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VOLUME VI JA..NUARY 1957 NUMBER 3

ATENEO LAW JOURNAL

THE NOLI - FILl LAW

Roque M. Fernando, Jr. 0

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

AMONG the many illustrious Filipinos who have distinguished them­selves in the service of their country, the highest place of honor be­

longs to Dr. Jose Rizal. And justly so; for Rizal possessed to an eminent degree those virtues which together make up true patriotism. He loved his country nut_in word alone but in deed, He devoted his time, his ener­gies and the resources of his brilliant mind to dispelling the ignorance and apathy of his people, and combating the injustices and inequalities under which they labored. When these salutary activities fell under the suspicion of the colonial government and he was condemned to death as a rebel, he generously offered his blood for the welfare of his country.'

But although his love for his country was great, it was not a hlind, unreflecting love. It was not the inordinate love which so often passes for patriotism, whereby one regards one's n&tive country as perfect beyond criticism, and attributes all its ills to the tyranny and greed of strangers. Ri­zal's balance of judgment saved him from this pernicious error. He clearly saw and boldly proclaimed the fact that while the Filipino people suffered from colonial rule, they were as much the victims of their own vices and de­fects.2 In dedicating his novel, Noli Me Tangere, to his beloved country, he addressed her as follows:

... Desiring your health which is also ours, and seeking the l1est mean; of restor-

ing it, I shall do with you what the ancients did with their sick; they brought ------·------------

* Litt. B., Ateneo de Manila, 1952; LL.B., Ateneo Law School, 1957. The author acknowledges the invaluable help extended by Jose C. Cordova, Jose 0. Casas and Roberto Artadi in the preparation of this article.

1 STATEMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE CATHOLIC HIERARCHY ON THE NOVELS bF DR. JOSE RlZAJ" par. 1 inserted as part of the SENATJ!: CONGRESSIONAL ~ECORD VoL. 3 No. 59 at 9455.

2 Id. par. 2,

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