RIZAL GE6

• There could be no greater way to begin this narrative besides digging up the truth and controversy regarding the Republic Act 1425 (Iniego, 2015)
• The fact that a country needed a particular law to inculcate nationalism and patriotism is in itself the greatest controversy
• The greater issue and confusion are actually the "failure" of such a law, because we still can observe many people wishing Rizal a Happy Birthday on his death anniversary
• This proves the point that the law has failed to live for its purpose
• The blame lies upon the superficial execution of the law
• The interesting angle that we need to look at is the rationale, including the controversies it endured before it became a law
• Once the rationale, substance, and controversies surrounding the passing of the law are laid down, one can gain not only enough knowledge of the technicalities but also of feeling the spirit of the law
• The Commission on Education filed the Senate Bill 438 drafted by the then-senator Claro M. Recto


  April 3, 1956
• Only three senators expressed their disapproval, a reason why they hoped this would be passed as a law smoothly
• With the sponsorship of then-senator Jose P. Laurel, it became an object of hot debate which lasted for three weeks
• The debate started at the Senate on April 23


  1. Proponents: Laurel, Recto, Tañada, Paredes, Alonto

  2. Opponents: Rodrigo, Rosales, Cuenco
• One of the highlights was the exchange between Recto and Rodrigo from which one always had a say against the other, almost never letting the other finish his statement
• The endorsement of the House Bill 5561 by Congressman Jacobo Gonzales on April 19, which was of almost similar version with the Senate Bill 438, also stirred the lower house
• On May 9, an even hotter debate ensued, which almost ended up with Pampanga Congressman Emilio Cortes and Cebu Congressman Ramon Durano fist-fighting
• Opponents of the bill in the House

  • Congresswoman Tecla San Andres Ziga
  • Congressman Ramon Durano
  • Congressman Godofredo Ramos
  • Congressman Miguel Cuenco
• There was the campaign of Bacolod Archbishop Manuel Yap against those in favor of the Rizal Bill
• Recto blatantly responded that the government should take charge, then, of running the parishes
• The Catholic Mayor of Manila Arsenio Lacson who was said to have walked out of the Holy Mass the moment the presider read the pastoral letter regarding the unfavorable Rizal Law
• Another influential person who favored the Rizal Law was President Emilio Aguinaldo
• Debate in the Senate

  1. Sen. Laurel endorsed the amendment of Senate Bill 438

  2. Filling in its lapses
• Amended bill vs original

  Included learning Rizal's other works and writings besides Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
• Laurel did not approve the provision for unexpurgated copies of Rizal's novels for tertiary students
• Debate in the Senate

  1. Sen Roseller Lim suggested students be given exemption from reading the original text

  2. If reading such could ruin one's faith
• Debate in the lower house

  1. Congressman Arturo Tolentino endorsed the exact copy of the first amended bill of Laurel

  2. As a substitute to the original Gonzales Bill
• Amended Gonzales Bill and amended substitute Bill of Laurel approved


  May 17, 1956
• Bill signed into law by President Ramon Magsaysay


  June 12, 1956
• Senate Bill 438


  Act that mandates Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo be read and taught obligatorily in all public and private colleges and universities
• Section 4 of the Senate Bill states it is not prohibiting or limiting the studying and learning about other heroes
• The laws were in great favor of Rizal, putting him on a higher pedestal compared to other heroes
• Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo were obligatory to read, which were anti-friar and against the Catholic faith
• In Noli Me Tangere, only 25 pages speak of nationalism, while 120 speak against the church, and 170 speak against the Catholic faith, not including the 50 pages from El Filibusterismo
• The Church, directly from its pastoral letters and through the Congress apologists, went against the bill


  To do so would violate the freedom of conscience and religion upheld by the 1935 Constitution
• There was the persistent opposition of Senator Rodrigo about the provision that obliges the college students to read the unexpurgated copies of Noli and El Fili


  This is solely because the Catholic faith might be shaken, especially if not taught well
• It wasn't nationalism and patriotism that rooted the debate
• The emphasis of Recto on nationalism cannot be denied
• The weight he gave the Filipino-First Policy was even deeper than that of Magsaysay's
• Senator Jose P. Laurel's nationalism was not hindered despite being the president of the Puppet Government during the Japanese occupation
• Congressman Jacobo Gonzales was a Sakdalota which means he was one among those who campaigned for immediate independence
• Those who led the opposition

  • Senator Francisco Rodrigo
  • Raul Manglapus
  • Sen. Decoroso Rosales
• Senator Francisco Rodrigo made a campaign for the Filipino Language