Discussion Map

(Reason For) (Reason Against)

According to the article of Fr. Cavanna, the principal
Horacio de la Costa and the author of the letter, made a
Bishops, de la costa played positive viewpoint as he
a role in the controversy of adopted de la Costa’s draft
the Rizal Bill implemented in C, but several phrases were
1956 (Schumacher). removed or dropped, and
Perhaps de la Costa’s draft other statements were
has made an impact to the inserted. It should not have
debate of passing the bill mattered, with regards to
that makes it worthwhile to opposing the bill, what de la
scrutinize his drafts. He gave Costa have drafted because
a different impression and the church still made
perspective to Rizal’s work substantial efforts in
tackling the concepts, and questioning Rizal’s work
teachings of his works. De la following the excerpts of de
Costa stated in his first draft, la Costa in Fr. Cavanna’s
A, which appeared to be his statement. They highly
original draft, that Rizal believe that teaching it to the
wasn’t attacking the church young will make them
but the abuses, and the question the church. This is
wrongdoings of the priests all to protect the teachings of
that we should not deny the church, and to instill the
happened during his time. faith of the Filipinos.
Question/Issue
Was the drafts of De la Costa
worth scrutinizing?
Examining de la Costa’s
Fr Cavanna argues that
drafts have given us a clear
Rizal’s works weren’t
vision and opinion of what
patriotic at all because it was
the church thinks of Rizal’s
attacking Filipino’s belief to
works because as we
Catholicism. In fact,
compare the other drafts to
according to the Statement
the original, certain
of the Philippine Hierarchy
alterations we’re made to
on the Novels of dr. Rizal,
directly attack and oppose to
the teachings of Christ
the passing of the Bill,
contribute to the
making Rizal as the enemy
development, and gives
of the church, rather than
foundation of the
looking at the objective of
nationalism. (CBCP) Thus
Rizal and his works. In
expresses concern from the
addition, de la Costa’s draft,
church because the young
A although were alternated,
scholars could misinterpret
pertained Rizal’s work as no
Rizal’s work.
danger to the morals, and
faith of the scholars.
A suspected interlocutor was
assumed to be the reason of
de la Costa’s alternated
drafts to make the bishops
approve or make use of his
letter, however the drafts
made an impression that the Fr. Cavanna’s argument
church was hiding the disagrees with the passing of
analysis, and letter of de la the bill due to the fear of their
Costa to Rizal’s work as it catholic scholars reading
does not oppose to his attacks towards their faith.
teaching but merely giving a
Students might not
fair support, and warning
understand it the way de la
about the readings of Rizal
which made his drafts Costa tries to portray Rizal’s
worthwhile examining as it work as and might
gave a refreshing misinterpret it which could
perspective of Rizal’s work, make them question their
and words on freedom, and beliefs and attack the church
the truth. as well. They might miss the
purpose of the bill which is to
promote nationalism by
teaching the work and life of
our national heroes not only
Rizal.

Conclusion and Justification

The drafts of de la Costa
It is proven how powerful the
weren’t in anyway supporting
church is, and how impactful their
the Bill as it was drafted in Fr. Cavanna’s Statement
decision are as they try to
1952, while the Bill was addresses concern about the
intervene with the issues of the
implemented in 1956 teaching of Rizal’s work as it
state. De la Costa’s drafts and
together with Fr. Cavanna’s is a threat to morality. The
letter aimed to express new
“new statement” church is not wrong to fear
perspective towards the work of
commissioned by Abp. their catholic students to the
Rizal, while Fr. Cavanna’s
Rufino J. Santos, but it ideals, and preaching’s of
statement aimed to shed light to
served as a reminder to the Rizal. It was only natural to
the churches’ concern towards the
people that Rizal isn’t enemy protect the nation form losing
student’s morality, and faith. The
of anyone else in the nation, their beliefs, and faith to the
Bill aimed to restore Filipino’s
and instead it serves as an church as the novels did
nationalism through the life and
inspiration that would make contain an attack toward the
works of not only Rizal, but our
us be proud of our own priests. Rizal tackled an idea
national heroes in order to gain
national identity. Their of freedom from other nation,
insights, and give honor to their
sacrifices to achieve our however, made claims that
achievement. However, it is up to
freedom should be valued as violated freedom of
these scholars on how they would
a work of nationalism, and conscience, and religion.
analyze, and understand Rizal’s
patriotism.
novels, and life with the guidance,
and proper direction of teachers,
and professors.
Reference(s):

Schumacher, John. (2011). The Rizal Bill of 1956 Horacio Dela Costa and the Bishops. Philippine Studies,
Vol.59, No.4, Rizal @150: pp.529-553.Ateneo de Manila University. http//.jstor.org//42634695

CBCP. (n.d.). Statement of the Philippine Hierarchy on the Novels of Dr. Jose Rizal | CBCP Online.
CBCP Online. Retrieved August 28, 2021, from https://cbcponline.net/statement-of-the-philippine-hierarchy-

on-the-novels-of-dr-jose-rizal/