Mary Ruth C.

David August 1, 2019

2BLM Prof. Violeta S. Reyes

Assignment: The Rizal Law

The Rizal Law, also known as RA 1425, mandates the study of Rizal’s life and
works, as shown in section 1. This Republic Act calls for an increased sense of
nationalism from the Filipinos during a time of a deteriorating Filipino identity.

The Republic Act was signed by the President on June 12, 1956. According to
the Official Gazette, the law was made effective thirty days after its implementation. The
fact that the Act was passed on the date of our independence seeks to stir up a greater
sense of fervor. During the time the law was passed, the Philippines was heavily
dependent on the American government for support and guidance.

It was Senator Claro M. Recto who authored the Rizal Bill. He sought to sponsor
the bill at Congress. However, this was opposed by the Catholic Church. During the
1955 Senate election, the church charged Recto with being a communist and an anti-
Catholic. After Recto's election, the Church continued to oppose the bill mandating the
reading of Rizal's novels Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo, claiming it would
violate freedom of conscience and religion. While Senator Jose P. Laurel, Sr., who was
then the Chairman of the Committee on Education, sponsored the bill in the Senate.
Both of them were known for their great sense of nationalism.

In the campaign to oppose the Rizal bill, the Catholic Church organized
symposiums. In one of these symposiums, Fr. Jesus Cavanna argued that these novels
will result to confusion and misconception. The Catholic Church assailed the Rizal Bill
as anti- Church because it forces the students to read Rizal's works like Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo which contain passages that were anti-Church.

On May 12, 1956, a compromise inserted by Committee on Education chairman

Laurel that accommodated the objections of the Catholic Church was approved
unanimously. The bill specified that only college (university) students would have the
option of reading as Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo. The bill was enacted on
June 12, 1956, Flag Day.

This law was obviously written during a time when patriotism and nationalism
was lost and needed, and a time when people were inspired by the initiative of the
authors of this act. It was during this time when the Philippines and its’ citizens relied on
the United States for guidance, support and welfare. It was written in order to seek
ignite the same brilliant mind that drove the Filipinos of the past to fight for freedom from
colonists.

2.

Republic Act No. 646 - An act to convert the “Orden de Caballeros de Rizal” into a
public corporation to be known in English as “Knights of Rizal” and in Spanish as
“Orden de Caballeros de Rizal”, and to define its purposes and powers.

Republic act no. 229 - An act to prohibit cockfighting, horse racing and jai-alai on the
thirtieth day of December of each year and to create a committee to take charge of the
proper celebration of Rizal day in every municipality and chartered city, and for other
purposes.

Republic act no. 1427 - An act appropriating funds to carry out the purposes of the Jose
Rizal National Centennial Commission created by executive order numbered fifty-two,
dated august ten, nineteen hundred and fifty-four.

Republic act no. 9852 - An act converting the Jose Rizal Memorial State College
(JRMSC) in the city of Dapitan, province of Zamboanga del Norte into a state university
to be known as the Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU), integrating therewith
the Katipunan National Agricultural School (KNAS) in the municipality of Katipunan and
the Zamboangadel Norte Agricultural College (ZNAC) in the municipality of Tampilisan,
both municipalities located in the province of Zamboanga del Norte and appropriating
funds therefor.
Sources:

Abinales, Patricio N.; Amoroso, Donna J. (2005). State and society in the Philippines

Cruz-Araneta, Gemma (2010-12-29). "Legislating Rizal, 1"