Scarborough Chapter
CANADA
SPEAKING OF THE PAST, THERE IS STILL A LINGERING QUESTION THAT IS BUGGING ME: WHERE WERE THE MEN AND WOMEN IN PUGAD LAWIN WHO ON AUGUST 26, 1898 WERE SHOUTING “MABUHAY SI DR RIZAL, MABUHAY ANG ATING BAYAN” MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!” WHERE THEY ON THE NIGHT OF DECEMBER, 29, 1896 TO RESCUE DR. JOSE RIZAL?
You will be surprised like me when you open the combined two novels in one book edition of Rizal’s NOLI-FILI translated by Leon Ma Guerrero where there is an appended essay by Professor George Fabros of UP, titled “A NOLI Reader”
Fabros’ article focused on the hot and heated debate in the passage of the Rizal Bill that when it became LAW it mandated that all high school and college students to take as academic subject, Rizal's NOLI ME TANGERE and EL FILIBUSTERISIMO so as to encourage them “to learn deeper on the life, works and writings of our national hero”.
The year I956 was a showdown between those who espoused NATIONALISM led by Recto and Laurel on one camp and those who vehemently opposed it in the name of RELIGIOUS FREEDOM passionately defended by Senator Francisco “SOC’ Rodrigo, Mariano Jesus Cuenco and Senator Decoroso Rosales of Cebu. By the way, “SOC”, is not short for Socrates but stands for “SOLDIER OF CHRIST”.
Each camp mobilized all resources to outwit each other as they both engaged in all-out war seeking public support and sympathy.
What is striking in Fabros article was the active representation and strong contingent from "The Knights of Columbus", "The Catholic Action of the Philippines", "Congregation of Missions", "The Catholic Teachers Guilds" and other Catholic Groups, who trooped to Congress lobbying to defeat the bill.
A list of backers who threw solid support behind Recto and Laurel according to the article were "The Spirit of 1896", "Alagad Ni Rizal", Freemasons and "Booklovers Society".
If this is really true what are the valid reasons why there were no Knights of Rizal, the Kababaihang Rizalista, “Pangarap Ni Rizal”, or the “KAGUNARI” 1956 RIZAL Bill Senate proceedings to show support as Don Claro M. Recto and Senator Jose P. Laurel waged a fiery debate that finally turned back the tide of strong Catholic opposition in the passage of the Rizal Bill.
Well, after endless partisan discussions and debates in Congress, the Rizal Bill was approved on June 12, 1956 and became Republic Act 1425 known as the Rizal Law.
Perhaps it was the cunning leadership if not statesmanship of Don Claro M. Recto, who with a fellow Batangas senator Jose Laurel Sr. sponsored and maneuvered the passage of Rizal Bill.
In sponsoring the Rizal Bill, Senator Recto was echoing the national hero’s motive why he wrote the NOLI, ”to remove the veil that has kept his countrymen 300 years of ignorance and superstition”. Even with the best of intentions of Recto and Laurel, how many who went to university ‘compelled’ to take Rizal course learned and appreciated the literary talent and patriotic motives of Rizal?
Reading the NOLI and FILI just to satisfy passing an academic subject is one thing, to emulate Rizal is another.
Apolinario Mabini while on exile in Guam confided as shown in the written notes at the back of the cover of his copy of the of NOLI that he cannot be a Rizal but he will try to follow his teachings without fanfare meaning avoiding occasions where celebrating “Rizal Day” is like “circus in fiestas and carnivals” and pouting nothing but patriotic expressions!
PERHAPS OUR SUPREME COUNCIL PURSUIVANT MAY HAVE THE ANSWER TO ENLIGHTEN YOU AND ME.
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You questioned where were the Knights of Rizal during the crucial vote for the Rizal Bill?
I believe they were nowhere to be found as they were all opposed to the bill.
You see, the leaders of the Knights of Rizal felt that this new law requiring the teaching of Rizal in schools had the effect of superceding the Republic Act passed bestowing the duty on the Order of the Knights of Rizal to enlighten the citizenry about Rizal .
Now, all of a sudden the onus was to be passed on to the teachers, who may not be as passionate about our national hero as the Knights of Rizal, and may even take the hostile attitude for adding another load to their already heavy schedule.
The second reason is that by making it mandatory, the reverse effect happened in that the students now hate that particular subject and though unintended also our national hero.
Imagine if one did not graduate because he failed the Rizal course. I assure you that student will hate Rizal for the rest of his life.
I don't think I'd blame the Order of the Knights of Rizal for not showing up.
Source: http://groups.google.com/group/kor-world/msg/ae843fb245ec7656?pli=1
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