History: Rizal's Life and Works

• This lecture is about History 6/ GEC 9: Rizal's Life and Works.
• The objective is to identify the basic facts about Republic Act 1425, determine the issues and interest at stake in the debate over the Rizal Bill, and relate the issues to the present-day in recognizing the significant value of studying Jose Rizal in the 21st century.
• This lecture highlights the story of how the bill became law, particularly what necessitated its proponents to propose the bill.
• It also presents issues behind the deliberation and approval of the law focusing on the arguments made by both the proponents and opponents of the law.

Vocabulary

• Bill: a measure which, if passed through the legislative process, becomes a law.
• Unexpurgated: untouched versions of Rizal's novels that were not changed.
• Bicameral: involving the two chambers of Congress (Senate and House of Representatives).

How a Bill Becomes a Law: The Legislative Process

• Step 1: Bill is filed in the Senate Office of the Secretary. It is given a number and calendared for first reading.
• Step 2: First Reading. The bill's title, number and author [s] are read on the floor and referred to the appropriate committee.
• Step 3: Committee Hearing. The bill is discussed within the committee with consultations. The committee can approve (with or without revisions), approve with amendments, or recommend substitution or consolidation.
• Step 4: Second Reading. The bill is read and discussed. The author delivers a sponsorship speech, and members of the Senate may engage in discussions with debates to pursue. Amendments may be suggested.
• Step 5: Voting on the Second Reading. Senators vote to approve or reject the bill; if approved, it goes to the third reading.
• Step 6: Voting on Third Reading. Final versions are distributed to Senate members, who vote for approval or rejection
• Step 7: The House of Representatives follows similar steps. If there are Senate and House differences, a bicameral conference committee reconciles them. Both chambers must approve the consolidated version
• Step 8: Transmittal of the Final Version to Malacañang. The bill is then submitted to the President for signing, who may sign it into law or veto it, sending it back to Congress.

Context of the Rizal Bill

• Post-war Philippines faced challenges and problems. Prominent individuals championed nationalism and patriotism to instill values in society.

Claro Mayo Recto

• Claro Mayo Recto, born in Tiaong, Tayabas (Quezon) on February 8, 1890, was the main sponsor and defender of the Rizal Bill.
• He completed primary education in his hometown and secondary education in Batangas.
• He moved to Manila for tertiary, finished AB at Ateneo, awarded maxima cum laude in 1909, and completed a law degree at the University of Santo Tomas
• Recto was instrumental in drafting the Constitution of the Philippines in 1934-1935 and served as President of the Assembly
• Known as an ardent nationalist, he penned poetry and prose.
• He passed on October 2, 1960, due to a heart attack in Italy and believed in the vital role of studying Rizal's life and works in shaping youth values.

From the Rizal Bill to the Rizal Law

• Senate Bill No. 438 was filed on April 3, 1956, by the Senate Committee on Education.
• On April 17, 1956, Committee Chair Jose P. Laurel sponsored the bill, giving speeches and helping Sen. Recto defend its practicality.
• He firmly believed that passing the bill will be integral in achieving the noble intent of bringing to the Filipinos a sense of nationalism that would help them understand the importance of sovereignty.

Controversies

• The bill became controversial when the Catholic Church opposed it.
• On April 23, 1956, debates started with Recto and his allies in support of SB 438.
• The Church accused Recto of being communist and anti-Catholic.
• The claim was mandating Rizal's novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, would violate freedom of conscience and religion.
• The Church urged supporters to write to congressmen and senators to oppose.
• It organized symposiums, with Fr. Jesus Cavanna arguing the novels belonged to the past and would misinterpret current conditions.
• Radio Veritas commentator Jesus Paredes said Catholics had the right to refuse the novels to protect their salvation
• Groups like Catholic Action of the Philippines, Congregation of the Mission, Knights of Columbus, and the Catholic Teachers Guild resisted.
• Other supported the bill, namely: Veteranos de la Revolucion, Alagad ni Rizal, The Freemasons, and The Knights of Rizal

Conclusion

• Archbishop Rufino Santos' publication stated that Catholic students would be affected by compulsory reading of the unexpurgated version.
• It was then read in celebratory masses of The Diocese of Manila
• Cuenco, also highlighted Rizal's denial of purgatory's existence since it was absent from the Bible, also Moses and Jesus Christ never mentioned it.
• On April 19, 1956, Representative Jacobo Z. Gonzales filed House Bill No. 5561, mirroring SB 438.
• The House Committee on Education approved it without amendments on May 2, 1956, with debates starting May 9, 1956.
• May 12, 1956 specified only college students would have the option to read the unexpurgated versions of the reading materials.
• The approved versions were transmitted to Malacanang, and on June 12, 1956, President Ramon Magsaysay signed the bill into law as Republic Act No. 1425.