Have you ever wondered who and what are the reasons why we need Rizal subjects in class? Or even why do we need to study the subject itself? Well, it is because of the Republic Act 1425, or the Rizal Law. It has been years since it was implemented and it has come a long way. Yes, a very long way. This act was written by Senator Jose P. Laurel which used a bill written by Claro M. Recto as the basis.
And before it was really implemented in the country it went through several trials. Even after the bill was issued, still, there are problems that came in the way of RA 1425 which is the protagonists and antagonists of the bill or act, and the conflict between the government and the church. Catholic Church believes that Rizal’s writings will discredit the present Catholicism. But Recto claimed that without Rizal’s works, there will be no Filipino bishop today.
Along with the Catholic Church, Jesus Paredes, radio commentator, is against the bill because for him, Catholics had the right to refuse to read Rizal’s work as it would endanger their salvation. Also, Francisco Soc Rodrigo, Mariano Jesus Cuenco and Decoroso Rosales are not in favor to the said bill. They asserted that unity will never be established and it would only result to a crisis. These three described Rizal’s Law as “an instrument of vengeance” against the Catholic community.
Rodrigo pointed out that Rizal become a hero because of his suffering not because of his works or writings, the reason why they think it is unnecessary to include reading his novels, because for the opposition, people who will read the novel will lose religious faith since the novel implies the cruelty of the church and it contained errors of the church doctrine. Aside from the mentioned oppositions, the Congregation of the Mission, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Teachers Guild are adjacent to Rizal Law. On the other hand, though there are anti-Rizal Law there are also pro’s to this bill.
First on the list is of course the proponent of the bill, Jose P. Laurel, which stated that Rizal’s novels contain strengths and weakness, virtues and vices of Filipinos, which can help the Filipinos to prepare for what is about to happen. Claro M. Recto deemed that Rizal’s aim was to encourage Filipino nationalism and his means of doing it was writing the actual situation of the Philippines. Though the arguments of both sides are both understandable, Recto’s claims were more believable. Thus, Rizal Law was implemented.
After reading articles about the historical background of the Rizal Law, it made me realized how hard it is to pass a bill because there will always be antagonists and protagonists to the bill. I’ve learned that we should be obeying laws made in our country because it is for our own good and in the end of the day, we’ll be benefited by the law. Each law encountered trials but the proponents of these fought for the law to pass just to cater our needs. And, I’ve recognized that Rizal subject is indeed vital in the curriculum of students for it is part of the history.
