Rizal Law: Content, Rizal Law: Content, Context and RelevanceContext and Relevance

OutlineOutline

ContentContent

ContextContext

ObjectiveObjective

Debates and ControversiesDebates and Controversies

Other Ways to Instill PatriotismOther Ways to Instill Patriotism

and Nationalismand Nationalism

Relevance TodayRelevance Today

Rizal LawRizal Law

An Act to include in theAn Act to include in the curricula of all curricula of all public and private schools, public and private schools, colleges and universities colleges and universities courses on the life, works and courses on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, writings of Jose Rizal, particularly particularly

his novelshis novels Noli Me Tangere and El Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Filibusterismo, authorizing the printing authorizing the printing and distribution thereof, and for other purposes.and distribution thereof, and for other purposes.

ContentContent

Religious and devout Religious and devout Catholics are exempted from Catholics are exempted from reading passages which reading passages which appears to be in contradiction appears to be in contradiction to their faithto their faith

ContentContentBoard of National Education:Board of National Education:

Implementation of the lawImplementation of the law

Libraries - adequate number of copies Libraries - adequate number of copies of the original and expurgated copies.of the original and expurgated copies.

Supervise the translation of Rizal’s Supervise the translation of Rizal’s novels into English, Filipino and other novels into English, Filipino and other dialects.dialects.

Copies of the said novels must be Copies of the said novels must be printed in cheap editionsprinted in cheap editions

Copies should be distributed, free of Copies should be distributed, free of charge to purok organizations and charge to purok organizations and barangay/barrio councils.barangay/barrio councils.

ContentContent

P300,000 – fund for the P300,000 – fund for the implementation of the implementation of the provisions of this law.provisions of this law.

ContextContextJune 12, 1956June 12, 1956

A decade after the Japanese A decade after the Japanese OccupationOccupation

The people were still looking upon the The people were still looking upon the Americans as liberators from the Americans as liberators from the ruthless Japaneseruthless Japanese

Recovery period from post-war Recovery period from post-war devastationdevastation

Still strong American influence in Still strong American influence in politics, military (bases in politics, military (bases in Pampanga) and economy Pampanga) and economy (treatises and agreements)(treatises and agreements)

ContextContextPresident Ramon Magsaysay President Ramon Magsaysay (1953)(1953)

Heart for the Heart for the tao.tao.Attempt to determine policies Attempt to determine policies based on the Filipino perspectivebased on the Filipino perspectiveDemands of rural upliftDemands of rural upliftLand tenure systemLand tenure systemEasy-term credit to peasantsEasy-term credit to peasantsCommunity developmentCommunity developmentOpened MalacanangOpened MalacanangErgo, type of national Ergo, type of national development based on the tao.development based on the tao.

ContextContext

Catholic Church as a political Catholic Church as a political powerpower

Power to influence the result of Power to influence the result of electionselections

ContextContext

““The Period of Nationalist The Period of Nationalist Awakening”Awakening”

Traditional politicians advanced Traditional politicians advanced nationalist ideas and programsnationalist ideas and programs

Claro M. Recto and Jose P. Claro M. Recto and Jose P. Laurel, Sr.Laurel, Sr.

Saw the need to put an end to the Saw the need to put an end to the chronic colonial mentality of the chronic colonial mentality of the peoplepeople

ObjectiveObjective

To promote nationalism and To promote nationalism and patriotism among the youth. patriotism among the youth.

Noli and Fili – as constant and Noli and Fili – as constant and inspiring source inspiring source

appreciate the country and its appreciate the country and its peoplepeople

develop a sense of dedication to develop a sense of dedication to the ideals of freedomthe ideals of freedom

honor the heroes who fought for honor the heroes who fought for it, particularly Rizalit, particularly Rizal

ObjectiveObjective

To respond to the need to To respond to the need to eradicate colonial mentality eradicate colonial mentality objective of the law objective of the law

Like any other political issues Like any other political issues Controversies and Debates Controversies and Debates

Debates and ControversiesDebates and ControversiesProPro

Claro M. RectoClaro M. RectoJose P LaurelJose P LaurelLorenzo TanadaLorenzo TanadaQuentin ParedesQuentin ParedesDomocao Alonto of MindanaoDomocao Alonto of MindanaoAresnio LacsonAresnio LacsonEmilio AguinaldoEmilio AguinaldoPublic Schools Teachers AssociationPublic Schools Teachers AssociationPhilippine Veterans LegionPhilippine Veterans LegionRep. Pedro Lopez of CebuRep. Pedro Lopez of Cebu

AntiAntiCatholic ChurchCatholic ChurchSoc RodrigoSoc RodrigoArchbishop Rufino SantosArchbishop Rufino SantosSen Decoroso RosalesSen Decoroso Rosales

Debates and ControversiesDebates and Controversies

Issue #1:Issue #1:Recto was merely trying to get Recto was merely trying to get back at Catholic voters who did back at Catholic voters who did not support him during the not support him during the 1955 elections1955 elections

He denounced the influence He denounced the influence and power of the Church on and power of the Church on voters’ decisions.voters’ decisions.

He also opposed the teaching of He also opposed the teaching of religion in public schools.religion in public schools.

Debates and ControversiesDebates and Controversies

Opposition of the Catholic Opposition of the Catholic ChurchChurch

The Catholic Church considers The Catholic Church considers Rizal’s novels as impious and Rizal’s novels as impious and heretic. heretic.

To read Rizal is to endanger the To read Rizal is to endanger the people’s faith.people’s faith.

Debates and ControversiesDebates and Controversies

Emilio Aguinaldo: Emilio Aguinaldo:

““under the yoke of the under the yoke of the old Spanish friars, against old Spanish friars, against whom the Filipinos of 1896 whom the Filipinos of 1896 had risen in arms for their had risen in arms for their tyrannies.”tyrannies.”

Debates and ControversiesDebates and Controversies

Philippine Public School Philippine Public School Teachers AssociationTeachers Association

70,000 members70,000 members

Cavite Chapter of the Cavite Chapter of the Philippine Veterans LegionPhilippine Veterans Legion

any opposition to the bill as any opposition to the bill as “un-Filipino and morally “un-Filipino and morally repulsive. repulsive.

Debates and ControversiesDebates and Controversies

Senator Pedro Lopez of Cebu: Senator Pedro Lopez of Cebu:

““alien educators garbed in alien educators garbed in ecclesiastical habits had the ecclesiastical habits had the temerity…to tell a congressional temerity…to tell a congressional committee what books the youth committee what books the youth should read.”should read.”

Debates and ControversiesDebates and Controversies

Recto versus RodrigoRecto versus Rodrigo

Recto: Spanish friars - Filipino Recto: Spanish friars - Filipino BishopsBishops

Rodrigo: Rizal impious and Rodrigo: Rizal impious and heretic?heretic?

Recto: attacked various dogmas Recto: attacked various dogmas and practices of the Church and practices of the Church impious and hereticimpious and heretic

Rodrigo: Not the same!Rodrigo: Not the same!

Debates and ControversiesDebates and Controversies

Senator Decoroso Rosales: Senator Decoroso Rosales: We’re not unpatriotic…We’re not unpatriotic…

Archbishop Rufino Santos anti-Archbishop Rufino Santos anti-RizalRizal

Threatened that Catholic Threatened that Catholic schools would all close downschools would all close down

Recto: They couldn’t do Recto: They couldn’t do that…that…

Debates and ControversiesDebates and Controversies

Despite the debates and Despite the debates and varying views concerning the varying views concerning the law, a compromise was law, a compromise was made.made.

Laurel authored the revised Laurel authored the revised Rizal Law.Rizal Law.

So What????So What????

Rizal for Today????Rizal for Today????Yuck!!!!Yuck!!!!

Post-modernPost-modernBusy lifeBusy lifeNo longer Maria ClarasNo longer Maria ClarasNot any more a colonyNot any more a colonyHe’s boring! We read it He’s boring! We read it already!already!Independent!Independent!I don’t care about him!I don’t care about him!

Rizal for TodayRizal for Today

Leon Ma. Guererro: Leon Ma. Guererro: “timelessness…timeliness in “timelessness…timeliness in another world and in another another world and in another age”age”

Describes the social ills Describes the social ills remainremain

Rizal for TodayRizal for Today

Foreword of Fili:Foreword of Fili:Man passes away but his vices Man passes away but his vices remain…to expose and end remain…to expose and end them is what the author aspires them is what the author aspires to do…to do…

Expose? Yes! Expose? Yes!

End? Think again…End? Think again…

Rizal for TodayRizal for TodayThe ElitThe Elit

Capitan TiagosCapitan TiagosEndure everything to retain their Endure everything to retain their priviledgespriviledges

Attorney PastasAttorney PastasSucceed based on friends and Succeed based on friends and connectionsconnections

QuirogasQuirogasBears insults as long as they are Bears insults as long as they are given economic rightsgiven economic rights

Dona PatrociniosDona PatrociniosMaterialistic and greedyMaterialistic and greedy

Philippines TodayPhilippines TodayCorruptionBureaucratic inefficiencyPatron-client systemPovertyNational debtSocial inequalityFavoritism“Papogi”/puppet politicians

Rizal for TodayRizal for TodayRizalRizal

A republic of the greedy and the A republic of the greedy and the needyneedyNation without freedomNation without freedomEverything is borrowed even Everything is borrowed even our defectsour defects

He had the answer!!!He had the answer!!!We shall find our way by the light We shall find our way by the light of knowledge.of knowledge.Defend the rights of other people.Defend the rights of other people.

Rizal for todayRizal for today

Ang isa-isang tingting ay Ang isa-isang tingting ay madaling baliin, ngunit mahirap madaling baliin, ngunit mahirap ang isang bigkis na walis.ang isang bigkis na walis.There are not tyrants if there There are not tyrants if there are not slaves.are not slaves.Taong walang sariling isip ay Taong walang sariling isip ay walang pagkatao, bulag na walang pagkatao, bulag na tagasunod sa isip ng iba, ay tagasunod sa isip ng iba, ay parang hayop na sunod-sunod parang hayop na sunod-sunod sa tali.sa tali.

Rizal for TodayRizal for Today

Then why are we still lost?Then why are we still lost?Have not readHave not read

Read…have not understoodRead…have not understood

Understood…ignore…Understood…ignore…

Where are you in this Where are you in this spectrum?spectrum?

Task Ahead:Task Ahead:

Rizal’s time:Free, sovereign, create a just society

Today:Our task at present is the same

Take up arms? Revolution? NO!!!

Challenge AheadChallenge AheadTask for today

Discern what the society, the common people wants and needs

Sympathy towards the people

Be vigilant, active and aware

Do not turn a deaf ear to a comrade in need

Questions?Questions?