Chapter 1: Introducon to the Course: Republic Act 1425LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:1.Recognize the historical background and context of the Rizal Law and its important provisions;2.Crically assess the eecveness and signicance of the Rizal Course;3.Reect upon themselves the idea and principles of Rizal in their life.
INTRODUCTION: Republic Act 1425
If you were to ask or say something to Dr. Jose Rizal, what would it be? Write at least two (2) quesons on the silhouees beside our naonal hero below. Then, answer the quesons that follow.1.What do you know about Dr. Jose Rizal?2.What is your reason for asking or saying those things to Rizal?3.Why do you think you need to study the life and works of Rizal?
THE RIZAL LAW AND ITS IMPORTANCE
Republic Act. No. 1425, also known as the Rizal Law has been enacted on June 12, 1956 and was sponsored and authored mainly by the late Senator Jose P. Laurel and Senator Claro M. Recto. Rizal Law is a mandate to include in the course curricula of all public and private schools, colleges and universies the life, works and wrings of Jose Rizal, parcularly his novels Noli MeTangere and El Filibusterismo.It is important to note that before the enactment of the Rizal Law, Senate Bill No. 438 was submied to the Senate Commiee on Educaon on April 3, 1956. It is “an Act to Include in the Curricula of All Public and Private Schools, Colleges and Universies courses on the Life Works and Wrings of JOSE RIZAL, parcularly his novels NOLI ME TANGERE and EL FILIBUSTERISMO, Authorizing the Prinng and Distribuon Thereof, and for Other Purposes.On April 17, 1956 the bill was sponsored and presented to the members of the Senate or the Upper House by the late Senator Jose P. Laurel, who was then the Chairman of the Commiee.According to the late Senator Jose P. Laurel the disseminaon of ideas and ideals of Jose Rizal through the reading of his works, notably the NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO is themain purpose of the bill.
He stated that “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 a 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 sacrices that ulmately lead to self-reliance, self-respect and freedom (Laurel,Jr.,131).Meanwhile, Congressman Jacobo Z. Gonzales also led a similar bill called House Bill No. 5561 to the House of Representaves. Unfortunately, akin to Senate Bill No. 438, House Bill No. 5561had also been opposed contending its constuonality and religiosity. It was then that a substute bill has been proposed to include all the works and wrings of Jose Rizal, ruling out the exclusivity of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo as the main features of the previous bills.Moreover, the late Senator Jose P. Laurel asserted the importance of reading the original and unexpurgated edion of Rizal’s novel because the true purpose of studying these will be defeated if not followed. On May 12, 1956 and May 14, 1956, Senate Bill No. 438 and House BillNo. 5561 were both unanimously approved on the second reading and in the Lower House.On June 12, 1956, the bill was signed into law by President Ramon Magsaysay, giving birth to Republic Act 1425 or the Rizal Law.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 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 HISNOVELS 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-dedicaon to the ideals of freedom and naonalism for which our heroes lived and died;WHEREAS, it is meet that in honoring them, parcularly the naonal hero and patriot, Jose Rizal,we remember with special fondness and devoon their lives and works that have shaped the naonalcharacter; WHEREAS, the life, works and wring of Jose Rizal, parcularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and ElFilibusterismo, are a constant and inspiring source of patriosm with which the minds of the youth,especially during their formave and decisive years in school, should be suused;WHEREAS, all educaonal instuons are under the supervision of, and subject to regulaon bythe State, and all schools are enjoined to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscienceand to teach the dues of cizenship; Now, therefore,
SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and wrings of Jose Rizal, parcularly his novel Noli MeTangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and universies,public or private: Provided, That in the collegiate courses, the original or unexpurgated edions of theNoli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their English translaon shall be used as basic texts.The Board of Naonal Educaon is hereby authorized and directed to adopt forthwith measuresto implement and carry out the provisions of this Secon, including the wring and prinng ofappropriate primers, readers and textbooks. The Board shall, within sixty (60) days from the eecvity ohis Act, promulgate rules and regulaons, including those of a disciplinary nature, to carry out andenforce the provisions of this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and regulaons providing for theexempon of students for reasons of religious belief stated in a sworn wrien statement, from therequirement of the provision contained in the second part of the rst paragraph of this secon; but norom taking the course provided for in the rst part of said paragraph. Said rulesand regulaons shalltake eect thirty (30) days aer their publicaon in the Ocial Gazee.SECTION 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and universies to keep in their librariesan adequate number of copies of the original and unexpurgated edions of the Noli MeTangere and ElFilibusterismo, as well as of Rizal’s other works and biography. The said unexpurgated edions of the NoliMe Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their translaons in English as well as other wrings of Rizal shall beincluded in the list of approved books for required reading in all public or private schools, colleges anduniversies. The Board of Naonal Educaon shall determine the adequacy of the number of books,depending upon the enrollment of the school, college or university.SECTION 3. The Board of Naonal Educaon shall cause the translaon of the Noli Me Tangereand El Filibusterismo, as well as other wrings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and the principalPhilippine dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap, popular edions; and cause them to bedistributed, free of charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the Purok organizaons and BarrioCouncils throughout the country.SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amendment or repealing secon ninehundred twenty-seven of the Administrave Code, prohibing the discussion of religious doctrines bypublic school teachers and other person engaged in any public school.SECTION 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriatedout of any fund not otherwise appropriated in the Naonal Treasury to carry out the purposes of this Act.SECTION 6. This Act shall take eect upon its approval.