LESSON 1 SECTION 3.

The Board of National Education shall cause

the translation of the Noli Me Tangere and El
Rizal Law Republic Act 1425 Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose Rizal into
English, Tagalog and the principal Philippine dialects;
FROM BILL TO LAW cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and
o April 3, 1956 – Senate Bill No. 438/Noli-Fili Bill cause them to be distributed, free of charge, to persons
was filed by the Senate Committee on Education. desiring to read them, through the Purok organizations
o April 17, 1956 – Senate Committee Chair Jose P. and Barrio Councils throughout the country.
Laurel sponsored the bill and began delivering
speeches for the proposed legislation. SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as
o On April 19, 1956, House Bill No. 5561 was filed amendment or repealing section nine hundred twenty-
by Rep. Jacobo Z. Gonzales which is identical to seven of the Administrative Code, prohibiting the
SB 438 discussion of religious doctrines by public school teachers
o May 2, 1956, House Committee on Education and other person engaged in any public school.
approved the bill without amendments.
o May 9, 1956, debates commenced whether the SECTION 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is
compulsory reading of the texts Noli Me Tangere hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any fund not
and El Filibusterismo. otherwise appropriated in the National Treasury to carry
o May 17, 1956, both Senate and House versions out the purposes of this Act.
were approved.
o The approved versions were then transmitted to SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Malacañang and on June 12, 1956, President
Magsaysay signed the bill into law which became Approved: June 12, 1956
R.A. 1425.
 President Fidel V. Ramos through
Rizal Law - REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425 Memorandum Order No. 247 (M.O 247) states
❖ AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL that it should be strictly implemented –( RA
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND 1425)
UNIVERSITIES COURSES ON THE LIFE, WORKS
AND WRITINGS OF JOSE RIZAL, PARTICULARLY SENATE BILL NO. 438
HIS NOVELS NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL → AN ACT TO MAKE NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL
FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE FILIBUSTERISMO COMPULSORY READING
PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND MATTER IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLEGES
FOR OTHER PURPOSES. AND UNIVERSITIES AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose → Life of Rizal
Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me Tangere and El → Unexpurgated edition
Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all → April 3, 1956 - Senate Bill No. 438/Noli-Fili Bill
schools, colleges and universities, public or private: was filed by the Senate Committee on Education.
Provided, That in the collegiate courses, the original or → April 17, 1956 - Senate Committee Chair Jose P.
unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Laurel sponsored the bill and began delivering
Filibusterismo or their English translation shall be used speeches for the proposed legislation.
as basic texts.
HOUSE BILL NO. 5561
SECTION 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges → “Courses in the life and works and writing of Jose
and universities to keep in their libraries an adequate Rizal, particularly his novels or their English
number of copies of the original and unexpurgated translation should be used as basic text.”
editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as → April 19, 1956, House Bill No. 5561 was filed by
well as of Rizal’s other works and biography. Rep. Jacobo Z. Gonzales which is identical to SB
It shall be included in the list of approved books 438.
for required reading in all public or private schools,
colleges and universities.

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TRIALS OF THE RIZAL BILL PROPONENTS (SUPPORTERS)
1. Knights of Rizal
Claro M. Recto 2. Alagad ni Rizal
✓ the main proponent of the Rizal Bill. 3. Freemasons
✓ Dubbed/charged with being a communist and an 4. Veteranos la Revoluccion
anti-Catholic for mandating the reading of Rizal’s
novel. o Rizal’s novels were considered as “a
constant and inspiring source of
Jose P. Laurel, Sr. patriotism”
✓ Co-author of the Rizal Bill together with Claro M. o Enable the Filipino to grasp the ideals of
Recto. freedom and nationalism
✓ the Chairman of the Committee on Education o To develop “moral character, personal
who sponsored the bill in the Senate. (SB 438) discipline, civic consciousness and
teaching the duties of citizenship.”
★ The compulsory nature of the Bill is violence of the o His writings will serve as a document of
religion . the achievements, development, and
transformation of Philippine society,
OPPOSITIONS (people who opposed) culture, and nation.
1. Catholic Action of the Philippines o SOCIAL CHANGE/TRANSFORMATION
2. Knight of Columbus is its core principle – the need for
3. The Congregation of the mission transforming consciousness and society;
4. Catholic teacher’s guild and the truthful, realistic depiction of
Philippine society.
o An attempt to discredit Catholic religion
o The two novels contained views inimical The Philippines has lived through
to the tenets of Catholic faith • 333 years of Spanish rule
o The compulsory nature of the bill is a • 50 years of American “tutelage”
violation of religious freedom • 5 years of Japanese occupation
o Novels were heretical and impious.
o Violate freedom of conscience and RATIONALE
religion The bill was an important example of the state’s effort
o It belongs to the past and harmful to (attempt) to decolonize the “culture” of the Philippines.
read because it presented a false picture
of the conditions in the country at the
time Why Study the Life and Works of Jose Rizal?
o Attack on the clergy
o Endanger the youth’s salvation, “the 1. To rededicate the lives of the youth to the ideals
young are too apt to take as literally true of freedom and nationalism, for which our
whatever they see in print” heroes lived and died;
2. To pay tribute to our national hero for devoting
his life and works for shaping the Filipino
character;
3. To gain an inspiring source of patriotism thru
the study of Rizal’s life, works and writings.

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Salient Points of RA 1425 JOSE RIZAL AS THE NATIONAL HERO
• Courses on the life, works and writings of Dr. Jose ▪ Renato Constantino (1969) claims that Rizal as
Rizal, particularly the novels Noli Me Tangere an American-sponsored hero.
and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the ▪ Governor General (Gov. Gen.) William Howard
curricula of all schools, colleges, and universities, Taft recommended Jose Rizal as a hero to the Taft
public and private. commission.

• It obliged all schools, colleges, and universities to Criteria in Choosing the Philippine National Hero
keep in their libraries adequate number of copies (National Historical Commission)
of the original or unexpurgated editions of the Noli ✓ Filipino Citizen
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo as well as ✓ Patriot/Nationalist
Rizal’s other works and biography. ✓ Has already been dead
✓ Patient
• It authorized and directed the Board of National
Education to work for the translation of Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo as well as other
writings of Dr. Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog
and other principal dialects and their printing in
cheap or popular editions and their circulation.

The Importance of Rizal Law

1. The subject provides insights on how to deal with
current problems.
2. It helps us understand better ourselves as
Filipinos.
3. It teaches nationalism and patriotism.
4. It provides various essential life lessons.
5. It helps in developing logical and critical
thinking.
6. Rizal can serve as a worthwhile model and
inspiration to everyone.
7. The subject is a rich source of entertaining
narratives.

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