“The Philippines a Century Hence” is an essay written by Philippine national hero Jose Rizal to forecast

the future of the country within a hundred years. Rizal felt that it was time to remind Spain that the
circumstances that ushered in the French Revolution could have a telling effect for her in the Philippines.

This essay, published in La Solidaridad starts by analyzing the various causes of the miseries suffered by
the Filipino people:
1. Spain’s implementation of her military policies – because of such laws, the Philippine
population decreased dramatically. Poverty became more rampant than ever, and farmlands were
left to wither. The family as a unit of society was neglected, and overall, every aspect of the life
of the Filipino was retarded.
2. Deterioration and disappearance of Filipino indigenous culture – when Spain came with
the sword and the cross, it began the gradual destruction of the native Philippine culture. Because
of this, the Filipinos started losing confidence in their past and their heritage, became doubtful of
their present lifestyle, and eventually lost hope in the future and the preservation of their race.
3. Passivity and submissiveness to the Spanish colonizers – one of the most powerful forces
that influenced a culture of silence among the natives were the Spanish friars. Because of the use
of force, the Filipinos learned to submit themselves to the will of the foreigners.

The question then arises as to what had awakened the hearts and opened the minds of the Filipino people
with regards to their plight. Eventually, the natives realized that such oppression in their society by
foreign colonizers must no longer be tolerated.

One question Rizal raises in this essay is whether or not Spain can indeed prevent the progress of the
Philippines:
1. Keeping the people uneducated and ignorant had failed. National consciousness had still
awakened, and great Filipino minds still emerged from the rubble.
2. Keeping he people impoverished also came to no avail. On the contrary, living a life of
eternal destitution had allowed the Filipinos to act on the desire for a change in their way of
life. They began to explore other horizons through which they could move towards progress.
3. Exterminating the people as an alternative to hindering progress did not work either. The
Filipino race was able to survive amidst wars and famine, and became even more numerous after
such catastrophes. To wipe out the nation altogether would require the sacrifice of thousands of
Spanish soldiers, and this is something Spain would not allow.
Spain, therefore, had no means to stop the progress of the country. What she needs to do is to change her
colonial policies so that they are in keeping with the needs of the Philippine society and to the rising
nationalism of the people.

What Rizal had envisioned in his essay came true. In 1898, the Americans wrestled with Spain to win the
Philippines, and eventually took over the country. Theirs was a reign of democracy and liberty. Five
decades after Rizal’s death, the Philippines gained her long-awaited independence. This was in
fulfillment of what he had written in his essay: “History does not record in its annals any lasting
domination by one people over another, of different races, of diverse usages and customs, of opposite and
divergent ideas. One of the two had to yield and succumb.”

Jose Rizal’s legacy to Filipino women is embodied in his famous essay entitled, “To the Young Women
of Malolos,” where he addresses all kinds of women – mothers, wives, the unmarried, etc. and expresses
everything that he wishes them to keep in mind.
SUMMARY

“To the Women of Malolos” was originally written in Tagalog. Rizal penned this writing when he was in
London, in response to the request of Marcelo H. del Pilar. The salient points contained in this letter are
as follows:

1. The rejection of the spiritual authority of the friars – not all of the priests in the country
that time embodied the true spirit of Christ and His Church. Most of them were corrupted by
worldly desires and used worldly methods to effect change and force discipline among the
people.
2. The defense of private judgment
3. Qualities Filipino mothers need to possess – as evidenced by this portion of his letter,
Rizal is greatly concerned of the welfare of the Filipino children and the homes they grow up in.
4. Duties and responsibilities of Filipino mothers to their children
5. Duties and responsibilities of a wife to her husband – Filipino women are known to be
submissive, tender, and loving. Rizal states in this portion of his letter how Filipino women
ought to be as wives, in order to preserve the identity of the race.
6. Counsel to young women on their choice of a lifetime partner

RIZAL’S MESSAGE TO FILIPINO WOMEN

Jose Rizal was greatly impressed by the fighting spirit that the young women of Malolos had shown. In
his letter, he expresses great joy and satisfaction over the battle they had fought. In this portion of Rizal’s
letter, it is obvious that his ultimate desire was for women to be offered the same opportunities as those
received by men in terms of education. During those days young girls were not sent to school because of
the universal notion that they would soon only be taken as wives and stay at home with the
children. Rizal, however, emphasizes on freedom of thought and the right to education, which must be
granted to both boys and girls alike.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF FILIPINO MOTHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN

Rizal stipulates a number of important points in this portion of his letter to the young women of
Malolos. The central idea here, however, is that whatever a mother shows to her children is what the
children will become also. If the mother is always kissing the hand of the friars in submission, then her
children will grow up to be sycophants and mindless fools who do nothing but do as they are told, even if
the very nature of the task would violate their rights as individuals.

QUALITIES MOTHERS HAVE TO POSSESS

Rizal enumerates the qualities Filipino mothers have to possess:

1. Be a noble wife.
2. Rear her children in the service of the state – here Rizal gives reference to the women of
Sparta who embody this quality
3. Set standards of behavior for men around her.

RIZAL’S ADVICE TO UNMARRIED MEN AND WOMEN

Jose Rizal points out to unmarried women that they should not be easily taken by appearances and looks,
because these can be very deceiving. Instead, they should take heed of men’s firmness of character and
lofty ideas. Rizal further adds that there are three things that a young woman must look for a man she
intends to be her husband:
1. A noble and honored name
2. A manly heart
3. A high spirit incapable of being satisfied with engendering slaves.

ANALYSIS

“To the Women of Malolos” centers around five salient points (Zaide &Zaide, 1999):
1. Filipino mothers should teach their children love of God, country and fellowmen.
2. Filipino mothers should be glad and honored, like Spartan mothers, to offer their sons in
defense of their country.
3. Filipino women should know how to protect their dignity and honor.
4. Filipino women should educate themselves aside from retaining their good racial values.
5. Faith is not merely reciting prayers and wearing religious pictures. It is living the real
Christian way with good morals and manners.
In recent times, it seems that these qualities are gradually lost in the way Filipino women conduct
themselves. There are oftentimes moments where mothers forget their roles in rearing their children
because of the overriding idea of having to earn for the family to supplement their husband’s
income. Although there is nothing negative about working hard for the welfare of the family, there must
always be balance in the way people go through life. Failure in the home cannot be compensated for by
any amount of wealth or fame.

Chapter 1[edit]
Rizal acknowledges the prior work of Gregorio Sancianco and admits that indolence does exist among the
Filipinos, but it cannot be attributed to the troubles and backwardness of the country; rather it is the effect
of the backwardness and troubles experienced by the country. Past writings on indolence revolve only on
either denying or affirming, and never studying its causes in depth. One must study the causes of
indolence, Rizal says, before curing it. He therefore enumerates the causes of indolence and elaborates on
the circumstances that have led to it. The hot climate, he points out, is a reasonable predisposition for
indolence. Filipinos cannot be compared to Europeans, who live in cold countries and who must exert
much more effort at work. An hour's work under the Philippine sun, he says, is equivalent to a day's work
in temperate regions.

Chapter 2[edit]
Rizal says that an illness will worsen if the wrong treatment is given. The same applies to indolence.
People, however, should not lose hope in fighting indolence. Even before the Spaniards arrived, Rizal
argues, the early Filipinos were already carrying out trade within provinces and with other neighboring
countries; they were also engaged in agriculture and mining; some natives even spoke Spanish. All this
disproves the notion that Filipinos are by nature indolent. Rizal ends by asking what then would have
caused Filipinos to forget their past.

Chapter 3[edit]
Rizal enumerates several reasons that may have caused the Filipinos' cultural and economic decadence.
The frequent wars, insurrections, and invasions have brought disorder to the communities. Chaos has
been widespread, and destruction rampant. Many Filipinos have also been sent abroad to fight wars for
Spain or for expeditions. Thus, the population has decreased in number. Due to forced labor, many men
have been sent to shipyards to construct vessels. Meanwhile, natives who have had enough of abuse have
gone to the mountains. As a result, the farms have been neglected. The so-called indolence of Filipinos
definitely has deeply rooted causes.

Chapter 4[edit]
Filipinos, according to Rizal, are not responsible for their misfortunes, as they are not their own masters.
The Spanish government has not encouraged labor and trade, which ceased after the government treated
the country's neighboring trade partners with great suspicion. Trade has declined, furthermore, because of
pirate attacks and the many restrictions imposed by the government, which gives no aid for crops and
farmers. This and the abuse suffered under encomenderos have caused many to abandon the fields.
Businesses are monopolized by many government officials, red tape and bribery operate on a wide scale,
rampant gambling is tolerated by the government. This situation is compounded by the Church's wrong
doctrine which holds that the rich will not go to heaven, thus engendering a wrong attitude toward work.
There has also been discrimination in education against natives. These are some of the main reasons that
Rizal cites as causing the deterioration of values among the Filipinos.

Chapter 5[edit]
According to Rizal, all the causes of indolence can be reduced to two factors. The first factor is the
limited training and education Filipino natives receive. Segregated from Spaniards, Filipinos do not
receive the same opportunities that are available to the foreigners. They are taught to be inferior. The
second factor is the lack of a national sentiment of unity among them. Because Filipinos think they are
inferior, they submit to the foreign culture and do everything to imitate it. The solution, according to
Rizal, would be education and liberty.

La Indolencia de los Filipinos, more popularly known in its English version, "The Indolence of the
Filipinos," is a exploratory essay written by Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, to explain the alleged
idleness of his people during the Spanish colonization.
SUMMARY
The Indolence of the Filipinos is a study of the causes why the people did not, as was said, work
hard during the Spanish regime. Rizal pointed out that long before the coming of the Spaniards, the
Filipinos were industrious and hardworking. The Spanish reign brought about a decline in economic
activities because of certain causes:
First, the establishment of the Galleon Trade cut off all previous associations of
thePhilippines with other countries in Asia and the Middle East. As a result, business was only conducted
with Spain through Mexico. Because of this, the small businesses and handicraft industries that
flourished during the pre-Spanish period gradually disappeared.
Second, Spain also extinguished the natives’ love of work because of the implementation of
forced labor. Because of the wars between Spain and other countries in Europe as well as the Muslims in
Mindanao, the Filipinos were compelled to work in shipyards, roads, and other public works, abandoning
agriculture, industry, and commerce.
Third, Spain did not protect the people against foreign invaders and pirates. With no arms to
defend themselves, the natives were killed, their houses burned, and their lands destroyed. As a result of
this, the Filipinos were forced to become nomads, lost interest in cultivating their lands or in rebuilding
the industries that were shut down, and simply became submissive to the mercy of God.
 Fourth, there was a crooked system of education, if it was to be considered aneducation. What
was being taught in the schools were repetitive prayers and other things that could not be used by the
students to lead the country to progress. There were no courses in Agriculture, Industry, etc., which were
badly needed by the Philippines during those times.
Fifth, the Spanish rulers were a bad example to despise manual labor. The officials reported to
work at noon and left early, all the while doing nothing in line with their duties. The women were seen
constantly followed by servants who dressed them and fanned them – personal things which they ought to
have done for themselves.
Sixth, gambling was established and widely propagated during those times. Almost everyday
there were cockfights, and during feast days, the government officials and friars were the first to engange
in all sorts of bets and gambles.
Seventh, there was a crooked system of religion. The friars taught the naïve Filipinos that it was
easier for a poor man to enter heaven, and so they preferred not to work and remain poor so that they
could easily enter heaven after they died.
Lastly, the taxes were extremely high, so much so that a huge portion of what they earned went to
the government or to the friars. When the object of their labor was removed and they were exploited,
they were reduced to inaction.
Rizal admitted that the Filipinos did not work so hard because they were wise enough to adjust
themselves to the warm, tropical climate. “An hour’s work under that burning sun, in the midst of
pernicious influences springing from nature in activity, is equal to a day’s labor in a temperate climate.”

ANALYSIS
It is important to note that indolence in the Philippines is a chronic malady, but not a hereditary
one. Truth is, before the Spaniards arrived on these lands, the natives were industriously
conducting business with China, Japan, Arabia, Malaysia, and other countries in the Middle East. The
reasons for this said indolence were clearly stated in the essay, and were not based only on presumptions,
but were grounded on fact taken from history.
Another thing that we might add that had caused this indolence, is the lack of unity among the Filipino
people. In the absence of unity and oneness, the people did not have the power to fight the hostile attacks
of the government and of the other forces of society. There would also be no voice, no leader, to sow
progress and to cultivate it, so that it may be reaped in due time. In such a condition,
the Philippines remained a country that was lifeless, dead, simply existing and not living. As Rizal stated
in conclusion, “a man in the Philippines is an individual; he is not merely a citizen of a country.”
It can clearly be deduced from the writing that the cause of the indolence attributed to our race is Spain:
When the Filipinos wanted to study and learn, there were no schools, and if there were any, they lacked
sufficient resources and did not present more useful knowledge; when the Filipinos wanted to establish
their businesses, there wasn’t enough capital nor protection from the government; when the Filipinos tried
to cultivate their lands and establish various industries, they were made to pay enormous taxes and were
exploited by the foreign rulers.
It is not only the Philippines, but also other countries, that may be called indolent, depending on the
criteria upon which such a label is based. Man cannot work without resting, and if in doing so he is
considered lazy, they we could say that all men are indolent. One cannot blame a country that was
deprived of its dignity, to have lost its will to continue building its foundation upon the backs of its
people, especially when the fruits of their labor do not so much as reach their lips. When we spend our
entire lives worshipping such a cruel and inhumane society, forced upon us by aliens who do not even
know our motherland, we are destined to tire after a while. We are not fools, we are not puppets who
simply do as we are commanded – we are human beings, who are motivated by our will towards the
accomplishment of our objectives, and who strive for the preservation of our race. When this
fundamental aspect of our existence is denied of us, who can blame us if we turn idle?
As a result, those cultures have also left a mark on Filipino culture. The Spanish colonized the islands
and after more than three centuries of colonization Hispanic influence has heavily impacted the culture.
The Philippines being governed from both Mexico andSpain, had received a fair bit of Hispanic
influence.

ANG MATALINONG PILANDOK

Hindi nakikita sa laki ang talino at kakayahan ng tao.
Isang mainit na hapon, isang matalinong pilandok ang umiinom sa isang malinaw na batis sa gubat.
Habang siya ay umiinom, isang tigre ang dumaan. Napahinto ang tigre pagkakita sa pilandok.
Pasalbaheng tumawa ang tigre at sinabi nito sa mabangis na tinig, "Aha! Munting Pilandok, kaysarap
mong gawing hapunan! Dalian mo't ihanda mo ang iyong sarili upang maging pagkain, dahil maghapon
akong hindi kumakain."
"Maghapon kang walang makain?" tanong ni Pilandok, nagkukunwang naaawa sa tigre. Ang totoo'y
nanginginig siya sa takot pagkakita sa malalaking panga at matatalim na ngiping garing ng tigre. Ngunit
pinilit niyang huwag magpahalata. Dugtong niya, "O, kawawang Tigre! Ang totoo, gusto kong
magkaroon ka ng masarap na hapunan, pero palagay ko'y hindi ka mabubusog sa isang munting hayop na
tulad ko."
"Pero nagugutom ako!" atungal ni Tigreng hindi na makapaghintay.
"Iyon nga!" sigaw ni Pilandok habang nag-iisip ng gagawin. "Ang kailangan mong pambusog sa iyong
gutom ay laman ng tao."
"At ano ang tao, Pilandok?"
"Di mo ba alam kung ano ang tao?" sambit ni Usa, na nagkukunwang namangha.
"Hindi. Hindi ko yata alam," sabi ni Tigreng nagiging mausisa. "Sabihin mo, Pilandok, ano ba ang tao?"
"Buweno," sabi ni Pilandok na nasiyahan sapagkat ang Tigre ay nahuhulog na sa kanyang bitag. "Ang tao
ay isang uri ng hayop na may dalawang paa at siyang pinakamakapangyarihang hayop sa mundo."
"Totoo? Mas malakas pa kaysa akin?" tanong ng Tigre na medyo nasaktan.
"A,oo, pero kung napakabilis mo, puwede mo siyang sagpangin at gawing hapunan."
"Magaling. Pero kung hindi ako makasunggab ng tao, ikaw ang aking kakainin. Kasunduan ba natin ito?"
"Kasunduan!" sigaw ni Pilandok na nasiyahan.
"Pero saan ako makakakita ng tao? Ipakita mo agad ito sa akin dahil ako'y gutom na gutom na. Kundi ka
magmamadali, kakainin kita ngayon din!"
"Makapaghintay ka sana, dakilang Tigre," sagot ni Pilandok. "Sumama ka ngayon sa akin sa gilid ng daan
at baka may isang taong magdaan."
At sinamahan ng Pilandok ang tigre sa gilid ng daan Habang nakakubli sa damuhan, naghintay sila ng
pagdaan ng tao. Di nagtagal ay dumaan ang isang batang lalaking papunta sa eskwela. Abala siyang nag-
iisip ng kanyang gawaing-bahay at di niya namamalayang dalawang hayop ang nagmamatyag sa kanya.
"Iyon ba ang tao?" tanong ni Tigre. "Ba, tiyak kong mas malaks ako sa kanya!" pangungutya niyon.
"Ba, hindi iyon ang tao," sagot ni Pilandok. "Iyo'y patungo pa lang sa pagiging tao. Kailangan pa niya ang
maraming taon-dalawampu o higit pa marahil kaya maaaring patay ka na noon."
Pagkaraa'y isang matandang lalaki ang mabagal na lumakad sa ibaba ng daan. Matandang-matanda na ang
lalaki at ang balbas niya'y simputi ng yelo. At siya'y nakatungkod habang naglalakad.
"Tiyak na iyan ang taong sinasabi mo. Di kataka-takang napakapayat niya pagkaraang mabuhay nang
maraming taon! Niloloko mo naman ako," galit na sabi ni Tigre.
"Hindi, hindi! Hindi iyan tao. Tira-tirahan lang iyan ng isang tao. Ang isang mabuting hayop na tulad
mo'y ayaw kumain ng tira, di ba?"
"Hindi, hindi, syempre. Pero hindi ko rin gustong maghintay pa."
"Shhh! Narito na ang isang tunay na tao!" sabi ng Usa, habang paparating ang matabang katawang
punung-puno ng laman at ang kanyang mamula-mulang pisnging sagana sa dugo. Tiyak na hindi mo na
ako gustuhing kainin 'pag nakain mo ang taong iyon, di ba?"
"Baka nga, Pilandok, baka nga! Panoorin mo ako ngayon!" Pagkasabi niyon ay sinugod ng tigre ang
mangangaso. Ngunit mas mabilis ang mangangaso kaysa kanya. Itinutok ng mangangaso ang kanyang
riple at binaril ang tigre noon din.
Masaya si Pilandok dahil nakaligtas siya, ngunit sa sobrang pagod ay bumalik siya sa batis para uminom.
Habang siya'y umiinom, biglang may sumakmal sa isang paa niya. Sumigaw siya, ngunit nang makita
niya kung sino ang sumakmal sa kanya ay tiniis niya ang sakit at mabilis na nag-isip.
Ang buwaya iyon, isa sa kanyang mahihigpit na kaaway. Galit ang buwaya sa pilandok dahil sa mga
panlilinlang nito. At galit din ang pilandok sa buwaya dahil palagi siyang tinatakot nito tuwing gusto
niyang uminom sa batis. Ngayo'y lalo siyang galit, ngunit itinago niya ang kanyang damdamin at nakuha
pa niyang tumawa. Nagsabi siya sa mapanghamak na tinig: "Ay, kawawang Buwaya, kailan mo ba
malalaman ang pagkakaiba ng paa ng usa at ng isang patpat? Isang lumang patpat lang iyang kagat-kagat
mo!"
Ngunit sanay na ang buwaya sa mga panlilinlang ng usa. "Huwag mo akong lokohin uli," sabi niyon.
"Alam na alam kong kagat-kagat ko'y paa mo at hindi ko ito pawawalan hanggang hindi kita nakakain ng
buo."
"Pero hindi kita niloloko," sabi ng Usa. "Kung sa palagay mo'y nililinlang kita, ano ito kung gayon?" At
iwinasiwas ng usa ang isa pa niyang paa sa tapat ng mukha ng buwaya.
Ang gunggong na buaya ay naniwala sa sinbi ng usa. Mabilis niyang binitawan ang kagat na paa at
sinagpang ang isa pang paa. Ngunit ito ang hinihintay na pagkakataon ng usa. Lumukso siyang palayo.
Pagkaraan, nang siya'y di na maabot, binalingan niya at sinigawan ang buwaya "Higitkang gunggong
kaysa asno. Ni hindi mo alam ang pagkakaiba ng aking paa at ng lumang patpat!"
At sa gayo'y tumakbong palayo ang Pilandok, naiwan ang buwayang lumubog muli sa lawa, galit sa isa
na namang pagkatalo sa patalinuhan.
Ngayon nama'y nakatagpo ng pilandok ang isang suso. Natutuwa siyang makita ang suso dahil gusto
niyang magyabang at ngayo'y makapagyayabang na siya sa suso . Hinamon niya iyon ng karera at takang-
taka siya nang tanggapin iyon ng suso. At ang isa pang lalong nakakapagtaka ay ang hamon ng suso na
ito'y mananalo. Tumawa ang Pilandok. Paanong maiisipan ng isang suso na manalo sa takbuhan?
Ngunit nagkataong ang susong ito ay tuso rin. Nauna rito ay binalak na niya at ng isang kaibigan kung
paano nila matatalo ang mapanloko ring pilandok.
"Tingnan mo kung paano kang mananalo sa takbuhan, mabagal na suso," sigaw ni Pilandok at siya'y
nawalang tulad ng hangin. Ngunit nang marating niya ang dulo ng takbuhan, halos mapalundag siya sa
pagkabigla nang makita niyang naroon na at nauna sa kanya ang suso. Hindi matanggap ni Pilandok na
siya ay natalo; hinamon niya ang suso sa panibagong karera. Ngunit kahit ilang ulit siyang maghamon,
laging nananalo ang suso.
Ngayon, ang hindi alam ng pilandok, ay laging ginagamit ng suso ang sarili nitong utak. Tuwing karera
ay may ibang susong tumatayo sa dulo ng takbuhan, una'y ang kaibigan ng suso, pagkatapos ay ang
orihinal na suso. Ang dalawang suso ay magkamukhang-magkamukha at akala ng pilandok ay isa lamang
ang mga iyon.
Pabalik-balik na tumakbo ang Pilandok hanggang sa maubusan siya ng lakas at hingal na hingal na
bumagsak sa lupa."Nanalo ka, Ginoong Suso," pahingal na sabi ng pilandok. "suko na ako."
At sa gayon, ang munting pilandok na nag-aakalang napakatalino niya ay natalo nang araw na iyon sa
wakas-hindi ng mabangis na tigre, hindi ng mabagsik na buwaya, hindi ng ano pa mang malalaking hayop
sa gubat, kundi ng isang maliit at madulas na suso!