RIZAL LAW: Content and Context dead and they could no longer attempt his life,

they are attempting to blot out his memory”

RA 1425
An act to include in the curricula of all public and THE AMENDMENTS
private schools, colleges and universities courses  Despite the debates and varying views
on the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, concerning the bill, a compromise was made.
particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere and El  Laurel authored the revised Rizal amended
FIlibusterismo, authorizing the printing and the compulsory reading of the two novels
distribution thereof, and for other purposes.
ARGUMENTS
SENATE BILL 438 Contain in the 4 WHEREAS
An act to make Noli Me Tangere and El WHEREAS 1: Ideals of freedom and nationalism
Filibusterismo compulsory reading matter in all WHEREAS 2: National Character
public and private colleges and universities and WHEREAS 3: Inspiring Source of Patriotism
for other purposes. WHEREAS 4: Civic Conscience and Citizenship

Closes Transaltion: Content

Maria Soledad Lacson-Locsin  Board of National Education:
- Section 2: Libraries - adequate number
Fr. Horacio De la Costa’s View of Rizal: of copies of the original and expurgated copies
- Rizal as having a moral, social and political or their English translations
message for the Filipinos in the 20th century. - Section 3:Supervise the translation of
- “we find nothing in Rizal’s Novels that Rizal’s novels into English, Filipino and other
constitutes serious danger to the faith” dialects. COpies of the said novels must be
printed in cheap editions.
Fr. Jesus Cavanna Vieq of Rizal’s novels - Section 5: P300.00 - fund for the
- “belong to the past and it would be harmful to implementation of the provisions of this law
read them because they presented a false picture
of conditions in the country at that time. Noli Me Exemptions
Tangere is an attack on the clergy and its object  Sec 1 under 2nd paragraph
was to put to ridicule the Catholic faith. The - For reasons of religious beliefs stated
novel was not really patriotic because out of 333 in a sworn written statement from the
pages, only 120 were devoted to anti-Catholic requirements of the provision contained in the
attack.” 2nd part of the first paragraph of this section; but
not from taking the course provided for the
Jesus Cavanna’s view of Rizal and the Rizal Bill first part of the said paragraph.
- Found 120 passages in the NOLI and 50 in El
Fili offensive to the Catholic faith “ Nationalism is nourished by a sense of history.
- to compel Catholics to read Rizal’s It is of its essence to know profoundly the past,
unexpurgated novels was to force heresy on so that we may be in complete openness with the
them and violate their freedom of conscience men who made that history and in intimate
communion with their thoughts, their deeds, and
Archbishop Rufino Santos view of Rizal’s their noble lives.” - Claro M. Recto, Jr.
Novels
- “ without due permission, it is a SIN for any Context
Catholic to read these novels in their entirety or  June 12, 1956
to keep, sell, publish, translate or communicate  A decade after the Japanese Occupation
the same to others in any form. - The people were still looking upon the
Americans as liberators from the ruthless
Recto’s Response… Japanese
- “ the people who would eliminate the books of - Recovery period from post-war
Rizal from the schools… would blot out the devastation
memory of the national hero. This is not a fight  American influence remained STRONG in
recto but a fight against Rizal… now is Rizal is politics, military (base in Pampanga) and
 Economy (treatises and agreements)
CULTURE

Context
 “ The Period of Nationalist Awakening”
- Traditional politicians advances
nationalist ideas and programs
- Claro M. Recto and Jose P. Laurel Sr.
- saw the need to put an end to the
chronic colonial mentality of the people

THE CONTEXT OF THE RIZAL BILL

The Context: Proponent

 Antidote to the overwhelming Americanism
in the Post-War
 Bell-Trade Act
 Parity Rights
 Suppression of the Community led
-HUKBALAHAP
 The Period of “ Nationalist Awakening” or
New Propaganda (Claro M. Recto and Jose P.
Laurel)

A critique of colonial discourse: Rizal an

“American-sponsored Hero”
- Rizal was widely venerated but largely unread
and studied

Between 2 Empires: America and Japan

 Pro-American Learning of Archbishop
Rufino Santos
 Anti-Huk Resistance (Supported the
governments effort to suppress the Huk
Rebellion)
 Filipino American resistance was the
culmination of the “unfinished revolution”
 No need of Rizal’s ideas to encourage
patriotism among Filipinos during Japanese
occupation

Ghost of the Past

 PRO RIZAL BILL:
- Drawing on the history of Rizal’s Spain
(Rizal’s Novels)

 ANTI-RIZAL BILL:
- Drawing on the history of Filipino-
American partnership narrative against
Japanese occupation
- Spanish, American and Japanese Empires
continued to haunt narratives of our past.
 EXTRA NOTES FROM YOUTUBE Are there points of convergence between the
JOSE PROTASIO RIZAL MERCADO Y ALONSO supporters and opposes of the Rizal Bill
REALONDA based on this statements?
It is a way to reawaken the Filipino’s Yes, there were points of convergence between
nationalism, to open our eyes from colonial the supporters and opposes of the Rizal Bill
mentality, and make the youth proud of the based on this statements since the thoughts are
history. basically connected in a way it teaches Filipino
citizens to preserve what we have, specifically
The RATIONAL behind the law was that there is our religion or morality.
a need to deepen the sense of nationalism and
freedom of the people especially of the youth Senator Laurel aims to let the citizens of the
Philippines know their identity as Filipinos
What was the major argument raised by the while senator recto know our history during the
Senator Francisco Rodrigo against the time of the Spaniards Colonization. And our love
passage of the Rizal Bill? for our country as Filipinos and our faith should
The major argument raised by Senator Rodrigo not have any conflict while when reading this
was particularly Noli Me Tangere and El book.
FIlibusterismo, were composed to
straightforwardly assault and scorn the Catholic Do you think the debates on the Rizal Law
Church. He states that it damages the Rule Law have some resonance up to the present? If
of 1933, he too contends that the books are yes, in what way? If no why ?
clearly anti-Catholic. Yes, in a way that it points to stir committed
Filipino in each of us and will make us ready to
acknowledge our imperfections and anticipate
What was the major argument raised by more prominent penances to achieve flexibility
Senator Jose P. Laurel and Claro M. Recto in and esteem our heroes’ life amid their battle
support of the passage of the Rizal Bill? against spaniards. The talks about on the Rizal
Both Sen. Jose P Laurel and Claro M. Recto raised Law tells us that we Filipinos accept that
contentions around Rizal’s novels/writings information of history can make us way better
telling that those novel/writings ought to be citizens, despite the resistance of the Catholic
examined each era, since it contains morality. To Church. Finally, indeed in the event that we are
let the Filipino know the penances and enduring slanted to embrace other societies at the display
of the past individuals and occasions that will time and adjust outside culture, let us better
offer assistance and interface today’s life and understand what Jose Rizal did for our nation
future. since the lessons from the past will be a way for
our victory within the present.
Senator Jose P. Laurel and Claro M. Recto stated
that all Filipinos must read the 2 novels of Rizal Why against ang church sa law… because
in order to know what our identity is. This will reading the novels will abuse Catholic dogmas
let the Filipinos see our strengths and weakness. and will breach freedom of conscience
Also, this allows us to be conscious as a citizen of
the Philippines to learn, know and prepare Why is it important?
ourselves for painful sacrifices that has led to the We become conscious as people the true
freedom that we have now, which was led by meaning national dignity and patriotism
self-respect, self reliance, courage and
leadership. Thus we should know that we are
equal.

Claro M Recto said that Rizal did not meant to

teach how religion must be practice instead he
focused on awakening the Filipino minds on the
current situation during the time of the Spanish
Colonization.
Unexpurgated editions of the novels helps us New form of Communication : Printing Press
understand and empathize how situations and (1493) there became an upsurge in regional
life was like back then during the Spanish vernacular such as French, English &
regime. And because history tends to fabricate German while the importance of the sacred
many things in order to save face or cover up the languages and the power structure that they
cruelty shown in the past actions. have built began to diminish.

First monument was built during the

AMEPRICAN Period Around the year 1500, 77% were printed in
Latin,1575 a majority of the book were now
Rizal Park is a sacred ground because Rizals printed in French
remains are kept in his monument from where
he is standing. The printing press made room for a new cultural
system to emerge alongside the religious
Ngano ge endorse sa american si Rizal ? or what community. Benedict Anderson says:
are there motivation? They have to do all the “The coalition between protestantism and print-
strategies to win the filipinos heart, they capitalism quickly created large new reading
supported rizal. Perfect model of the Filipinos publics who typically knew little or no Latin,
and american pud daw ingon pa ang americans. and simultaneously mobilized them for political
religious purposes”
NEW NOTES When the reformation started challenging
IMAGINED COMMUNITIES the unquestioning authority of the Catholic
Church as well as the sacred language, people
Benedict Anderson define the nation as an around Europe/ all around the world started
Imagined Political Community. thinking about themselves differently as a group
and began aligning themselves around new ideas
Imagined because we will never meet all of our different from what the religious community had
fellow Filipino cuntry men and we will never be bee dictating.
at the same place at once and yet we are
confident of their existence within the nation. The 2nd Cultural System that had been
challenged by the Revolution of Print
2 Cultural Systems that characterized the 2. Dynastic Realms -this refers to a Political
medieval times: system of monarchies in which it was believed
1. Religious Community - the spread of major that a queen or king had a divine right to rule.
religions and the influence that they had over The power and influence on Dynastic
vast territories of land Realms begins to decline around on the 17 th
All these religious community all held in Century.
common is that”conceived of themselves as Examples:(1649) King Charles of England
cosmically central through the medium of a was beheaded which temporarily disbands
sacred language, linked to a super-terrestrial the English Monarchy.
power” (1776) The American Colonies declare and
Spoken language/Sacred language such Independence from the British Empire.
as Hebrew, Greek, Latin were believedby (1777) A decade later the French Revolution
their practitioners to have possessed an begins which overthrows the French
unthological truth, through which only Monarchy.
through these languages could you
express truth or no God. Print Media along with other aspects of the
enlightenment hopes to fuel this populist
And because of these sacred movements that overthrows the dynastic realms
languages and exclusive linkage with that had been in place for so long.
their religion that served as a major
force for identity within the religious It does this by not only providing a medium that
community. provides a way for his.these thoughts to be mass
dissimenated so as to create large scale
conversation through which common grievances Spanish Mestizos - persons of mixed Spanish-
and common aspiration can be discussed, “ to native ancestry.
mobilize a large group of people for common
purpose” The Spain was formally divided into four
categories:
THE “NATION” 1. Spaniards and Spanish Mestizos
3 distinct ways in which print language/media (those who did not pay the tribute)
laid the basis for a National Consciousness by : 2. Indios (Malayan inhabitants of the
1. Created a unified field of communication and archipelago, who are now called
exchange. Filipinos)
2. Gave preference to printed vernaculars 3. Chinese
a) The vernaculars that are 4. Chinese Mestizo
appearing in print began to be
more commonly used, commonly The amount of their tribute payments and the
referred to and as a result those services demanded of them varied
languages that didn’t have a print 1. Indio - paid the lowest tribute
expression slowly began to be 2. Chinese Mestizo - double the tribute
phased out and this of course had paid by the indio, the stated reason
the effect of homogenizing being that he was assumed to have
languages until there was a very approximately double the earning
few perhaps one central capacity of the indio.
vernacular that was being used 3. Chinese - paid a much larger tribute
within a region. than that paid by the Chinese Mestizo,
3. Gave a new Fixity to Language because his earning capacity was larger
a) Anderson uses the example of than that of the mestizo.
books and how the ability to Throughout most of the Spanish period the Indio
mass-produce a book and to and Mestizo also had to supply a fixed amount of
distribute it almost anywhere in forced labor every year, an obligation that did
the country gave a new sense of not fall upon the Chinese.
antiquity to the nation.
b) For example when we learn Chinese was a commercially-oriented money
about American history we maker. What he could best supply was money.
Indio whose concerns were chiefly agricultural,
PRINT allows the nation to preserve and access what he could best supply, other than tribute
its culture and history in ways that weren’t grain was labor.
possible before the printing press and Chinese Mestizo possibly in commerce, possibly
in both
The importance of print is that it preserves the
antiquity of the language/Philippines. Soon after the Spaniards arrived, the Chinese
moved into an important economic position.
Chinese established themselves at or near
Spanish settlements, serving them in various
ways, as provisioners of food, as retail traders,
and as artisans.

Given the Spanish assumption that the Chinese

were economically indispensable (and a few
Spaniards questioned the assumption during the
first centuries of Spanish rule), the only way to
overcome the dilemma would be to find means
to convert the Chinese to Catholicism and
Hispanism.
A more basic reason simply that the Chinese many writers would rise up to the present my
were there, and that the Spanish mandate to country to proud Europe.
Catholixize and Hispanize the people of the
Philippines seemed to mean all the people in the - I will attempt to faithfully reproduce your
Philippines. Nevertheless, the creation of a condition without much ado. (dedication)
dependable group of Catholic Chinese merchants
and artisans loyal to Spain would be a clear AIMS OF NOLI
advantage. Economic interest and political - I have unmasked the hypocrisy which under
security could be thus be harmonized. the cloak of religion came among us to
impoverish and brutalize us;
NOLI ME TANGERE
- I have distinguished the true religion from the
- Published in Berlin Germany on March 1887 false, from the superstious, from that which
- Copies were smuggled to the Philippines traffics with the sacred word to extract money;
- Political Novel
- Style: Satirical, Allegorical - I have unveiled what lay hidden behind the
- Setting: San Diego (Laguna or miniature of the deceptive and brilliant words of the government;
Philippines)
- Dedication: To the Filipino People (A Mi Patria) - I have told our compatriots of our faults, our
vices, our culpable and shameful complacence
The Dedication with these miseries. ( A letter of Rizal to
- In the annals of human adversity, there etched Blumentritt)
a Cancer of a breed so malignant that the
least exacerbates it and stirs in it the The Author’s Expressed Intention
sharpest pains. And thus, so many times amidst - An EXPOSE’ the country’s realities to propose a
modern cultures, I have wanted to evoke you, cure by example
sometimes for memories of you to keep me - Metaphor: Patient suffering cancer (Malignant)
company, other times to compare you with other - Moral Regeneration
nations - many times your beloved image
appears to me afflicted with social cancer of The Noli According to RIZAL
similar malignancy. - “the first impartial book about the life of the
Tagalogs”
- Desiring your well-being, which is our own, and - The book written for the Tagalogs and must be
searching for the best cure, I will do with you as read by the Tagalogs
the ancients of old did with afflicted: - “ The Filipinos will find in it the history of the
last 10 years”
- Expose them on the steps of the temple so that - “ The incidents in the Noli that I relate are true
each on who would come to invoke the Divine, and they all happened. I can give proofs of them”
would propose a CURE for them.
The Noli According to Scholars
- And to this end I will faithfully reproduce your ….. in the European 19th century sense of this
condition without much ado. I will lift part of the form is nevertheless Filipino in the particularity
shroud that conceals your illness, sacrificing to of motive, subject and content. (Dr. Resil B.
truth, even my own self-respect, for you as your Mojares)
son, I also suffer in your defects and failings.
… a charter of nationalism for Filipinos, “a
Jose Rizal’s Motivation of Writing the NOLI catalyst of the revolution (John Schumacher)
- I must wake from its slumber the spirit of my
fatherland …. revealing descriptions of the realities of
the country through vivid character sketches
- I must first propose to my countrymen an (Lechon Ma. Guerrero)
example with which to struggle against their bad
qualities and afterwards when they reformed, The Noli according to CAROLINE HAUS: The
Fiction of Knowable Community
WHY used a NOVEL? - Proscription of novel made it more
- A self-conscious genre at the turn of the 19 th controversial
century - Most people had no access to the novel
- Provided the technical means for re-presenting - RUMORS (another form of circulation)
the kind of imagined community that is the preceded before the act of reading.
nation (Anderson) - Can someone be influenced by Rizal’s Noli
without reading it
Literature as Historylike
- Literature has the capacity to intervene in According to Caroling Hau…
history, to help construct it - Nationalism and literature thus come together
- Literature enters history through its exposition in the invention of political community.
of “knowable community”

Rizal’s Novels as MODERN ARTIFACTS

- Modern - external-outside
- Rizal as MODERN MAN (RENAISSANCE)
- Universalist notion of world history of
progress and change and looks to other
countries, specifically to MODERN EUROPE for
the concrete embodiment of the ideals.

How did Rizal Construct a “Knowable

Community”

- by deploying a narrative of deveploment

defining the new ‘modern’ community in
temporal (by providing the political chart of the
progress of human condition) and spatial (by
adumbrating the external and internal condition
of nation-state)

- Ex. Frequent depiction of crowds of people

gathering and assembling.

- In the NOLI and EL FILI, the meaning of

“community” a crowd that is aware of its
purpose as a collective actor to achieve the
purpose.

- It is perhaps the novel’s ability to imagine the

possibility of Self-Sacrificing Death (ELIAS)
that allows the community to be rendered
Meaningful.

The Narrative Reticence

- Building up tension and intrigue so as spawn
meaning-making on the part of the reader.
- Ex. Dona Pia Alba ‘case (relation with Padre
Damaso)
- Murder of Crispin

Reception of the Nolie Me Tangere

- Poor Circulation