Committee on Education, sponsored
the bill in the Senate.
Senate Bill 438 – Rizal Bill
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.
-
-
Known as the Rizal Law, mandates all
educational
institutions
in
the
Philippines to offer courses about Jose
Rizal. The measure was strongly
opposed by the Roman Catholic Church
in the Philippines due to the anti-clerical
themes in Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, enacted by Congress of
the Philippines.
Senator Claro M. Recto – first authored
Why Catholic Church Opposed?
-
-
-
Republic Act No. 1425- Rizal Law
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
-
-
June 12, 1956 - was signed into law as Republic
Act 1425 by President Ramon Magsaysay.
It is Senator Claro M. Recto who
authored the Rizal Bill. While
Senator Jose P. Laurel, Sr., who was
then the Chairman of the
-
o
o
o
o
-
Senators
o Senator Francisco Rodrigo
(former
Catholic
Action
President)
o Senator Mariano Cuenco
o Senator Decoroso Rosales who
was the brother of Julio Rosales,
an archbishop.
Lower House
o Congressmen Ramon Durano
o Marciano Lim
o Jose Nuguid
Manuel Soza
Godofredo Ramos
Miguel Cuenco
Lucas Paredes
Congressmen Carmen Consing
Tecia San Andres Ziga
Holy Name Society of the
Philippines
Catholic
Action
of
the
Philippines
Legion of Mary
Knights of Columbus
Daughters of Isabela.
Opposition’s Arguments
-
-
Opposes
May 17, 1956 - revised amendments, the bill was
finally passed
-
It controversial is that the bill was not
just fiercely opposed by people from
Legislative Arm but also by the Catholic
Church due to the inclusion of
compulsory reading of Rizal’s novels in
which according to them, catholic
dogmas are humiliated.
The Catholic elements asserted that the
bill was an attempt to discredit their
religion and that it violates religious
freedom
According to them, the bill harms the
values of the Catholic religion, especially
the two novels that Jose Rizal wrote.
The Catholic Church was indirectly
included in the debates and played a
major role for the intervention of signing
of the bill into a law.
o
o
o
o
o
o
Groups
o
-
-
Oppositions argued that the bill
would go against freedom of
conscience and religion.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of
the Philippines (CBCP) submitted a
pastoral letter to which according,
Rizal violated Canon Law 1399 which
forbids or bans books that attack or
ridicule the catholic doctrine and
practices.
Oppositions argued that among the
333 pages of Noli Me Tangere, only
25 passages are nationalistic while
120 passages are anti-catholic.
Upon scrutiny of thetwo novels by
some
members
of
catholic
hierarchical, 170 passages in Noli Me
Tangere and 50 in El Filibusterismo
are against catholic faith.
-
-
Oppositions pointed out that Rizal
admitted that he did not only attack
the friars who acted deceptively on
the Filipinos but also the catholic
faith itself.
They suggested a reading material
for students as to what they called
Rizalian Anthology, a collection of
Rizal’s literary works that contain
the patriotic philosophy excluding
the two novels.
-
-
Original Law
-
Amended Law
-
-
-
Senator
Laurel’
created
an
amendment to the original bill in
which, other that Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo, works written
by Rizal and works written by others
about Rizal would be included and
reading of the unexpurgated
revision of the two novels would no
longer be compulsory to elementary
and secondary levels but would be
strictly observed to college level.
Senator
Lim
suggested
the
exemption to those students who
feel that reading Rizal’s novels
would negatively affect his or her
faith.
Senator Primicias created an
additional
amendment
that
promulgates
the
rules
and
regulations in getting an exemption
only from reading the two novels
through written statement or
affidavit and not from taking the
Rizal Course.
According to historian Ambeth
Ocampo, no student has ever
availed of this exemption.
The bill might divide the nation;
It requires all public and private
colleges and universities to make
Noli
Me
Tangere
and
El
Filibusterismo compulsory reading
matter to educate the students
about the concept of nationalism.
Proponents Arguments
-
-
-
Nationalism – (national identity)
Patriotism – (love on the country)
Freedom
To instill these values to the children
who are at their prime years of
growing and learning.
Embedding a profound and
authentic moral character and a
strong sense of personal discipline in
the youth would yield proficient,
genuine, and selfless Filipinos of the
future who would turn the
Philippines from an impoverished
country to a globally competitive
nation.
To be experienced by all students
even those who are financially
troubled. It is commendable that in
the context of this act, the poor is
well represented and that it is
attainable regardless of ethnicity,
social stature, and language
barriers.
Proponents
-
-
-
Claro Recto
Jose P. Laurel
Mayor Arsenio Lacson
General Emilio Aguinaldo
Senators
o LorensoTanada
o Quintin Paredes
o Domocao
Alonto
of
Mindanao
House of representatives
o Jacobo Gonzales
o Emilio Cortez
o Mario Bengson
o Joaquin Roxas
o LancapLagumbay
o Pedro Lopez
Groups
o Knights of Rizal
o Women Writers of the
Verrnacular
o Philippine Veterans Legion
o Colleger Editors’ Guild
o Philippine School Teachers’
Association.
SENATE BILL NO. 438
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425
AN ACT TO MAKE NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
COMPULSORY READING MATTER IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLEGES SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COURSES ON THE LIFE, WORKS
AND UNIVERSITIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
AND WRITINGS OF JOSE RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HIS NOVELS NOLI ME
TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING AND
DISTRIBUTION THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines WHEREAS, today, more than any other period of our history, there is a need
in
for a re-dedication to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our
Congress assemble:
heroes lived and died;
SEC 1. Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are hereby declared WHEREAS, it is meet that in honoring them, particularly the national hero and
compulsory reading matter in all public and private schools, colleges and patriot, Jose Rizal, we remember with special fondness and devotion their lives
universities in the Philippines.
and works that have shaped the national character;
SEC. 2. The works mentioned in Section 1 of this Act shall be in the original WHEREAS, the life, works and writing of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli
editions or in their unexpurgated English and National Language versions.
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, are a constant and inspiring source of
patriotism with which the minds of the youth, especially during their formative
SEC. 3. The Department of Education shall take steps to promulgate rules and and decisive years in school, should be suffused;
regulations for the immediate implementation of the provisions of this Act.
WHEREAS, all educational institutions are under the supervision of, and subject
SEC. 4. NO provision of this Act shall be construed as prohibiting or limiting the to regulation by the State, and all schools are enjoined to develop moral
study of the works of other Filipino heroes.
character, personal discipline, civic conscience and to teach the duties of
citizenship; Now, therefore,
SEC. 5. Any public or private college or university found violating, failing to
comply with, or circumventing the provisions of this Act shall be punished SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his
accordingly:
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
(a) The Head of any public college or university charged with collegiate courses, the original or unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me
implementing the provisions or this Act, Who shall have been found Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their English translation shall be used as basic
guilty of violating, failing to comply with, or circumventing the texts.
provisions thereof, shall be dismissed immediately from the service
and shall be disqualified from teaching in any public or government The Board of National Education is hereby authorized and directed to adopt
recognized private school, college or university.
forthwith measures to implement and carry out the provisions of this Section,
including the writing and printing of appropriate primers, readers and
(b) Government recognition of any private college or university found textbooks. The Board shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this
violating or circumventing the provisions of this Act shall be Act, promulgate rules and regulations, including those of a disciplinary nature,
immediately withdrawn, and the responsible Head and professor or to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. The Board shall promulgate
professors concerned shall be disqualified from teaching in any rules and regulations providing for the exemption of students for reasons of
Government recognized college or university.
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;
SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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 private schools, colleges and universities.
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.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.