Religion
Related: About this forumFilipino Faces Jail Time for ‘Offending Religious Feelings’
By Thomas Maresca / Manila
Feb. 07, 2013
Damaso. That was the one-word message, painted on a placard, that activist Carlos Celdran delivered to a group of bishops in Manila Cathedral in a 2010 protest. To many Filipinos, the meaning was instantly clear: Padre Damaso is perhaps the most famous literary character in the Philippines, a corrupt and abusive Spanish priest who is the villain of Jose Rizals 1887 novel, Noli Me Tangere. Celdran had barged into the cathedral to protest the churchs efforts to defeat the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, which provides government funding for contraception and sex education. After more than a decade of bitter feuding, the bill was finally signed into law in December. It was a shocking victory, even for many supporters, and a sign that the church was losing some of its sway over the political affairs of a country that is 80% Catholic.
Last week, however, the church and its faithful had a message of their own: not so fast. As a result of his Damaso protest, Celdran was convicted by the Metropolitan Trial Court in Manila for violating an obscure provision of the Revised Penal Code, Article 133, which proscribes against offending religious feelings. Free on bail, Celdran awaits sentencing for a term of up to 13 months in prison. Human Rights Watch researcher Carlos Conde called the decision a setback for free speech in the Philippines. Article 133, dating back to 1930, was carried over from the criminal code of the Spanish colonial period, which ended in 1898. Celdrans case is the first time the law has been taken to trial and ruled upon. I didnt even know this law existed, said Conde.
Celdrans case has quickly turned into a referendum on the role of the church and the limits of free speech in the Philippines. Once virtually nonexistent, the line between church and state is being examined more closely than ever before, thanks in part to reform-minded President Benigno Aquino III and a new generation of social-media-savvy critics. The incident has also become a vehicle for re-examining the countrys penal code, which is littered with several other outdated provisions. A bill seeking to repeal Article 133 has already been introduced by Senator Pia Cayetano. In a note accompanying the bill, filed on Tuesday, the Senator wrote: Freedom of speech and expression is essential to a sovereign state. In fact, the curtailment thereof has been one of the main reasons for revolts in the country throughout Philippine history.
Perhaps thats why the case has generated so much interest. The strange charge has helped turn Celdran into something of a cause célèbre in the Southeast Asian nation, inspiring Facebook support pages and the Twitter hashtag #FreeCarlosCeldran. The 40-year-old performance artist is already a local celebrity, best known for Walk This Way, a walking tour of Manila that TIME described as filled with the kind of insight that only a native raconteur can provide. A statement of support has even come from President Aquino, who was instrumental in the RH laws passage. The President said, somewhat carefully, that he may sympathize with Mr. Celdrans position.
http://world.time.com/2013/02/07/filipino-faces-jail-time-for-offending-religious-feelings/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noli_Me_T%C3%A1ngere_(novel)
dimbear
(6,271 posts)This would probably be the safest download for this book. Noli Me Tangere is usually retitled in English as "The Social Cancer" but of course it actually means "no one touches me (with impunity)" which has a nice ring.
rug
(82,333 posts)The title is from John 20:17, Jesus speaking to Mary Magdalene.
I'll download the book from your link and see how he connects that to his title.
dimbear
(6,271 posts)It's a long read, going to take a poke at it.
rug
(82,333 posts)I barely passed Spanish.
dimbear
(6,271 posts)Rizal being an ophthalmologist would have known that. That fits with the book.
I see also that by law every Filipino secondary student reads this book. Remarkable given its length.
And I see that there is a movie made of it in the 60s which was quite good.
Also note the book was inspired by "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Just little oddments.
rug
(82,333 posts)That might explain why an early English translation of the title was "The Social Cancer".
An intriguing book. Now it's near the top of my list to read.
dimbear
(6,271 posts)At the moment of death. What a waste.