RIZAL LAW:

Republic Act 1425, better known as the Rizal Act, was led by former head of the
National House of Education, Sen. Jose P. Laurel. Prior to its enactment on June 12, 1956, this
law passed on controversial debates within the Senate and Congress. It was called House Bill
5561 in congress led by Cong. Jacobo Gonzales and called Senate Bill 438 into the Senate led
by Sen. Claro M. Recto. No wonder they are the leaders who upheld this law, because in
retrospect, it is clear that the two have a deep love for the people. Gonzales fought to free his
fellow countrymen and Recto clearly defended Philippine sovereignty outside the United States.

REASON FOR REVISION:

The main purpose of having the Rizal Law was to remind not only the youths, but every
Filipinos of the true value of nationalism and why should we adhere to this. But seeing how our
generation turned out to be, in which the children or the hope of our country slowly became the
slave of other nation's culture, the need to teach them the lessons from the life and teachings of
Jose Rizal as early as high school, is a must. It is not only to refrain them from loving the culture
of other nations rather than our own culture, but also to teach them the value of respect for
themselves and for other people, as well as the love that they should give to our country, the
Philippines.

While there are students who were fortunate enough to be in school and learn about the
life, works, and teachings of Jose Rizal, there were also some who were not privilege enough to
learn about it. These people should not be deprived of the chance to learn the things about Jose
Rizal just because they can't afford to enroll themselves in the subjects related to this. The
government shall provide them with everything that they need to know about Jose Rizal, most
especially his two novels the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. After all, the life, works,
and teachings of Jose Rizal must be taught not only to those who are capable of enrolling to the
subjects related to this, but also to those who are willing to learn despite having less in life.

One of the reasons why Rizal Law was established is to preserved nationalism in each
of every Filipino's hearts. But do we consider using a foreign language as medium used to teach
the life of Rizal a way of showing nationalism? If we want the learners to really understand the
value of loving our country the way Jose Rizal do, we must first start to love our own language
and use it to teach the life, works, and teachings of Jose Rizal. After all, our national hero once
said, "Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa hayop at malansang isda".

Teaching a child to love his own country, including his fellowmen, his language, and his
culture is like preparing that child to be the future of this generation. Teach him to be a good
citizen of this country, and he will be the hope of our nation. Truly, like what Jose Rizal believed,
"Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan".

Ma. Liezl D. Geroche

BS Accountancy - 2
 RIZAL LAW
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425
HOUSE BILL NO. 5561
SENATE BILL NO. 438
(Revised)

AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS,

HIGHSCHOOL, 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. THE FREE TEACHINGS OF THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOSE
RIZAL IN THE POOR AREAS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HAVING EDUCATION IS NOT
THAT EASY WILL ALSO BE PRIORITIZED. OTHER THAN THAT, THE USE OF FILIPINO
LANGUAGE AS A MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IN TEACHING THE LIFE AND WORKS OF
RIZAL WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.

WHEREAS, today, most of the teenagers are admiring idols from other nation, especially
Koreans, which made them adapt other nation's culture and tend to forget their own.

WHEREAS, it is a way of reminding the youths of their responsibility as the future of this
country, the Philippines, that as early as high school, they will already be equipped with the
teachings that they could get from the life story of Rizal.

WHEREAS, the life, works and writing of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo, will also be freely taught to the people living in the poor areas of the
country wherein the parents find it hard to send their children to school.

WHEREAS, the use of the Filipino language will help the learners to understand the true
meaning of nationalism through patronizing the country's own language.

WHEREAS, all institutions must abide with the revised act in order to prepare students and
learners to be the future of this nation, through helping them become independent, trustworthy,
disciplined, and good citizens of this country. Now, therefore,

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 highschool, a background of the works,
teachings, and life of Jose Rizal must be taught to the students. In collegiate courses, the
original or unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their Filipino
translation shall be used as basic texts. The same shall be provided to the people living in the
poor areas of the country as a medium to be used to understand the teachings of Jose Rizal.

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. And to distribute it most especially to the poor
areas of the country.

SECTION 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and universities to keep in their library
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 Filipino 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. A mini library must also be established in
each Barangays located in the poor areas of the country through the help of the government.

The Board of National Education shall determine the adequacy of the number of books,
depending upon the enrollment of the school, college or university. In terms of the mini libraries
in the Barangays, each libraries must have atleast 100 copies of books that its people may
borrow.

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.

Ma. Liezl D. Geroche

BS Accountancy - 2