Trials of the Rizal Bill PDF

TRIALS OF THE RIZAL BILL © Claro M. Recto Senator Claro M. Recto was the main proponent of the Rizal Bill. He sought to sponsor the bill at Congress. However, this was met with stiff opposition from the Catholic Church. He was charged with being a communist and an anti-Catholic for...

TRIALS OF THE RIZAL BILL © Claro M. Recto Senator Claro M. Recto was the main proponent of the Rizal Bill. He sought to sponsor the bill at Congress. However, this was met with stiff opposition from the Catholic Church. He was charged with being a communist and an anti-Catholic for mandating the reading of Rizal’s novel. P2 JOSE P. LAUREL, SR. He co-authored in the Philippine Senate together with Claro M. Recto the Rizal bill in 1956. He was the Chairman of the Committee on Education who sponsored the bill in the Senate. He vigorously fought for that Act, braving the wrath of the entire Catholic Church and incurring the intense animosity of his very wife Paciencia. P3 ©  AN ACT TO MAKE NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO COMPULSORY READING MATTER IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. SENATE BILL 438 ©  REPUBLIC ACT 1425 © © P6  An attempt to discredit Catholic religion The two novels contained views inimical to the tenets of Catholic faith The compulsory nature of the bill is a violation of religious freedom Novels were heretical and impious. OPPOSITION Violate freedom of conscience and religion It belong to the past and harmful to read because it presented a false picture of the conditions in the country at the time Attack on the clergy Endanger the youth’s salvation, “the young are too apt to take as literally true whatever they see in print” ©  “A vast majority of our people are at the same time Catholics and Filipino citizens. Senator As such, they have two great loves: their country and their faith. These two loves Francisco are not conflicting loves.” Rodrigo “This is the basis of my stand. Let us not remarked: create a conflict between nationalism and religion; between the government and the church.” ©  Rizal’s novels were considered as “a constant and inspiring source of patriotism” Enable the Filipino to grasp the ideals of freedom and nationalism To develop “moral character, personal discipline, civic consciousness and…teaching the duties of citizenship.” PROPONENTS His writings will serve as a document of the achievements, development, and transformation of Philippine society, culture, and nation. SOCIAL CHANGE/TRANSFORMATION is its core principle – the need for transforming consciousness and society; and the truthful, realistic depiction of Philippine society. © The Philippines has lived through 333 years of Spanish rule 50 years of American “tutelage” 5 years of Japanese occupation ©  What is “Filipino” culture? And how do we go about preserving it or reshaping it? ©  Colonial Mentality ©  The bill was an important example RATIONALE of the state’s effort (attempt) to decolonize the “culture” of the Philippines ©  Transformation will only be possible when a people have knowledge of his/her country’s “true” history, condition and course of development. ©  How, precisely, does one move from knowledge to action? ©  “Open your children’s eyes so that they may jealously guard their honor, love their fellowmen and their native land, and do their duty. Always impress upon them that it is better to die with honor than live in dishonor.” – J. Rizal © References Republic of the Philippines. 1956. Republic Act 1425. Available online, http://www.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-1425/ Laurel, Jose B. Jr. 1960. The trials of the Rizal Bill. Historical Bulletin 4(2):130-39. ©