CLARO M. RECTO and the RIZAL LAW Janet S. Reguindin
Nov 03, 2014
CLARO M. RECTO and the
RIZAL LAW
Janet S. Reguindin
Introduction
Because of the implementation of Rizal
Law, more than 50 years that the
students are taking up Rizal course
It is important to know the context of the
passage of the said law
We need to study the history of the
Philippines after World War II (Post War
Philippines)
Post War Philippines
(1) American Neocolonialism prevailed
particularly in the Economic, Political and
Military aspects
(A) Political
Tydings McDuffie Law (1935)
Japanese Occupation (1942-1945)
Philippine Independence (July 4,1946)
Paved the way for Treaties and Pacts that gave
US the power to dominate the Philippines
(B) Economic
Bell Trade Act (1946)
Provisions:
Parity rights
Exportation of Philippine products to US (ex.
Sugar)
Low tariffs to American products imported in the
Philippines
Peso value depending on dollar value
(C) Military
Military Assistance Agreement (1946)
Military Bases Agreement (1947)
Mutual Defense Pact (1951)
“We, too, can prosper, as other nations which have become free and have known how to rely on
themselves with dignity and self-respect have prospered. Our
people deserve a better fate, a destiny realized in happiness and
freedom…”
- Claro M. Recto
CM Recto and the Rizal
Bill
Amidst the social crisis that the country
was experiencing, a Filipino nationalist
thought to resolve this social problem
Sen. Claro M. Recto was among the
strongest opposition of the Magsaysay
and Quirino Administration
As a Rizal expert, CM Recto thought of
studying Rizal’s life and works to solve these
social issues
“…the reading of Rizal’s novels would strengthen the Filipinism of
the youth and foster patriotism”.
- C. M. Recto
Rizal Law (R.A. 1425)
Sen. Jose P. Laurel presented Senate Bill 438
in the Senate. It aims to study the life and
works of Jose Rizal. (April 17, 1956).
Sen. Laurel as the head of the Senate
Committee on Education presented the bill,
although the author of it was Sen. Claro M.
Recto.
Senate Bill 438
An Act to Make Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo Compulsory Reading
Matter in All Public and Private Colleges
and Universities and for other Purposes.
Arguments Against Rizal Law
“Compulsion to read something against one’s
religious convictions was no different from a
requirement to salute the flag, which according
to the latest decision on the matter by the US
Supreme Court, was an impairment both of
freedom of speech and freedom of religion.”
- Principal argument of Senators Rodrigo,
Rosales and Cuenco
“A vast majority of our people are at the
same time Catholics 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 of a child 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 Rodrigo
Rizal’s novels “belong to the past” and it
would be “harmful” to read them because they
presented a “false picture” of conditions in the
country at that time. Noli Me Tangere is an
“attack on the clergy” and its object was to “put
to ridicule the Catholic faith. The novel was not
really patriotic because out of 333 pages, only
25 contained patriotic passages while 120
were devoted to anti-Catholic attack.”
- Fr. Jesus Cavanna(speaker on the symposium organized by CAM)
“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.”
- Jesus Paredes
Radio commentator
“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.”
- Narciso Pimentel Jr.
Radio commentator
: “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”. – Sen. Rodrigo
In Defense of The Law
Much has been said against the
proposed law but the author stood and
fought strongly for the SB 438.
In the Senate, Recto without hesitation
responded to all arguments against his
proposed law
In his 3-hour speech, Recto bravely said that
the process the SB 438 was going was no
different from Rizal’s experience under the
Dominicans
Moreover, Recto said that the pastoral letter
“should open the eyes of the people to the
real enemies of Rizal and true nationalism”
According to Recto, “They (Catholic Church)
are making too much profit which they can ill-
afford to give up.”
“Rizal did not pretend to teach religion or
theology when he wrote these 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”
- CM Recto
“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
After two weeks of neverending debate, Recto revised the title:
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 Filiobusterismo, authorizing the printing and distribution, thereof, and for other purposes.
Clearly, the term “compulsion” was
deleted and .
President Ramon Magsaysay signed SB
438 and became Republic Act 1425 on
Hunyo 12,1956
“Nasaan ang kabataang dapat mag-alay
ng kanyang kasariwaan, ng kanyang
mga panaginip at sigasig ukol sa
kabutihan ng kanyang Inang
Bayan?...Hinihintay namin kayo, o
mga kabataan! Halikayo sapagkat
hinihintay namin kayo!”
- Padre Florentino
El Filibusterismo
Maraming Salamat!
Mabuhay ang mga Kabataang
Para sa Bayan!