Rizal Law free essay sample

Also known as the Rizal Law, RA 1425 was written by Senator Jose P. Laurel and started out as senate bill no. 438 filed on April 3, 1956 by the Committee on Education. The bill that was considered as basis for this act is called the Noli-Fili Bill, written by Claro M. Recto which makes the reading of the two novels compulsory. RA 1425 passed through several trials and issues, including its being assailed as an attempt to disrepute Catholicism. Mostly, oppositions came from the Catholic churches. Some of the officials who were against the bill were Mariano Cuenco, Fransisco Rodriguez and Decoroso Rosales. Finally, through the response of the Committee on Education, the bill was approved on June 12, 1965. In the provisions of the law, it was stated that all schools, public or private, colleges and university courses should include the curricula on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal particularly the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. We will write a custom essay sample on Rizal Law or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The aim of the law is mainly for the general public to gain civic conscience, a patriotic mind and awareness on the duties of citizenship. It also intends to give honor to Rizal, a national hero and patriot to highlight the sense of nationalism in the minds of the citizens. Section 1 requires the original and unexpurgated editions of Noli and El Fili to be used as basic texts for the teaching of the novels. Included also in the provisions is the authorization given to reprint and redistribute the books. In Section 2 it states that an adequate copy of the novels should be contained in the libraries of universities and its adequacy will be determined by the Board of National Education. Section 3 ensures the availability of access on the literatures by allowing the printing of cheap and popular editions as well as their distributions without charge in the Barrio councils throughout the country. Finally in section number 5, a budget of 300,000 pesos is allotted to carry out the purposes of the act. The bill is now more than half a century already since the time it was filed in 1956. During the presidential term of Fidel V. Ramos, the bill caught attention again when he ordered the full implementation of the law. In an article by Ambeth Ocampo (Rizal Law Not Being Followed, Phil Daily Inquirer 2008), she tackled the effectivity of the bill in the context of todays generation. There is also the concern raised on the complete observance of all the sections stated in the bill. The trend of attitude towards the law seems to be tending away from the original aims of it and it is rather becoming just another requirement or subject to fulfill for a four or five year course in college.