Reaction Paper on the Making of Republic Act 1425

I. Introduction

R.A.1425 also known as Rizal Law, was a law signed by Pres. Ramon Magsaysay on June
12, 1956 that requires schools in the country to include Rizal’s life, works and writings in the
curriculum. The rationale behind the law was that there a need to rekindle and deepen the sense of
nationalism and freedom of the people, especially of the youth.

II. Conflict/Argument

Though the R.A. 1425 has already been implemented, it became very controversial upon
creating it. Senator Claro M. Recto was the main opponent of the Rizal Law and Jose P. Laurel
who defend the bill in the deliberation. Their reason in pushing for the enactment of the Rizal Law
is to appreciate the works of Rizal and to be able to see ourselves, honoring not only Rizal but our
heroes who died for the sake of our freedom against the invaders. The Catholic Church was the
main antagonist. They were against it because Rizal violated the church’s Law, it said that the
book of Rizal attack any of the Catholic dogmas and among the pages of Noli Me Tangere, only
few passage are patriotic while the rest passages are anti-catholic.

III. Conclusion

As a student I was amazed about Rizal Law. It gave me a wide curiosity about this issue
because it became one of the biggest story line to be in the heat of issue in those early years. I
found myself like watching it, knowing that there were people who pursued that Rizal’s work
and his life must be known to all the Filipino people and show them things that are worth
learning. than of those things which causes us to be like the people who never fought for the
country. I think the fight of Rizal is still unfinished for there still traces of those things he wants
to get rid of and it is raging especially to the youth. Accepting and realizing is one of the things
that we must have because this is a way of a thanking to the people who gave their lives for the
independence of our country which nowadays is slowly fading.
Jared Cyrus Rotairo BSAR-5A