Torres, Angela Mae S.

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ASSIGNMENT 1

ESSAY: 
What was the major argument raised by Senator Francisco Rodrigo against the passage
of the Rizal Bill?

It was indeed true that Rizal Bill was popular as the most controversial bill passed in the
Philippines. Back then, it prompted a debate between the upper house and the lower house of
the Senate and the House of Representatives before it could be officially approved as a law.

In pursuant to that, there were three senators who were in the opposition of passing the bill, one
of them was Senator Francisco Rodrigo who was firm with his argument that the writings of
Jose Rizal were written to directly attack and scorn the Catholic Church. 

Senator Rodrigo supported his claim by articulating the violation of the Canon Law of 1933
where he argued that the books, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, were undeniably anti-
Catholic. However, he also declared that he doesn’t want to establish a conflict between
nationalism and religion, between the Government and the Church.

What was the major argument raised by Senators Jose P. Laurel and Claro M. Recto in
support of the passage of the Rizal Bill?

Though Senator Francisco Rodrigo was in the opposition of the passing of Rizal Bill, Senator
Jose P. Laurel who was then the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Senator Claro
M. Recto who authored the bill was in the affirmative side of the debate. 

Both Senators Laurel and Recto were substantial with their belief in nationalism. The
nationalism they were talking about served as the foundation to come up with this republic act,
to set our country free from the hands of others and stand up on our own—exactly the ideals
and values that Rizal strove to fight for. 

They contend that the writings were written for the Filipino people, specifically the Filipino youth,
who may have lost their sense of nationalism as such it should be read to each generation for it
contains morality.

Also, it was visible that Rizal wanted to disseminate what really the word "freedom" means and
aimed at inculcating consciousness in the Filipino to awaken people for the sacrifices and
suffering of the past people and events that will help and connect today's life and future.

Are there points of converge between the supporters and opposers of the Rizal Bill
based on the statements?

Yes, there were points of converge between the supporters and opposers of the Rizal Bill since
the thoughts are basically connected in a way that it teaches Filipino citizens to preserve what
they have, specifically the religion or morality.
The concepts of morality and religiosity have been long associated with each other in a manner
that these two co-exist and they were of equal importance for a human person’s eventual ideal
character.