Rizal Law (RA 1425) PDF - Life and Works of Rizal

UNIVERSITY OF PERPETUAL HELP SYSTEM SEMESTER |Life and Works of Rizal 1st...

UNIVERSITY OF PERPETUAL HELP SYSTEM SEMESTER |Life and Works of Rizal 1st DR. JOSE G. TAMAYO MEDICAL UNIVERSITY – B.S. Nursing A.Y. 2024 – 2025 LAGUNA RIZAL LAW (RA 1425) The Catholic Church's Opposition to the Noli- Fili Bill —What exactly is Rizal Law? Since Jose Rizal criticized the Catholic Church, the Rizal Law or RA 1425 is a Philippine law that Noli-Fili bill was met with stiff opposition from the requires all schools in the Philippines, both latter’s head and supporters. public and private, to offer courses on the life, works, and writings of the Philippine national According to them, the bill was an attempt to hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. discredit the Catholic religion. WHY STUDY RIZAL: From The Perspective of Father Jesus Cavanna argued that Jose Rizal’s Lawmakers novels from the past should not be taught in schools because they do not accurately depict current Many Filipinos observed that the sense of Filipino conditions and may give a false impression of the identity was waning. country. In response, nationalist policy-makers took action to Here are some additional criticisms of the redirect the nation back to its roots by Catholic Church regarding the Noli-Fili Bill: emphasizing the importance of history as a foundation for national hope and pride. ❖ Among the 333 pages of Noli Me Tangere, only 25 passages are nationalistic while 120 ❖ On April 3, 1956, Senator Claro M. Recto passages are anti-Catholic. proposed Senate Bill No.438 and submitted ❖ 170 lines from Noli Me Tangere and 50 lines it to the Senate Committee on Education. in El Filibusterismo were offensive to the NOLI-FILI BILL Catholic doctrine. ❖ The bill might divide the nation. Senate Bill No. 438, titled "An Act to Make Noli Me ❖ Compulsion to read something against one’s Tangere and El Filibusterismo Compulsory Reading faith impairs freedom of speech and religious Matter in All Public and Private Colleges and freedom. Universities and for other Purposes,” ❖ Rizal admitted that he did not only attack the friars who acted deceptively on the Filipinos ❖ On April 17, 1956, Senator Jose P. Laurel, but also the Catholic faith itself. Sr., who was then the Chairman of the Committee on Education, sponsored the At that time, Noli-Fili Bill was widely controversial. Noli-Fili Bill in the senate and presented it to the Upper House. These catholic groups organized opposition to the bill: “Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be read by all Filipinos. They must be taken to heart, for in Catholic Action of the Philippines their pages we see ourselves as a mirror, our defects Congregation of the Mission as well as our strength, our virtues as well as our Knights of Columbus vices. Catholic Teachers Guild Only then would we become conscious as a people, The church charged Recto with being a communist and so learn to prepare ourselves for painful and an anti-Catholic. sacrifices that ultimately lead to self-reliance, self- It even comes to the point where Catholic Schools respect and freedom.” threaten to close down their schools if the bill was passed. 1 | Arjen Nicole A. Camat  ❖ On April 19, 1956, Congressman Jacobo ELEMENTS OF THE RIZAL LAW Z. Gonzales filed a similar bill called House The rationale for passing the Rizal Law is that there Bill No. 5561to the House of is a concern that the Filipino identity is waning. Representatives. The purpose of enacting the Rizal Law is to educate Unfortunately, akin to Noli-Fili Bill, House Bill No. the young generation of the Philippines about the 5561 had also been opposed contending its constitutionality and religiosity. ideals and principles for which Rizal sacrificed his life. THE ENACTMENT LAW OF “RIZAL LAW” By reading and studying Rizal's life, teachings, and Senator Laurel proposed a substitute bill with a few writings, the youth will gain confidence, direction, tweaks to appease the opposition. Truce? courage and determination to contribute to the progress of our nation. 1. Instead of only Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, the new substitute bill now The first section of the law concerns includes a wider range of works and writings mandating the students to read Rizal’s novels by Jose Rizal. The second section of the law require the 2. Reading is now optional. If a student does schools to have a sufficient number of copies not want to read the two novels, they can of unexpurgated edition of the novels in their request for an exemption. libraries 3. The implementation of reading The third section of the law aims to make unexpurgated versions of Noli Me Tangere Rizal's writings more readily available to the and El Filibusterismo will only be for college general public by promoting their printing at an or university students. affordable cost, or in some cases, providing them for free. UNEXPURGATED not censored or edited to remove The fourth section of the law clarifies it will offensive or objectionable content. not change a specific section of the EXPURGATED to remove or censor offensive or Administrative Code that prohibits public objectionable content, especially from a text. school teachers from discussing religious doctrines. It’s important to read the original and unexpurgated The fifth section of the law authorizes the edition of Rizal’s novels because the true purpose of unallocated funds to be used to implement the studying these will be defeated if not followed. act. The last section of the law states that the act ❖ On May 12, 1956 and May 14, 1956, Senate will immediately take effect. Bill No. 438 and House Bill No. 5561 were both unanimously approved on the second The goals of the Rizal Law can be summarized in reading and in the Lower House. the following three points: ❖ On June 12, 1956, the bill was signed into law by President Ramon Magsaysay, 1. To rededicate the lives of youth to the ideals giving birth to Republic Act 1425 or the Rizal of freedom and nationalism, for which our Law. heroes lived and died. 2. To pay tribute to our national hero for RIZAL LAW devoting his life and works in shaping the “Act to Include in the Curricula of All Public and Filipino character. Private Schools, Colleges and Universities Courses 3. To gain an inspiring source of patriotism on the Life, Works and Writings of Jose Rizal, through the study of Rizal’s life, works, and Particularly His Novels Noli Me Tangere and El writings. Filibusterismo, Authorizing the Printing and Distribution Thereof, and for Other Purposes." 2 | Arjen Nicole A. Camat