blic Act No.

1425
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

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.

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 a 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 reasons 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.

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 Rizals 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.

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.

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

SECTION 1. The existing laws and regulations to the contrary notwithstanding, cockfighting,
horse racing and jai-alai are hereby prohibited on the thirtieth day of December of each year,
the date of the martyrdom of our great hero, Jose Rizal.

SECTION 2. It shall be the official duty of the mayor of each municipality and chartered city
to create a committee to take charge of the proper observance of Rizal Day Celebration of
each year, in which he shall be the chairman, which shall be empowered to seek the
assistance and cooperation of any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of
the Government, and the local civic and educational institutions. Among the ceremonies on
Rizal Day shall be the raising of the Philippine flag at half mast in all vessels and public
buildings.

SECTION 3. Any person who shall violate the provisions of this Act or permit or allow the
violation thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding two hundred pesos or by
imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both, at the discretion of the court. In case he is
the mayor of a municipality or a chartered city he shall suffer an additional punishment of
suspension from his office for a period of one month. In case of partnerships, corporations
or associations, the criminal liability shall devolve upon the president, director, or any other
official responsible for the violation thereof.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 247

DIRECTING THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORTS AND THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION TO FULLY IMPLEMENT REPUBLIC ACT NO.
1425 ENTITLED "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"

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 Rizals
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.

HISTORY OF RIZAL LAW

The Rizal Law, also known as RA 1425, mandates the study of Rizals 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 dwindling Filipino identity. According to the judicial system, a republic act
is a law that has already been passed and implemented. In contrast to this, a bill is merely a
proposed law, in other words it may or may not be passed by the Congress.

The Republic Act was signed by the President on June 12, 1956. From the notes preceding
the body of the document, one may infer that the bill was originally proposed in the
Legislative arm of the Philippine Republic, in the Senate and House of
Representatives. According to the Official Gazette, the law was made effective thirty days
after its implementation. The mere fact that the Act was passed on the date of our
independence seeks to stir up a greater sense of fervor in the Filipino, to believe in their own
country and national identitywho we are as a nation. It was this time when the Philippines
was heavily dependent on the American government for support and guidance. Also, based
on the fact that Jose Rizal is honored by the Philippines as the Philippine national hero, it is
but appropriate that the document written to commemorate his accomplishments is written
here, in the land of his birth.

It is Senator Claro M. Recto who authored the Rizal Bill. 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. This nationalism served as the
foundation to come up with this republic act, to set our country free from the hands of others
and stand up on our ownexactly the ideals and values that Rizal strove to fight for. It was
written for the Filipino people, specifically the Filipino youth, who may have lost their sense
of nationalism. The writers endeavored to rekindle a lost spark in each Filipinos belief in
their country. A republic act as drastic as the Rizal Law, which requires the study of Rizals
life and workssomething that does not need to be required in the first placecan only be
born out of the fact that Rizal and his works were not given a high priority in the educational
system of the country prior to the release of this act. It is clear that the government had to
make drastic changes to resolve the issue. This is evident in section 3 of the act, legalizing all
forms of translations for Rizals works, as well as section 2, obligating all schools, colleges
and universities to keep an adequate number of copies of Rizals works. This makes them
more accessible to a greater audience.

It is hard to make out any form of emotion from any legal document; however, the choice of
words is still able to convey a fiery passion. To highlight this, they also use words or concepts
that can easily relate to the common Filipino man. Such passion is vital, as the audience is
presumably of dwindling nationalism. In this regard, the writer attempts to show the
audience the identity they have slowly been losing, and show them how they can undo this.

There are important points that the author cited in this republic act that is worth noticing.
First, Whereas, today, more than 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.
This document was written in the year 1956 during Magsasyays regime when the country
was still recovering from the Japanese occupation and still very dependent on US
governance. Ideals of freedom and nationalism were very essential during those times since
the Philippines was still struggling for independence, and the country was still gradually
developing its national identity and integrity. During those times havoc also existed within
the Filipinos since there were numerous uprisings against the Philippine government.
Moreover, even though this document was written decades ago, it is still striking because
this clause is very timely for this present generation when our culture is being overpowered
by foreign influence and Filipino diaspora is widespread.

Another important point from RA 1425 is 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. It is very important to use our educational institutions to instill these values to
the children who are at their prime years of growing and learning. During ones educational
years especially the college level is when individuals formulate their priorities and career
tracks in life, and it is essential that institutions make students realize that the country
should be a part of their priorities and serving ones country is an innate and inborn duty for
all. Also, embedding a profound and authentic moral character and a strong sense of personal
discipline in the youth would yield proficient, genuine, and selfless Filipinos of the future
who would turn the Philippines from an impoverished country to a globally competitive
nation.

Lastly, 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 the Barrio Councils throughout the country. To provide a specific way to
carry out this act is very helpful. It makes the goal very SMART specific, measurable,
attainable, realistic and time-bound. It is also important that the effects of this act would be
experienced by all students even those who are financially troubled. It is commendable that
in the context of this act, the poor is well represented and that it is attainable regardless of
ethnicity, social stature, and language barriers.

This document 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 aide from the same brilliant
mind that drove the Filipinos of the past to fight for freedom from colonists entails another
need for another meaningful revolution in spite of the absence of invaders; the country may
have needed a slow-paced revolution driven by patriotism against dormancy, apathy and
futility.