Today in PH History

On August 16, 1956, Republic Act 1425, commonly known as the Rizal Act requiring the inclusion in school curricula of courses on Dr. Jose Rizal’s life and works, took effect.

Approved in Congress on June 12, 1956, the Rizal Act (also known as Batas Rizal), which was authored by Senator Claro M. Recto, requires private and public schools, colleges and universities to include in their curricula a course on Rizal’s life, works and writings, particularly his novel Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

The purpose of Batas Rizal is to rekindle the flame of nationalism in the hearts of Filipinos, particularly the youth who are forgetting what our patriots have done and given to fight for our freedom.

Coincidentally, on this same day in 1911, Teodora Alonso, mother and first teacher of Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, died in her home in San Fernando Street, Binondo, Manila.

Source: Kahimyang