The Debate Over the Rizal Bill

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the key people, organizations, dates, and arguments surrounding the passage of the Rizal Bill in the Philippines.

Senate Bill 438

The bill filed by Senator Jose P. Laurel on April 17, 1956, which aimed to make Noli and Fili required reading for public and private colleges and universities.

Senator Jose P. Laurel

The Senator who filed Senate Bill 438 and argued that reading Rizal's books would teach people to resist tyranny and oppression of all forms.

Senator Claro M. Recto

A key proponent of the Rizal Bill who argued that the novels inculcate civic consciousness, national dignity, and patriotism, and that they were not placed in the Index Librorum Prohibitorum by the Vatican.

House Bill 5561

The measure introduced in the House by Laguna Rep. Jacabo Gonzales as a companion to the Senate Bill.

Archbishop Rufino Santos

The Archbishop of Manila who, along with other Catholic bishops, opposed the Rizal Bill.

Senator Decoroso Rosales

An opponent of the bill who compared Rizal's novels to 'partially rotten apples' and asserted that 95% of those who fought in World War II did not read them.

Senator Francisco Rodrigo

An opponent of the bill who proposed compromises such as using expurgated copies or footnotes to explain controversial portions.

Catholic Welfare Organization

A group that launched a national campaign against the bill and discredited Fr. Joaquin Jaromillo for speaking in its favor.

Fr. Joaquin Jaromillo

A religious figure who favored the Rizal Bill but was discredited by the Catholic hierarchy and not allowed to speak in the Senate.

Index Librorum Prohibitorum

A list of prohibited books by the Catholic Church; Senator Recto pointed out that neither Noli nor Fili were included on this list by the Vatican or the Spanish hierarchy.

Bishop Manuel Yap

The Bishop of Bacolod who warned that legislators in favor of the Rizal Bill would be voted out of office.

May 12, 1956

The date the Senate unanimously approved Senator Laurel’s substitute measure, making original and unexpurgated editions of Noli and Fili basic texts in college.

Unexpurgated

The original, complete editions of Rizal's novels which were the focus of the mandatory reading requirement and the primary point of opposition.

Religious Freedom

The right cited by opponents who argued that being compelled to read unexpurgated editions of Rizal's novels violated their beliefs.

170 and 50

The number of passages in the Noli and instances in the Fili, respectively, that the Filipino Church hierarchy found offensive to the Catholic faith.

Nationalization threat

Senator Recto's response to the threat of Catholic schools closing, suggesting the government would simply nationalize them.

Rizal Bill Exemption paragraph

A compromise inserted into the final law allowing college students to be exempt from reading unexpurgated texts for reasons of religious belief.