WHEREAS, it is meet that in honoring them, particularly the national hero and patriot,

Jose Rizal, we remember with special fondness and devotion their lives and works that
have shaped the national character;
WHEREAS, the life, works and writing of Jose Rizal, particularly his novels Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, are a constant and inspiring source of patriotism with
which the minds of the youth, especially during their formative and decisive years in
school, should be suffused;
WHEREAS, all educational Institutions are under the supervision of, and subject to
regulation by the State, and all schools are enjoined to develop moral character
personal discipline, civic conscience and to teach the duties of citizenship: Now,
therefore,
SECTION 1. Courses on the life, works and writings of lose Rizal, particularly his novel
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, shall be included in the curricula of all schools,
colleges and universities, public or private: Provided, That in the collegiate courses, the
original or unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo or their
English translation shall be used as basic texts.
The Board of National Education is hereby authorized and directed to adopt forthwith
measures to implement and carry out the provisions of this Section, including the writing
and printing of appropriate primers, readers and textbooks.
The Board shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules
and regulations, including those of a disciplinary nature, to carry out and enforce the
provisions of this Act. The Board shall promulgate rules and regulations providing for
the exemption of students for reasons 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 taking the course provided for in the first part of
said paragraph. Said rules and regulations shall take effect thirty (30) days after their
publication in the Official Gazette.
SECTION 2. It shall be obligatory on all schools, colleges and universities to keep in
their libraries an adequate number of copies of the original and unexpurgated editions of
the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as of Rizal's other works and
biography. The said unexpurgated editions of the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
or their translations in English as well as other writings of Rizal shall be included in the
list of approved books for required reading in all public or private schools, colleges and
universities.
bard of National Education shall determine the adequacy of the number of books,
depending upon the enrollment of the school, college or university.
CTION 3 The Board of National Education shall cause the translation of the Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo, as well as other writings of Jose Rizal into
English.Tagale vine dialects; cause them to be printed in cheap, popular editions, and
cause them to be
English, Tagalog and the principal Sited, free of charge, to persons desiring to read
them, through the Purok organizations and Barrio Councils throughout the country.
SECTION 4. Nothing in hundred twenty-seven of the
4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as amendment or repealing section nine
twenty-seven of the Administrative Code, prohibiting the discussion of religious
ic school teachers and other persons engaged in any public school.
ON 5. The sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby authorized to be
appropriated
fund not otherwise appropriated in the National Treasury to carry out the purposes of
SECTION 5. The su out of any fund not the this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved: June 12, 1956
House Bill No. 5561 Senate Bill No. 438
Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 52, No. 6, p. 2971 in June 1956). Also:
http://www.gov.ph/1956/06/12/republic-act-no-1425
The title of the law is quite long and very specific. Being specific especially in law is very
important to avoid any misinterpretation. The purpose of the law is enunciated in its
preamble. This preamble consists in the paragraphs that begin with the word
"Whereas."
The preamble explains that there is a need for a rededication to the ideals of freedom
and nationalism for which our heroes lived and died for. The second paragraph of the
preamble identifies Rizal as one of those heroes who have devoted their lives and
shaped the national character. The third paragraph of the preambles identifies Rizal's
novels the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo as an inspiring source of patriotism,
which should be inculcated in the minds of young people especially in their formative
years. Finally, the last paragraph of the preambles invokes the power of the state in
supervising all educational institutions, which are required to teach its students moral
character, personal discipline, civic conscience and the duties of citizenship
With the purpose of the law stated in the body of the preamble it concludes with an
enacting clause on the other hand is located at the end of the preamble with the words
"Now Therefore,
The body of the Rizal law consists of six sections. Simply speaking the law provides for
the following:
1. Section 1 - Requiring all students in the colleges and universities, public and private
to study the life of works, writings of Jose Rizal, particularly mentioning his two novels,
the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.
2. Section 2 - Requiring all colleges and universities, public and private to have
sufficient and unexpurgated copies of the works of Jose Rizal especially his novels, Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo in their respective libraries.
3. Section 3 - That Rizal's works should be translated to English and other dialects of
the Philippines and that these should be published in cheap editions and distributed to
the public through purok organizations in the country. It also stipulates that the
publications should be given for free to anyone who wishes to read them.
4. Section 4 - A stipulation that the discussion of Rizal's ideas does not violate the
state's prohibition regarding the discussion of religious beliefs in the country's public
school system and other public learning institutions.
Sections - works in cheap and popular editions.
6
Section 6 - That the law takes its effect until its approval.
The law identifies the National Board of Education as its implementer and authori
to come up with its implementing rules and regulations (IRR) including those of
disciplina nature. This means persons and institutions who refuse to implement this law
may be punish The same subsection also provides exemption for students from reading
Rizal's works whe these affect their religious beliefs. These students however were
forbidden from not taking the course at all
THE STORY OF THE RIZAL LAW
Every low in the republican system of government begins as a bill. In 1956
legislators seeing the need to promote nationalism and patriotism among the Filipinos,
especially among the youth filled a bill. The original Rizal Bill was filed by Senator Claro
M. Recto and it was sponsored by Senator Jose P. Laurel who was Chairman of the
Committee. Since the purpose of the bill was to promote patriotism and nationalism, the
senators saw no problem in legislating it in Congress. It was supposed to be non-
controversial considering its intention.
However since the time it was introduced in the legislature the Rizal bill
encountered formidable opposition. In the words of Senator Laurel, the bitterness and
recrimination that accompanied its enactment was unparalleled in the annals of
Congress. Does it mean that the people who opposed it are unnationalistic or
unpatriotic?
The source of the opposition to the legislation of a law that was supposed to
promote patriotism and love of country came from the Catholic Church and its allies in
Congress and the media. The original bill that would eventually become the Rizal Law
was filed by the Committee on Education in the Philippine Senate as Senate Bill 438 on
April 3, 1956. When it was first filed it was supported by all Senators in the Upper House
except for three members. Since it was supported by almost all of the Senators the bill
appeared to be non-controversial and should easily pass the legislative process. Senate
Bill 438 read:
AN ACT TO MAKE NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO COMPULSORY
READING IN ALE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
Beit enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress Assemb
"gress Assembled
On April 17. Senator Jose P. Laurel as Chairman of the Committee
The following is the narration of the story of the Rizal Law by lose B. Laurel.1.S Senator
Jose P. Laurel, former President of the Philippines
Laurel, Ir. son of
SECTION 1. Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are hereby declared
compus reading matter in all public and private schools, colleges and Universities in the
Philippines
clared compulsory
SECTION 2. The works mentioned in Section 1 of this Act shall be in the original
editions or in their unexpurgated English and Natural Language versions.
SECTION 3. The Department of Education shall take steps to promulgate rules and
regulations for the immediate implementation of the provisions of this Act.
SECTION 4. No provision of this Act shall be constructed as prohibiting or limiting the
study of the works of other Filipino heroes.
SECTION 5. Any public or private college or university found violating, failing to comply
with, or 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
circumventing the provisions thereof shall be dismissed immediately from the service
and shall be disqualified from teaching in any public or government recognized private
school, college or university.
b. Government recognition of any private college or university found violating or
responsible, heard and professor or professors concerned shall be disqualified from
teaching in any Government recognized college or university
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Reading through the bill, the study of the life and works of Jose Rizal especially
his two novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo became obligatory for all college
and university students. Soon after its introduction in the Senate the original Rizal Bill
was called as "an attack on the church. "The opponents said that the novels painted a
negative image of the Catholic Church and these contain messages that are not suited
to the present time.
If one looks at the situation of the Philippines on the time when the Rizal Bill was
passed, the Philippines had just gained its independence from the United States on July
4, 1946. Yet it is practically a neocolony of its old master as the United States exercised
great influences on the country's political and social life. The Philippines was heavily
dependent upon the United States that it allowed the exploitation of its natural resources
by American nationals and allowed them to control the country's public utilities under the
Parity Rights amendment in the Philippine Constitution. Free trade with the US under
the 1947 Bell Trade Act flooded the market with American goods which entered duty
free while Philippine goods faced graduating tariffs. As a result Filipinos developed a
craving for imported especially "stateside or made in USA goods while neglecting their
own products and industries.
In the ideological side, the Philippines pledged its loyalty to the United States in Tighting
world communism. It hosted American bases where Filipinos can get shot by American
guards or Americans commit crimes against Filipinos while they remain immune to
Philippine laws. Internally the country was fighting a communist insurgency as guerrillas
of the Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan (HMB) were fighting for a communist takeover
of the country. The country became part of the global anti-communist network in
Southeast Asia following the establishment of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization.
The admiration for anything American was at an all lim looking men to show they had
support of the Amer heroes like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln while those
who fought for DL independence such as Artemio Ricarte and Macario Sakay were
portrayed as traitor an respectively
When the Philippines gained its independence in 1946, it was heavily ravaged to War II.
The country's economy and infrastructure was in ruins. The social effect of the w the
Filipino fight for his personal survival first rather than helping others. Crime, oppor and
corruption were rampant. As people's stomachs growl because of hunger only a few can
about the lofty ideals of heroes who preached mutual support, comradeship and self-
scarified At that time, not all schools or universities in the Philippines had Rizal's works.
In Catholic schools, such works were even banned. The teachings and ideals of Rizal
were becom vague as time passed and as the generation which actually witnessed
Rizal began to fade away were his teachings,
Many of the ills of society that Rizal fought for in his lifetime were still present in 1956
Superstition aided by literal interpretation of religious doctrines instead of logic and
reason still prevailed. Some of them were silly and ridiculous such as telling the people
not to take a bath on Good Friday or scaring children not to make noise from 3:00 pm of
Good Friday up to Black Saturday because "God is dead" (Patay ang Dios). These
superstitions were abetted by the Church. Although the Spanish friars were not any
more visible in the halls of power, many of the agricultural lands were still held by the
Church. Though majority of the clergy are now Filipinos the same abuses done by some
of their numbers were still committed. Some priests were known to keep mistresses and
had children by their mistresses. Those who were addicted to material wealth managed
their churches as if they were personal property. Others lived licentiously just like the
abusive friars half a century before.
Besides saying that the novels had messages "not applicable to the present time,
opponents said that the two novels of Rizal, the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo
contam passages that were harmful to Catholic beliefs and teachings.
The Church had powerful allies in opposing the Rizal Bill. These include Sena Francisco
"Soc" Rodrigo and Congressman Miguel Cuenco. There were Catholic organization
such as the Accion Catolico (Catholic Action), who were composed of conservative
Catholics. Knights of Columbus, the Congregation of the Mission and the Catholic
Teachers' Guild. Pro and nuns, many of whom were foreigners attended hearings in
Congress. Their actions clearly an interference of the Church on the policy-making
powers of the State. Since ma them were foreigners, their activities were also blatant
foreign interference on the coun internal affairs. Yet these priests and nuns were
unmolested.
Central to the argument of the opponents of the Rizal Bill was it forced young su
to read Rizal's works which had religious overtones. It would be a violation of constitut
freedom of religion and the freedom of conscience. Seminars led by supporters of the
Church were held denouncing the Rizal Bill. In one event one speaker. Fr. Jesus
Cavann that Rizal's novels painted a false picture of the conditions of the country in the
19th ce If the Rizal Bill intended to promote patriotism and nationalism, Fr. Cavanna
said the
us for required reading contained more anti-Church statements rather than nation
"young students
istitutional the Catholic
vanna said 9th century id that the Nationalistic
statements. In the Noli Me Tangere, Fr. Cavanna pointed out that there were 120 anti-
Catholic statements compared to only 25 nationalistic statements. Another commentator
Jesus Paredes said that the novels contained objectionable material and the Catholics
have a right not to read them in order not to endanger their faith. The controversy was
given a political color when one speaker opined that the Rizal Bill was a way for
punishing Catholic voters. One of the vocal defenders of the bill in the Senate, Senator
Claro M. Recto performed dismally in the 1953 elections and his pushing for the bill's
approval was one way to get back at the Catholic voters. During the senatorial
campaign held that year, Recto was portrayed as
an anti-American leftist and fellow traveler (the word for Rufino Cardinal Santos:
Proposed communist sympathizer) who advocated the removal of US Rival Law will
cause disaffection of
bases and the abandonment of the special relations with the the youth against the
Church
United States. Contrary to the accusations against him, Recto
was advocating a nationalist change for the Philippines instead of the neocolonial
subservience to the Americans.
Opposition to the Rizal Bill escalated as priests and bishops preached against
the Rizal Bill during masses and discussions in the radio were done denouncing the bill.
The Archbishop of Manila Rufino Santos came out with a pastoral letter warning about
the disaffection of the youth or the Church if the Rizal Bill was approved. Priests
encouraged their parishioners to write their congressmen and senators to oppose the
bill. Threats of Inss of support were made to persuade the lawmakers. Furthermore the
bishops threatened to close down all Catholic schools, colleges and universities if the
Rizal Bill becomes a law. Recto dared them on their threat seeing it as an empty
challenge. He believed that the Catholics will never close down their learning institutions
because these were their major source of income. If the bishops made good on their
threat, Recto proposed that the state should take over and implement a non-sectarian
educational system with a nationalist agenda.
Senator Francisco "Soc" Rodrigo: He would not allow his 17 year old son to read Rizal's
novels.
In the Senate Senator Rodrigo who held the presidency of the Accion Catolica
denounced the Rizal Bill He said that he would read Rizal's novels because his faith in
the Catholic Church is strong but he would not allow his teenaged son to read the Noli
Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo because these novels will harm his faith. He said that
the novels be inserted with footnotes and annotations that would correct Rizal's
statements in his works. Senator Recto for his part remained uncompromising
reminding the senator of the long period of domination of the Church in the history of the
Philippines which continues to this day.
In the House of Representatives Congressman Miguel Cuenco led the opposition to the
Rizal Bill in his privilege speech he said that Rizal, like Joan of Arc, was a symbol of
national unity and that his writings contain teachings on patriotism and nationalism. The
speech contained views, opinions and theories attacking the dogmas, beliefs and
practices of the Church. Quoting a passage in the Noli Me Tangere, Rizal wrote "God
cannot paluun confess it to a priest (Noll Sayo Edition, 1950, p. 191). Cuenco also said
that Riz that early Christians believed that there was no Purgatory and that its existence
was in the Church Council of Florence in 1439. He further said that Rizal said that the
taken from Zoroastrianism Rizal according to Cuenco said that the idea of Hell wa
concept of Divine Justice and the Divine Purity of Goodness (Noli, pp 69-70) Many
Church passages were against the sacraments of Baptism, Confession, Communion I
the doctrine of Indulgences Church prayers, sermons, sacramental and books of piety.
T disparage devotion to the Virgin Mary, the Saints, the use of scapulars, saying of
rosaries,
wat the Wear all was against Many of the ants
on Holy Mas f niety. The books
saries, novena
ejaculations and indulgenced prayers.
The proponents submitted a substitutional bill which provided the Board of National
Education some powers including the power to discipline schools and universities for
non-implementation to the Act and cause the publication and translation of Risal's
works. The amended hill also allocated P300,000 to publish Rizal's works. Cuenco
denounced this amendment as it gave the board very wide powers and its actions
cannot be reviewed by a higher body. He called the bill an issue of state authority
against individual constitutional liberties that will underminine and destroy our national
unity.
While there were opponents of the Rizal Bill, it also had its supporters. These include
groups such as the Veteranos de la Revolucion Filipina who were composed of
revolutionary
Senator Francisco "Soc Rodrigo war veterans, the Alagad ni Rizal, the Knights of the
Grand He would not allow his 17-year old Order of Rizal and the Freemasons. Another
prominent
son to read Rizal's novels. supporter was the Mayor of Manila, Arsenio Lacson. While
attending mass, Mayor Lacson walked out of the church when the priest began reading
a circular from Archbishop Santos denouncing the Rizal Bill
Within the Catholic Church the lone voice which supported the Rizal Bill was a Jesuit
scholar and historian Fr Horacio de la Costa, S.J. Fr. de la Costa admitted that abuses
did harpen in the Catholic Church and there were historica mistakes committed by the
Church. As an organiza composed of men, mistakes were bound to be committed said
that Rizal's works only exposed abuses within the Chu Fr. de la Costa sald however that
the abuses were commi by individual clergymen and should not be treated as ren of the
entire clergy. He wrote a paper expounding were suppressed by the Church and Fr, de
After a standoff which lasted for a month the abuses of the Spanish actually substitute
bill was filed. This bill was authored by Sen Laurel and it incorporated the proposals of
Senators Ro Lim and Emmanuel Pelaez. The bill was actually a compromise bill
compared to the orig hill as it contained a provision allowing students to seek exemption
from reading Rizal's withered by Senator nators Rosseller to the original but not from
taking the course. The substitute bill also provides funds for the publication and
distribution of Rizal's works in the countryside. This appropriation however was only a
one time measure and it was good only for the year when the law was passed. On June
12, 1956, Republic Act No. 1426, popularly known as the Rizal Law was passed.
Opponents of the Rizal Law saw the approval of the compromise bill as a complete
victory. Its proponents however felt they had gained something as students still have to
study Rizal's works though they can be exempted from reading the two novels. Though
it was passed more than 50 years ago, it had no implementing rules and regulations
until the National Historical Institute provided them in 2001, Republic Act 1425.

THE POWER OF THE WRITTEN WORD

One of the most important developments in the history of civilization is the
invention of writing. Writing allowed man to express his ideas other than his speech or
body language. More Importantly, writing froze the spoken word into a medium such as
stone, clay tablet, parchment or paper. This enabled stories about great men and
women reach several generations through time. When the Iliad and Odyssey was finally
written down it became possible to read these epics in books instead of hearing it from
a bard or minstrel. What was formerly part of oral tradition becomes part of written
tradition. Freezing words into paper or stone kept the manuscript pure and free from
contamination, which usually affects oral traditions.
When words are finally frozen as texts on paper and stone these become more powerful
and authoritative than the spoken words. Messages about the past sent by word of
mouth from generation to generation tends to be garbled and even corrupted. If man
continues to rely on oral tradition there could be problems regarding how the receiver of
the information got the message and if the message had passed on several generations
the message can be changed. By using the written word it is possible to access the past
even when the speaker of the message is no longer there. It also allows a more
scientific approach in investigating the past.
The written word even has great religious significance, as religious texts such as the
books of the Bible and the Qur'an were able to reach the generations of the present.
The word of God is treated with great reverence and respect. Originally beginning as
part of oral tradition, these words containing religious teachings and stories have been
written down and form part of Sacred scriptures. Freezing the words into paper ensured
that nothing in the text can be removed or added. Religious preachers often invoke
some holy book like the Bible or the Qur'an to base their teachings They even require
that the religious teaching are in the original languape to avoid
any error in translation Muslims therefore are required to learn Arabic so they can read
the Our in its original form. For a time it was prohibited to translate the Bible for fear of
mistranslar and only those who knew Latin may preach the Bible. Among some
Christian denominations an some Muslims, knowledge of the revelations or events and
teachings in the Bible and the Our were essential in attaining heaven or paradise.
LITERATURE AND ITS PURPOSES
A body of writings is called literature. Literature is intended for a certain group of people
It hinges on the word "litera" or letra which means letter. Nowadays its scope has
expanded There is oral literature, which refers to literature yet to be written. Eyewitness
accounts are accounts of people who were eyewitnesses or participants to certain
events. Oral tradition, which includes epics, genealogies, parables, sayings and riddles,
are oral literatures passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth.
Eventually they were written down to form the body of written literature.
Some literature can have an appeal on a certain generation. One form of literature can
be idealized by a generation but neglected by others. For instance, Urbana at Felisa,
which laid down how women should act in the 19th century, may not apply to the 21st
century Filipina. In the 17th century the works of Balagtas with the use of courtly
language is widely appreciated during that time but will be seen as "baduy" (awkward or
out of place) in today's cellphone text society.
Sull some forms of literature are enduring their application and appeal remain
classic. The works of heroes who helped in the foundation of nationhood fall into this
category. Excerpts from poems attributed to Rizal about love of language (Ang hindi
marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay masahol pa sa hayop at mabahong isda), the
role of the youth (ang kabataan ay pag-asa ng bayan) and the importance of morality in
public life by Mabini (Independence is not woh A moral government is also necessary).
These words even if they were written more han a hundred years ago still has some
appeal and application to today's generation who were not of Rizal or Mabini. e-
literature. These now include texts in the cellphones With the coming of the computer
and electronic age, came a new type of literature called include texts in the cellphones
and blogs in the computers. Today billionstain literature. Literature is always written with
a recipient or customer of hytes are used to contain literature. Literature is always
written uced to contain and promote truths, lies, fiction, history, dogmas in mind.
Literature can be produced to contain and promote that and facts. epends on the
persons who created it. It is intended to be read by The purpose of literature depends
on the persons other people. The purposes of literature are the follow:
To inform - It conveys to another person knowle or an event. Example Jose is a man
who lives in: Man
other person knowledge about another person, a place. bolives in Manila is a city in the
Philippines; when Jose was
born it was raining
b. Expression - Related to infor literature. Expression is done to convey emotio reader
or listener. In a letter, one may express in a form of a poem or even a song. Negative
em
informing is to express. Expression is one of the purposes of
ptions or feelings from the author of the work to his ss love for his girlfriend or boyfriend.
It can be done tive emotions such as anger, hate and disgust can be
expressed in literature.
c. As a guide - Literature guides people by telling them what to do or expect. Technical
manuals of gadgets that we buy are actually guides on how to use them otherwise,
these gadgets can get destroyed. Somebody who did not read the instruction manual on
his new stereo ignored the important information that he should not plug his 110-volt
appliance to a 220 volt outlet. Circulars and memoranda issued by heads of offices
inform the subordinates what to do or expect. In 1887. Jose Rizal who was meeting Dr.
Ferdinand Blumentritt for the first time sent a letter with handwritten sketch of himself so
Blumentritt would know what he looked like. Literature that cuides saves the readers
from inconvenience and helps him save time. These include information that will tell us
how to get to a place; which type of transportation to use and which places or people to
go to or avoid.
d. To send a message - When writing was invented it allowed man to send messages to
people who were not presently with him. The written message transcends both distance
and time as it became possible to send letters to the other side of the globe or to have
archival manuscripts researched and look into their meaning. The message given by
man through the written word allowed people in the past to influence the future. This is
how the thoughts of great men like Confucius, Plato and Aristotle were able to affect the
future. Not only lives of people are affected but also institutions, governments, and the
way life is lived. Messages sent through time and space guided individuals, institutions
and societies. Perhaps the best example is the Bible some of whose books were written
centuries ago continue to send messages to people of the present and serve as a guide
in their daily lives.
e. Entertainment - Literature can be used for entertainment by serving as a diversion
from the common and routinely aspects of life. This includes the tickling or stimulation of
Imagination. Creative minds may create fiction while others may draw directly from past
events or be influenced by past events. William Shakespeare drew from actual
characters in Italy in writing Romeo and Juliet from the Italian Romeu y Guillieta.
The need for entertainment created various forms of literature such as poetry, short
stories and novels. Aside from entertaining these types of literature may extol the
bravery of heroes such as in epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata of India. To
make literature more entertaining the theater was born where various poetical and
musical works were performed
f. To serve as record of the past - Literature may contain stories about the past. This
type of literature falls into the realm of history. History is defined as a documented
record of man and his society. It is a narration of significant events that follows a certain
pattern from a simple and primitive state to a more complex and advanced condition
such as a way of life, institutions and laws and beliefs. History contains descriptions of
what was life in the past, how it affected the present and it provides ideas on how to
face the future. Historical literature may contain the exemplary lives of heroes and great
men and women who had done something that added to the Improved (or deteriorated)
way of life and it tells us whether to emulate such men and conditions or to avoid them
in order to prevent suffering the same fate. Historical literature aside from telling us what
was life in the past antiquarian history). It tells us how the lessons of the past can help
shape the future. This is called historicism.
To convince - Literature can tell us what to do. It helps sway opinions, persuading us
what to do. In order for literature to convince people, it must tell them how it can affect
them personally. The art and science of convincing people falls into the realm of
propaganda. Propaganda can be as simple as your television commercial or your
newspaper advertisement Political literature is full of propaganda. It tells people about
their present state and how to improve such state. This may include the injection of an
ideology or the idea of what is supposed to be ideal or desirable.
Propaganda may include telling the truth; magnifying the truth, twisting the truth or even
not telling the truth or outright lies. Propaganda depends on the motive of the person
telling the story. In propaganda, it is important to advance the objectives of the user of
the propaganda and it may involve the denigration of the side where the propaganda
was directed against. Before World War II Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party blamed the
Jews for the decline of Germany while promising to create a master race or herrenvoll.
h. To inspire - Literature can help expand one's mind and fire up his imagination. It
encourages one to follow an example either to equal or exceed him in terms of
achievements. Literature that inspires is the content of inspirational books and lives of
great men and women. Literature that inspires provides ideas that allow one to set his
goals.
Literature may create profound change in a person by changing his perception of
the world, his surroundings and society. Such profound change affects his emotions, his
ideals and his philosophy of life. Such type of change is called a catharsis. People in the
art world may call it as an impression. Cathartic changes are not caused by literature
alone. Catharsis is different from epiphany, which is a sudden and radical change of
mind that is not necessarily caused by external forces. Rather is caused by internal
processes contemplation and self-analysis.
Catharsis is caused by a deep and emotional experience learned from external
sources. Certain moments in life causes catharsis in a person. When a person
experiences a cathartie moment is experiencing a moment of decision. There were
times that this cathartic change was a change towards the opposite direction. For
example St. Paul's perception of the Jews changed following his experience on the road
to Emmaus. Thus from a persecutor of early Christians he became one of their leading
defenders, Henry Little, better known as Malcolm X, was a black racist, believed that
Islam was an original religion of black tribes men before they were taken to America to
become slaves. However upon undertaking a religious pilgrimage to Mecca, he found
out that Islam was not just the religion of blacks but of all races and its message was to
love one another in contrast to what was being preached by some people. Literature
caused a cathartic change in great men like Mohandas K. Gandhi who began to believe
that societal change can be achieved not through violence but through the force of truth
and non-violence or ahimsa. These two principles learned from the Hindu sacred texts
became his guiding forces in life.
THE CONNECTION OF LITERATURE TO NATIONALISM
The power of the written word is not limited to guiding, entertainment,
remembering or personal inspiration. It can be used to develop a sense of nationalism.
Nationalism is a sentiment of a community of people of having a common identity,
values and aspirations. It is bome out of a common past and shared history,
Literature is part of a people's expression. It shows their ideals, aspirations and their
world view. The work ties them to the place of their origin just like the epic of Gilgamesh
ties it to Mesopotamia the haikus and the Tale of Genji are associated with Japan and
the Canterbury stories are to England.
Some literature are based on myths and legends such as the story of Danggun
and the creation of the Korean people; the story of the Japanese gods, Izanagi and
Izanami. These stories are the way of these people to explain about their origin. Epics
like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata reflect the values and beliefs of the Hindus In
the Philippines we have equivalents such as the Darangen of the Maranao people. One
of part of the Darangten was the story of the land
Rumbaran which was ruled by wise rulers and inhabited by brave warriors and inhabited
by lovely maidens. The Darangen was the Maranao version of the land of Atlantis
before it vanished when the people were punished for their wrongdoings.
Other literatures are drawn from actual historical events such as the Song of
Roland of France which was about the resistance of the Franks against the Moors and
El Cid which was told in the context of the Spanish Reconquista in Spain. They tell
about the saga of the French and Spanish nations and their brave heroes.
Literature helps generate nationalism among the people when they remember
the great stories of their past. This is very true with historical literature when the authors
present the glorious past of their race. They remember old times of freedom and
greatness, a call for the rebirth of the old glorious societies. They are called irredentists
and they resurrect the old memories of the ancients
The old Roman ruins and the newly rediscovered works of classical Rome
inspired the late Medieval writers like Cuola di Rienzi to bring about the rebirth of
classical civilization. This scenario repeated in the 19th century when Italian nationalists
like Camilo di Cavour, Giuseppe Garibaldi and Gluseppe Mazzini invoked the old times
when Italy was the center of the Roman Empire. They called for the return of the time
when Italy was in its glorious age. History and nationalist rhetoric helped bring about the
Italian Risorgimento or resurgence in 1861. The Italians pushed out the Austrians who
colonized north of the country and the French its western part. The Italians even forced
the Pope to give up the Papal States until his temporal government was reduced to the
one square mile state, which is the Vatican City today. The nationalism in literature
moved people to fight for their rights and do what was necessary to attain better
conditions for their country. Better conditions include freedom and independence.
In the Philippines rediscovering the pre-colonial past was the basis of the
nationalism of heroes like Rizal. Bonifacio and Aguinaldo. In one of his writings, Rizal
wrote, in order to know the destiny of a nation, it is important to upen the book of the
past. Rizal looked back into Philippine history to correct the biases created by the
Spaniards over the Filipinos. The Spaniards claimed that they brought civilization to our
ancestors whom they called savages. On the other hand, Rizal and his fellow reformists
countered that the Filipinos already had a civilization before the coming of the West.
They utilized the books written by early historians like Antonio de Moraca who wrote the
book Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas. They also used the works of European
anthropologists like Jagor who described how our ancestors lived.
In the 20th century historical literature about the past of the Phlippines and
neighboring Countries inspired individuals like Wenceslao Vinzons to envision his
Malaya Irredenta. Vinzons learned that before the coming of the European colonizers,
the ancestors of today's Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia freely traded, intermarried
and migrated to the various lands, which are now these countries. There was also great
Malayan empires which controlled the region. The present South China Sea was named
after a Malay kingdom called Champa
In his time, Vinzons sought to unite the Malay peoples of Southeast Asia and
resurrer the Malayan nation where the people lived free from the bounds of western
imperialism. Becaus of this aspiration, Vinzons and his companions were called
irrendentists.
The same irredentist vision affected Rizal and his contemporaries. Before the
Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia were free. Until the European colonizers
came with promises protection and a better life. The colonizers made treaties with local
rulers, which meant both parties were supposed to be treated as equals. But the
Europeans reneged on their promises and the natives found themselves deprived of the
freedom once enjoyed by their forebears. The former native rulers were reduced to
being menial officials at most and majority of the people became servants of the
colonists. They lost their lands, which have now become the estates of the colonizers.
Rizal and his companions sought to restore the great past when freedom
reigned. He aspired this freedom not only for the Filipinos but for the entire Malay race.
This is also why there is a subgroup within the Indios Bravos called the Redencion de
los Malayos (RDLM) which aimed to redeem the dignity of the Malay race.
The discovery of literature that inspired propelled those who read it to improve their
lives. They cannot go back to the ways of their ancestors or to wage a violent struggle,
which would be counterproductive, instead they tried to work within the colonial system.
This Included learning the language of the colonizers. Then they began to excel in the
arts and crafts of the colonizers. Some of them have become successful economically
becoming prosperous businessmen and some of them became intellectuals.
While the families of the reformists may have uplifted themselves intellectually
and socially the large masses of their people remain under colonial oppression. The
native intellectuals as well as those that have progressed economically are not treated
equally by the colonizers despite of their achievements. The colonizers still wished to
retain their dominance in society. Eventually the intellectuals among the natives
especially the half-breeds or mestizos would call for change. They would start by
denouncing the misgovernance and malpractices of the colonials. Soon they would call
for change in the political order. As the colonizers still retain their superiority, it will
eventually bring apart a feeling that the locals and mestizos are one who should work
together and later overthrow the white colonialists. One way to call the local people into
action was through literature through the poems and short stories created by the
relatively small group of writers.
Literature that stimulates nationalism need not be historical. It can be literary and
fictional If it is fictional it must reflect some historical reality. More importantly, history
that is intended to stimulate nationalism must be intense enough to create a cathartic
change to whoever reads it. The poems made by people like Jose Marti accentuate the
sufferings of the Cuban people in the hands of the Spanish colonizers. Essays like
those made by Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin awakened the colonial Americans.
Franklin likened England to a mother and the English colonies in America as her
children. He said that if England is the mother of America she has become a tyrannical
and overbearing parent, imposing conditions that cause hardship among its children.
Common sense tells the Americans it was time to break away from their mother and
seek their freedom.
The writers of these types of literature, which cause an inflammatory sentiment,
were described as demagogues. Demagogues are those people such as writers and
orators who sway public opinion and drive the people into action.
It properly guided demagogues can bring about change but the type of change
depends upon their motivations. Demagogues were accused of taking advantage or
deceiving the people thev convinced like the Pied Piper of Hamelin leading the rats to
drown in the river or convincing the children to come with him to live inside the
mountain. In history demagogues like Jean Marat who was writing in his newspaper.
The Friend of the People led many innocents to the guillotine during the French
Revolution. Hitler in his Mein Kampf caused hatred for the Jews and that eventually led
to the Holocaust. It is important to examine the writings closely as well as the
motivations of the writers.
PHILIPPINE LITERATURE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONALISM
The introduction of printing during Spanish period helped in creating the Filipino
identity The first printed works were religious in nature. The first book was the Doctrina
Christiana which was published by the Dominicans in 1591. It contained catechisms
written in Tagalog, Spanish and Chinese and printed in baybayin or the native script, in
Latin letters and in Chinese. Along with another book, the Shih Lu, the Doctrina
Christiana were produced using the Chinese woodblock letters.
The other books produced in the islands contained stories about lives of saints
and more Catechism, which were rendered in Tagalog and other native languages. The
Spaniards brought along their literatures, which were embraced by the natives.
Religious literature became involved in the development of nationalism. As people
embraced Christianity and the story of salvation, they began to identify themselves with
its teachings. Christian catechism teaches that in order to reach kalualhatian or
heavenly bliss it is necessary to undergo spiritual and moral cleansing. The lives of
Christ and the saints provided examples of how to attain bliss. Appropriating the story of
Christ's passion, death and resurrection, the natives believe that they have to undergo
such process. Suffering temptations and tribulations are necessary in order to attain
salvation. Some Filipinos even believe in the coming of a new heaven and the new
earth but this will come after a final battle between good and evil.
Aside from religious literature, the Spaniards introduced secular literature which
appealed to the natives. One of the popular stories was that of Bernardo Carpio,
Bernardo Carpio was a Spanish introduction but his story was appropriated by the
indios to their situation. In the story, Bernardo Carpio was a child who was endowed
with superhuman strength. There were many versions of this story but its highlight was
that he was deceived by the enemy and was trapped between two giant boulders. In
one version that enemy was a Spanish encomendero who utilized the service of a
native shaman who turned traitor to his people. This encomendero led him to be
trapped between the two boulders. The natives believe that Bernardo Carpio is still alive
and Whenever the earth shakes, it is Bernardo Carpio trying to break the chains that
bound him.
The Katipuneros borrowed the story of Bernardo Carpio and it was no
coincidence that they chose that site in Montalban now part of Rizal province located
between two mountains the boulders that trapped Benardo Carpio and they held
initiation rites in the caves nearby. The cave called Pamitinan Cave was said to be the
Bernardo Carpio's cave. Upon being initiated into the Organization, the newly initiated
Katipuneros vowed to break the chains placed on them by the Spanish colonizers
Plays called zarzuelas played an important part in the life of colonial Filipinos, One ty of
play was the Comedia Capa y Espada, which was better known as the Moro-Moro. It
portrayed the battles between the Christians and Muslims. The comedia was inspired by
the battles of the Muslims in Spain. The Muslims occupied Spain for more than 700
years and comedias were also performed during the time when the Spaniards were
trying to conquer the Moros of Southern Philippines. In the plays, the Indios identified
themselves with the Christians rather than their Muslim brethren.
The comedia which had a nationalist effect on the indios was Florante at Laura by
Francisco Balagtas. It was about a love story or the Duke Florante and Princess Laura
of Albania who was pursued by an usurper Count Adolfo.
The Florante at Laura provided different messages depending on the audience.
According to Hornedo when it was published in 1838, Spain underwent a Carlist
episode five years before when King Ferdinand VII died. When he died he willed that his
daughter Isabella should inherit the Spanish throne. Ferdinand's will was contested by
his brother Carlos who said that the throne should pass to a male heir. Spain then
underwent a civil war over succession. It so happened that the Spaniards in Manila
were sympathetic with Isabella. The conflict ended with the proIsabella forces prevailing
and Isabella became Queen Isabella II. When the play was presented the Spaniards
saw Isabella in Laura and Balagtas received praises for his work.
For the Filipino indios, the message was different, Laura symbolized the
Philippines and the Indios was Florante who was trying to struggle against the powerful
Adolfo who represented the Spaniards.
Latter literature produced during the 19th century discussed the conditions of the
Philippines. Among them was the work of Gregorio Sanciangco El Progreso de
Filipinas, which mentioned the need for economic reforms that would help keep the
Philippines stable under Spanish rule. With the rise of educated Filipinos called
ilustrados, they began writing books and essays. The first novel written by a Filipino was
Ninay by Pedro Paterno in 1885. Ninay was more of a cultural novel as it described the
Filipino customs of lamay in the context of the story of the young woman of the title.
Ninay would be later followed by Rizal's Noli Me Tangere, which was also a cultural
novel but had a social commentary on the lives of the Filipinos. The Noli together with
its sequel El Filibusterismo were written to stimulate a social awakening of the Filipinos
on their colonial condition. More importantly educated Filipinos such as Trinidad H.
Pardo de Tavera. Pedro Paterno and even Rizal were rediscovering the old past of the
Philippines, which debunked Spanish assertions on the backwardness of the Filipinos.
For doing research on the precolonial Filipino society, Spanish authorities suspected
Tavera and Paterno of having subversive intentions. The writings of these Filipinos
actually point to a civilized past and there are calls for peaceful reforms and change.
Eventually these would graduate into a call for independence from Spain.
RIZAL, HIS COMPANIONS AND THEIR USE OF LITERATURE TO FOSTER
NATIONALISM
Rizal and his companions used literature to foster a love for their country.
Graciano Lopez Jaena and Marcelo H. del Pilar used essays denouncing Spanish
misgovernance and malpractices. All of them attacked that del Pilar called frailocracy -
the rule of the religious orders in the Philippines. Jaena likened the friars to the
manzanilla whose shade kills.
Del Pilar was the master essayist and often used satire to wwe his point. He
depicted the preediness of the religious orders and the propensity of the Church in
accumulating wealth while the people suffered. Del Pilar who wrote under the pen name
Plaridel was considered the most dangerous of the laborantes- even more dangerous
than Rizal. Since he can write in fluent Tagalog, the language of the masses his appeal
among the masses was strong
Rizal used poems, essays and the novels to bring about a nationalist awakening
among the people. The novels were actually works of fiction but had allusions to real
persons and places. Characters like Padres Damaso, Irene, Camorra and Padre Million,
the tyrannical professor of the class of Placido Penitente do not exist in real life. Other
characters derived from real people such as Padre Sibyla was Archbishiop Bernardino
Nozaleda who was once Rizal's professor, Fr. Fernandez was actually Fr. Evaristo Arias
Fernandez who was a moderate among the friars in the El Filibusterismo. Doña
Victorina was Mrs. Medel who was the owner of the Teatro-Zorilla, Kapitan Tiago was
either Don Telesforo Chuidian or Don Hilario Sunico and Filosofo Tasio was Teodoro
Romualdo de Jesus, Rizal's teacher in sculpture who inspired him to love the native
culture of the Philippines. These fictional characters and characters who were inspired
from real people drive home the state of the Philippines, as being oppressed by
colonizers and ironically natives of the Philippines were the ones throwing away their
identity and replacing them with that of the colonizers.
Rizal used existing literature in connection with his novels. In reply to criticisms
with what he was portraying, he used a practice described in the Bible, like that part of
his novel where he likened his writings to the biblical practice of putting a very sick
person on the steps of the temple and wait for strangers who may suggest treatment of
the disease. Rizal was exposing the ills of the Philippines so that the people will awaken
from their slumber of colonial amnesia.
Rizal's contemporaries also used allusions to real characters Jaena's Fray Botod,
was probably about a friar in Iloilo known for his greedy habits or it can be a composite
of various friars fitted into one perean Del Pilar for his part used parodies of popular
pravers like the Our Father and Hail Mary Ama Namin and Aba Ginoong Maria) writing
them as Amain Namin and the Aba Ginoong Barya which made him extremely popular
among the people and especially hated among the friars.
The use of fictional and alluded characters and satire was assailed by the Church and
pro Spanish elements. Fr. Jose Arcilla downplayed Rizal's novels a work of Rizal's
creative mind. Though the works were fiction, churchmen complain that these help in
damaging the image of the Church
Here is some history of what is said of Lopez Jaena, del Pilar and Rizal.
However, these have been generalized as being committed by ALL SPANISH
RELIGIOUS instead of being perpetuated by some very bad individuals. It must be
pointed out that the literature written by the reformists were intended to cause a dislike
for the Spanish religious orders who have dominated the intellectual, political, religious
and economic life of the country. Aside from being called reformists, Rizal and group
are propagandists. They are driven by a motivation to advance their own objectives
while destroying the image of the one they were fighting against.
Today most of the Spanish friars are mostly gone and the Catholic Church in the
Philippines is run by Filipinos Why then is government still encouraging the reading of
hateful works against
the Church? The defenders of the Church said that there is no more need to teach the
works of Riza because the Spanish friars are gone and the conditions of today are
different from that of the 19th century
Let us ask ourselves if this argument is correct. Are the reasons for which the Noli and
were written in Rizal's time still with us today?
The answer to this question is yes. While there are no more Spanish friars dictating on
the government we can see bishops and priests doing the same thing. Only the skin of
the clergy has changed
The Catholic Church interfered in matters that should belong to the state. It interfered in
the legislation of bills such as the Reproductive Health Bill, the Divorce Bill, the Death
Penalty Bill and while it assailed government for its corruption. Many bishops were
alleged to be recipients of donations from gambling lords and corrupt government
officials. The Catholic Church is exempted from most taxus but it continues to influence
the political life of the nation by telling voters who to vote for
The Catholic Church helped topple two administrations, the Marcos
administration in 1986 and the Estrada Administration in 2001 saying that these
governments were corrupt. Yet it refused to endorse the replacement of the Arroyo
administration, which was also perceived to be corrupt. It said that the people must
move on and allow the President to reform. Why was there a double standard?
Aside from the Church part of the problem that comes from the time of Rizal are caused
by the people themselves. Filipinos who embraced foreign culture while throwing away
their national identity are the present-day Doña Victorinas. The influence peddlers in
Malacañang are the Don Custodios and Ben Zaybs of today. The young women who
marry for wealth and convenience are the modern Paulita Gomezes. The dispossessed
peasants are today's Cabesang Tales and some members of rebel groups are today's
Matanglawins.
Rizal as well as his contemporaries used these characters in their works to jolt
the people from their intellectual slumber and move them towards a patriotic life.
In reading the works of Rizal and his companions, we must keep in mind that they are
propagandists and propagandists may not necessarily tell the whole truth. For example
in his essay examining the causes of the laziness of the Filipinos which he identified as
the government monopolies, the Muslim piratical raids and wars of the Spaniards, these
events happened at least 200 years before Rizal's time. The time of Rizal was actually a
time of free enterprise, which allowed hardworking people and people with
entrepreneurial acumen to have economic prosperity. It must be remembered that even
Rizal's family benefited from such a favorable condition.
Many of the faults of the Filipinos are caused by the Filipinos themselves through their
love of procrastination (mamaya na), bahala na, gambling love for short-cuts and the
get-rich mentality. The Filipinos should take part of the blame for their backwardness.
THE DEFINITION OF NATIONALISM AND ELEMENTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
NATIONALISM
Nationalism is a sentiment in which a person manifests his pride in being part of
a nation. A person who exhibits nationalism shows his loyalty to the nation for which he
is willing to serve its interests.
Nation refers to the people identified as occupying a certain piece of territory.
These people developed an attachment to the territory or the land that sustained them.
That land provided their livelihood and they have lived on that land for generations. As a
people occupying a certain territory, they developed their own culture, a way of life and
a way of interacting and governing each other. The people became identified with the
land and they developed a certain affection and attachment to it. Often people and
eventually nations name the land they occupy. Examples for these would be: Angle
Land, which was the old name of England meaning land of the Angles and Saxon
people; Frankia, the old name of France which means the land of the Franks: Russia,
land of the Russ or the Viking tribe who called themselves the Russ viking, Germany is
the land of the Germanic people. In Asia, China is considered by its inhabitants as the
Middle Kingdom or Zhung Guo; the Indians are people of Bharat or Hindustan or the
land of the Hindus which are native names for their country. The Japanese call
themselves the Nihon people or people of the land of the rising sun and the Koreans
call themselves as the people of Chosun, the land of the morning calm. The natives of
these lands exhibit great respect and for the names of their lands
Along with the attachment to the land, the people occupying it develop a common
culture, which creates an identity that is distinct from the others. This distinct identity is
caused by socialization by the people within the nation. Religions may develop in an
area occupru people and the religious beliefs of one people may be different from
another. The languages are different from the people of other lands. Their system of
government is also different from the others as these cater to the peculiar needs of the
people.
Geography is a factor in delineating the land occupied by a nation. Some
geographical features may represent the boundary of the nation's territory. For example
the German world in Europe was defined by the Rhine River. The river is so wide, about
a mile at its narrowest that it was difficult to cross. The river was the natural boundary
that separated the Latin world or the land occupied by the Romans. In Asia the Yalu
River defines the boundary between China and Korea. The Mekong separates Thailand
from Laos, Mountains are also natural boundaries that define a nation's territory. China
is separated from India through the Himalayas. The Alps separates Italy from Germany
and the Pyrenees separates France from Spain.
The importance of geography is that it plays a role in the differentiation of culture
in society. People living on a plain may exhibit similarities in their religion, culture and
government. This is the same with people separated by seas, as these bodies of water
are highways rather than barriers to transportation and communication. For example,
people in Western Europe like the French, the Dutch, Belgians and Italians may share a
commonality in culture which is basically Latin and their languages were called
Romance Language since these countries were former parts of the Roman Empire. In
Asia the Arab world like in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Yemen and the Gulf states of the
United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq and Syria have a common Arabic
culture because of the relatively easy access through the plains and deserts. Countries
separated by water such as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines also show cultural
similarities and affinities as these nations are just separated by bodies of water that can
be easily crossed. In contrast peoples separated by mountains, swamps and forests
showed diversity in culture. Despite the commonalities however the communities within
the continuous areas still display a different type of character that is unique to that
particular area. For example Chinese in China are different from the ethnic Chinese in
Singapore or Malaysia. The Arabs in Egypt are different from the Arabs from the Gulf
States. In the Malay-dominated region the Malaysians are different from the Filipinos
and are also different from the Indonesians.
Another significant factor that contributes to nationalism is the common
experience of the people of the nation. In a community the people practice and
experience rommon elements such as common rules, mares and cultures. They
experience the common natural factors such as the environment as well as man-made
factors such as government and how they are governed.
Common experience may create a feeling of cohesion between persons and within the
community. They learned to adapt and they tend to depend and interact with each
other.
Often negative experiences create feelings of cohesiveness, empathy towards
each other and eventually nationalism. For example the harsh treatment of a sovereign
or king eventually caused the people to unite and overthrow him. In countries that were
colonized the inhabitants were treated differently by those who came from a mother
country. They were discriminated ainst and oppression set in. Eventually they gain a
feeling of having the same experience, which leads to unity. The people develop a
common goal and objective and this condition leads to a love for the land where they
stand and sustain each other; a common identity and a common objective. This will lead
to the development of nationalism.
Therefore elements that help build up nationalism among people are:
• a common geographical space, one that is defined and occupied by that group of
people
• ; a common but unique culture which was developed about by a prolonged period
of interaction;.
• a common experience, which created a bond within that people; .
• a common cause or aspiration that transcends personal and individual goals
NATION, AN IMAGINED COMMUNITY?
According to writer Benedict Anderson a nation is an imagined community
because it created delineations and artificial boundaries. Some boundaries are not
natural or geographical in nature but were created by human action. These include
latitudes and longitudes that appear on a map or a globe. Often political boundaries are
problematic that cause disputes with neighbors especially when there are no natural
features that would serve as points of reference.
Humans belong to one specie regardless of race or color. However, nationalities
are created because of different cultural and social developments. Modern Germans
and French for example belong to one group of people until they were split to become
separate nations. Their early rulers were actually cousins. In the Middle East where
conflicts are between the Jews and Arabs, the contending groups belong to the same
Semitic branch of people. Put a Jew and a Palestinian together and they are quite the
same in appearance. What made them different were their religious, political and
cultural beliefs. In Southeast Asia, people of the Malay world traded, lived with and even
intermarried with each other until colonialism created what is now the nations of
Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
The people that constitutes a nation, according to Anderson is also part of that
imagined community and they have become separate communities because of the
elements that create nationalism. In reality they belong to one big community.
Boundaries have created artificial walls among peoples that used to freely interact with
each other. Even with boundaries the need to interact persists. This is why people from
southern Philippines cross into Malaysia to trade or the Germans spend their vacations
in France.
Boundaries and nationalities are actually constructs or something made by man
and imagined communities include states, countries, provinces and towns. They all
belong to a larger human society and distinctions are just man-made.
In the world of free trade and globalization, such distinctions coming from
imagined communities are getting smaller. Cultures actually transcend boundaries. One
can still be a Filipino and show Filipino characteristics even if he is not in his
geographical state. In studying civilizations like Greek or Korean civilization, the topic is
not anymore tied to the land but to the People and culture.
Nevertheless, the effect of nationalism is very strong because of cultural and
historical forces that people of a country are willing to defend and even die for the land
to which they have swom allegiance. One may feel insulted if his country is denigrated
by an outsider or foreigner He may want to defend and reply to what he considered an
affront to his country. The reply not limited to words and it may involve some violence.
Wars are fought because of conflicting nationalisms but in reality nations as Anderson
wrote, are really imagined communities. But many people nations are real and therefore
worth defending.
MODELS FOR NATIONALISM
To demonstrate the formation of nationalism, history provides various examples
how it develops in various countries.
The French, English, Russian And Spanish Models
The formation of the nations of Spain, France and England took place in the
Middle Ages. Ethnic groups sharing the same language and heritage, which is a mixture
of native and Roman influences, helped form distinct identities for the three countries.
The three countries were former part of the old Roman Empire. Their histories had
parallel events: all three were invaded by Barbarian tribes after the fall of the Western
Empire. The mixture of cultures in each country created a character that is unique.
There is a quality of being French among the people of France and Englishness." Being
French separated the French people from the non-French like the Belgians, Germans
and the Dutch and as for the English; their English character separated them from the
Scots and the Welsh. The peoples of both countries rallied themselves around a
monarch to whom they pledged their loyalty. That monarch was expected to rule his
people as a monarch would do. The unique ethnicity created a cultural quality for each
people. This included the evolution and development of language and their way of life.
Ethnicity therefore was a key to nationalism in both countries. Adding to ethnicity was
the force of religion. The Franks who later became the French were ordered by the
Frankish King Clovis to adapt the Christian religion under the pain of death. The
adaption of Christianity solidified his authority over the various Frankish tribes and
Clovis is considered the father of the French nation. Thus to be French is to speak the
French language, follow French customs and to become a Christian.
 The English also adopted Christianity as the Angle and Saxon invaders adapted
the new religion. Other newcomers like the Normans and Vikings similarly became
Christians, Christian character was also an important part of becoming English aside
from adapting English customs and having allegiance to the King of England.
The French and English models in the formation of nationalism also apply to Russia.
which developed an ethnic quality of being Russian. Originally composed of various
Russian Viking tribes monarchs like Rurikforged them together collectively called the
Russ, they developed a common language. By religion Russians were followers of
Greek Orthodox Christianity, after having sent emissaries to Constantinople, Ivan II and
seeing Russia as a Third Roman Empire, ordered that all Russians adopt Orthodox
Christianity.
In the case of Spain, the country was inhabited by various Visigothic tribes until
the Muslim invasions in the oth century. The northern part of Spain such as Asturias
and Navarra remained Christian. The 100 years of Islamic domination contributed
Islamic elements on the Spanish, influencing the language, architecture, and other
aspects of culture even the cuisine. As the Spanish Reconquista occurred it regained its
Christian character. Through the union of the dominant kingdoms of Leon and Castille,
the Spanish nation was born. Though Spain had distinct ethnic groups like the Catalans
of Barcelona and the Basques of the Pais Basco, Spain developed a character that is
distinctly Spanish, which is actually Castillian from the Kingdom of Castille. The
language was based on the one spoken in that kingdom. To have a Spanish
characteristica Spaniard is expected to speak Spanish, be a Catholic and exhibit some
though subdued Islamic influence.
The American Model
During the 17th century, various English settlers came to North America.
Primarily the English came to colonize the newly found continent and to expand the
empire. But these colonists were a diverse group: some like the Catholics who founded
Boston and Baltimore so they can freely practice their religion. This was the same
reason for the Quakers who came to Pennsylvania were looking for a place where they
can freely practice their religion, others were simply seeking their fortunes; others were
looking for a place to settle. Eventually they formed the thirteen English colonies in the
eastern part of North America. As the colonists settled down, they created their own
culture that was different and unique to their original English roots. Even the language
spoken by the colonists in America was different from the one spoken in England.
Though considering themselves as loyal Englishmen the colonists developed an
attachment to the land that they have called their own, built their homes, and raised
their families.
The government in London was 3,000 miles away and separated by an ocean.
Most of the time the colonists had to survive on their own, facing England's enemies like
the French and the Spanish who wanted to claim their land as well as hostile native
Americans as well as outlaws among the colonists. They had to rely on their own
resources in protecting themselves against their enemies. In spite of the distance, the
colonists considered themselves as Englishmen and England as their mother country.
 As separate communities and with varied interests and environments, the
colonists developed their own identity. Though they were colonial Englishmen, they
were different from the people in the old country. The Englishmen in England
considered the colonists and the people born in America as provincials and therefore
inferior to themselves. Of course, this caused some resentment from the people burn in
the colonics.
Following the French and Indian War, the government in London began imposing taxes
on the colonists. The Royal government claimed that the taxation was necessary to
repay the expenses during the conflict. Furthermore, the colonists were restricted from
going beyond the Western borders of the colonies into the fertile Ohio valley. The
imposition of taxes and rules against the expansion of the colonies were seen as a
burden to their lives and a restriction to their progress. Before the imposition of these
taxes and other restrictions the colonists were pretty left alone to themselves almost a
century before. The colonists demanded representation in the English parliament and
the considered taxation without representation as tyranny The Imposition of taxes and
other repressive acts were viewed by the colonists as an affront to their
freedom.
When the colonists began protesting they were met with harsh measures.
Punishment awaited those who protested. Furthermore, the colonists were given duties,
which were burdensome such as allowing English soldiers to quarter or to stay in the
houses of the coloniste They were also made to patronize only goods sold by the British
East India Company monopolistic practices were a threat to the Americans who were
trading with the French the Spanish for their rhum, sugar and slaves. Benjamin Franklin
writing as Mrs. Silence Do remarked, f England was a mother to her children, which
were the colonies it was behavine ho As the protests were met with harsh measures
such as the imposition of the Intolerable Acts the massacre of protesters in Boston, the
colonists realized that they were no longer coloniste Englishmen but as Americans.
Soon they began entertaining ideas of becoming an independen nation of their own that
would become the new country of the United States of America. Th. final straw came
when the English government announced that it would disband the colonia militia that
had protected the colonists from their enemies. Word came that the British Art would
seize the firearms from the homes of the colonists. These measures eventually led to
the first shots of the American Revolution at Yorktown. The American colonists united
behind an. independence movement led by George Washington. A Continental
Congress was formed and a declaration of independence proclaiming the aspirations of
the American people to be free and Independent was signed by representatives from
the colonics on July 1, 1776. The American Revolution eventually led to the creation of
the original 13 states of the United States.
The Latin American Models
Modern nationalism in Latin America was started by descendants of Spanish
immigrants to South America. When the Spaniards settled in areas what are now
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador Peru Colombia and Venezuela, their children were called
criollios or creoles. They were distinct from the Peninsulares or the Spaniards born in
the Iberian Peninsula. As creoles, they were subject to discrimination by the
Peninsulares. In many cases, only top positions in the colonial government were
allocated to the Peninsulares while the criollos served as subalterns or lower-ranking
officials. Some Spaniards had children with Native Americans and they became
mestizos and mulattos. They became a class and served at positions, which the criollos
and the Peninsulars would not accept. At the bottom were the Native Americans and the
descendants of African slaves who were the most oppressed of the group.
To keep the people obedient to authority, the Spanish implemented a union of
Church and Crown governance. The Archbishop in the colony was the supreme
authority in the Church and also wielded political influence. The Governor General was
the supreme secular authority and he represented the Spanish monarch. A combination
of Christian teachings, dogma and Spanish laws and authorities kept Spanish power
secure for more than two hundred to three hundred years.
In the late 18th century and the 19th century, ideas of the Enlightenment
movement began to filter into the colonies. Learned individuals from the criollo dass
began to question the authority of the Church and Crown over their political, economic
and cultural life. Ideas of the American Revolution especially the right to self-
determination added to the already smoldering mixture of liberal ideas spawned by
French philosophers like Jean Jacques Rousseau, Baron de Montequieu and Francois
Marie Arouet who was better known as Voltaire. Eventually the ideas mixed, with the
oppression and anger of common people toward their monarchy led to the French
Revolution
The ideas of the French Revolution of freedom, equality and fraternity would lead
to revolutions in South America eventually filtered into South America. Despite new
ideas entering South American society, the colonists especially from the criollo class
remained loyal to Spain.
That changed when Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Spain, deposed Charles IV
and later his son Ferdinand VII. He installed his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne.
The Spanish people, who wished not to follow a foreign king, launched a guerrilla war.
Affirming their loyalty to Ferdinand VII whom they considered as their legitimate king
they formed a rival government with a Cortes or parliament in the city of Cadiz where
they drafted a Constitution granting freedoms to people in the colonies including South
America.
In the Americas, criollos in Mexico who did not wish to follow the Cortes declared
their independence from Spain. The war for independence lasted until 1825. In other
areas of Spanish America, the absence of a legitimate monarch enabled the local elite
to break away from Spanish rule. It was an opportunity to revolt against repressive
measures especially on taxation, which burdened the criollos. Territories under the
Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata, which included Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru
and Uruguay, revolted in 1810. Chafing under repressive measures nationalism was a
way to get rid of the heavy rule from the mother country, Spain. Simon Bolivar, liberator
of South Meanwhile in Spain, the French invaders pulled out in 1814 America and King
Ferdinand reassumed the monarchy. He abolished the Cortes, which supported him
during his captivity under the French and persecuted its followers. Yet the wars for
independence continued to seethe and by 1825, Spain lost all its Latin American
colonies except for Puerto Rico. The cause and purpose of nationalism in the Latin
American model was the desire for freedom from oppression and domination
 The case of Haiti was a very good example of how nationalism brought about
change. Haiti was colonized by the French and in their desire to have cheap sources of
sugar the French imported slaves from Africa. Years of oppression and the filtering in of
ideas from the French Revolution emboldened the Hatians to revolt against their French
masters. A former slave named Toussaint Louverture drove out the Spanish and the
English. Despite his capture, the Hatians continued fighting. In 1803 after suffering from
a combination of combat with the rebels and bouts of yellow fever, the French withdrew
and Haiti became an independent country.
The Italian Model
Italy was the seat of the Roman Empire and the birthplace of the Renaissance.
However, in the 1800s it was divided into Papal States and the states of Sicily and
Sardinia and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany Parts of it were under foreign domination
such as Venice being occupied by Austria, Drawing from the greatness of the past,
Italian nationalists launched the Risorgimento of the resurgence. The Risorgimento was
actually a war for unification. Italian nationalists led by Giuseppe Garibaldi, Giuseppe
Mazzini and Camilo de Cavour drove out the Austrians and pushed the Pope to what is
now the Vatican City. They absorbed Tuscany into the new state, which became the
Kingdom of Italy. In launching the Risorgimento, the knowledge of Italy's great past
played an important role in the formation of the modern Italian state. The Italians set
aside their regional differences and were united in the forming of a new nation.
NATIONALISM AS A WAY OF CHANGE
Nationalism need not be directed against a foreign enemy. It can be caused or as
a response to a need for change. During the French Revolution, the French people
roses neople rose again the monarchy in 1789. The monarchy was perceived by the
ordinary Frenchmen aloof insensitive to the growing social problems such as poverty
and widespread hunger nobles and clergy were free from taxation and lived very
comfortable lives the ordinary Fire were heavily taxed to support the wars France fought
with its enemies aside from havin sons to go off to war. News that their King Louis XVI
was trying to flee to Austria caus Frenchmen to demand his execution, as well as that of
his wife, Queen Marie Antoinette aside from having their
Nationalism changed regimes and toppled dictatorships. The Philippines in 1986
and the fall of communism from the old Iron Curtain in Europe in 1989 to the demise of
the Sovie Union in 1991 are very good examples.
For colonized people their awakening about their oppressed state led to
nationalism This rationalism led to revolutionary movements, which eventually
overthrew foreign colonizers Examples of these would be the Indonesian Revolution,
the Vietnam War and the liberation movements in Africa.
NATIONALISM IN THE PHILIPPINE CONTEXT
In the Philippines, nationalism is associated with the word bayanihan. The
etymological root of the term is the bayan. Bayan in common usage means a town. It
also means a community and to an extension it may mean a country. To do something
for the bayan connotes an unselfish act This act is given voluntarily to help others.
People who helped others and did unselfish sacrifices even at the risk of losing their
lives are recognized as bayanis or heroes.
 Whenever the word bayanihan is mentioned, the image of a nipa house carried
on the shoulders of the neighbors of the owner comes to mind. The ones who were
carrying the house were volunteers who were not forced to carry the house. They
probably did it out of sympathy or solidarity with the owner of the house. The story
behind the image according to former President Diosdado Macapagal was that the
luuse stood on a land, which did not belong to the house owner When the owner of the
land demanded that he leaves his property, the neighbors of the house owner took pity
upon him and with the help of the other neighbors lifted the house to its new location
Bayanihan or nationalism connotes a sense of community. The pain suffered by one ie,
being evicted from the land was felt by the neighbors who decide to help him. This is
called damayan.
Filipinos were always looking for better and less oppressive conditions and in
moving the house to the new location, it was expected that the house owner and his
family will live a better more comfortable and contented lives. The state of contentment
is called kaginhawaan.
Filipinos who experience the same harsh economic and social conditions feel a
natural cohesion with each other and they would help each other in times of crisis.
Bayanihan happens every time there is a calamity like a flood or an earthquake. And
when a foreign enemy threatens the bayan like during World War II, the sense of
bayanihan demands that they resist the enemy 10 matter what the costs are. Filipinos
live and die because of their nationalistic ideals.
BAYAN, BANSA AND KALAYAAAN AND THE GOAL OF FILIPINO NATIONALISM
Eventually the bayan, which is more of a communal perspective, will graduate
into the bansa. Bansa means the nation and it also means the state. The components of
a state is its land or the area occupied by the bayan; the government, the institution that
protects and advances the interest of the bayan; its sovereignty or kalayaan- the power
of the bayan to decide and chart its own destiny and its most important component, the
people which is also called bayan. The bansa or bangsa in the Malay language is the
community of the bayan and its laws and institutions.
Bayanihan or nationalism is not just about feeling of pride and attachment to the
country. It must have a purpose. Already discussed is the concept of kaginhawaan or
the state of contentment. In kaginhawaan all needs are provided for and everyone is
free. Freedom is the objective of nationalism and it is integral to kaginhawaan.
Before 1869, the year of the execution of Fathers Mariano Gomes, Jacinto
Zamora and Jose Burgos, the word kalayaan did not exist in the dictionary of Philippine
terms. The closest was its Spanish equivalent, which is libertad. The root word of
kalaayan is the word "laya" which means to separate like the leaves that fall off a tree
branch is called laya. Other familiar words are layag- which means sall. If one puts a
prefix "maglayag" means to sail away from the familiar shores to chart their own way.
Another related word to layag is the word layas to go away. In going away, one is
charting his own future away from his mother.
By seeking freedom, one breaks off from the main branch of society and setting
on one's own course. So Filipinos who had gained their sense of nation began
struggling for this freedom, to separate from the clutches of the mother country and to
set up their own destiny. This is kalayaan.
But is kalayaan necessary to gain kaginhawaan? Not really, Kaginhawaan can
still be attained even with less freedom. Rizal in his lifetime never demanded freedom or
separation from Spanish rule. He only demanded better conditions such as political and
economic reforms to the country including representation of the Philippines in the
Spanish parliament and the abolition of the frailocracy or the domination of the friars in
the Philippines. One can be free but he will not have kaginhawaan. He can be les
hungry and without security that will be the new bondage that one has to fight.
NATIONALISM AND PATRIOTISM
Higher and more intense than nationalism is patriotism. It root word comes from
Patria - which comes from Patri or father. In patriotism, the person no longer just
manifests his love or attachment to his nation or country but is willing to actively fight
and struggle for its interests. Patriots are willing to sacrifice even their very lives and
fortunes for the country. It leads to Heroism where the patriot is recognized for his
efforts.
In analyzing the etymology of patri, the term in Spanish means fatherland. This concept
is actually western as Europeans and Americans are actually patriarchal as a society.
Filipinos belong to a matriarchal society and to translate patria as "amang bayan" is
absurd or even funny,
Instead of calling their country as fatherland, Filipinos consider the Philippines as
motherland Inang bayan
The bases of the Filipinos being a matriarchal society is strong. In most Filipino
famili children spend more of their time with their mother rather than the father. The
mother is no the first teacher of the children. If a child misbehaves, he is admonished
with the words ba ang itinuro ng nanay mo?" (Is that what your mother taught you?). If
someone is really a at another person, the worst expletive and curse a Filipino can
come up is against the mother of that person. In Filipino society the concept of mother is
everywhere. Many if not majorita Catholic Churches in the Philippines are dedicated to
the Virgin Mary rather than Christ himsel During the Spanish period, Filipino intellectuals
considered Spain as Madre España. Even Juan Luna dedicated a painting entitled
España y Flipinas in which Spain was depicted as a larger and older woman points the
sunrise to a smaller and younger woman said to be Filipinas. With the disaffection with
Spain in the 1890s, Spain was not considered anymore as the motherland but the
oppressor. The real motherland of the Filipinos was Pilipinas (Philippines) itself.
Just before the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution, Katipuneros held
recruitment rites in a cave in Montalban. The cave had a symbolic importance: it was
the womb of the Inang Bayan During the initiation rites, they dedicate themselves to
break the chains that bound their mother to the colonizer. As they emerge from the
cave, they believe that they have been reborn and with the new mission to liberate their
motherland from the oppressive colonizer. As they prepare to take up arms to fight for
the freedom of the Motherland, nationalism is now transformed into patriotism.
Patriotism is the willingness to suffer for the nation including to the point of losing ones'
life.
 Nationalism and patriotism can be beneficial when it helps a nation uplift itself in
the face of insurmountable odds. Both make the people proud of their country and the
country can count on nationalistic and patriotic people to guide it to its rightful destiny as
a happy and progressive state. Extreme nationalism and patriotism however can bring
about ethnocentrism the belief that their country is the center of the world and that all
others were inferior. Extreme nationalism helped bring about totalitarian states like
Germany under Adolf Hitler, Fascist Italy under Benito Mussolini and Imperial Japan
under Hideki Tojo. Hitler believed in the master race or Herrenvolk whom he believed to
be German and all non-Germans were supposed to be inferior. The same belief led to
the Jewish Holocaust. Mussolini believed in restoring the old Roman Empire which led
him into invading less developed countries like Libya and Ethiopia Japan under Tojo
believed that all non-Japanese races should be deprived of their lands. Extreme
nationalism led to genocides in Africa and in Europe.
RIZAL AND HOW HIS WORKS HELPED DEVELOP NATIONALISM
In his desire to develop and instill a sense of nation in the minds of the people of
his time Rizal looked back to the past through the history of the Philippines. In his
essay, "The Philippines A Century Hence," he begins with a line in order to know the
destiny of a nation, it is important to open the book of its past." Rizal was living in a time
when there was a wholesale adoption of everything that was European and the rejection
of what is native. The Spanish colonizers thought of themselves as superior to the
indios and without their help the natives of the Philippines will remain backward
How did Rizal become a nationalist? Rizal was not born to be a nationalist
though he had shown such inclination. When he was studying at the Ateneo in Manila,
he studied under the sculptor Teodoro Romualdo de Jesus. Known as "Lolong," de
Jesus impressed on the young Rizal the need to preserve the heritage of the ancestors
of the Filipinos. He taught Rizal about the greatness of the Filipino culture before the
arrival of the Spaniards. The character in the novel Noli Me Tangere Filosofo Tasio was
inspired by his mentor Teodoro Romualdo de Jesus who in 1888 founded a group
called Katipunan. Its objective was to tell the Filipinos about their glorious past and the
need to go back to their roots. De Jesus' Katipunan antedated the Kataastaasang
Kagallanggalangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK) founded by Teodoro
Plata. Deodato Arellano and Andres Bonifacio in July 1892.
Using history books and scientific research conducted by foreign scientists like
Fyodoragor and even his contemporaries like Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, Rizal
countered the colonial propaganda by stating that the Filipinos had a rich culture before
the coming of the western colonizers
l'he Spanish colonizers considered the Filipinos as lazy people, indolent and
scandalous Rizal would counter these assertions by stating that colonial practices and
false beliefs made them Like that, and instead of accepting that the Filipinos were
indolent, it was the Spaniards who were indolent as they had to be attended to by
servants and there were servants who were there just to remove their shoes. As to the
poverty of the natives, Rizal said that it was the colonizers who were poor. They came
to the islands to enrich themselves and to gain riches by taking the gold and other
riches.
 Most of the colonizers came here to seek their fortune. It was a Spanish practice
that the eldest son inherits all the property of the parents. This would leave nothing for
the younger or next son. The daughters do not inherit anything as they would share the
properties of their husbands though they are given a dowry by their parents when they
marry
Rizal used historical information to counter Spanish propaganda that the Filipinos
were backward, poor and inferior. Rizal scored at the colonizers who first came offering
friendship and better treatment but in reality, they led the natives into bondage and
penury.
The Spaniards were not the lone targets of Rizal's writings. Rizal pointed out that
the natives themselves were responsible for the dire state of society. Many natives
became fanatical followers of the colonizers and they enforced Spanish authority even
harsher than the Spaniards themselves. These included the native soldiers in the
Spanish military, the civil guard, the gobernadorcillos, alguaciles and other minor local
officials who followed the Spaniards especially the friars without question. There were
also natives who served as spies and informers of the authorities and the friars.
Rizal scored at the wholesale adoption of western culture at the expense of
rejecting the heritage of the Filipino nation. In one of his novels, El Filibusterismo
speaking as the character Simoun, he wrote, "How pitiful are the Filipinos! Even their
defects are borrowed." Aside from adoption of a foreign culture, Rizal lamented the
adoption of religious superstitions, which were taken as Christian teachings by the
natives. Some of these practices were the prohibition from taking a bath during Good
Friday and the practice of giving of indulgences especially in consideration of money
Rizal also questioned some practices of the Catholic Church such as the sacrament of
Confession as forgiveness of a crime.
Rizal inspired statements that were meant to evoke nationalism among the
natives. Now like the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo magnify the abuses
committed by a few Spaniards and made them appear as widespread. As a
propagandist, Rizal depicted the wholesale oppression of the Indios as a people and
was meant to create a cathartic change among the readers.
Many Filipinos believe Rizal is the only National hero of the Philippines. But he
was not alone. Heroes who labored, fought and died for the country are all national
heroes. Rizal is the recipient of many titles by his biographers. Austin Craig, one of his
early biographers called him a Philippine Patriot. Leon Ma Guerrero in his book written
for his birth centenary called Rizal the First Filipino; he was the first to reawaken the
Filipinos about their past and their identity as a nation.
To many Filipinos, Rizal was a great exemplar because admirable stories and qualities
about his life can be emulated by anyone who wishes to live a productive and
meaningful life. Rizal as an example was taught to the Filipinos at an early age.
But Rizal was certainly not alone in the nationalist struggle during his time as
there were others such as his contemporaries in the Reform Movement like Marcelo H.
del Pilar, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Mariano Ponce and even revolutionaries like Andres
Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto and heroes like Apolinario Mabini. The great focus on Rizal
can be attributed to the fact that he died as a martyr. He was the first to be honored with
a presidential decree issued by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo that the day of his death on
December 30, 1896 and same as those who died during the Philippine Revolution,
should be commemorated as a day of mourning. On December 30, 1898 the first
monument was built by Filipinos in the town of Daet, Camarines Norte. During the
American period a committee from the Philippine Commission recognized Rizalas a
National Here and a monument which now.housed his remains-was.constructed at the
Luneta Park in Manila in 1911. He was interred inside the monument the following year
and the park became and is today known as the Rizal Park. Among the Filipino heroes
he had the most memorabilia The ones of Bonifacio were lost in a fire and even his
remains were said to have been obliterated during the battle of Manila on February
1945 which destroyed the building where the remains were kept.
During the time of the Americans Rizal waspla up by the authorities because he
represented peaceful and evolutionary.change compared clo who represented
revolution and radical change. The playing up of Rizal as the nation hero and the
downplaying of others like Bonifacio was consider as considered as a way of making Rir
an American-made hero, which is certainly not true. It was the Filipinos who put him in
the Bonifacio who represented revolut pedestal.
During the commemoration of the centenary of the Philippine Revolution in 1996
there was a move to contextualize Rizal in the perspective of Philippine History. The
National Historical Institute (now the National Historical Commission) called
Rizal.the.Great Visionary the revolutionary Andres Bonifacio was called "The Man of
Action" because he founded the organization that launched the struggle for
independence, and General Emilio Aguinaldo was called "The Great General" because
it was under him the Philippines proclaimed its independence and established the first
Republic in Asia.
The NHI Board stated, "There can be no General Aguinaldo without Bonifacio
because it was Bonitacio who inducted Aguinaldo into the Katipunan. And there would
be no Bonifacio without Rizal, because it was Rizal who inspired Bonifacio into action
and lead the Katipunan The statement can be even extended to who had an influence
on Rizal, which would be the three martyred priests, Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose
Burgos and lacinto Zamora: "There can be no Rizal without the Gom-Bur-Za (first
syllables of their last names)" Rizal himself wrote that without the unjust deaths of these
three priests, he would not have written his second novel El Filibusterismo and would
have written something else. Moreover, he would have been a Jesuit.
Though Rizal in his lifetime never advocated independence for the Philippines,
he predicted that it would be inevitable. In fact he advocated instead a partnership with
Spain in which Spain would properly guide the Philippines to its rightful destiny as a
member of the modern world and if Spain would have a conflict with another country it
would be its ally. Rizal always called Spain Madre España.
It was because of this quality that Rizal was called "The Last Spaniard" by writer
Nick Joaquin. Joaquin said that he was loyal to Spain to the very last minute of his life
and Rizal said that he was not a traitor to Spain. At his execution, Rizal asked the officer
of the firing squad that he should not be shot at the back because he never betrayed
Spain. Rizal also had his share of critics The friars called Rizal an ingrate as he and his
family were beneficiaries of their good graces yet he turned against them. Conservative
Spaniards considered him a rabble-rouser and instigator of trouble especially during the
crisis at the Calamba Estate when he was there in 1887 Modern writers called him a
tourist; an ilustrado who behaved like a Spaniard: a womanizer for having multiple
girlfriends all of whom he rejected. Save for two (Leonor Rivera whom he left and
Josephine Bracken whom he married). 1997 movie about him called him Bayaning
Third World as it was difficult to define him. Writer Renato Constantino called Rizal an
American-made hero and said that Filipinos should make him obsolete. Many historians
as well as students of Philippine history pitted Rizal with other heroes and said that
Bonifacio shold have been the national hero. A Spanish writer called Rizal the Filipino
Hamlet because of his contradictory views, which shifted between reforms and
revolution.
Yet Rizal remained in the minds of Filipinos as the foremost Flipino hero. He is
part of the expression of the Filipinos and they invoke his sayings the most popular of
which are Ang Kabataan ay ang Pag-Asa ng Bayan (The Youth are the Hope of the
Motherland) or "Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay masahol pa sa
hayop at malansang isda (One who does not love his native tongue is worse than an
animal or smelly dead fish).
Rizal even had admirers abroad. During the battle of Surabaya against the re-
imposition of Dutch colonial rule, Indonesian freedom fighters had in their packs a
translation of his last boem Mi Ultimo Adios. It was to inspire the Indonesians to
sacrifice their lives for the country, The Malays including the Malayans considered Rizal
as the Great Malayan for having inspired not just the Filipinos but also the Malays of
Southeast Asia to fight their British and Dutch colonizers. During his visit to Manila in
1995, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister called Rizal The Renaissance Man for having
reawakened the Malay about their true past and their future destiny. The influence of
Rizal on the Malays is quite strong that many Malaysians and Indonesians named their
sons after Rizal.
THE FRUITS OF THE NATIONALIST STRUGGLE
To the mainstream and Filipinos with education, the end product of the nationalist
struggle like the Propaganda Movement, should be the achievement of their goals such
as apresentation in the Spanish Cortes, the acquisition of freedom of speech, press and
assembly and the removal of the friars from political and economic influence of the
country. They favored assimilation of the Philippines into Spain as a Spanish province.
To the revolutionists, their goal was an independent Philippines whose government they
can determine. Some revolutionists like Bonifacio and Aguinaldo were considering the
establishment of a monarchy for the Philippines. However, the Filipinos who had
imbibed enlightenment ideals and those who were educated would favor a republican
type of democracy as the ideal government for the Filipinos. In a republic, it is the
sovereign will of the people that will prevail. unlike that of a monarchy, which only
upholds the will of a monarch or a group of people considering themselves as royalty. In
addition, a republican democracy as they viewed it would be guided by a constitution
which would form the basic law of the land. This law and the other laws that would be
created would be approved by the representatives of the people.
Either way, whether the Philippines as a province of Spain as desired by the
reformists or an independent state as desired by the revolutionists, those who were
involved in the nationalist struggle were expecting an improved society where there is
greater freedom. If the Philippines become a Mill-time province of Spain, Filipinos will
have equal rights and privileges like the Spaniards, if the Philippines become an
independent state, whether it became a monarchy or a republic, it would be the will of
the Filipinos that would be followed. The end result of the struggle would be better
economic conditions and opportunities and greater intellectual and academic freedom.
the kaginhawaan that the Filipinos would aspire. The government that embodies their
ideals and their collective will would be the goal of the mainstream Filipinos and
Filipinos with education.
But what about the Filipinos from the sidelines and Filipinos from below? People from
the sidelines such as the ordinary peasants and the undersides of society such as those
in far away areas such as the mountainous wilderness care less about independence or
what type of government would prevall once the nationalist struggle has been won. Nor
would they care about constitutions, elections and how to choose the representatives of
the people. What they cared about is the creation of a society that there would be no
oppression and abusive government officials To the simple rural folk most of whom
were illiterate, deno but a spirit, one that provides peace and well-being to those who
desire it.
During an interrogation in Infanta, Tayabas (now Quezon province) a native
brander a tulisan or outlaw, an American officer named Captain Murphy asked about
some equipment were captured. Among the equipment was a box with the word painted
"Independencia native was a follower of Ruperto Rios who styled himself as a Pope and
a prophet.
When asked about the box and its contents, the native said that independencia was the
box but it has flown away.
"Flown away?" Murphy asked.
"Si Señor Capitan-to the 'Pope' to be enclosed again in another box."
When asked about the approach of the coming millennium (it was 1899), the native
answered, "When independencia flies from the box, there would be no labor, Señor, and
no jails and no taxes."
Fair enough, thought Captain Murphy, but the "Pope" promised even more than this
"And there shall be the native adds, "no more Constabulario."
Captain Murphy thought No labor, no jails, no taxes and no Constabulary. a principle
worthy of war.
The natives of the hinterlands rarely had contact with the mainstream Filipinos.
Many of them were peace-loving and desired to be left alone. Many of them originally
came from the lowlands and the pueblos but have fled to the hinterlands to avoid the
abuses of the local officials and the civil guards. Since they were also taught in the
Christian concept of salvation they saw life on earth paralleling or imitating Christ's
passion and suffering. The belief in Christ and admiration for Rizal became intertwined.
Scholars say this has become part of syncretism in religion, the precolonial god was
Bathala. When Christianity came, Bathala was simply replaced by God the Father that
was one of the reasons why the people easily accepted Christianity. The son of Bathala
was Christ.
But as some people became remontados and fled to the hills, persons approximating
the labors of Christ were used to either substitute or add to his personality. One of the
personalities
was Rizal.
The Rizalist cults also had the same belief with Christianity that suffering is part
life. But they should remain faithful and virtuous and eventually they can be rewarded w
salvation. Like in the Bible, there will be a final battle between good and evil and good
will eventually triumph. That salvation can come through a messiah-like personality.
There shar be a great transformation, as stated in the Christian scriptures the old earth
and the old heaven will disappear, and a new earth and a new heaven will emerge. The
Philippines, they believe w become the New Jerusalem.
"Vic Hurley
The believers of this biblical prophecy believe that the final battle between good
and evil draws to the end of the millennium or their century. Because of their belief, they
were called millenarians. Many Filipinos were drawn to these millenarian groups which
included the Dios. Dios and Pulajan groups in the Visayas, the Santa Iglesia in
Pampanga'the Anting-Anting groups in Tayabas, Batangas and Lagun. The reftgtous
tserels of these millenarian groups were a mixture of Christian teachings and animism.
They believed in the power of charms or anting-antings, which were supposed to ward
off evil and protect the owners from harm. The millenarians had leaders who styled
themselves as "Popes." These people are supposed to have supernatural powers and
communicate to the spirit world. These Popes preach obedience and observance of
proper rituals and warning that insincerity would contaminate their cause.
HOW WAS RIZAL SEEN FROM THE SIDELINES AND BELOW?
While most Filipinos recognized Rizal's heroism and his good examples, some
Filipinos see him as more than a man. Some Filipinos see Rizal as a saint or a
manifestation of God himself. People who believed in Rizal having supernatural
qualities are called Rizalistas. Many of them saw Rizal as the Tagalog Christ (Kristong
Tagalog). Like Christ Rizal advocated the reform of the society he lived in. He was
persecuted, unjustly tried, having been accused of attempting to overthrow foreign
colonial rule (in the case of Christ the Romans, in the case of Rizal, the Spaniards) and
both were publicly executed. Like Christ, the Rizalistas believed that Rizal would return
one day as the messiah who would redeem the Philippines from its oppressors. Under
Rizal's guidance, there will be a utopian society where everyone will live happily.
But Rizal was not the lone Thgalog Christ. The other one was Apolinario de la
Cruz who founded the Cofradia de San Jose which was suppressed by the Spaniards in
1841. Popularly known as Hermano Pule, de la Cruz preached peace and equality with
the Spaniards. The Spaniards ordered his brotherhood disbanded as it was competing
with the mainstream Catholic Church. The group was attacked and de la Cruz captured.
He suffered the same fate as Christ and Rizal. tried unjustly and executed. His body
was cut up into quarters and were displayed in the towns of Tayabas as a lesson for
future troublemakers.
 There were various groups that accorded Rizal with supernatural status. People
consider the groups believing in Rizal as supernatural or holy beings as cults. One of
these cults. a millenarian group named the Santa Iglesia believed that Rizal was a
supernatural being. The Santa Iglesia waged an armed insurrection against the
Americans and its founder, Felipe Salvador or Apo Ipe was captured. He was later
executed at the Bilibid Prison in 1907. His followers did not believe Apo Ipe had died as
they professed seeing him talking with Rizal.
There are many other groups honoring Rizal as a supernatural being or having
supernatural status. These include the Sambahang Rizal, the Bathalismo, the
Adarnistas, the Sagrada Familia and the Watawat ng Lahi. The Adarnistas were a sect,
which was also known as Iglesiang Pilipina, which was founded by Candida Balantac, a
93-year old widow who was called by her followers as Inang Adarna. The Adarnistas
believe that Rizal is a god of the Filipino people; that he is a true god and a true man
and that he was not executed as claimed by historians. According to them, man has a
soul and is capable of good deeds. Other teachings of the cult say that heaven and hell
exist and these are within us. It believes that there the Son, the Holy Spirit and the
Mother The Adarnistas believe that God must have a mothe she was the Virgin Mary.
The dwelling place of Jehovah or God is the caves of Bongabon, Nueva where the cult
is also found.
One group the Bathalismo which was founded by Venancio Wagan believed that i was
not executed by firing squad at Bagumbayan field but he managed to escape the
Philippin to China disguised as a Chinese. According to the group, man has three
spirits: the caluluw the intelligent soul; the diwa, which was the sensitive soul, and the
laygo, which was the vegetatis soul. In order to save his soul, according to Wagan, man
must live a life of virtue to reap the happiness in kalualhatian while the evil ones will be
condemned to casanaan or Hell, which wa inhabited by demons. According to the
group, Rizal came to this world to reach reason and Chris was reincarnated through
Rizal. For this reason, Rizal is venerated at the altar of the chapel and the main table
was draped with the Philippine flag. According to the group the Philippines is only for
the Filipinos and that there should be no rich or poor in this world as everyone is equal.
It also said that in the mountains is where good and benevolent spirits live. It predicted
that the Philippines will become a kingdom and all the monarchs will come from there.
The cult existed in Mt. Banahaw in Dolores, Quezon, at Mt. Arayat in Pamapanga and
Mt. San Diego, which are all considered as holy mountains.
Another Rizalist cult was Sambahang Rizal which was established by Basilo
Aromin in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija in 1918. Aromin taught his followers to honor Rizal who
was appointed by Bathala to redeem the Filipino race. Like Christ Rizal offered his life to
save mankind.
In the town of Candelaria, Quezon is the Sagrada Filipinia Sect. It believes that
there are four persons in one God: God the Father; God the Mother (Mary): God the
Son Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit. According to the sect, God the Mother
should not be confused with Virgin Mary who is considered as the earthly mother of
Christ. It believes that Rizal was the second Christ and that his everywhere in the
manner of Christ. It said Rizal would succeed Christ during the Second Coming.
According to its teachings, Man is composed of a body and soul. When man dies, the
soul goes to heaven while the body dies. It believes there is no hell and the sufferings in
this world may be considered as hell. The sect borrowed the sacrament of baptism from
the Catholic Church and there are no sacraments or ministers. The only ministers were
Purficacion and Sevela Aviela.
On the outskirts of Calamba, Laguna, on the hill called Lecheria is the church of
the Watawa ng Lahi. This sect was originally established in Masbate by Arsenio de
Guzman and Jose Barcanos before it was transferred to its present site in 1936. The
sect believed that de Guzman was Rizal himself and that a mysterious voice called the
founding members to form the association. The se was registered with the Bureau of
Commerce in May 1944. The Watawat ng Lahi believed that Jesu Christ was embodied
in Rizal and that Rizal is at once a god and a man. He did not die at Bagumbayo and he
was alive and is physically and mentally present in a place called New Jerusalem. This
New Jerusalem includes the site between Mt. Makiling and Mt. Banahaw which were
both considered sacred mountains by the cult. The sect also believes that if the Third
World War breaks out in will appear and lead the army of God.
The Watawat ng Lahi believes that every man has a soul but this is different from
who is God. As for salvation if a man lived a holy life and followed the commandments,
he w again and his soul will go to the New Jerusalem. But if life was impure and did not
fulfill the New Jerusalem, he will be made to work in a place outside the New
Jerusalem. Telesia Watawat ng appeared to have broken into two groups: one that
teaches Rizal was Jesus Christ and another which preaches that Rizal was just a
special person in God's creation.
Amore mainstream religious group is the Iglesia Filipinia Independiente or the
Philippine Independent Church. It considered Rizal as one of its saints. The founder of
this church, Isabelo de los Ryes who became one of its Obispos Maximos advocated
the canonization of Rizal and the three martyred priests Mariano Gomez, Jacinto
Zamora and Jose Burgos as saints. They were canonized on September 24, 1903.
According to de los Reyes, the canonization of Rizal was an expression of the intensely
nationalistic phase of the development of the Church. However he said that this phase
was a thing of the past and presently Rizal is not anymore considered a saint.
The common denominator of these religious sects is that they all borrowed
elements from the Catholic Church and elements from the old native religion with terms
such as Bathala and langit. A central element was the concept of a man god and man's
redemption, which will come at the end of time. Rizal would be a messiah that would
lead mankind to his new heavenly abode only after enduring suffering and complying
with the demands of the religion. Another common element is the presence of
patriotism. Love of country is one of the guiding principles of the Rizalist sects as well
as that of the Philippine Independent Church
Most of the people involved in the Rizalist sects were simple folk and had no
training in religious instruction. They devised ways of worship based on what they
already know such as Christian rites and dogmas and their own beliefs.
Rizal as part of the teachings of religious movements appealed to many people
throughout the Philippines. In Mindanao, the Colorums of Surigao who fought the
Americans in 1923-1924 believed that Rizal will arrive in a large ship and carry all the
faithful to Cebu where they would celebrate their victory in the presence of the Holy
Child Jesus. Even to the present day cults honoring Rizal still exist and they can be
seen taking care of his shrine in Dapitan in Zamboanga del Norte and they become very
conspicuous during Rizal Day when they are seen paying homage to the national hero
at his monument in Luneta.
THE 19TH CENTURY: THE CENTURY OF RIZAL, THE AGE OF THE COMMERCIAL
AND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONS
In order to fully understand Rizal and his works, it is important to place him in the
context of history as well as to look into the social context of the period. The 19th
century was the century of Rizal. On a world-wide scale the 19th century was a period
of the industrial revolution which was fueled by a commercial revolution. Both
revolutions existed together and are the cause and result of each other as European
nations developed a desire for foreign goods, which cannot be produced efficiently in
Europe. These goods include coffee, chocolate, cane sugar, cotton and tobacco.
Before the 19th century, the procurement of such goods was achieved through cheap
labor including slave labor. However, the advancement of science at that time led to the
invention of machines such as the steam engine. Vihis invention began to replace
sailing ships and it became easier to reach countries where the goods needed by
European countries are found. The same invention also replaced manual labor in
industries like textile weaving and animal power in transportation. The cotton gin made
the removal of cottonseeds from fibers more efficiently than slaves. Slavery was
deemed inhuman in the earlier Age of Enlightenment, which preached equality among
all men, and it was abolished in Europe. In the northern states of the United States,
machines replaced slave labor and it was in the South where it persisted until the
American Civil War.
In the Philippines, when the islands were still a Spanish colony, it was affected in
the twin commercial and Industrial revolutions that were affecting Europe. The nature of
the economy of the islands began to change as the Philippines, which used to be a
mere entrepot or transshipment point for the galleon trade, began to serve the world
market by exporting its own products. These products were sugar, tobacco, some
coffee. And there was a Philippine commodity which found ideal for making ropes. This
material was the abaca fiber. Unlike the original material. for making ropes, the abaca
was found to be more durable and resistant to sea water. Since it exported from Manila
abaca became known as Manila hemp. Various firms especially Ameri companies which
serve shipbuilding firms in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut spur the demand
for abaca. These crops converted the Philippine economy from an entrepot-based
economy to that of a cash crop economy.
The onset of the commercial revolution spelled the death knell of monopolies
businessmen demanded greater access to markets. Previously countries like Spain, the
United Kingdom and the Netherlands conducted international trade through state
monopolies. In Spain it was the galleon trade and later the Real Compania de España.
In the United Kingdom it was the British East India Company which operated in Asia
while the Netherlands had the Dutch East India Company Pressure by businessmen led
to smuggling by individuals not included in the monopoly Corruption and inefficiency
eventually led to the abolition of state munpolies and anybody wishine to engage in
international trade may enter the business. This led to a laissez faire economy where
there were no more government controls and prices were dictated by supply and
demand.
In the Philippines, the galleon trade was abolished and the last galleon returned
to the Philippines without any cargo in 1817. Trade with Mexico and other countries was
carried on by private ships. Even when the galleon trade was existing, foreign traders
were also doing business in the Philippines in violation of royal decrees prohibiting trade
with other European countries including Spain's enemies like the United Kingdom. In
1796, an American vessel the Astrea sailed directly to the Philippines to load a cargo of
sugar: The Astrea was a clipper-Lype Sailing ship, which was so well designed that it
can outsail any galleon or any other ship of its time. When it left Manila it reached its
destination in Salem, Connecticut, in 70 days. Technology therefore allowed goods to
be shipped faster, thus these can be sold faster. The best prices in the market can be
offered for goods when these are shipped faster from their destinations. Earlier the
Spanish government allowed foreigners to unload goods in Manila and stay in the city
for several months. Competition with foreigners led to the demise of another monopoly,
the Real Compania de Filipinas which was abolished in 1834. That year, Manila was
opened to foreign trade. This opening led to the establishment of various trading houses
in the city.
Aside from buying local goods for the international market foreign businessmen
create demand for finished goods made in Europe and America. The buyers of the
goods were the local elite and the emerging middle dass who benefited from trade.
Having European goods such as musical instruments like pianos and having houses
with galvanized steel roofs were a status symbol. Wearing the latest European fashion
and expensive jewelry was a sign of affluence and an improvement from the "indio or
native set-up With the demand for Philippine agricultural goods, anybody with the
entrepreneurial acumen can engage in trade. First, to benefit were the traders in contact
with the foreign merchants. Next were the managers of farms who leased lands for
agriculture. More lands were opened up to be converted into farms. Usually big land
owners lease their lands to primary tenants called inquilinds. These inquilinos sublease
the lands to sharecroppers or tenants known as kasamas. It is these kasamas who do
the actual cultivation of the fields. I'he inquilinos on the other hand were in contact with
the traders who sold the goods locally or abroad. Since they were engaged in trade, the
inquilinos can profit enormously. They began to have bahay na bato or stone houses
and have better clothes and food. Through their industry and foresight, they become the
new local elite and form the nucleus of the middle class. Since they had the financial
means, their children are better educated than the ordinary indios. They can now go to
colleges and to university in Manila or even abroad.
There-to-u-dark side in the commercial revolution in the Philippines and the
conversion of the economy from entrepot to cash crop economy. As there is a demand
for agricultural goods, more lands had to be opened for cultivation. Lands were titled to
those who can read and write. Practices like landgrabbing and duping of illiterate
landowners became common. People with means including religious orders owned
lands. In the past land could just be had by just clearing a patch of forest but the farmer
would be surprised one day to find out that his land was owned by some person and
now he had to pay rent. In some cases the claimed land presented an obstacle to their
traditional livelihood. In the case of the fishermen in Lian, Batangas, they can no longer
go to the coast as the land they had to pass through was already titled by the
Augustinian Recollects. In Cavite, the Dominicans extended their landholdings from
Silang up to San Pedro Tunasan. Suddenly the simple farmers tending their fields were
aghast to learn that their land was not theirs anymore. They had to pay rent or leave.
There were many cases farmers were driven off their lands because they could not
anymore afford to pay rent. The pressure on the land would be the cause of agrarian
problems which are felt even up to this day,
Another dark aspect in the commercial revolution would be the increasing gap
between the rich and the poor. Before the commercial revolutions, the natives and half-
breeds called mestizos were just about equal with each other. But with entrepreneurial
acumen some people like the inquilinos who consist mostly of mestizos and some
indios, rose above the others becoming the local elite. This new elite joined the old ones
which were families of former native royalty like the Lakandulas, Macapagals, and the
Punzalans. Their economic rise became possible because of the sweat and toll of the
sharecroppers who did the actual cultivation of the fields. In the Marxist sense they
become part of nte oppressive class. The poor tenants either had to hear the burden of
the sharecropping system and the taxes and levies of the government. Since they were
simple folk they were cheated on the sale of the produce. In the case of abaca farmers
in Samar as well as in the tobacco farmers in the Ilocos they were told that their
produce was inferior by the traders who sell them at a higher price saying that the same
product was superior. Because of the oppression from the inquilinos, the traders and
the government and some farmers left or were evicted from their farms to become
remontados in the surrounding hills. This was how groups like the Dios-Dies group in
Samar and bandit groups in the Sierra Madre were formed.

CHANGE IN POLITICAL THINKING

The 19th century was also a century of political change. Absolute rule was giving
way to governments with representation from the people. Inspired by ideals created
from the earlier Age of Enlightenment in the late 18th century people discovered that
state sovereignty did not come God as explained in the theory of Divine Right that is
claimed by kings for their legitim But it comes from the people themselves. Power
remains in some people's hands because people allowed it so and the rulers remained
in power as long as the people allowed it. This so contract which was taught by the
French noble Baron de Montesquieu and the Englishman loh Locke made the people
realize that the monarch is tound to provide good and just governance the people who
will in turn render him allegiance. Failure to abide with such contract social in the people
the right to remove him, violently if necessary and replace him with one who would
honor this covenant with the people.
Aside from the social contract between the sovereigns and the people, the latter
realized that they have basic and inalienable rights. Learned men in France called the
Philosophos which inelured Jean Jacques Rossueau, Montesquieu, Locke and even
Americans like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson preached that men had God-
given rights which cannot be taken away unless it was necessary to preserve order and
the freedom. These include the right to free speech expression, the right to be
unhindered in thinking, freedom of religion, assembly, equality before the law, the
freedom of abode, the right to be secure in one's own home, freedom from illegal
searches and detention, the right to have his side heard in a court of law and to face his
accuser, the right against testifying against oneself, the right to be represented in
government and to be consulted on matters of legislation and taxation. The right to
happiness which is desired universally is embodied in the Constitution of the United
States. These rights eventually boiled down to three words that propelled the French
Revolution, Libert'e , Egalit'e and Fraternite'e freedom, equality and fraternity. Nag-erupt
na france
Though people maybe equal in terms of rights some rights will have to be
surrendered for the benefit of the majority. To have equal rights such as speech,
expression and movement will invite anarchy. Some will have to be toned down to
preserve order.
The revolutionary ideas led to the overthrow of absolute monarchs such as Louis XVI in
France who was later guillotined followed by Queen Marie Antoinette. The regicide or
the killing of monarchs sent shudders throughout Europe and France's neighbors as far
as Russia which were all ruled by absolute monarchs. As a matter of sell-preservation
these governments tried to prevent the spread of such poisonous ideas.
The first French democracy following the overthrow of Louis XVI was a
tumultuous one which saw the executions of the executions of thousands who were
depicted as enemies of the people. France would slide back to absolute rule with the
establishment of Napoleon's Empire in 1804 and the Restoration of Bourbon Rule in
1814. However, the seeds of libourbon Rule in 1814. However, the seeds of liberal
ideas and democracy were minds of Europeans. It would take more than 40 years later
when republican already sown in the minds of Europeans. It would take me stored in
France. Around that time in 1848 there would be revolutions in Europe rule would be
restored in France. Around toppling absolute rule.
Napolyo-Monarchy - Republic na ang France
POLITICAL CHANGE IN SPAIN - unstabble
Spain was very much affected by the upheavals from neighboring France. And
like France ideas of representative government were already implanted in the minds of
liberal-minded FRANCE Spaniards. When Napoleon became ruler of France Spain
became part of the Continental System which tried to starve out its enemy Great Britain
through a trade embargo. When the SpanishFrench alliance faltered. Napoleon forced
the King of Spain Charles IV to ahdicate the throne and renlace him with the Crown
Prince. Ferdinand who became Ferdinand VIL When Ferdinand proved to be
unsatisfactory to his demands, Napoleon had him replaced with his own brother Joseph.
The tri Spaniards refused to honor Joseph as their King and pledged their loyalty to
Ferdinand whom they called El Deseado (The Desired One). The Spanish patriots
retreated to the city of Cadiz in southern Spain where they formed a government that
resisted the French. They fought a world's first little war or suerrilla war (from the word
germ or war. By putting a suffix ille means it was a diminuitive or little war. This was
where the word guerilla came from)
 Some of the Spanish patriots were liberals and believed that power should be
shared with the people and that the government must follow a basic law that is
approved by the people. This was in contrast with the monarchists who believed in the
divine right of Kings. They believed that the power of the king to rule was absolute. The
liberal-minded Spaniards formed the Cortes or parliament and later drafted the
Constitution of Cadiz in 1812. The government in Cadiz extended representation even
to the colonies thus the Philippines was given representation in the Cortes. In Manila,
the Spanish residents elected a trader named Ventura de los Reyes. De los Reyes
travelled from Manila to Cadiz and in his absence, some Spanish deputies acted in his
behalf. He arrived in Cadiz in 1813 and participated in the deliberations of the Cortes,
among which was the abolition of the galleon trade.
The Cadiz Constitution gave equal rights to both Spanish citizens and colonials.
Itabolished forced labor. The liberal episode however was short-lived as Napoleon
pulled out all French troops from Spain and Ferdinand VII reassumed absolute rule. He
dissolved the cortes and abrogated the Cadiz Constitution. He also imprisoned all
liberals who wanted to share power with the monarchy Since he persecuted all the
patriots who helped him during the French occupation of Spain, Eerdinand who was
called El Descado was now called El Rey Traidor (The Traitor King).
With the abrogation of the Cadiz Constitution, forced labor was reinstated in the
Phiippines. The Kailianes or leading citizens in the Ilocos thought this was just a ploy
from Manila, protested. They were met with an insolent remark"Some are more equal
than others." Under the leadership: of Simon Tomas, Mariano Espiritu, Vicente Santiago
and Andres Bugarin revolted. On March 3, 1815, he revolt of the Kailianes spread to the
towns of Dingras, Bacarra and Paoay. Troops from the other provinces backed by
artillery crushed the rebels.
Meanwhile Spain was chafing under the heavy hand of the monarchy in January
20, 1822 a small group of soldiers about to be sent to Latin America to fight the
separatist rebels there revolted instead against Ferdinand and held him hostage. The
rebelsres the 1812 Constitution and representation was again allowed for the
Philippines. The peri representation was cut short as Ferdinand secretly appealed to his
cousin Louis XVIII of Ewho sent an army which invaded Spain and restored King
Ferdinand to his throne. Ferdinand abolished the Cortes, abrogated the Constitution
and executed the leaders of the liberals Rafael del Riego and his followers.

In 1833 Ferdinand died and his wife Maria Cristina ruled as Queen Regent for
daughter who would become Queen Isabella II. She was forced by the liberals to
reconvene the Cortes and grant representation to the people and the colonies. It was at
this time when the Come convened in a secret session and decided that the Philippines
not be granted representation. The islands were placed instead under a government
agency called the Overseas Ministry. From the time on the Philippines had no
representation in the Spanish parliament and Spain continued in downward spiral due to
mismanagement.
✓ THE RISE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS
 The opening of Manila to global trade spurred changes in Philippine society. After
Manila the ports of Iloilo in the Visayas. Sual in Pangasinan and Zamboanga in
Mindanao were opened to world trade. The beneficiaries of the new economic order
were the traders and inquilinosas brisk trade in agricultural products brought new
wealth. The bahay na bate the embroidered shirt or bareng tagalog rendered in fine just
and pina fibers and the headgear adorned with silver were signs of their affluence. In
provinces like Batangas during the coffee boom of the 1830s the houses of the new rich
had azoteas or balconies. The living rooms were adorned with European musical
instruments and the women wore sapatillas (slippers) adorned with real diamonds. The
new native elite were no longer the descendants of the datu class but the merchant
class. Lipos pinangalan na villa mitans Ch
The new rich and middle class joined the ranks of leading citizens called
principales. The titles "Dan and "Doña" became prefixes attached to their names
Though these words did not mean much in Spanish as they merely meant, Mr. or Mrs.,
they were a badge distinction among the natives and the mestizos. Also te be called
Señor. Sefiora, and the children Señorito, and Spracita carried bigger weight in pride
rather than be called Mang or Aleng which are native prefixes. We such prefixes they
can now be elected as minor local officials such as the pobemadorcillos. The position
use to be hereditary during the early Spanish period and it can be acquired only by
descendants of old Filipino royalty who chose to side with the Spaniards during the days
of colonization. The Emerging Middle Class. Derided by Spaniards as Bestias Cargadas
de Oro Aside from being affluent in material possessions to children of the new middle
class can now attend not just any parochial school but a college or a university. Some of
them went to Manila and the boys enroll at the Colegio y Seminario de San Juan de
Letran which was run by the Dominicans worth Jesuit-run Ateneo Municipal de Manila. The
girls can study at the Colegio de Santa Isabel or la Concordia College to study how to become a
good housemaker.
After finishing the bachillerato or the equivalent of today's high school, the boys
can continue studying at the University of Santo Tomas, then the only existing university
in the islands as the earlier Jesuit-run Colegios like San Jose and San Ildefonso were
suppressed following the expulsion of the Jesuits from the Philippines. At the University
of Santo Tomas, an indio student may now study for the priesthood or law, after the
Facultad de Derecho Civil or Faculty of Civil Law was opened in 1734. By 1871 natives
may study to become physicians or pharmacists as the Faculty of Medicine and
Pharmacy was opened that year. Some natives may aspire to study abroad in the
universities of Spain and Europe.
OBSTACLE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS: LIMPIEZA DE SANGRE
Though economic affluence may improve the indio or mestizo's standing in
Philippine society some areas are still off-limits to them. They cannot become Governor
Generals or Governors of the provinces. If they joined the religious life, they cannot
become Bishops and Archbishops. They cannot even become priests of the regular
orders like the Dominicans, Augustinians Franciscans or Recollects. In the military or
the civil guard no indio can rise above the rank of teniente
The only way the Indios and mestizos can advance was through business.
However, they can still enter some fields of study such as becoming lawyers as the
Facultad de Derecho Civil (Faculty of Civil Law) was opened in 1731 or as secular
priests. The Spanish adherence to the Limpieza de Sangre (Purity of Blood) left some
offices and positions off limits to indios and mestizos no matter how well they did in
improving their economic and social status.
The only fields where the indios and mestizos can enter was in business, law and
the secular priesthood. The Spanish adherence to the Limpieza de Sangre closed the
avenues for advancement for the natives. Despite their advancement in wealth and
educational attainment the natives and mestizos were looked down by the full-blooded
Spaniards who were either Peninsulares or Spaniards born in Spain or Creoles or
Spaniards.born.in the colonies. The real Filipinos were the Spaniards born in the
Philippines called Filipinos Insulares who were either called Filipinos or Insulares. The
full-blooded and Caucasians looked on the progressive indios and mestizos as "bestias
cargadas de oro" or beasts loaded with gold. A more derogatory would be chonggos
(monkeys), Dress up a monkey in the Spanish fashion and educate him in the ways of
the Spaniard and he is still a monkey," they once said. The indios and mestizos were
seen as trying to look like a brown Spaniard, which they cannot be.
Worse off than the educated indios and mestizos were the common and uneducated
ones. It was only in 1863 basic education became mandatory for all indios, They can
only understand a smattering of Spanish or Spanish of the gutter as they were taught by
the parochial schools in their native language. The indios live simple lives as tenant
farmers and fishermen. Some joined the Spanish army as soldiers and some served as
policemen
The population of the Philippines in the 19th century.mmberedamound 3 to four
million people. The Spaniards whether they were Peninsulares, Insulars or Creoles
constituted less than ten percent of the population. Most of the Spaniards were
concentrated in the cities like the provinces, usually the only Spaniard in the town was
the alferez or the comma the Civil Guard and the town curate. The members of the
police and military were natit Spaniards manager tom Hards managed to maintain their
authority over the islands by implementing a di impera rule-divide and conguer. If a town
or province revolts, troops from another are Suppress the uprising. Among the indios
and mestizos the Spaniards coopted them in government and secured their loyalty
through the granting of positions and status.
Despite their inferior number, the Spaniards managed to maintain their authori
the islands by securing themselves the lovelty of the native officials like the
gobernadome and the other officials like the tenientes and the alguaciles. The officials
are elected every years at the village level were the cabezas or barrio chiefs who did
not receive salaries. The officials were given some privileges such as exemption from
prestacion personal or polowie are the term for community or compulsory labor. They
were also given commissions from collection of taxes and the procurement of polistas
for forced labor. The polistas were suppos to be paid allowances though they did
receive salaries. It was a common practice of the loc officials to pocket funds intended
for the polistas. As local officials, they were also called to being members of the
principalia and were held in high esteem. Though there was little payers pay at all, the
local position brings prestige to the holder and his family. It was possible also, to elected
many times as the term for local official was only for two years.
 There were other Spanish residents in the towns but this was a rarity. Most of the
were concentrated in Manila and the cities. In 1896, there were 30,000 Spaniards in the
island compared to around three million indios. Foreign trade was basically handled by
British Americans and supplied by Chinese and ethnic Chinese. The Spaniards merely
held position of religious and political authority prompting historian Serafin Quiason to
conclude that the Philippines was an Anglo-American Chinese colony under a Spanish
flag. The mestizos and indios were still in the inner veneer of the society.
THE INTELLECTUAL SHIFT: FROM RELIGION TO SCIENCE
The Age of Enlightenment of the earlier 18th century which gave birth to a scienti
revolution gave emphasis to science rather than religion. It had its roots in the late
Middle A when Francis Bacon came out with his scientific method. Scientia - or
knowledge should gained through a systematic method and the results should be
empirical and can be replicate If it cannot be proven, it is therefore not scientific. Man
should use logie rather than supposite and assumptions. The scientific method
disproved myths and superstitions. In the same science began to challenge religion and
a clash between reason and faith was becoming immineciples
Some men openly defied the established Church and adhered to the principles
Freemasonry. Freemasonry is a brotherhood that was established on the principles of
eg among its members.and.itencouraged free speech and thought. This was opposed to
them which was based on faith and dogma. Men like Isaac Newton challenged the
religious teach of the Church and scientists like Charles Darwin contradicted the biblical
version of creation Catholic Church would not go away quietly. Already it faced the
Protestant Revolution in the and 16th centuries during which its teachings were
challenged. Now a new movement.se Secularism threatens to remove it from the center
of human society. The Church through the declared Freemasonry as an abomination
and it threatened its members with excommunication. The attacks of the Church and its
secret rites forced Freemasonry to become a secret society existing as a brotherhood.
Despite persecution by the Church, it spread all over the world as it preaches a
universal brotherhood among men, freedom and equality. Definitely freemasonry had an
influence on the American and French Revolutions and the revolutions in Europe, which
subsequently took place.
Freemasonry was introduced to the Philippines by the Europeans. Israpid spread
in the Islands-would be in the latter part of the 19th century when masenic-lodges would
be established such as the lodge Nilad by Pedro Serrano Laktaw, Masons were
encouraged to found lodges and recruit members. Many of the lodges in the Philippines
were of European branch like the Gran Oriente Español and the French lodges. Many
young men and later women would join these lodges as these organizations ensure
equality among its members and a freedom of thought, which is not accorded by the
Church through its dogmatic teachings. All men regardless of religious and political
belief may join a lodge and their religious and political beliefs are not hindrances to
lodge membership. In a lodge, everyone is equal and there is a saying that a lodge
member leaves his religious belief outside the door of the masonic temple. Other
reasons for joining the Freemasonry are that many of its members were prominent
people and this may influence others to join. There is also an economic Incentive as
membership in a masonic lodge would allow one to get assistance in finding a suitable
job as a masonic lodge helps its members through a network of connections.
itburg design free mason by mud
THE SPANISH EMPIRE IN RIZAL'S TIME
During the 19th century the Philippines was one of the last large colonies of
Spain that was left after the independence of its Latin American colonies. It was actually
the richest of Spain's last colony. The other large colonies were the Spanish Sahara,
which is a desert: Cuba which is a jewel on the Spanish crown because of its tobacco
and sugar exports: Puerto Rico and the islands in the Pacific such as the Mariana
Islands, Palaus, Carolines and the Marshalls. Spain was in decline as a world power
and it was weakened by its wars of Latin American independence. It tried to recover
Chile during the time of Isabella Il but failed.
When Spain was under the Cortes during the French domination of the Iberian
peninsula, the authorities in colonies like Argentina and Mexico were monarchists and
refused to honor the authority of the Cortes. The Spanish colonies in the Americas
began to declare independence. By 1825 Latin America from Mexico to Argentina was
freed from Spanish rule.
With colonies in the Americas gone, Spain directly ruled the Philippines.
Communication with Spain became faster with the invention of the telegraph in the
1840s. In 1869, the Suez Canal significantly cut the sailing distance from Manila to
Barcelona. Previously even with steam ships it took more than two to three months for a
person to reach Spain by sailing across the Indian Ocean and rounding the Cape of
Good Hope into the Atlantic before reaching Spain. With the Suez Canal, rounding the
Cape was no longer necessary and it was possible for a person to reach Spain in a
month.
Yet despite such advancements the Philippines was not represented in the
Cortes but through a government ministry called the Ministerio de Ultramar or the
Overseas Colonies, Meanwhile Spain underwent a period of secularism in which the
Church and State were separated.
Schools, hospitals and universities which were formerly man reorganized and
placed underlaymen. This allowed a freer approach to science and free without the
inference of the Church, Government became more accountable to the people had
representatives in the parliament
THE SOBERANIA MONACAL-MONASTIC SUPREMACY IN THE PHILIPPINES

While Spain was moving toward a modern and secular environment the
Philippines stuck in a time warp with the Church assuming an influential role in the
management of the island In the 19th century the legacy of the patronato real or the
royal patron of which originated in Middle Ages in Europe was still existing in the
Philippines. Theoretically, the liberal revolutions Europe had secularized their
institutions there and have separated Church and State. But in the Philippines it was still
very much alive during the century of Rizal. The church continued to wiele political
influence over the Filipinos.
 The priests and friars first came to the Philippines as missionaries. It is important
to distinguish the two. A priest.can be a friar but a friar may not be a priest. Afriaris a
religious person belonging to the friar orders. The word friar comes from the Latin word
"Frater" which mear "Brother." To belong to a friar community means to belong to a
community of brothers. Not all of them are priests. What technically defines the friar was
how they conduct prayers like the Divine Office. A friar prays the Divine Office with his
fellow friars. Belonging to this class of religious are the Augustinians, the Augustinian
Recollects, the Dominicans and the Franciscans. The Jesuits are not friars because
they pray the Divine Office individually
During the early years of Spanish rule friars belonging to these religious orders
came a missionaries. They worked among the natives, taught them the Gospel and the
principles.au Christian religion. They also taught them how to till the soil.created
industries and introduceder plants and animals. They also defended the natives against
the abuses of the encomenderosa Spanish officials.
However, as time went on the character of the friars changed. They began to
take advantas and brutaline the people. In the towns of Miag-ao and Oton for example
friars and their lay assistan whipped people who did not produce enough stones to build
a church. The friars kept the low Indiosignorant because an ignorant people would
remain docile and cannot protest. Since many them preached using the vernacular
languages of the natives, they opposed the teaching of Spanis to the natives. One of
the great professors of the University of Santo Tomas Fr. Francisco Gainza. the famous
bishop of Nueva Caceres (Naga) was described as one of the most learned professor
the University and a leading Dominican in the 19th century, unsurpassed in wisdom,
literary out and administrative capability. According to Rizal, Gainza opposed the
teaching of Spanish elementary school during a meeting of a commission on education.
The friars knew that the natives already had their superstitions and they added
their brand of superstitions based on Christianity. They encouraged lavish fiestas so the
people spend their hard-earned money for the friars. To say no to a friar is to invite his
wrath. Everybo had to believe the word of the friar and nobody is allowed to question
him. Since they also political power friars can throw their enemies to prison or have
them banished to faraway places
The enemies of the friar can become the targets of vicious attacks in his sermons.
Friars were untouchable even if they committed crimes.
The Church through the friar remained the guardian of morals. It also controlled
higher education in the Philippines. No student can be enrolled in higher education
institutions like the University of Santo Tomas if it cannot be proven he was a Catholic.
A recommendation from the curate is necessary to enter the university and no heretic
can enter a college or university or graduate from it. In 1865 the power of the religious
orders was strengthened when Queen Isabella appointed the Rector of the University of
Santo Tomas as the supervisor of higher education in the entire colony. All diplomas for
higher education degrees were issued by the University. The friars were also inspectors
of local schools. The preponderance of church power in the Philippines was what
Marcelo H. del Pilar called as Frailocracy.
 Aside from having very wide and influential powers, a friar may stay in the
Philippines Indefinitely versus the Governor Generals who remained only for an average
of two years. A friar may remain in the country until his death. The church also quarrels
within itself over the issue of visitation or supervision by the bishop or archbishop.
Parishes were supposed to be visited or supervised by the local bishop or archbishop.
However, the friar orders insist that they can be supervised only by the superiors of their
order. This disagreement raged through Spanish rule. Under the Council of Trent in the
16th century all parishes must be turned over to the seculars once the parish has been
established. Secular priests also include natives. The friar orders insisted that they
retain these parishes, which they called missions. They refused to turn over the
parishes especially the rich ones such as those in Manaoag, Pangasinan and the
Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo. The reason for not turning
over these parishes appear to be financial in nature and not because they wanted to
serve God's people. Parishes like the Antipolo and Manaoag shrines were known to be
rich sources of contributions.
While institutions in Europe were being secularized the Church remained in the
pillars of power and of society. Following the ouster of Queen Isabella II during the
liberal revolution of 1868 there were moves to secularize the institutions held by the
church in the Philippines. Under the administration of Overseas Minister Segismundo
Moret, the Jesuit-run Ateneo Muncipal de Manila, and the Dominican run institutions like
the University of Santo Tomas and the Colegio de San Juan de Letran along with the
Escuela de Dibujos and the Maritime Academy were to be abolished and reconstituted
into an educational institution called Instituto Filipino which will now be headed by a
Rector who is a layman.
The religious especially the Dominicans protested vehemently arguing that this
would put into waste centuries of their work in the islands. However, a miracle
happened when the government in Spain changed. The King Amadeo de Savoy
declared Spain as ungovernable. Thus the planned secularization of the university and
other church-held institutions did not take place. It was decided that the friars had a
great role in putting the Filipinos in their proper place. Instead of secularizing the
University, new colleges were added such as the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy,
which was established in 1871.
Aside from having political influence, the Church also had a great economic
influence in the islands. Already it was a participant in the galleon trade, which brought
great wealth. It was also a big landowner. The lands were acquired by grants by the
King, by donations from pious individuals through purchases and sometimes even by
land grabbing as in the case of the Augustinian Recollects and the fishermen of Lian,
Batangas during the 19th century. The lands were leased to inquilinos who in turn lease
them to kasamas or share tenants. The Catholic curch owned lands in Cavite, Laguna,
Batangas, Morong and Manila. According to historian Teodoro Agoincillo 48% of the
land in the Tagalog region was owned by the Church through friar orders. According to
the friars they needed the income from these lands through the sale produce to sustain
their missionary activities as well as the operations of their educationala charitable
institutions. The Dominicans for example own the haciendas in San Pedro, Calamb
Biñan and Santa Rosa in Laguna; one hacienda in Naic, Cavite and more in Bataan and
Pangasina provinces. Income derived from these lands sustain not only the University
of Santo Tomas and the Colegio de San Juan de Letran and various missions in China.
Aside from agricultural lane friar orders have investments in businesses in the cities.
Topping the abusive nature of the friars was that some of them lived very
immoral lives Some friar curates lived far from their superiors and they had many
families as well as mistresses They had children from these mistresses who were well
rewarded and the rewards came from the sweat of the kasamas or sharecroppers who
farmed the friar estates.