Chapter 1-Understanding the Rizal Law PDF

## GMVCC-TINAMBAC CAMPUS ### C&E Publishing, Inc. - C & E Publishing, Inc. was established in 1993. - They are a member of ABAP, PBAI, NBDB, and PΕΡΑ. ### Table of Contents - Preface: vii - Chapter 1: Understanding the Rizal Law: 1 - Chapter 2: Nation and Nationalism: 13 - Chapter 3: Remembering...

## GMVCC-TINAMBAC CAMPUS ### C&E Publishing, Inc. - C & E Publishing, Inc. was established in 1993. - They are a member of ABAP, PBAI, NBDB, and PΕΡΑ. ### Table of Contents - Preface: vii - Chapter 1: Understanding the Rizal Law: 1 - Chapter 2: Nation and Nationalism: 13 - Chapter 3: Remembering Rizal: 25 - Chapter 4: The Life of José Rizal: 40 - Chapter 5: The Nineteenth Century Philippine Economy, Society, and the Chinese Mestizos: 59 - Chapter 6: Agrarian Disputes: 72 - Chapter 7: Emerging Nationalism: 87 - Chapter 8: Imagining a Nation: 98 - Chapter 9: Noli Me Tangere, Context and Content: 108 - Chapter 10: Noli Me Tangere, Continuing Relevance: 119 - Chapter 11: Looking at the Filipino Past: 127 - Chapter 12: Indolence or Industry: 135 - Chapter 13: El Filibusterismo: Context and Content: 142 - Chapter 14: El Filibusterismo: Continuing Relevance: 152 - Chapter 15: The Destiny of the Filipino People: 162 - Chapter 16: Biography and National History: 167 - Index: 175 - About the Authors: ### The Life and Works of José Rizal - Published in 2018 by C & E Publishing, Inc. - Address: 839 EDSA, South Triangle, Quezon City - Telephone: (02) 929-5088 - Email: [email protected] - Copyright © 2018 by C & E Publishing, Inc. - Authors: Rhodalyn Wani-Obias, Aaron Abel Mallari, and Janet Reguindin-Estella ***All Rights Reserved.*** No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise- without the prior written permission of the publisher. ### Cataloguing-in-Publication Data - Wani-Obias, Rhodalyn - 675.8R62.W36 2018: The life and works of José Rizal / Rhodalyn Wani-Obias, Aaron A. Mallari, and Janet R. Estella. - Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc. © 2018. - viii, 181 p.: ill. ; cm. - Includes bibliography and index. - ISBN: 978-971-98-0936-4 - 1. Rizal, José, 1861-1896. I. Mallari, Aaron A. II. Estella, Janet R. III. Title. - Book Design: Paul Andrew L. Pagunsan - Cover Design: Miguel Enrico B. Dimagiba --- ## Chapter 1: Understanding the Rizal Law ***The mandatory teaching of José Rizal's life with the emphasis on his landmarks novels is inscribed in legislation. Republic Act No. 1425, more popularly known as the Rizal Law, was passed in 1956 leaving a colorful narrative of debate and contestation.*** ***As an introduction to the life and works of José Rizal, this textbook will begin with the reading of the Rizal Law. In this chapter you will study RA 1425 within its context, look into the major issues and debates surrounding the bill and its passage into law, and reflect on the impact and relevance of this legislation across history and the present time.*** ***In the course of the discussion, the process of how a bill becomes a law in the Philippines will be tackled so you will have an idea regarding the country's legislative process. The life of one of the major champions of the Rizal Law, Senator Claro M. Recto, will also be discussed.*** #### Learning Objectives: - Locate the passage of the Rizal Law within its historical context. - Determine the issues and interests at stakes in the debates over the Rizal Bill. - Relate the issues to the present-day Philippines. #### Vocabulary - **Bill:** a measure which, if passed through the legislative process, becomes a law. - **Unexpurgated**: basically untouched. In the case of the novels of Rizal, unexpurgated versions were those that were not changed or censored to remove parts that might offend people. - **Bicameral**: involving the two chambers of Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives #### The Context of the Rizal Bill - The postwar period saw a Philippines rife with challenges and problems. - With a country torn and tired from the stresses of World War II, getting up on their feet was a paramount concern of the people and the government. #### How a Bill Becomes a Law: The Legislative Process 1. **Bill is filed in the Senate Office of the Secretary.** It is given a number and calendared for first reading. 2. **First Reading.** The bill's title, number, and author(s) are read on the floor. Afterwards, it is referred to the appropriate committee. 3. **Second Reading.** The bill is read and discussed on the floor. The author delivers a sponsorship speech. The other members of the Senate may engage in discussions regarding the bill and a period of debates will pursue. Amendments may be suggested to the bill. 4. **Committee Hearings.** The bill is discussed within the committee and a period of consultations is held. The committee can: - approve (approve without revisions, approve with amendments, or recommend substitution or consolidation with similar bills) or reject. - After the committee submits the committee report, the bill is calendared for second reading. 5. **Voting on Second Reading.** The senators vote on whether to approve or reject the bill. If approved, the bill is calendared for third reading. 6. **Voting on Third Reading.** Copies of the final versions of the bill are distributed to the members of the Senate who will vote for its approval or rejection. 7. **Consolidation of Version from the House.** The similar steps above are followed by the House of Representatives in coming up with the approved bill. If there are differences between the Senate and House versions, a bicameral conference committee is called to reconcile the two. After this both chambers approve the consolidated version. 8. **Transmittal of the Final Version to Malacañan.** The bill is then submitted to the President for signing. The President can either sign the bill into law or veto and return it to Congress. #### Claro M. Recto (February 8, 1890-October 2, 1960) - The main sponsor and defender of the Rizal Bill was Claro Mayo Recto. - He was born in Tiaong, Tayabas (Quezon) on February 8, 1890 to Claro Recto, Sr. and Micaela Mayo. - He completed his primary education in his hometown and his secondary education in Batangas. - For his college education, he moved to Manila and completed his AB degree at the Ateneo and was awarded maxima cum laude in 1909. - In 1914, he finished his law degree from the University of Santo Tomas. - He was admitted to the bar that same year. - His political career started in the House of Representatives in 1919 when he was elected as representative of the third district of Batangas. - He later became House Minority Floor Leader. - From the House of Representatives, he moved to the Senate in 1931 when he was elected as a senator. - In the Senate, he held key positions such as Minority Floor Leader, Majority Floor Leader, and Senate President Pro-Tempore. - Recto's career in the Philippine government was not confined to the legislature. - In 1935, he became Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. - Recto was also instrumental in the drafting of the constitution of the Philippines in 1934-1935 as he was selected president of the assembly. - After the Philippines transitioned to the Commonwealth Period and survived the Pacific War, Recto again served as senator for several terms. - He also served as diplomat and was an important figure in international relations. - Known as an ardent nationalist, Recto was also a man of letters. He penned beautiful poetry and prose. - On October 2, 1960, he died of a heart attack in Italy. - He was survived by his wife, Aurora Reyes and their five children. #### From the Rizal Bill to the Rizal Law - On April 3, 1956, Senate Bill No. 438 was filed by the Senate Committee on Education. - On April 17, 1956, then Senate Committee on Education Chair Jose P. Laurel sponsored the bill and began delivering speeches for the proposed legislation. - Soon after, the bill became controversial as the powerful Catholic Church began to express opposition against its passage. - As the influence of the Church was felt with members of the Senate voicing their opposition to the bill, its main author, Claro M. Recto, and his allies in the Senate entered into a fierce battle arguing for the passage of SB 438. - Debates started on April 23, 1956. - The debates on the Rizal Bill also ensued in the House of Representatives. - House Bill No. 5561, an identical version of SB 438, was filed by Representative Jacobo Z. Gonzales on April 19, 1956. - The House Committee on Education approved the bill without amendments on May 2, 1956 and the debates commenced on May 9, 1956. - A major point of the debates was whether the compulsory reading of the texts Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo appropriated in the bill was constitutional. - The call to read the unexpurgated versions was also challenged. - As the country was soon engaged in the debate, it seemed that an impasse was reached. - To move the procedure to the next step, Senator Jose P. Laurel proposed amendments to the bill on May 9, 1956. - In particular, he removed the compulsory reading of Rizal's novels and added that Rizal's other works must also be included in the subject. - He, however, remained adamant in his stand that the unexpurgated versions of the novels be read. - On May 14, 1956, similar amendments were adopted to the House version. - The amended version of the bills was also subjected to scrutiny but seemed more palatable to the members of Congress. - The passage, however, was almost hijacked by technicality since the House of Representatives was about to adjourn in a few days and President Ramon Magsaysay did not certify the bills as priority. - The allies in the House skillfully avoided the insertion of any other amendment to prevent the need to reprint new copies (which would take time). - They also asked the Bureau of Printing to use the same templates for the Senate version in printing the House version. - Thus, on May 17, 1956, the Senate and House versions were approved. - The approved versions were then transmitted to Malacañan and on June 12, 1956, President Magsaysay signed the bill into law which became Republic Act No. 1425. #### Activity 1: The Debates about the Rizal Bill Read the following excerpts from the statements of the legislators who supported and opposed the passage of the Rizal Law in 1956. Then, answer the questions that follow. #### For “Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be read by all Filipinos. They must be taken to heart, for in their pages we see ourselves as in a mirror, our defects as well as our strength, our virtues as well as our vices. Only then would we become conscious as a people and so learn to prepare ourselves for painful sacrifices that ultimately lead to self-reliance, self-respect, and freedom.” -Senator Jose P. Laurel “Rizal did not pretend to teach religion when he wrote those books. He aimed at inculcating civic consciousness in the Filipinos, national dignity, personal pride, and patriotism and if references were made by him in the course of his narration to certain religious practices in the Philippines in those days, and to the conduct and behavior of erring ministers of the church, it was because he portrayed faithfully the general situation in the Philippines as it then existed.” -Senator Claro M. Recto #### Against “A vast majority of our people are, at the same time, Catholic and Filipino citizens. As such, they have two great loves: their country and their faith. These two loves are not conflicting loves. They are harmonious affections, like the love for his father and for his mother. This is the basis of my stand. Let us not create a conflict between nationalism and religion, between the government and the church.” -Senator Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo **Questions:** 1. What was the major argument raised by Senator Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo against the passage of the Rizal Bill? 2. What was the major argument raised by Senators Jose P. Laurel and Claro M. Recto in support of the passage of the Rizal Bill? 3. Are there points of convergence between the supporters and opposers of the Rizal Bill based on these statements? #### Activity 2: The Rizal Law and the Present Context In groups, talk about the preceding questions and prepare a short summary of your discussion points to be presented in class. Do you think the debates on the Rizal Law have some resonance up to the present? If yes, in what way? If no, why? #### Further Reading: The Rizal Law **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, **Republic of the Philippines. 1956. Republic Act 1425. Available from http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-1425/** **Schumacher, John. 2011. The Rizal Bill of 1956: Horacio de la Costa and the bishops. Philippine Studies 59(4): 529-553.** **Website of the Senate of the Philippines. “Legislative Process." Available from https://www.senate.gov.ph/about/legpro.asp**