Compare and contrast the arguments and views of those in favor of and against R.A.
1425,
considering the context of the 1950s. Write your comparison on the table below.
Arguments in favor of RA 1425 Arguments against RA 1425
The Rizal bill was authored by Senator
Senator Rosales contended that the
Claro M., and it was sought to be
law concentrates exclusively on
sponsored by former Senator Jose P.
Filipino nationalism, ignoring the
Laurel Sr. With this legislation, it aims
religious views of others and their
to teach the Filipino youth about the
effect on the individual.
concept of Nationalism
The catholic religious group opposed
and blocked the approval of the said
They claimed that reading and
bill, together with Senator Rodrigo as
teaching Jose Rizal's books, Noli Me
he stated that “It’s not necessary to
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, should
read the novels of Rizal in order to
be implemented in all public and
venerate him, Rizal would still be a
private institutions in order to spread
hero, even if he had not written his
awareness of his self-sacrifice and its
books. It was because of the sufferings
enormous contribution to our
he endured that he became our
country.
national hero”
The main proponent of the said bill
and others who are in favor of the
The Church asserted that reading the
law, namely; Emilio Aguinaldo, Mayor
novels distorts people's perceptions of
Arsenio Lacson, Sen. Quintin Paredes,
the church and casts doubt on God's
reinforced their dedication that his
power due to the novel's excessive
novels and writings should be read
degradation toward the catholic
each generation because it contains
church
great sense of nationalism and
morality.
In the 1955 Senate election, the
Catholic Church charged Recto of being
Sen. Recto believed that Rizal’s works
a communist and anti-Catholic. As
also exposed the Catholic church’s
stated by Rodrigo (1956), it also
explicit issues and estranged many
violates the Canon Law of 1933 and
Christian beliefs during that time
argues that the books are clearly anti-
Catholic.
Arguments in favor of RA 1425 Arguments against RA 1425
Lacson believes that it is not just Fr. Jesus Cavanna argued that the
about the catholic teachings that novels are part of the past, and
should be taught to the students but teaching them would misinterpret
Rizal’s works also is a big part of our the present situations conditions.
history that taught us about
patriotism.
In their defense of the measure, The church maintained its
Recto and Laurel asserted that the opposition to the legislation even
bill's sole purpose is to preserve after the election. Instituting a
Rizal's memory of his nonviolent requirement for the reading of
struggle for freedom, rather than to Rizal’s novels would be a violation
offend religious sensibilities. of religious freedom of conscience.
Would similar arguments still have force today? Justify your answer in not more than three (3)
sentences.
The way people dispute in the past is not the same as it is today since we are different
now and we're in a generation that has the freedom to do anything we want, to live our lives
how we want, to choose what kind of life we want to take for the future and absolutely not the
same as in previous years when Filipinos argued for the independence of our country.
The generation's techniques of demonstrating patriotism and nationalism have also
evolved and as a Filipino, we demonstrate respect as a kind of patriotism in such a way we
accept another person's decision, life views, and even our political beliefs.
The same way that we also give respect to Rizal’s life and works up until in today’s world
as we commemorate his enormous contribution to our country and this should be infused in the
minds of the youth in order to instil a sense of national pride in them of how the Rizal Law
develop the moral character, citizenship, personal discipline and civic consciousness of every
individual.
