Republic Act No.

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, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo,
authorizing the printing and distribution thereof, and for other purposes.
3rd Congress of the Philippines
WHEREAS, today, more than any other period of our history, there is a need for a rededication to the
ideals of freedom and nationalism for which our heroes lived and died;
WHEREAS, it is meet that in honoring them, particularly the national hero and patriot, Jose Rizal, we
remember with special fondness and devotion their lives and works that have shaped the national
character;
WHEREAS, the life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, are a constant and inspiring source of patriotism with which the minds of the youth,
especially during their formative and decisive years in school, should be suffused;
WHEREAS, all educational institutions are under the supervision of, and subject to regulation by the
State, and all schools are enjoined to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience, and
to teach the duties of citizenship; Now, therefore:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Courses on the life, works, and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and universities, public or
private: Provided, that in the collegiate courses, the original or unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their English translation shall be used as basic texts.
The Board of National Education is hereby authorized and directed to adopt forthwith measures to
implement and carry out the provisions of this Section, including the writing and printing of appropriate
primers, readers and textbooks. The Board shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act,
promulgate rules and regulations, including those of disciplinary nature, to carry out and enforce the
provisions of this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations providing for the exemption of
students for reason of religious belief stated in a sworn written statement, from the requirement of the
provision contained in the second part of the first paragraph of this section; but not from taking the
course provided for in the first part of said paragraph. Said rules and regulations shall take effect thirty
(30) days after their publication in the Official Gazette.
Sec. 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and universities to keep in their libraries an adequate
number of copies of the original and unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal's other works and biography. The said unexpurgated editions of the
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their translations in English as well as other writings of Rizal
shall be included in the list of approved books for required reading in all public or private schools,
colleges and universities.
The Board of National Education shall determine the adequacy of the number of books, depending upon
the enrollment of the school, college, or university.
Sec. 3. The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of the Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog, and the principal Philippine
dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and cause them to be distributed, free of
charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the Purok organizations and Barrio Councils
throughout the country.
Sec. 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amending or repealing section nine hundred twenty-
seven of the Administrative Code, prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines by public school
teachers and other person engaged in any public school.
Sec. 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any
fund not otherwise appropriated in the National Treasury to carry out the purposes of this Act.
Sec. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

NOLI-FILI/RIZAL BILL: ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL BILLS IN PHIL HISTORY

https://teamcrisostomo.wordpress.com/noli-filirizal-bill-one-of-the-most-controversial-bills-in-phil-history/

It is normal for bills to be debated in the upper and lower house of the Congress, but the trial that the
Noli-Fili/Rizal Bill underwent was beyond normal. With the sponsors of the bill and the opposition not
only coming from the people inside of the Legislative Arm but also the inclusion of the Catholic Church
in the debates for this bill.

When the bill was brought to the senate by Senator Recto, there were but three who opposed it. It was
when Senator Laurel sponsored the bill as the head of committee education that the exchange of
arguments from the two sides started. The Church played a big role in this fight because they are the
ones who intervened with the approval and signing of this bill into a law.

On the side of Senator Rectos was of course Senator Laurel who defended the bill in the deliberations.
Other representatives from the house also supported the bill namely Congressmen Jacobo Z. Gonzalez,
Emilio Cortez, Mario Bengzon, Joaquin Roxas, Lancap Lagumbay, Quintin Paredes, and Senator Domocao
Alonto of Mindanao.

On the other hand, the original bill was opposed by Senator Francisco Rodrigo, Senator Mariano J.
Cuenco and Senator Decoroso Rosales. Senator Rodrigo was a former Catholic Action president while
Senator Cuenco was the brother of an Archbishop. From the lower house, it was also opposed by
Congressmen Ramon Durano, Jose Nuguid, Marciano Lim, Manuel Zosa, Lucas Paredes, Godofredo
Ramos, Miguel Cuenco, Congresswomen Carnen Consing and Tecia San Andres Ziga.

The sponsors argued that in reading Rizal’s words, we are able to see ourselves. It is through the works
of Rizal, the greatest Filipino patriot, which show not only the strengths and virtues of the Filipinos but
the Filipino’s defects and vices as well. Making the Filipinos realize their flaws will prepare themselves
for the sacrifices they have to make to attain freedom. The only objective of the bill is to foster the
better appreciation of our national hero’s role in fighting for freedom under the colonialism of the
Spaniards, not to go against any religion.

However, the oppositors argued that the bill would violate freedom of conscience and religion.
According to the letter submitted by the CBCP, 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. Not only that, they argue that among the 333 pages of Noli Me Tangere,
only 25 passages are patriotic while 120 passages are anti-catholic. Rizal admitted before that in these
passages he did not only attack the friars that acted falsely on the Filipinos but also attacked the Catholic
Faith itself. Rizal himself included in his last will the retraction of his statements about the Church in his
two novels. They also stated that it is not necessary to attack the Faith of the church to imbue
nationalism on the Filipinos. They suggest a Rizalian Anthology, where a compilation of all his works
which contains the nationalistic philosophy will be provided as reading material for the students instead
of his two novels. Francisco Rodrigo even said in a statement that Filipinos can still venerate Rizal
without having to read his works. Rizal would still be a hero even if he didn’t write these two novels.
As the debate on whether the bill should be approved seemed like it will never end, Senator Laurel
created an amendment to the original bill or the Noli-Fili Bill.

In this bill Senator Laurel included other books, poems, and other works written by Rizal and works
written by other authors about Rizal other than Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. In addition to
that, the reading of the unexpurgated version of the novels would no longer be compulsory to
elementary and secondary levels due to the issues it had with the Catholic Church. Finally, the bill also
included that the works done by Rizal should be read strictly in the original and unexpurgated form in
the college level.

Senator Primicias, in accordance to the previous suggestion of student exemption by Senator Lim also
presented an additional amendment on the substitute bill proposed by Senator Laurel that promulgates
rules and regulation for the exemption of students in reading the two books, Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo, settled in a written statement but not from taking the course.

Legality of the "Rizal Course"

President Fidel V. Ramos issued Memorandum Order No. 247, on 26 December 1994, directing the
Secretary of the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports (DECS) and the Chairman of the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to take steps to fully implement the letter, intent, and spirit of
R. A. 1425, popularly known as the Rizal Law, in preparation for the centennial commemoration of Dr.
Jose Rizal's martyrdom.

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 1425 approved on June 12, 1956, directs all schools, colleges and
universities, public and private, to include in their curricula, courses on the life, works and writings of
Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo which "are a constant and
inspiring source of patriotism with which the minds of the youth, especially during their formative and
decisive years in school should be suffused;"
WHEREAS, according to Dr. Rizal, "the school is the book in which is written the future of the nation;"
WHEREAS, in 1996, the Filipino people will commemorate the centennial of Rizal’s martyrdom and, two
years thereafter, the centennial of the Declaration of Philippine Independence; and
WHEREAS, as we prepare to celebrate these watershed events in our history, it is necessary to rekindle
in the heart of every Filipino, especially the youth, the same patriotic fervor that once galvanized our
forebears to outstanding achievements so we can move forward together toward a greater destiny as
we enter the 21st century.

NOW, THEREFORE, I FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the
powers vested in me by law, hereby direct the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports and the
Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education to take steps to immediately and fully implement the
letter, intent and spirit of Republic Act No. 1425 and to impose, should it be necessary, appropriate
disciplinary action against the governing body and/or head of any public or private school, college or
university found not complying with said law and the rules, regulations, orders and instructions issued
pursuant thereto.

Within thirty (30) days from issuance hereof, the Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports and the
Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education are hereby directed to jointly submit to the President
of the Philippines a report on the steps they have taken to implement this Memorandum Order, and one
(1) year thereafter, another report on the extent of compliance by both public and private schools in all
levels with the provisions of R.A. No. 1425.
This Memorandum Order takes effect immediately after its issuance.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 26th day of December in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and
Ninety-Four.
(SGD.) FIDEL V. RAMOS President

“We, too, can prosper, as other nations which have become free and have known how to rely on
themselves with dignity and self-respect have prospered. Our people deserve a better fate, a destiny
realized in happiness and freedom…” “…the reading of Rizal’s novels would strengthen the Filipinism of
the youth and foster patriotism”. Claro M. Recto

Arguments Against Rizal Law

“Compulsion to read something against one’s religious convictions was no different from a requirement
to salute the flag, which according to the latest decision on the matter by the US Supreme Court, was an
impairment both of freedom of speech and freedom of religion.”
-Main argument of Senators Rodrigo, Rosales and Cuenco

“A vast majority of our people are at the same time Catholics and Filipino citizens. As such, they have
two great loves: their country and their faith. These two loves are not conflicting loves. They are
harmonious affections, like the love of a child for his father and for his mother. “This is the basis of my
stand. Let us not create a conflict between nationalism and religion; between the government and the
church.” - Senator Francisco Rodrigo

Rizal’s novels “belong to the past” and it would be “harmful” to read them because they presented a
“false picture” of conditions in the country at that time. Noli Me Tangere is an “attack on the clergy” and
its object was to “put to ridicule the Catholic faith. The novel was not really patriotic because out of 333
pages, only 25 contained patriotic passages while 120 were devoted to anti-Catholic attack.” - Fr. Jesus
Cavanna

“They (Catholic Church) are making too much profit which they can illafford to give up.” “Rizal did not
pretend to teach religion or theology when he wrote these books. He aimed at inculcating civic
consciousness in the Filipinos, national dignity, personal pride, and patriotism, and if references were
made by him in the course of his narration to certain religious practices in the Philippines in those days
and to the conduct and behavior of erring ministers of the church, it was because he portrayed faithfully
the general situation in the Philippines as it then existed” - CM Recto

“Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be read by all Filipinos. They must be taken to heart, for in
their pages we see ourselves as in a mirror: our defects as well as our strength, our virtues as well as our
vices. Only then would we become conscious as a people, and so learn to prepare ourselves for painful
sacrifices that ultimately lead to self-reliance, selfrespect and freedom.” -Senator Jose P. Laurel

“Nasaan ang kabataang dapat mag-alay ng kanyang kasariwaan, ng kanyang mga panaginip at sigasig
ukol sa kabutihan ng kanyang Inang Bayan?...Hinihintay namin kayo, o mga kabataan! Halikayo sapagkat
hinihintay namin kayo!” - Padre Florentino, El Filibusterismo