Philippine Rizal Law (RA 1425) Presentation

Why Study Rizal? Rationale and Framework LWR 0009 Ms. Bernadette B. dela Rosa  FILIPINO NATION AS A PROJECT A nation is immortal and yet it needs to be nurtured, refined, and strengthened for it to continue to exist. Active participation of Filipinos in building a nation...

Why Study Rizal? Rationale and Framework LWR 0009 Ms. Bernadette B. dela Rosa  FILIPINO NATION AS A PROJECT A nation is immortal and yet it needs to be nurtured, refined, and strengthened for it to continue to exist. Active participation of Filipinos in building a nation. By studying Rizal’s life and works, we may find an inspiration and motivation to participate in building a Filipino nation.  LEARNING OUTCOMES Students should be able to: discuss the historical context of RA 1425; determine the importance of Rizal in nationalist Filipino history; relate the issues to the present situation.  Rizal Law The Philippines as a new nation after World War II. April 3, 1956- Senate Bill No. 438 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. Senate Committee on Education Senator Jose P. Laurel  Rizal Law Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be read by all Filipinos. They must be taken to heart, for their pages we see ourselves as in a mirror, our defects as well as our strength, our virtues as well as our vices. Only then we would become conscious as a people, and so learn to prepare ourselves for painful sacrifices that ultimately lead to self-reliance, self-respect and freedom (Laurel, Jr. 131).  Rizal Law Debates in Senate started. Opponents: Catholics senators argued that the bill was to controversial Attempt to discredit the Catholic religion Detrimental to the Catholic faith (170 lines from Noli Me Tangere and 50 lines from El Filibusterismo). Maybe instrumental in dividing the nation. Since reading the novels is compulsory, it impairs the freedom of speech and religious freedom.  Rizal Law Senator Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo: A vast majority of our people are at the same time Catholics and Filipino citizens. As such, they have two great loves: their country and their faith. These two loves are no conflicting loved. They are harmonious affections, like the love of the child for his mother and for his father. This is the basis of my stand. Let us not create a conflict between nationalism and religion; the government and the church (Laurel, Jr., 132).  Rizal Law Senator Claro M. Recto refuted his arguments. Rizal’s novels have no intention to dishonor the Church and the bill aims to contextualize heroism of Rizal during the tyrannical rule of the Spaniards. “Rizal did not pretend to teach religion or theology when he wrote the books. He aimed at inculcating civic consciousness in the Filipinos, national dignity, personal pride, and patriotism…but while he criticized and ridiculed the unworthy behavior of certain ministers of the church, he made exceptions in favor of the worthy ones, like the Dominican friar, padre Fernandez, and the virtuous native priest Padre Florentino , and the Jesuits in general (Laurel, Jr., 132-133).  Rizal Law House Bill No. 5561 filed by Congressman Jacobo Z. Gonzales. Same scenario happened in the Congress. Constitutionality and religiosity. It seemed impossible to pass the bill.  Rizal Law Catholic Church opposition Use only the expurgated version of the novels while unexpurgated version should be kept locked in the libraries and used only at the discretion of higher school officials. Punish the legislators in future elections. They threatened to close the schools.  Rizal Law Sen. Laurel proposed a substitute bill. Inclusion of all works of Rizal, not just the two novels. Removal of the term “compulsion” to pacify the Catholic opposition. However, he still stressed the importance of reading the novels in its unexpurgated form. Exemptions from reading the two novels on certain conditions. (Affidavit)  Rizal Law May 12, 1956- SB No. 438 was unanimously approved on second reading. May 14, 1956- Congress unanimously approved the Congress version of the bill. Clearly a triumph of democracy and the dissenting opinions broadened the scope of democratic process. June 12, 1956- Pres. Ramon Magsaysay signed the bill, eventually the RA 1425 or better known as Rizal Law.  RIZAL LAW RA 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 HIS NOVELS NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO, AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND FOR OTHE RPURPOSES. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-1425/  RIZAL LAW WHEREAS, today, more than any other period of our history, there is a need for a re-dedication to the ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our heroes lived and died; WHEREAS, it is meet that in honoring them, particularly the national hero and patriot, Jose Rizal, we remember with special fondness and devotion their lives and works that have shaped the national character; WHEREAS, the life, works and writing of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, are a constant and inspiring source of patriotism with which the minds of the youth, especially during their formative and decisive years in school, should be suffused; WHEREAS, all educational institutions are under the supervision of, and subject to regulation by the State, and all schools are enjoined to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience and to teach the duties of citizenship; Now, therefore,  RIZAL LAW SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his 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 collegiate courses, the original or unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their English translation shall be used as basic texts. The Board of National Education is hereby authorized and directed to adopt forthwith measures to implement and carry out the provisions of this Section, including the writing and printing of appropriate primers, readers and textbooks. The Board shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and regulations, including those of a disciplinary nature, to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations providing for the exemption of students for reasons of 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; 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.  RIZAL LAW 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.  RIZAL LAW 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.  RIZAL LAW 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. Approved: June 12, 1956 Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 52, No. 6, p. 2971 in June 1956.  Thank you! Asynchronous session to follow.