The Life and Works of Jose Rizal is a mandated subject as a law approved as

Republic Act. No. 1425. The law specifically focuses on the 2 works of Jose Rizal namely Noli
me Tangere and El Filibusterismo; and the principled life of our national hero. It is included as
part of the curriculum of all academic programs offered by higher educational institutions. Before
it became what it is today, it had undergone tight scrutiny, revisions, and deliberation that it even
made a controversy in the Philippine legislation history before it was passed. Has it become
beneficial or not?

Rizal Law was formerly known as Senate Bill No. 438 (Rizal Bill) which was filed
by the Committee on Education on April 3, 1956 but with no seeming dispute but not until on
April 17, 1956 when Senator Jose P. Laurel took sponsorship of the bill. Then started the clash in
the upper house of the Congress that lead to a debate which Laurel alongside with Claro M. Recto
defending strongly the bill. It had a lot of controversies as it says that the two stated works of Rizal
in the course subject is a “compulsory” reading matter to the tertiary students. After which it was
revised to what most of the members agreed to.

As the law leads its way to the House of the Representatives it received a class
again with religious aspects among the members of the Congress. It was basically of the writings
of Rizal that had that there were more pages for attacks to the Catholic Church and less of being
patriotic to the country. It was feared by the Catholic Church that as it was made compulsory that
it will brainwash the nation and change their beliefs towards the religion. Although the church
proclaimed Rizal as a person of virtue, they have their standpoints for the bill.

It was then revised to what it is right now. It is not compulsory anymore but still
the works of Rizal is included in the subject. The law had gone through a lot that indeed made a
historical event in the Philippine Legislation. Laurel and Recto’s insights was to have a nationalist
reawakening to make the youth aware of the contributions of the principled life of Rizal who was
and emblem of substantial nationalism and unconditional love for the country.

Me as a student I am to question why is it relevant to us and I understood Laurel

and Recto as we need to pay homage to our heroes for their sacrifices to get the independence that
we have right now. National Identity is a very important legacy to our heroes’ have achieved
through sacrificing their own lives. Although it has a bad influence in the religious aspect but it is
in the way of teaching in the university to focus on what is right and it is as well in the students
discretion to have a mature view to the law because our heroes have passed it on to us and it is our
role to nurture and protect our independence. After all as Rizal quoted…

“The youth is the future of the nation“

CLARK VINCE CAEZAR J. AFABLE

BSAR – 5A