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1-The Rizal Law

The Rizal Law mandated that the life and works of Jose Rizal be studied in both high school and college in the Philippines. When it was passed in 1956 there was significant opposition, especially from the Catholic Church, but supporters argued it would promote nationalism. After debate it was passed with exemptions for those who felt their faith would be damaged by Rizal's writings.

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109 views2 pages

1-The Rizal Law

The Rizal Law mandated that the life and works of Jose Rizal be studied in both high school and college in the Philippines. When it was passed in 1956 there was significant opposition, especially from the Catholic Church, but supporters argued it would promote nationalism. After debate it was passed with exemptions for those who felt their faith would be damaged by Rizal's writings.

Uploaded by

chobiipiggy26
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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I.

The Rizal Law


Many Filipino students are curious why they are still required to study the life and
works of Jose Rizal in college despite having studied the biography of Jose Rizal and his
two novels in their high school years. They believe that it might just be a repetition of the
things they have learned and that it would be a waste of their time. Little did they know
that they are mandated by the law to study the life and works of Jose Rizal not only in
high school but also in college and they might not even have an idea what this law had
gone through in order to be passed and approved.
On June 12, 1956, Philippine Independence Day, the Republic Act 1425 (R.A.
1425) also known as the Rizal Law was passed. It is 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”

II. Reactions to the Passage of Rizal Law


At present, the passage of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act
of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10354) or popularly known as the R.H. Law was probably one
of the most controversial laws passed due to the opposing reactions of Filipinos to its
passage. There were that anti and pro RH Law who rallied for or against its
implementation. Half a century ago, similar thing happened to the Rizal Law. According
to the historian Ambeth Ocampo (1990), the debate was so intense that it ended in a fist
fight between two hot –headed lawmakers. The strongest opposition came from the
Catholic Church, arguing that the law would violate the freedom of conscience and
religion. They argued that “Rizal violated the Church’s laws specifically Canon Law
1399, which forbids books that attack or ridicule any of the catholic dogmas or which
defend errors condemned by the Holy See.”
They also argued that only 25 passages of the Noli Me Tangere were patriotic as
compared to the 120 passages that were anti-catholic. Furthermore, they pointed out
that Rizal retracted his ‘attacks’ on the Catholic Church before he was executed. They
maintained that Filipinos could still venerate him as a national hero even without reading
the two novels and that Filipino students could read other works done by Rizal instead of
the two Novels. The Catholic Church’ opposition went up to the extent of threatening
religious sanctions to all the supporters of the law. A bishop wrote a letter to Rafael
Palma a biographer of Rizal, saying that “we prohibit under the pain of sin and canonical
sanctions the reading, keeping or retention of the same [Noli and El Fili] whether I
original or in translation in the Archdiocese of Manila and Cebu.”
Among the prominent ‘defenders’ of Rizal Law was Sen. Claro M. Recto who was the
author of the law and fought hard for its passage despite the threat of losing votes and
religious sanctions. He assailed the people who opposed the law by saying that fighting
against the law is like fighting Rizal and attempting to “blot out his memory”. The
supporters of the bill maintained that law would uplift Filipino sense of identity and
nationalism especially during that time when Filipino sense of identity and nationalism
was dwindling and the prevalence of American neocolonialism in the Philippines.
After long and divisive debates, the Rizal Law was passed with certain provisions that
served as compromise between two opposing sides. One of these compromises is the
exemption given to those who feel that their faith is damaged by reading of Rizal’s
novels provided, that they file a sworn statement stating as such as stated in Sec. 1o f
the Rizal Law.

III. Historical Background of the 19th Century: Spain and Philippines


Jose Rizal’s ideas and philosophies in life could be better understood in the context
of his time. The historical context of Jose Rizal allows us to see the prevailing social,
economic, political and cultural conditions of Spanish colonial regime in the
Philippines and how these influenced Rizal.

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