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!