, mainly Jose P. Laurel and
Claro M. Recto with some other minor personalities, in defending that in studying these
novels and the life of our national hero will spark once again our nationalism that was
once shining ever so brightly.

Of course, every Republic Act has it’s origin. I learned that the Republic Act 1425 is
actually an amended version of a bill. This bill was called the Noli-Fili Bill. Although the
bill was the origin, the two are quite different. There are some similarities but a lot of
differences can be seen. Firstly, the bill and the law aims to promote nationalism within
the country. It’s aim is to spread the ideologies of Rizal. The significance of Rizal’s
works to the lives of the filipino people is vastly great because it mirrors the situation of
the past to the present.

It gives us answers to questions that are difficult to answer. The readings, specifically
the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, should be in their unexpurgated versions.
Meaning, the texts should be in their unedited or original state. This was changed
though due to religious beliefs of the filipinos. This was done because the unexpurgated
version of the texts might hinder the development of the faith of the people, according to
the catholic church. Since there are similarities, there are also differences between the
bill and the law.

The noticeable difference is the specific punishments stated in the Noli Fili Bill which
weren’t written in the Rizal Law. Basically, the more strict between the two is the Noli Fili
Bill. We can look at the Rizal Law as the milder version. Next to that is that is the
amount of money alotted for the usage of the implementation of the law. Transparency
about finance was shown in the Rizal Law. To follow is that of the requirements of all
libraries to have sufficient number of books that could cater to the students if ever they
wish to read the book of Rizal.

This is necessary so that those who don’t have the books or just want to read the books
can have access to the texts. It can also serve as an aid to the studies of the students.
The Noli Fili Bill and the Rizal Bill was created for the filipino people. It was done for the
best interests of everyone and no other reason. The aim of the bill and the law are the
same but it’s means of executing the provisions are different. So it gives me an idea that
even if these two are connected to each other, they’re still two separate things. Well, I
learned that you really can’t please everyone. In something that you o, no matter how
good the argument is, no matter how logical and needed it is, someone will always be
there to give a rebuttal. Like in the battle for the enforcement of the bill into a law, it took
such a long time to be processed and approved. The debate between Claro M. Recto
and Senator Rodrigo was proof that not everyone had the same views on the bill. Claro
was able to rebutt all of the arguments of Sen. Rodrigo. An example is when Senator
Rodrigo said, “It was not necessary to have read the novels of Rizal in order to venerate
him, that Rizal would still be a hero even if he had not written his books.

It was because of the sufferings that he endured that he became our national hero. ”
and he answered, “For what would Sen. Rodrigo honor Rizal if he had not written the
Noli and El Fili? If Rizal had not written the two books, the Spaniards would not have
made him suffer; they would not have shot him. He would not be the national hero of the
Philippines. ” There are a number of people who were pro’s and anti’s with the law.
Emilio Aguinaldo, Mayor Arsenio Lacson and Sen. Quintin Paredes were in favor of the
law while the clergies of the catholic church together with Sen.

Rodrigo, Ramon Durano and Luciano Paredes were against it. Somehow, in some way,
the people had their own say about the passing of this law. Differences in the
understanding of the law made it difficult for President Magsaysay to sign the bill into a
law. But because of the revision of the bill, it was turned into a republic act. Most
important of all, the bill and the law was written for nationalistic purposes. Not in a way
that the people will be like Andres Bonifacio and Dr. Jose Rizal who died for their own
country but a sense of nationalism that shows how proud they are of their country.

The law is not just for learning. It seeks to bring back what once was the mightiest trait
that the Filipinos had. It gives the Filipinos the drive to do something for themselves and
be proud of it. That we have the capabilities to actually change the world. We’re not
indolent. We’re not so stupid as some people might claim. In reading the works of Dr.
Jose Rizal, like To The Filipino youth, we will know that Filipino’s are also intelligent.
That our country has a lot to offer to the world. I can’t actually say that I alone was able
to answer all of the questions resented to us. There were some aspects that were
difficult for me to understand so I needed help from other people. In terms of absorbing
the law itself and knowing what it contains, I can say that I understood most of the ideas
there. It’s just difficult to explain how it works, like there’s no possible word to explain
what it really does. Frankly, I didn’t expect that such a law would’ve caused such a
ruckus in the 1950’s. A ruckus in a way that heated debates happened and the
destruction of reputation was done.

Who would’ve thought that a bill wanting to teach students about the novels of Dr. Jose
Rizal could deal such damage? That was nothing I expected because I thought that the
people had a good grasp between the government’s job and what is the church’s job.
The government’s job was to enforce law beneficial to the people while the church’s job
was to enlighted the people with their spirituality and to teach morals to the people. I do
understand that they both had the people’s best interest at heart, but what I don’t get is
that it lead to an ugly picture.

My new questions about the topic are, why does the church belittle the faith of the
Filipino people? Why do they feel threatened by Rizal’s books? And why is it that they
act like they’re the government officials in a way that their say in a matter is highly
accounted for? Out of those three questions, the answer to the second one really
intrigues me. If I was to get the answer to that question, I bet that a lot of people would
benefit from it because it’ll give them a better understanding of why the unexpurgated
versions of Rizal’s books were so controversial.

So far, I haven’t gotten an answer to my new questions yet due to lack of time.
Hopefully in the future, I’ll get an answer. The Rizal Law is more than just a law. It
preserves and teaches the youth to be proud of their motherland. The law shows the
mighty deeds of the colonized filipinos. It is not to be taken lightly or to be made fun of
because through this law the future generations will have the same sense of nationalism
that we do. The bill and the law is different from one another. One should not mistake
the law as the bill.

They have the same aim and some similar provisions but as a whole, the two are really
different. The bill was more strict and urged the compulsery reading of the Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo. The law tackles everything that has something to do with
Rizal. There are always pros and cons. Somethin can’t please everybody. That’s why
people taking sides can’t be avoided. It’s a matter of what will prevail. In terms of the
Rizal law, the pro’s won. They found a way to stop the catholic church from hindering
them and their solution is to make an amended version of the bill.

The provisions in the amended bill no longer hindered the opinion of the church and so
the passing of that bill come on smoothly. Lastly, the law aims for a nationalistic Filipino
citizen. Being a Filipino, one should love your country with all your heart. Be proud of it
and don’t let anyone step on your neck and say that you’re lower. One is not above the
other. We should not revere to other countries as better. We’re the same. We have the
same capabilities that the others have. What should matter is our own productivity and
that we should be proud of it.