Spectres of Comparison  Among those stimulated by the competition to

undertake a new translation was Leon Ma.

Benedict Anderson
Guerrero
• Benedict Richard O’ 'Gorman Anderson
 Anderson critiqued the translation of Guerrero
• Irish political scientist and historian which was “The lost eden”(Noli) and “The
subversive”(Fili)
• Best known for his 1983 book Imagined
Communities  He also stated that the mistranslations
weakened the real essence of Rizal’s novels.
• a polyglot with an interest in southeast Asia.
León María Guerrero III
What is in the book?
- a Filipino writer,
 The “spectre of comparisons” arises as nations
stir into self awareness, matching themselves - Revolutionary leader,
against others, and becoming whole through
- Politician
the exercise of the imagination.
- The first licensed pharmacist in the Philippines
 In this series of profound and eloquent essays,

m
Benedict Anderson, best known for his classic - One of the most eminent botanists in the

er as
book on nationalism, Imagined Communities, country in his time.

co
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explores these effects as they work their way
Spectre of Comparison: Hard to imagine
through politics and culture.

o.
 As Benedict opted to do research on Philippine
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Benedict Anderson completely trusts Rizal’s works.
nationalism and recognized that he needed to
ou urc
 He was a great admirer of Jose Rizal whom he learn to read Spanish, and decided to teach
fondly called “Lolo Jose” and who occupied himself by reading the Noli and Fili in the
special places in his writings. original, with Guerrero’s version as crib.
o
aC s

 he trusts completely in the significance of Rizal’s  His line by line reading quickly brought attention
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words as a way, ultimately, to understand both that Guerrero’s version was systematically
the hero and the nation he produced. distorted in the most interesting ways.

 According to Benedict, Rizal was “a highly gifted 7 key elements of Guerrero’s translation strategy
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poet, historian, scientist, Journalist, linguist,

 Demodernization
ar stu

satirist, political activist, and above all, novelist.”

 Exclusion of the reader
Spectre of Comparison: Hard to imagine
 Getting rid of tagalog
is

 It had been long agreed that Rizal’s two novels,

Noli Me tangere and El Filibusterismo are the  Bowdlerization
Th

chefs-d'oeuvre of Philippine literature. and had

a central role in the "awakening" of Filipino  Delocalization
nationalism.  De-Europeanization
sh

 Unluckily the “First Filipino” had composed Anachronism

these works in Spanish, however English
translations did exist, but these had been
composed, some even by foreigners in the
colonial era.

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 7 Elements of Translation by León María Guerrero III Excision of Tagalog

Demodernization Rizals Spanish text is bejewelled with Tagalog words and

expressions. Sometimes they arc deployed for sheer
Reversion from modernization to a pre-modern state;
comic etrecL sometimes to deepen the reader's sense of
removal of modern elements or amenities from.
the cont1icts between peninsular Spaniards. creoles.
It is characteristic of Rizal's bravura style that although mestizos and indios. But most often they simply reflect,
the story of the Noli is set in the (recent) past and thus as did the Anglo-Indian that adeveloped in Victorian
the dominant tense is the past, there are frequent times, the casual penetration of the imperial vernacular
glissando modulations into the present Yet, every such by local languages
present was
Bowdlerization
systematically turned by Guerrero into the past. For
remove material that is considered improper or
example, on the wonderful opening page. Rizal
offensive from (a text or account), especially with the
maliciously writes: ''Cued una sacudida electrica
result that the text becomes weaker or less effective
corri6 Ia noticia en el mundo de los par{tsitos, moscas 6
It is plain that Guerrero bowdlerized many passages
colados que Dios cri6en su inrinita bondad, y tan
which made him uncomfortable -passages alluding to
carinosamente multiplica en Manila"

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political or religious matters as well as swear words and

er as
references to bodily functions. A nice example of the

co
first is a sly passage where Rizal discusses the

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Exclusion of the Reader superstitious veneration of Capitan Tiago for certain

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 A simple example is the transition religious images.
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between a scene where Father Damaso pushes
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Delocalization
Don Santiago into the latter's study for a secret
confabulation and the following scene which Almost all the scenes in the Noli are set either in "San
features some lively scheming between 2 Diego" (present-dayCalamba. and Rizalss home town) or
o

Dominicans. Rizal writes ( Kapitan Tiago se puso in Manila. The Manila chapters arc replete with
aC s

inquieto perdio el uso de la palabra, pero references to, and descriptions oL streets. churches,
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obedicio y siguio detras de colosal saeerdote, neighbourhoods, cafes, esplanades, theatres, and so li
cerro detras de sila puerta. Mientras forth. Some of these have of course,disappeared over
conferencian en secreto averiguemos que sa ha the course of the last century and others have changed
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hecho de Fr. Sibilya) their names and the purposes for vvhich they arc used.
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Exclusion of the Reader Guerrero eliminated as much as 80 percentof these still-

recognizable place and names. It would be quite easy.
Supposed Translation using the original Spanish text, to follow Rizal's heroes
is

 Captain Tiago became uneasy, and lost his and villains as they move around the metropolis, but
almost impossible if one employs Guerrero's American
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tounge but obeyed and followed after the

colossal priest who locked the door behind him. version. Furthermore, Rizal on occasion brings on stage
While they are conferring in secret, let us find the \Veil-known music-hall and operetta "stars" or his
out what happened to Father Sibyla day: Chananay. Yeyeng. Marianito, CarvajaL and so on.
sh

These figures function as might Woody Allen,

Guerrero's Version Pavarotti,and Madonna in a sophisticated novel about
 He made Capitan Tiago so uneasy he was unable contemporary New York. They do not need explaining
to reply and obediently followed the burly priest since every 1880s reader would automatically know
who closed the door behind them. Meantime in who they were.
another part of the city the scholarly
Dominican, Father Sibyla, had left his parished
home.
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 De-Europeanization

 Rizal was an unusually cultivated man, made

familiar through his Jesuit schooling with latin
and the world of antiquity. He knew Spanish,
french, english, german, as well as a smattering
of Italian and Hebrew. He also read widely in
European Literature. Therefore the Noli me
Tangere is filled with untranslated tags for
satire purposes, references and quotations from
Famous European Masters.

 Meanwhile Guerrero's approach is to elimenate

them or to naturalize them as far as possible.

Anachronism

An anachronism is a chronological inconsistency in some

arrangement, especially a juxtaposition of persons,

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events, objects, or customs from different periods

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The most striking examples of anachronism all, in

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different ways, relate to the changing "official" social-
political classification systems operating in the

o.
Philippines in the 1880s and 1950
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For example. Rizal (p. 27) laughingly says or a kitschy
image of St. Michael in a rich man's home that the
archangel "embraza un escudo griego y blande en Ia
o

dicstra un kris joloano," or "holds a Greek shield on his

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arm and brandishes in his right hand a Jolonesc Kris

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Guerrero's Version

 carried a Greek shield on one arm and with the

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other wielded a Malay kris

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 Aside from the characteristic distancing shift of

the obvious metamorphosis is of "Jolonese kris"
into "Malay kris." Rizal saw no need to italicize
is

"kris." a word (and a short sword) known to

everyone in the archipelago, then and now.
Th
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Trials of the Rizal Bill

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 The Making of the Rizal Law  There is a need for a rededication to the ideals
of freedom and nationalism for which our
In 1956, Senator Jose P. Laurel filed a Senate Bill 448 or
heroes lived and died.
the Rizal Bill. Its passage was rough due to the several
persons who tried to block its approval.  There is a need to remember with special
fondness and devotion of the lives and works of
Claro M. Recto
our heroes who shaped the national character.
 Supporter of the senate Bill 438
 The life, works and writings of Rizal are constant
 Prestigious colleague of senator Laurel and inspiring source of patriotism

 Ardent Nationalist  There is a need to develop moral character,

personal discipline, civic conscience and to
Notable Persons Who tried to Block Its approval teach the duties of citizenship.
 Sen. Decoroso Rosales – brother of archbishop AN ACT TO MAKE NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL
( Cardinal ) Rosales FILIBUSTERISMO COMPULSORY READING MATTER
IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLEGES AND
 Francisco “Soc” Rodrigo – President of Catholic UNIVERSITIESW AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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Action of the Philippines

er as
 Be it enacted by the senate and the House of
 Sen. Mariano Cuenco – brother of archbishop

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Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

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Cuenco assembled:

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 Jesus Paredes – Radio Commentator  SECTION 1. Jose Rizal ‘s Noli Me Tangere and
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 Fr. Jesus cavana – member of the Paulist Order El Filibusterismo are hereby declared
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who wrote a pastoral letter. compulsory reading matter in all public and
private schools, colleges and universities in the
Reasons of Persons Who blocked the Approval of the Philippines.
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Rizal Bill
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 SECTION2: The works mentioned in Section 1

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 The Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are of this act shall be in the original editions or in
very damaging to the clerics their unexpected English and natural language
versions.
 The novels were written when Dr. Jose Rizal was
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estranged from Catholic faith, religion and the  SECTION 3: The department of Education shall
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contradict of the Christian Beliefs. take steps to promulgate rules and regulations
for the immediate implementation of the
 To compel catholic Students to read a book
provisions of this act.
which contains passage of contradicting their
is

faith constitutes a violation of a Philippine  SECTION 4: No provision of this act shall be

constitutional provision ( Art.3, sec. 1, Par. 7 ) constructed as prohibiting or limiting the study
Th

of the works of other Filipino heroes.

Notable Persons Who fought for its Approval
SECTION 5: Any public or private college or university
 Sen. Jose P. Laurel
sh

found violating, failing to comply with, or

 Claro M. Recto circumventing the provisions of this act shall be
punished accordingly:

a. The Head of any public college or university

charged with implementing the provisions of
this Act, who shall have been found guilty of
violating, failing to comply with, or
Reasons of the persons who Pushed for the Approval circumventing the provisions thereof, shall be
of Rizal Bill
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 dismissed immediately from the service and  (3) Every citizen has a right to select a
shall be disqualified from teaching in any profession or course of study, subject to fair,
public or government recognized private reasonable, and equitable admission and
school, college or university. academic requirements.cralaw

b. government recognition of any private college  (4) The State shall enhance the right of
or university found violating or circumventing teachers to professional advancement. Non-
the provisions of this Act dhsll be immediately teaching academic and non-academic
withdrawn, and the responsible Head and personnel shall enjoy the protection of the
professor or professors concerned shall be State.cralaw
disqualified from teaching i9n any
 (5) The State shall assign the highest budgetary
Government- recognized college or university
priority to education and ensure that teaching
SECTION 6: This act shall take upon its approval. will attract and retain its rightful share of the
best available talents through adequate
remuneration and other means of job
Senator Laurel said.. satisfaction and fulfillment.

“ Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo must be read Recto declared….

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er as
by all Filipinos. They must be taken to heart, for in
“Rizal did not pretend to teach religion or theology

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their pages we see as in a mirror: our defects as well as
when he wrote those books. He aimed at in calculating

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our strength, our virtues as well as our vices. Only the
civic consciousness in the Filipinos, national dignity,
would we become conscious as a people, and so learn

o.
personal pride, and patriotism, and if references were
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to prepare ourselves for painful sacrifices that
made by him in the course of his narration to certain
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ultimately lead to self-reliance, self-respect and
religious practices in the Philippines in those days and to
freedom”
the conduct and behavior of erring ministers of the
 Catholic elements were quick to assail as an church, it was because he portrayed faithfully the
o

attempt to discredit their religion. general situation in the Philippines as it then existed.
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Nobody can dispute that the situation in the described

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 The catholic church challenged the compulsory by Rizal in those days, political, social, and religious,
nature of the bill as violative of religious was the one actually obtaining in the Philippines; but
freedom while he criticized and ridiculed the unworthy behavior
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 Debates on Senate Bill started on April 23,1956 of certain ministers of the Church, he made exceptions
in favor of the worthy ones, like the Dominican friar,
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 Senators Cuenco, Rodrigo and Rosales were Padre Fernandez and the virtuous native priest, Padre
labeled as Rabid Catholics. Florentino, and Jesuits in general”
is

 The opposing senators derived much support

from the catholic church and thousands of
Th

THE GIST OF ARGUMENTS OF RECTO

citizens in the country.
ARTICLE XIV SECTION 5
 Their principal argument was that compulsion
 Section 5. (1) the State shall take into account to read something against one’s religious
sh

regional and sectoral needs and conditions and convictions was no different from a requirement
shall encourage local planning in the to salute the flag,
development of educational policies and
programs.cralaw  according to the decision of the U.S. Supreme
Court it was an impairment of both freedom of
 (2) Academic freedom shall be enjoyed in all speech and freedom of religion.
institutions of higher learning.cralaw

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 Senator Rodrigo remarked.. Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their
English translations shall be used as texts.
“ A vast majority of our people are at the same time
Catholics and Filipino citizens. As such, they have two  The Board of education is hereby authorized
great loves; their country and their faith. These two and directed to adopt forthwith measures to
loves are not conflicting loves. They are harmonious implement and carry out the provisions of this
affections, like the love for his father and for his Section, including the writing and printing of
mother.” appropriate primers, readers and textbooks.
The Board shall, within sixty (60) days from the
“ this is the basis of my stand. Let us not create conflict
effectivity of this act promulgate rules and
between nationalism and religion; between the
regulations, including those of a disciplinary
government and the church”
nature, to carry out and enforce the provisions
 The conflict reached the house of of this act. Said rules and regulations shall take
representatives on April 19, 1956 effect thirty (30) days after their publication in
the official Gazette.
 House bill No. 5561
 SECTION 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools,
 Debates started on May 9,1956 on the house colleges, and universities to keep copies of the
bill 5561 ( identical copy of the senate bill 438)

m
original and unexpurgated editions if Noli Me

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 Discussions revolveed pon the constitutionality Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as of

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and propriety of the measure. Rizal’s other works and biography. The said

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unexpurgated editions of noli me tangere and
An Act to include in the curricula of all public and

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el filibusterismo or their translation in English

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private schools, colleges and universities courses on as well as other writings of rizal shall be
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the life, works and writings of Jose Rizal, particularly included I the list of approved books for
his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, required reading in all public or private
authorizing the printing and distribution thereof, schools, colleges and universities.
o

and for other purposes.

 The Board of National Education shall
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 Whereas, today more than in any other period

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determine the adequacy of the number of

of our history, there is a need for a re-dedication books, depending upon the enrollment of the
to the ideals of freedom and nationalism. school, college or university.
Whereas it is meet that in honoring them,
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particularly the national hero and patriot, Jose  SECTION 3. The Board of National Education
shall cause the translation of the Noli Me
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Rizal, we remember with special fondness and

devotion their lives and works that have shaped Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as other
the national character. writings of Jose Rizal into English, Tagalog and
the principal dialects; cause them to be printed
is

 whereas, all educational institutions are under in cheap, popular editions; and cause them to
the supervision of, and subject to regulation by
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be distributed, free of charge, to persons

the State, and all schools are enjoined to desiring to read them, through the Purok
develop moral character, personal discipline, organizations and Barrio Councils throughout
civic conscience and to teach the duties of the country.
sh

citizenship; Now therefore

 SECTION 4. Nothing on this Act shall be
Be it enacted by the Senate and the house of construed as amending or repealing Section
Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 927 of the Administrative Code prohibiting the
assembled: discussion of religious doctrines by public
 SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and school teachers and other persons engaged in
writings of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels any public school.

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  SECTION 5. the sum of three hundred thousand case of Filipinos, the compulsory reading of the fili and
pesos is hereby authorized to be appropriated the noli. After consulting my own religious conscience
in the National Treasury to be carry out the as one belonging to my own church I removed the idea
purposes of this act. of compulsion. You will no longer find the word
‘compulsory’ or ‘compulsion’ in the substitute bill that
 SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon its
I have filed. But there is one thing on which could be
approval.
no compromise so far as I am concerned. I have
reached the situation point . I have reached the dead
end of a blind alley. I can go no farther, and this I say:
ENMIENDA A LA ENMIENDA POR SUSTITUCION if Rizal was a hero and on that there could be no
Senator Primicias. I now, Mr. President, in the debate, if Rizal is a national hero, these books that he
name of many members of this body, present this has written, whenever read, must be read in the
amendment to the amendment: on page 2, line 6 unexpurgated, original form. Otherwise, I would prefer
after the period (1) following the word “act” insert to have this bill defeated, defeated ignominiously if
the following: you wish, but then I shall have fulfilled my duty.”

“ THE BOARD SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND  The new measure was debated but with less
REGULATIONS PROVIDING FOR THE EXEMPTION OF heat this time specifically centering on the first

m
er as
STUDENTS FOR REASONS OF RELIGIOUS BEIEF paragraph on the powers of implementation of
the Board of National Education.

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STATED IN A SWORN WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM

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THE REQUIREMENT OF THE PROVISON CONTAINED  Senator Rodrigo suggested of the deletion of
IN THE SECOND PART POF THE FIRST PARAGRAPH

o.
the section one but was rejected by the sponsor.

rs e
OF THIS SECTION; BUT NOT FROM TAKING THE
 Senator Lim has proposed the exemptions of
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COURSE PROVIDED FOR IN THE FIRST PART OF THE
SAID PARAGRAPGH.” the students from the requirements of the bill
on certain conditions and the debates have
The president. Those who are in favor of the
o

started to rise among them.

amendment will please say aye. Those who are
aC s

against will say nay. The amendment is  Then. The following proceedings took place
vi y re

unanimously approved

 May 14, 1956 Cong. Tolentino sponsored an Republic Act No. 1425
amendment by substitution identical to
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 House Bill No. 5561

senator Laurels substitute Bill as amended and
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Senate Bill No. 438

approved on second reading in the upper
house.
An Act to Include in the Curricula of All Public
 There was a resistance on the opposition of the and Private Schools, Colleges and Universities
is

bill that the measure was unconstitutional. courses on the Life Works and Writings of JOSE
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RIZAL, particularly his novels NOLI ME

TANGERE and EL FILIBUSTERISMO, Authorizing
Senator laurel said tersely.. the Printing and Distribution Thereof, and for
Other Purposes.
sh

“In my substitute bill, I have included not only Noli and

Fili but all the works and writings of Rizal and even  Whereas, today, more than other period of our
these written by other people about him. I eliminated history, there is a need for a re-dedication to
the compulsion idea, although deep in myself, the ideals of freedom and nationalism for
considering my own information, my own knowledge which our heroes lived and died.
of the history of mankind, however poor and however
incomplete, notwithstanding my own personal Whereas, it is meet that in honoring them,
conviction that the state can properly require, in the particularly the national hero and patriot, Jose
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 Rizal, we remember with special fondness and taking the course provided for in the first part
devotion their lives and works that have of said paragraph. Said rules and regulations
shaped the national character; shall take effect thirty (30) days after their
publication in the Official Gazette.
Whereas, the life, works and writings of Jose
SEC.2
Rizal particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo, are a constant and  It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges
inspiring source of patriotism with which the and universities to keep in their libraries an
minds of the youth, especially during their adequate number of copies of the original and
formative and decisive years in school, should expurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere
be suffused. and El Filibusterismo, as well as Rizal’s other
works and biography. The said unexpurgated
 Whereas, all educational institutions are under
editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El
the supervision of, and subject to regulation by
Filibusterismo or their translations in English as
the State, and all schools are enjoined to
well as other writings of Rizal shall be included
develop moral character, personal discipline,
in the list of approved books for required
civic conscience, and to teach the duties of
reading in all public or private schools, colleges
citizenship; Now therefore,

m
and universities.

er as
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of  The Board of National Education shall

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Representatives of the Philippines in Congress determine the adequacy of the number of
assembled books, depending upon the enrollment of the

o.
Section 1:
rs e school, college or university.
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SEC.3
 Courses on the life, works and writings of Jose
Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me Tangere  The Board of National education shall cause
o

and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the the translation of the Noli Me Tangere and El
curricula of all schools, colleges and
aC s

Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose

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universities, public or private; Provided, That in Rizal into English, Tagalog and the principal
the collegiate courses, the original or Philippine dialects; cause them to be printed in
unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere cheap, popular editions; and cause them to be
and El Filibusterismo or their English distributed, free of charge, to persons desiring
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translations shall be used as basic texts. to read them, through the Purok organizations
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and the Barrio Councils throughout the

The Board of National Education is hereby country.
authorized and directed to adopt forthwith
SEC.4
is

measures to implement and carry out the

provisions of this Section, including the writing  Nothing in this Act shall be construed as
Th

and printing of appropriate primers, readers amending or repealing section nine hundred
and textbooks. The Board shall, within sixty twenty-seven of the Administrative Code,
(60) days from the effectivity of this Act prohibiting the discussion of religious doctrines
sh

promulgate rules and regulations, including by public school teachers and other persons
those of a disciplinary nature, to carry out and engaged in any public school.
enforce the regulations of this Act. The Board
shall promulgate rules and regulations
providing for the exemption of students for
reason of religious belief stated in a sworn
written statement, from the requirement of
the provision contained in the second part of
the first paragraph of this section; but not from SEC.5
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  The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is
hereby authorized to be appropriated out of
any fund not otherwise appropriated in the
National Treasury to carry out the purposes of
this Act.

SEC.6
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

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o.
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o
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