Module 1 - Assessment 1

Vizcocho, Gerard Dominic A.
ZGE 1109 - ITBE
The Rizal Bill or “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”, as it was
aptly called at that time, took the brunt of its opposition from both inside and outside the
Congress. It was the elements of the Catholic church. The thing to note here is that the
proponents - in any way, shape, or form - did not aim to discredit the religion in and of itself, it
was to promote nationalism, self-reliance, self-respect, and freedom. In the following paragraphs,
I will write about the different issues and interests that this bill was staked on.
The principal proponents of the bill stated that the purpose of the bill was only “To
disseminate the ideas and ideals of the great Filipino patriot through the reading of his works.”
Do the proponents have an underlying agenda that they are pushing? We can’t know for sure but
there is ultimately no evidence to show that there is.
Those against this bill were prominent senators and were, as Laurel Jr said, “Rabid
Catholics”. Those opposed challenged the bill as they claimed that the novels “contained views
inimical to their faith” they also challenged the compulsary nature of the bill as a violation to the
people’s religious freedom. There was also the issue of the alleged Pastoral Letter that while
praising Rizal, it also branded his books heretical and impious. The authenticity of the letter was
suspected and was never definitely established.
The debate held on for weeks and it gave birth to some of the most astounding speeches I
ever got to read about. In one of their discussions, Recto declared that:
“Rizal did not pretend to teach religion or theology 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 of the Philippines as it then existed.”
He was also quick to add that when Rizal found ministers of the church that were worthy,
he was generous in his praise, like in the case of Dominican friar Padre Fernandez and the native
priest, Padre florentino.
The opposition led by Senator Rodrigo hinged on the argument that compulsion to
reading something against one’s religion is akin to that of requiring someone to salute the flag,
which at that time, was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Senator Rodrigo also
remarked:
“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.”
As they ground into a standstill and with neither side ready to give in, Senator Laurel,
proposed in his own name an amendment by substitution which changed the tempo of the debate
in the proponents favour. The substitute bill turned the tides around, it was titled “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 “
In his explanation, Laurel said:
“In my substitute bill, I have included not only the Noli and the Fili but all the
works and writings of Rizal and even those written by other people about him. I
eliminated the compulsion idea, although deep in myself, considering my own
information, my own knowledge of the history of mankind, however poor and however
incomplete, notwithstanding my own personal conviction that the state can properly
require, in the case of Filipinos, the compulsory reading of the Fili and the Noli. After
consulting my own religious conscience as one belonging to my own church, I removed
the idea of compulsion. You will no longer find the word ‘compulsory’ or ‘compulsion’ in
the substitute bill that I have filed. But there is one thing one which there could be no
compromise so far as I am concerned. I have reached the saturation point. I have
reached the dead end of a blind alley. I can go no farther; and this I say: If Rizal was a
hero, and on that there could be no debate, if Rizal is a national hero these books that he
has written, whenever read, must be read in the unexpurgated, original form. Otherwise,
I would prefer to have this bill defeated, defeated ignominiously if you wish, but then I
shall have fulfilled my duty.”
With the compromise approved both in the Senate and the House, it was only a matter of
time before the President approves of the bill and when he finally did, he signed it on June 12,
1956, our Independence Day, as the Republic Act No. 1425.
The issue of the separation of the church from the government is still seen today. The
groundbreaking RH Law was met with stifling opposition that its implementation was delayed
by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Another law that is met by the opposition of the church
is the adoption of divorce in the Philippines. Though the Philippines allows divorces for its
Muslim population, it is argued that it should be the case for all of its citizens.
I hope that when my children write essays like these, some of them will be about “The
trials of the divorce bill” and I really wish that it is the case.

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Vizcocho, Gerard Dominic A.

ZGE 1109 - ITBE

The Rizal Bill or “AN ACT TO MAKE NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL

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