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GE1804 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1425 AN ACT TO INCLUDE IN THE CURRICULA OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES COURSES ON THE LIFE, WORK...

GE1804 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, SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novel Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools, colleges and universities, public or private: Provided, That in the collegiate courses, the original or unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their English translation shall be used as basic texts. The Board of National Education is hereby authorized and directed to adopt forthwith measures to implement and carry out the provisions of this Section, including the writing and printing of appropriate primers, readers, and textbooks. The Board shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and regulations, including those of a disciplinary nature, to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations providing for the exemption of students for reasons of religious belief stated in a sworn written statement, from the requirement of the provision contained in the second part of the first paragraph of this section; but not from taking the course provided for in the first part of said paragraph. Said rules and regulations shall take effect thirty (30) days after their publication in the Official Gazette. SECTION 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges, and universities to keep in their libraries an adequate number of copies of the original and unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal’s other works and biography. The said unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their translations in English as well as other writings of Rizal shall be included in the list of approved books for required reading in all public or private schools, colleges and universities. 01 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 1 of 5  GE1804 The Board of National Education shall determine the adequacy of the number of books, depending upon the enrollment of the school, college, or university. SECTION 3. The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and the principal Philippine dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions; and cause them to be distributed, free of charge, to persons desiring to read them, through the Purok organizations and Barrio Councils throughout the country. SECTION 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amendment or repealing section nine hundred twenty- seven of the Administrative Code, prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines by public school teachers and other person engaged in any public school. SECTION 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any fund not otherwise appropriated in the National Treasury to carry out the purposes of this Act. SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. Approved: June 12, 1956 Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 52, No. 6, p. 2971 in June 1956. THE TRIALS OF THE RIZAL BILL A Summary By Dr. Jose B. Laurel, Jr. The Republic Act No. 1425, also known as the Rizal Law, has been in much controversy because of the dichotomy it has wrought. It sparked debates and feelings of bitterness and recrimination in the Congress during its inception. When it was filed on April 3, 1956 by the Committee on Education, a former committee in the Legislation, under the name Senate Bill No. 438, only three (3) lawmakers earned its support, such as Senators Jose P. Laurel and Claro M. Recto, seeing it as a non-controversial measure. As told by Senator Laurel, the aim of the bill was to disseminate the ideas and ideals of Jose Rizal, known to be a great patriot, by reading his works, especially the two (2) famous novels, in their original and uncensored versions, translated in English, Filipino, and native dialects. The Catholic church members inside and out of the Congress completely disagree, however. They deemed that the novels contain elements that discredit the religion and its tenets. They challenged its compulsive nature to be a violation of religious freedom. The principal basis of this opposition stemmed from an alleged Pastoral Letter which branded the novels as heretical and impious, despite praising Rizal. The letter's authenticity was questioned, but it was certain that it has sown discord among the people. This led to its first debate on April 23, 1956, headed by Sen. Laurel and supported by Senator Claro M. Recto, with Senators Mariano J. Cuenco, Francisco Rodrigo, and Decoroso Rosales leading the opposition. Recto noted that the bill' objective was to foster appreciation of Rizal's times and of the role he played in the eventual combat against Spanish tyranny. He noted that the novels did not pretend to teach religion or theology upon their conception, that Rizal aimed to have Filipinos become aware of their society and instill in them the national dignity, personal pride, and patriotism. And, if references to the misdeeds of the church and its ministers had been shown in the novels, it was then to shed light on what the country was back then -- Rizal simply narrated what had been. 01 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 2 of 5  GE1804 Meanwhile, Senators Cuenco, Rodrigo, and Rosales, with the support of the Catholic church and its members, spearheaded the argument that by compelling someone to read that is against their religious convictions is no different from requiring someone to salute the flag, which, based from the US Supreme Court back then, was an impairment both of freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Also, they invoked the need for unity, which would be upended by the signing of the bill. Noting that them being Catholics do no mean they were recalcitrant to the country, Sen. Rodrigo remarked that the majority of Filipinos, "… have two (2) great loves: their country and their faith. These two loves are not conflicting loves. They are harmonious affections, like the love of a child for his father and for his mother." Sen. Rodrigo also implored that nationalism and religion, government and church, must not be in conflict with one another. This conflict, however, reached the House of Representatives as early as April 19, 1956 when Congressman Jacobo Z. Gonzales introduced another bill, House Bill No. 5561, which was an identical copy of Senate Bill No. 438. It also had its struggles similar to the senate bill. However, due to Senator Laurel creating a substitute bill in place of the original senate bill, more debates and amendments were made. This led to the condition imposed that if a student's beliefs were to be compromised while taking the subject, then they can be granted an exemption by the university. Since then, the bill was to be adjourned sine die (i.e. in indefinite time) since it has to be printed and disseminated to the entire Congress within three days. The opponents sought to use this technicality to deter the bill further, forcing Cong. Gonzales to have the Bureau of Printing reprint the Laurel substitute bill and give out as many copies as possible, changing only the bill's number and the Chamber of origin -- all the while the actual Senate bill was in its third reading. This was done to ensure that both Laurel and Gonzales bills would not be tampered in any way. Both Senate Bill No. 438 and House Bill 5561 were approved upon third reading on May 17. When the bill has been finalized and signed, it was agreed upon that the Board of National Education (now called the Commission on Higher Education) shall be responsible in implementing this Act to the public and private universities and colleges. THE RIZAL LAW AND THE CATHOLIC HIERARCHY By Renato Constantino Recto's next big fight was over the Rizal bill. Though this did not directly, affect our colonial relations with America, his championship this measure was an integral part of his nationalism. It was his belief that the reading of Rizal's novels would strengthen the Filipinism of the youth and foster patriotism. Recto was the original author of the bill which would make Rizal's Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo compulsory reading in all universities and colleges. Reported out by the committee on education, it was sponsored by Senator Laurel, committee chairman. The measure immediately ran into determined opposition from the Catholic hierarchy spearheaded in the Senate by Senators Decoroso Rosales, brother of Archbishop, now Cardinal Cuenco; and Francisco Rodrigo, former president of Catholic Action. Their argument was that the bill would violate freedom of conscience and religion. The Catholic hierarchy even issued a pastoral letter detailing its objections to the bill and enjoining Catholics to oppose it. Despite the fact that public hearings had already been conducted, Rodrigo proposed that the education committee hold a closed-door conference with the Catholic hierarchy to search for a solution to the dispute. Laurel and the other supporters bill rejected the proposal inasmuch as the public hearing had already afforded the church the opportunity to be heard fully. Recto said that Father Jesus Cavanna of the Paulist Fathers, who had written the pastoral letter, had himself testified against the bill during the public hearing. 01 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 3 of 5  GE1804 A closed-door conference was obviously one of the means by which the hierarchy hoped to exert pressure against the bill/ Lobbies from various Catholic organizations as well as the clerics themselves were very active in the Senate throughout the discussion of the Rizal bill. These clerics, many of them foreigners were seeking conferences with the senators to convince them to oppose the Rizal bill. A more organized campaign against the bill was launched under the auspices of the Catholic Action of Manila. Its first activity was a symposium and open forum in which two announcements were made: first, that the Sentinel, official organ of Philippine Catholic Action would henceforth be published daily instead of weekly, and second, that Filipino Catholics would be urged to write their congressman and senators asking them to "kill" the Rizal bill. Speakers at the symposium offered a variety of objections to the measure. Fr. Jesus Cavanna, introduced as an authority on Rizal, said that the novels "belong to the past" and it would be "harmful" to read them because they presented a "false picture" of the condition in the country at that time. He described the Noli Me Tangere as an "attack on the clergy" and said its object was to put to ridicule the Catholic Faith." He alleged that the novel was not really patriotic because out of 333 pages only 25 contained patriotic passages while 120 were devoted to anti-Catholic attacks. Jesus Paredes, a radio commentator, declared that since some parts of the novels had been declared "objectionable matter" by the hierarchy, Catholics had the right to refuse to read them so as not to "endanger their salvation." Narciso Pimentel, Jr„ another radio commentator, offered the interesting speculation that the bill was Recto's revenge against the Catholic voters who, together with Magsaysay, were responsible for his poor showing in the 1955 senatorial elections. Against this background of bitter opposition, one can more fully appreciate the integrity and courage of Recto in championing the bill. He stubbornly persisted in his defense, unmindful of the fact that he was antagonizing a vital electoral element. In a three-hour speech on the Senate floor, he attacked the hierarchy of the Catholic church for its pastoral letter. He declared that the pastoral letter had been "more severe" in its condemnation of the novels than a committee of Spanish Dominican priests whose findings had resulted in Rizal's execution. In support of his contention, he brought up the fact that the pastoral letter had cited 170 passages from the Noli and 50 from the Fili which it regarded as attacks on the doctrines and dogmas of the Catholic church. He said he could understand the foreign clergy taking such a position but he found it difficult to understand how Filipino bishops "who will not be bishops now were it not for Rizal" could adopt such a stand when Rizal exalted the Filipino clergy in his novels. Rodrigo interpellated the speaker and in the process found himself the butt of Recto' sailies, to the delight of the gallery. Rodrigo said he had read the books at twenty after securing special dispensation from church authorities. Having taken advanced scholastic philosophy and religion, he declared his faith was then firm enough. "But I cannot allow my son who is now 16 to read the Noli Me Tangere and the El Filibusterismo lest he lose his faith," Rodrigo said. He proposed instead compulsory reading of footnoted editions of the novels. Commenting on the opening paragraph of the pastoral letter which praised Rizal as our greatest hero, Recto charged that these laudatory phrases were being used "to hide the real intentions of the pastoral which is to separate the people from Rizal." When Rodrigo agreed to his appeal to the people to scrutinize the pastoral letter, Rodrigo said this would arouse the people to oppose the measure. Recto retorted that on the contrary the reading of the hierarchy's letter "should open the eyes of the people to the real enemies of Rizal and true nationalism. While others were beginning to yield to pressure, no threats could frighten Recto. In reply to a threat that Catholic schools would close should the Rizal bill pass, Recto went on record in favor of the nationalization of all schools. He contended that nationalization might be just the step needed to foster a more vibrant nationalism among Filipinos. He did not really believe the threat. "They are making too much profit which they can ill-afford to give up," he said. 01 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 4 of 5  GE1804 Tempers flared during the continuous debates and opponents attacked each other with greater virulence. Recto was in the thick of the fight, his tirades against the church growing ever more bitter. On May 3, in a privilege speech, he recalled that during the days of Rizal, religious orders dominated the government. "Is this a new attempt to deliver the State to the Church?" he asked. Reacting to a Philippine News Service report that Bishop Manuel Yap had warned that legislators who voted for the Rizal bill would be "punished" in the next election, Recto took the floor for the seventh time to warn against church interference in state affairs. He branded Yap as "the moderately Torquemada." Finally, on May 12, the month-old controversy ended with unanimous approval of a substitute measure authored by Senator Laurel and based on the proposals Senators Roseller T. Lim and Emmanuel Pelaez. The bill as passed was clearly an accommodation to the objections of the Catholic hierarchy and Laurel said as much. Though it still provided that the basic texts in the collegiate courses should be the unexpurgated editions of the two novels, it was now possible for students to be exempted from using the unexpurgated editions on grounds of religious belief. Opponents of the original Recto version jubilantly claimed a "complete victory." Proponents felt they had at least gained something. After the entire debacle, it was July of 1956 when Recto eyed American president Richard M. Nixon and criticized him due to their intentions of owning operating military bases in the country. REFERENCES: Constantino, R. (1969). The Rizal law and the Catholic hierarchy. The Making of a Filipino: A Story of Philippine Colonial Politics Laurel, J.B. Jr. (1960). The trials of the Rizal bill. Historical Bulletin Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines (n.d.). Republic act no. 1425. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-1425/ 01 Handout 1 *Property of STI  [email protected] Page 5 of 5