Rizal Law: RA 1425 and its historical context

• Rizal Law or RA 1425 mandates all colleges/universities in the Philippines to teach Rizal's life and works, including "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo".
• April 3, 1956: Senator Claro M. Recto submitted Senate Bill No. 438, known as "An Act to Make Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo Compulsory Reading Matter."
• April 17, 1956: Senator Jose P. Laurel, head of the Senate Committee, sponsored and presented the Noli-Fili bill in Upper House.
• The Catholic Church opposed the Noli-Fili bill.
• April 19, 1956: House Bill No. 5561 was also filed in the House of Representatives, led by Congressman Jacobo Z. Gonzales.
• Despite opposition, Senate Bill No. 438 and House Bill No. 5561 were approved on the second reading in the Lower House on May 12 and 14, 1956.
• June 12, 1956, Flag Day: President Ramon Magsaysay signed Republic Act 1425, also known as the Rizal Law.

Goals of Rizal Law

• Rededicates the lives of youth to ideals of freedom and nationalism.
• Pays tribute to the national hero.
• Gains an inspiring source of patriotism through the study of Rizal's life, works, and writings.

Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda

• Born on June 19, 1861, in Calamba, Laguna.
• The birth occurred between 11 pm and 12 am.
• Rizal's mother almost died due to his large head.
• June 22, 1861: Rizal was baptized.
• Father Rufino Collantes baptized him.
• Named Jose after his mother's devotion to Saint Joseph.
• Protacio came from St. Gervacio Protacio.
• Mercado came from his Chinese ancestor Domingo Lam-co, and means "market."
• Rizal was adopted by the Mercados in the 1840s due to the Claveria decree.
• In the 1840s, Governor-General Narciso Claveria issued a decree for Filipinos to have surnames for census data and tax collection.
• Surnames came from the "Catalogo alfabetico de apellidos" ("Alphabetical Catalogue of Surnames in English").
• "Ricial" means "the green of young growth" or "green fields", connected to their livelihood.
• Nickname: Pepe.
• Other nickname: Wonderchild.
• His sisters would make fun of little pepe because he was short for his age, and he had a big head that was not propotional to his body.
• According to "In Excelsis," "P.P." was placed after Saint San Jose's name standing for pater putativus, meaning putitative father, or legal father of Jesus Christ..
• Learned how to read and write before age 5.
• His mother was his first teacher.
• Fav story: the story of the moth.
• Rizal had a male black dog named Usman Braganza.
• Pony Horse: Alipato.
• When pepe was a little boy, he would often hangout by himself in the bahay kubo in their yard.
• Sisters found him molding clay into a statue of Napoleon Bonafarte.
• He was sent by his mother's hometown of biñan to study under Justiniano Aquino Cruz.
• Father of Rizal: Francisco Engracio Rizal Mercado y Alejandro.
• Mother of Rizal: Teodora Alonso Realonda y Quintos.
• Eleven siblings: Saturnina, Paciano, Narcisa, Olimpia, Lucia, Maria, Jose Rizal, Concepcion, Josefa, Trinidad, Soledad.

Influence of Family

• Tiyo Jose nurtured Rizal's appreciation for nature and taught him painting, drawing, and sculpture.
• Tiyo Gregorio instilled a love for education and emphasized hard work, encouraging critical thinking and observation.
• Tiyo Manuel worried about Rizal's physical development and taught him swimming, fencing, wrestling, and martial arts.
• Leon Monroy, who lived with the family, taught Rizal Spanish and Latin.
• Paciano served as a father figure while Rizal studied in Biñan.
• First Sorrow: Concepcion.
• Private tutors: Maestro Celestino and Maestro Lucas Padua.

Explore the historical backdrop and provisions of Republic Act 1425, also known as the Rizal Law. This law mandates the study of Rizal's life and works in Philippine colleges and universities. Understand the key figures, debates, and goals behind this landmark legislation.