• AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA

OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS,

COLLEGES ANDUNIVERSITIES COURSES ON
THE LIFE, WORKS AND WRITINGS OF JOSE
RIZAL, PARTICULARLY HISNOVELS NOLI ME
TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO,
AUTHORIZING THE PRINTING AND
DISTRIBUTION THEREOF, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
 WHEREAS, today, more than any other
period of our history, there is a need for a re-
dedication 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 writing 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,
 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.
 SECTION 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.
 SECTION 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.
SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act shall
be construed as amendment 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.
 SECTION 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.
 SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.
 Approved: June 12, 1956
 Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 52, No. 6, p.
2971 in June 1956.
A national hero of
the Philippines is
a Filipino who has been
recognized as a hero
for his or her role in
the history of the
country.
Already admired in his lifetime for his nationalistic
writings and activities, Jose Rizal
December 30, 1896 by the Spanish colonial
government.
His writings had helped inspire the Philippine
Revolution against colonial rule.
December 20, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo, President of
the Philippine government, decreed December 30 of
every year a day of national mourning in honor of
Rizal and other victims of the revolution.
December 30 has been celebrated as Rizal Day.
start of the 19th century, the Philippines
had become a territory of the United
States.
Rizal was given special attention as a hero
by the American colonial administration
Rizal – selected over the revolutionaries
Andres Bonifacio - who was viewed as
too radical
 Apolinario Mabini - who was
considered unregenerate
In June 1901, Act No. 137 of theTaft
Commission reorganized the district
of Morong into the Province of Rizal
February 23, 1918, the Philippine Legislature
issued Act No. 2760
which promoted the creation, maintenance,
and improvement of national monuments,
particularly the creation of a monument in
memory of Andres Bonifacio, leader of
the Katipunan secret society which spearheaded
the Philippine Revolution
February 16, 1921, is the birthday of j-r
Berida. The Philippine Legislature enacted
Act No. 2946
November 30 of each year a legal holiday
to commemorate the birth of Andres
Bonifacio, henceforth called Bonifacio Day
October 28, 1931, the
Philippine Legislature issued Act
No. 3827.
declaring the last Sunday of
August of every year
as National Heroes Day.
 before 1960, Rizal was already held in such esteem
that he was referred to as the Philippine national hero.
 Teodoro Agoncillo wrote in his History of the Filipino
People that the Philippine national hero.
 Agoncillo noted the sentiments of certain quarters
calling for Rizal's replacement as the national hero by
Andres Bonifacio.
 , Agoncillo opined that Bonifacio should not replace
Rizal as the national hero but be honored alongside
him.
 Historian Renato Constantino, building
upon sentiments noted by Agoncillo,
wrote in his 1970 essay Veneration
Without Understanding that Rizal was
unworthy of his high status since he was
a "United States-sponsored hero.
 President Fidel V. Ramos formed the National
Heroes Committee on March 28, 1993 under
Executive Order No. 75, titled "Creating the
National Heroes Committee Under the Office of
the President“
 November 30, 1994 (Bonifacio Day), President
Ramos issued Proclamation No. 510 which
declared the year 1996 (the centennial of the
Philippine Revolution) as the Year of Filipino
Heroes
The National Heroes Committee recommended the following nine
individuals to be recognized as national heroes on November 15, 1995
 Jose Rizal
 Andres Bonifacio
 Emilio Aguinaldo
 Apolinario Mabini
 Marcelo H. del Pilar
 Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat
 Juan Luna
 Melchora Aquino
 Gabriela Silang
 July 25, 2007 President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo approved Republic Act No. 9256
 declared 21 a nationwide special holiday in honor of
Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr., called Ninoy
Aquino Day. August 21 is Aquino's death anniversary
 also approved Republic Act No. 9492, which decreed
that National Heroes Day be celebrated on the last
Monday of August, Bonifacio Day on the Monday
nearest November 30, and Rizal Day on the Monday
nearest December 30.
As of March 2014, there are
currently only three Filipinos
celebrated with their own
National Days namely:
 Benigno S. Aquino Jr.
 Andrés Bonifacio
 José Rizal
Prepared by :
Danica S. Descatamiento &
Niña Jesusa A. Tarroquin
Prepared to :
Dr. Rosalina Amper