2 ‘THE MAKING OF 4 FILIPINO
Recto’s evelestng cet that he saw these contaditions
‘han his cofleares an that unite the ecasona! monet
ov of hs conteports, ronution become a cont
ese arc
Se
ae eee
spose Dest theft tat hc hing ha sty ey
1 oma oor conference with ihe Chole Mhrchy Tose
ae Sue
propos! inasmuch Mordet t
etter, ol himself testified against the bill during pea
hearing. A closed door conference was obviously one 0! a
lscussion of the Rizal bill. These clerics, many of ther forvigner,
‘were secking conferences with senators to. convince them to
‘oppose the Rizal bill* ae
[NEW INSIGHTS AND NEW AWARENESS 245
‘A more ovgariaed campsign against the bil was launched
under the auspices of the Catholic Action of Mania, Its first
SEiiity sas 2 aymposim and open foram in which two
Shnounceents wee made: fst, thatthe Senne, ofleial onan
Sf Mippine Cathode. Aetion, would eaeforth be published
Gaiyinscad of weokly,and cond, that Filipino Catfoles would
eNaged to write th comgresamen and senators asking them 10
“alte Ria ble Speers at the symposiom offered a variety
cfobjections io the anaaire. Fr esus Cavan, introduced a8 a
‘Shitty on Kitah id at the novels “belong to the past” andi
‘Toute be “hana” (0 send them because they preseated 3 “ase
Jeti of conditions ia the eountry at cat time. He described
Tie Nall Me Tangere as” a0 attack on the clergy” and sai its
ject wan to "pat to edie the Catholic Faith.” He alleged that
the novel was act realy patriotic Decase out of 333 pages only
7S contained pice. posages while 120 were devoted 0
SnaiCathouc stacks, Seats, ‘Percé:: 2 radio. commentator,
‘celaed that ance some parts of te novels had Been declared
“objectionable iatter” by the hierarchy, Catholics tal the re
to vofuse to read them 0 as not to “endanger their sation.”
NNuccho Pimentel, Jr, another radio commentator, offered the
{mterstng speculation thatthe bil vas Recto's revenge arainst the
(Catholic voters who, together with Nagsysay, wate responsible
for fis poor shoving in the 1955 senatorial elections
‘Aesiat this beckyround of bitter opposition, one can more
fully appreciate the mtepity and courage of Recto in championing
the bil te stubboraly poristed in his defense, wnmindtul ofthe
at athe was antgoalsing a vital electoral element
In a taceshour spopeh on the Senate floor, he attacked he
ieratchy of tne Catnol euch for its pastoral eter. He desired
hat the pastoral letter had been “more severe” in ite com
{Sinsation of the novels than » committee of Spanish Deminiean
pricals whow findings had reauled in Rizal's execution. In support
Lf is contention, he brought up the fact that the pastoral etter
had ited 170 passages fom te ol! and 50 from the FU wii it
oginded as attacks on the doctrines and dogmas of the Catholic
‘hush, He side could understand the foreign cleny taking such
{postion but he found it difficult to understand how Filipinom6 THE MAKING OF A FILIPINO
sp“ nt bog wr tn cou
adopt such a stand when Rizal exalted the Filipin. rj
= Teh co gs a
ser eas guar mtd lah
ee ae bare an Se
special diepanention from church mothorities Having taken adh
vanond scholastic philosnphy and cof aoe fib enh
‘of footnoted editions of the novels Doe e
oncera ica
sich Ris rege ert
Sepa acs Coenen ene
fet i Sean St at eae Set
‘ii of hecho! apn ge
rootig heaters te tc
renin sea a dy
i Roa ss ee a
rr the mationbeation of tools He contended tht
ee Sa le eho a
eee
= A ches bere re
spas or aes a ra
pita eae
bitter. 4s speech fed tat
ie cra eee ea
‘iota ase ie aa ee rte
ss a ce,
iatag Tern Str
pire ae ie
ST nate erate
anmre mn eer aenneene tien
le branded Yap as “the modern-day Torquemads.” m4
“Jb NEWINSIGHTS AND NEW AWARENESS 247
‘Phaty, on May 12, the month-lt controversy ended with
amangnous approval of sibsitute measure authored By Senator
ld bets on te proposls of Senators RowlerT.Lim ad
The bil as paed wes charly an accom
Hrumanueh Pees.
‘ebduton 30 tie chjections ofthe Catholic hierarchy and Laurel
id as muse Thowgls tail provided thatthe ba txts in the
‘eine couses should be the unexpangaed editions ofthe to
Sores it was now possible for students fo be exempted from
She te umespuryated editions cn grounds of religious belie
Crimes of the orginal Recto. verion joblantty claimed +
Tepsts viktory.” Proponents felt they had af least wined
something
THE BASES QUESTION
‘Gn July 4. 1956, Richard M. Noxon on a vist here isued «
Joint staizment with Magsaysay aifirming Philippine title to
‘Aincan 7s lac in the country. Recto immedtely sought «
‘definition ofthe sovereignty proncuncement of Nixon. He si
1 hope what Me Nac sit abos ove wot any
aertat om ont connp of evel. Soreegly ca Oy
ihesprneltneud the oerin of ov law nd cours
will be recalled that Attorney-General Brownell Rad pro-
pound! the dicta» of American ownersip of these bases, Recto
is the forenon epponest of ths thinking. The Supreme Court
Ted the comvoversy with its decon in the ene of Sun Life v5.
rowaelt Tae joint satement was an affirmation of the cour
opinion,
Romolo, taking advantage of the situation, ted to chim
credit fr petting he American affirmation. At the sme time, he
SiSned natonlistogtatore for having. delayed the American
‘lcision by thet belligerence. Recto couk! not Jet this pat. In a
seit ened "The Sinallns of «Little Nan,” be expressed his
ote that “it was the beliperence of those to whom he (Romulo)
Tesnasoutsle the Administration’ that sally brovght about the
TRevtaition of our soveregaty over and our ownership of
rat Romulo who was “fencesitting”
‘American bases
hnglow al along should now play the hero was {oo much for
Recto to fake. He pt Romo in space.