The Rizal Law.

Stand: The Rizal Law is not effective in spreading nationalism.

Pros of Rizal Law:
 The Rizal Law is a law the exposes the hardships of the Filipinos
under the Spanish regime.
 The Rizal Law enlightened the students about the true value of
having an independent nation.
 The Rizal Law focuses on how the power of the Filipinos can have a
large margin against the opposers of the country.
Cons of Rizal Law:
 Many modern Filipinos don’t care about Nationalism and Pride for
the country.
 The Law has sections that attack the Catholic Church and its Laws.
 The Philosophical messages of Rizal might not be understood by
the young Filipinos reading.
Thesis Statement:
Although the Rizal Law’s objective was fruitful, the method and
implementation of the law is not effective because the Law did more harm than good.
Sources:
 Complete works of Claro M. Recto
 Boletin Ecclesiastico 1956
 Statement of Catholic Hierarchy

TOPIC: The Rizal Law Irony: Demotion of Nationalism.

Introduction
I. Background. (What is Nationalism?)
II. Background. (What is Rizal Law?)
III. Thesis Statement
-(Although the Rizal Law’s objective is fruitful, the method
and implementation of the law is not effective because the Law
does more harm than good.)
Body
A.
I. Pros 1
II. Pros 2
III. Pros 3
B.
 I. Cons 1
II. Cons 2
III. Cons 3
C. Pro-Con analysis

Conclusion
I. Stand of the write

“The Rizal Law Irony: Demotion of Nationalism”

1 “I love my country, not the government” (Ventura, J. n.d.). A striking statement

made by Jesse Ventura, which accurately depicts the state of the Philippine
government. In simple terms, the love for a country is called nationalism. Nationalism is
the soul of a nation. Loving the country is not the same as loving the government. The
government’s actions have a large impact to the Filipino’s nationalism. The government
can either promote or demote the Filipino’s nationalism thru their programs and how
well they implement the programs.

2 The Rizal Law, also known as Republic Act No. 1425, mandates the reading of
Jose Rizal’s works to all Universities and colleges, both public and private, in the
Philippines. The law was formerly called as the Senate Bill 438 and was authored by
Claro M Recto. The bill was then approved on 12 June, 1956 (WikiPilipinas.Org, 2011).
The law’s main objective is to spread the nationalism across the country through the
use of the works of Rizal. The law states that that every university and college in the
country must possess in their own library the original works of Rizal (WikiPilipinas.Org,
2011). Although the Rizal Law’s objective is fruitful, the method and implementation of
the law is not effective because the Law does more harm than good.

3 The law serves as a beacon that exposes the hardships of the Filipino’s during
the time of the Spanish colonization. According to Senator Claro M. Recto during the
hearing, the works of Rizal have shown great nationalism through exposing the young
minds to the hardships experienced by the Filipinos during the Spanish era to make the
Philippines independent and giving freedom to the Filipinos (Recto, 1956).

4 The value of being an independent nation has been one of the concepts of
nationalism that the Law is trying to spread. The issues of discrimination during the
Spanish colonization by the Spaniards to the Filipinos were enormous. The Spaniards
treated the Filipinos as slaves and were given little rights as a human (El Filibusterismo,
1891). Through these experiences, Rizal exposed how hard it is to be treated like
slaves and being colonized by foreigners. The livelihood of the Filipinos dropped during
the first century of the colonization of Spain in the Philippines. Spain used the old
system of Galleon trade that caused a huge loss to the part of the Filipinos (The Galleon
Trade, 2012). Rizal believed that the Philippines is in need of liberation from the
colonizers raise the Filipinos from hardships.

5 The power of unity in the Philippines has proven to be a great weapon against
those who opposes the Filipinos. Rizal wanted to show that a union of people with
similar and reasonable beliefs can defeat those who opposes the country. During the
time of the war in the Philippines against Katipunan and the Spaniards, Rizal served as
the inspiration for every Filipinos to unite. The death of Rizal sparked the revolution and
inner nationalism within the Filipinos and united to fight for independence. Rizal’s works
also served as a source of how powerful unity can be. In the novel of Rizal, the Filipinos
rampaged in the Sta. Cruz that caused the Spaniards to retreat (El Filibusterismo,
1891).

6 Many of the Filipino youth are not interested in understanding nationalism and
appreciating the Philippines due to the modernizing ways of the country. Filipino
products are now being overshadowed by imported product that could lessen the sales
of the Filipino-made products. Many Filipinos are now going abroad to work there,
losing many great assets in the country (Wordpress, 2011). Because of these, the sole
purpose of the law is being taken away.

7 The law was also depicted as a weapon of “destroying” the Catholic Church in
the Philippines. According to Senator Rosales, the Church finds some passages that
contain heretic statements that attack the Catholic Church and its dogmas (Complete
Works of Claro M. Recto, 1990). The novels of Rizal alone contain 220 heretic
passages and only 25 nationalistic passages (WikiPilipinas.Org, 2011). Because the
reading of the novels is part of the law, the Church searched and found out these
passages are casting doubts, covering with confusion God’s Omnipotence, the
existence of hell, the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity, and the two natures of Christ
(Complete Works of Claro M. Recto, 1990).

8 The messages and philosophy of Rizal shows how much he believes in the
revolution in the Philippines and the nationalism within us, however; due to the age of
most of the readers, they may find it quite hard to understand. According to Senator
Rosales, the law focuses too greatly on the nationalistic side of the Filipinos without first
analyzing the effects of it to other aspect such as the spiritual beliefs of the person.
Studying the novels of Rizal on such a young age may change the views of the reader
about the Catholic Church (Complete Works of Claro M. Recto, 1990).
 9 The pros of the law are more focus on the spread of nationalism within the
young minds of the people. Although the law’s objectives are fruitful and are generally
ethical for the Filipinos, the way it is executed and implemented is poorly done. The
government approved the law that could potentially change the way the youth thinks
about the Church.

10 The law is poorly executed resulting in the demotion of nationalism instead of

promoting it. The government isn’t doing anything to attain that objective of spreading
nationalism across the young minds of the Filipino youth.

Transcript of R.A. 1425

What is Rizal Law?
-Republic Act 1425, known as Rizal Law, mandates all educational institutions in the
Philippines to offer courses about Jose Rizal.
History
Senator Claro M. Recto was the author of the Rizal Bill.

Senator Jose P. Laurel sponsored the law.

June 12, 1956, Pres. Ramon Magsaysay signed the law as Republic Act 1425
Objectives of the Law
Enrich the minds of the youth about the history of the Philippines.
The study of Rizal’s works should be implemented by the government.
To appreciate Rizal’s ideals and teachings in relation to the present conditions of our
country and apply in current social problems/issues.
To foster the development of the Filipino Youth.
R.A. 1425
Rizal Law
Contents of the Law
Section 1: Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be the original copy.

Section 2: School libraries should have sufficient copy.

Section 3: Board of National Education must handle the translation of Rizal’s works.

Section 4: This act does not alter the section 927 of the administrative code in
prohibiting any persons engaged in any public schools to discuss religious doctrines.

Section 5: The authorized amount of 300,000 pesos is enough to pursue and implement
the purpose of this act according to National Treasury.

Section 6: This act must be implemented right after its approval

Transcript of RA 1425
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
WHY WAS IT PROMULGATED? WHAT WERE THE ISSUES/CHALLENGES
ENCOUNTERED IN THE PROCESS OF ENACTING THIS LAW?
Purpose of Promulgation
Was the provisions of the said law willfully implemented?
If given the chance to amend RA. 1425, what specific provision/s would you like to
remove, change, and/or improve?
How did it affect Filipino Society back then and the Contemporary Filipino Society?
RIZAL LAW
Need for re-dedication for the ideals of freedom and nationalism.
Honoring heroes particularly Jose Rizal.
Honoring Jose Rizal through his works particularly Noli me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo.

Issues or Challenges
Opposed by Senator Francisco Rodrigo, Senator Mariano J. Cuenco, Senator Decoroso
Rosales and the Catholic Church.
Claimed that Rizal had violated Canon Law 1399, which forbids books from attacking
the Catholic Church.
120 out of the 333 pages were Anti-Church while 25 out of the 333 pages were patriotic.

Filipino Society
Before
Now
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE
Youths were made aware of Rizal’s contribution to the country.
They were also educated more on nationalism.
Rizal as a role model to the Youths
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE
Faith and Nationalism conflicts
Godlessness of the universities
Stunted Christian growth of the student
Youths were made aware of Rizal’s contribution to the country.
They were also educated more on nationalism.
Rizal as a role model to the youths
Students have found it unnecessary and unneeded for their studies.
Youths have been distracted by many things.
Date Approved: June 12 1956
Why did recto impose the rizal law?
Claro Recto imposed the Rizal Law as a way of paying honor to Rizaland other heroes
that were being forgotten about. The Rizal Lawmade it mandatory for the teachings of
these heroes in all schools
What is the importance of rizal law?
The Rizal Law was an Act that was passed to mandate all schools toteach a course
about Jose Rizal. It dictates that all public andprivate schools and colleges and
universities require courses aboutRizal's novels and other works