Republic Act No. 1425 (Rizal Law) Vocabulary

Vocabulary terms covering key individuals, legislation details, organizations, and legal provisions related to Republic Act No. 1425 (Rizal Law).

Republic Act No. 1425

Commonly known as the Rizal Law, an act signed on June 12, 1956, mandating the inclusion of courses on the life, works, and writings of Dr. José Rizal in the curricula of all public and private educational institutions in the Philippines.

Senate Bill No. 438

The Senate bill commonly known as the Rizal Bill, filed on April 3, 1956, which originally aimed to make Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo compulsory reading materials in all public and private colleges and universities.

House Bill No. 5561

The identical counterpart to Senate Bill No. 438 introduced in the House of Representatives on April 19, 1956, by Congressman Jacobo Z. Gonzales.

Senator Claro M. Recto

The author of Senate Bill No. 438 (the Rizal Bill) who advocated for making José Rizal's novels compulsory reading materials in tertiary education.

Senator José P. Laurel

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education who formally filed Senate Bill No. 438 on April 3, 1956, and championed its passage.

Congressman Jacobo Z. Gonzales

The lawmaker who introduced House Bill No. 5561, the counterpart to Senate Bill No. 438, in the House of Representatives on April 19, 1956.

President Ramon Magsaysay

The President of the Philippines who signed Republic Act No. 1425 into law on June 12, 1956.

Opposing Civic and Religious Groups

Organizations including the Catholic Action of the Philippines, the Congregation of the Mission, the Knights of Columbus, and the Catholic Teachers Guild, which actively campaigned against the passage of the Rizal Bill.

Supporting Civic Organizations

Patriotic and civic groups including the Veteranos de la Revolución, the Freemasons, and the Knights of Rizal, which actively campaigned for the approval of the Rizal Bill.

Article III, Section 7 of the 1935 Constitution

The constitutional provision protecting freedom of religion cited by opponents who argued that requiring Catholic students to read Rizal's novels violated their religious freedom.

Board of National Education

The government body tasked under RA 1425 to facilitate the translation of Rizal's works into English, Tagalog, and principal Philippine dialects, and to promulgate rules regarding religious exemption from reading the unexpurgated novels.

Unexpurgated Copies

Original and complete versions of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo that educational institutions are required by RA 1425 to keep in adequate numbers in their libraries.

Religious Exemption Provision

A rule under RA 1425 allowing students to be exempted from reading the unexpurgated editions of Rizal's novels on grounds of religious belief via a sworn written statement, while still requiring them to take the Rizal course.