RIZAL LAW - Republic Act No.
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 OTHER
PURPOSES
Sen. Claro M. Recto - author of the Rizal Bill, 1956
EFFECTIVE ON JUNE 12, 1956
Philippine Social Turmoil Experiences (1950's)
 HUKBALAHAP insurgency
 American Imperialism (economic and political)
 mutual defense agreement with the US
 Southeast Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO)
 United Parity Rights in the Philippine Constitution
(exploitation of natural resources)
 Laurel-Langley Agreement 1956
 corrupt party politics and other political corruption
issues
Oppositions:
Catholic church
The Catholic church assailed the Rizal Bill as anti-Church.
Forcing the students to read Rizal's works which have
religious overtones would be a violation of the
consitutional freedom of religion and of conscience (Art. IV
sec. 6 of the Philippine Constitution).
- Called Catholic voters to reject lawmakers who
supported Recto's Rizal Bill
- Pastoral letters were read in masses vicing opposition.
- Bishops threatened to close down Catholic Schools if the
bill was approved.
Catholic organizations
-Accion Catolico or Accion Catolica
-These organizations are formed by priest in majority.
They attended and actively participated in the hearings of
the Senate. They also sought audience with senators to
convince them to oppose the bill.
Some priests
Fr. Jesus Cavanna commented that Rizal's novels
belonged to the past and it would be harmul to read them
because they presented a false picture of the conditions of
the country at that time. He also pointed that out of 333
pages of the Noli Mi Tangere, there were only 25 patriotic
statements compared to 120 anti-Catholic statements.
Some Lawmakers
Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo - Commented that he would
not let his teenage son read the Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo let he endangers his Catholic faith. He also
proposed that the footnoted or annotated versions of the
novels be used instead of the unexpurgated versions
required of the Recto Bill.
RIZAL LAW - Republic Act No. 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 OTHER
PURPOSES
Sen. Claro M. Recto - author of the Rizal Bill, 1956
EFFECTIVE ON JUNE 12, 1956
Philippine Social Turmoil Experiences (1950's)
 HUKBALAHAP insurgency
 American Imperialism (economic and political)
 mutual defense agreement with the US
 Southeast Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO)
 United Parity Rights in the Philippine Constitution
(exploitation of natural resources)
 Laurel-Langley Agreement 1956
 corrupt party politics and other political corruption
issues
Oppositions:

Catholic church

The Catholic church assailed the Rizal Bill as anti-Church.

Forcing the students to read Rizal's works which have
religious overtones would be a violation of the
consitutional freedom of religion and of conscience (Art. IV
sec. 6 of the Philippine Constitution).

- Called Catholic voters to reject lawmakers who

supported Recto's Rizal Bill

- Pastoral letters were read in masses vicing opposition.

- Bishops threatened to close down Catholic Schools if the

bill was approved.

Catholic organizations
-Accion Catolico or Accion Catolica

-These organizations are formed by priest in majority.

They attended and actively participated in the hearings of
the Senate. They also sought audience with senators to
convince them to oppose the bill.

Some priests

Fr. Jesus Cavanna commented that Rizal's novels

belonged to the past and it would be harmul to read them
because they presented a false picture of the conditions of
the country at that time. He also pointed that out of 333
pages of the Noli Mi Tangere, there were only 25 patriotic
statements compared to 120 anti-Catholic statements.

Some Lawmakers

Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo - Commented that he would

not let his teenage son read the Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo let he endangers his Catholic faith. He also
proposed that the footnoted or annotated versions of the
novels be used instead of the unexpurgated versions
required of the Recto Bill.