Jose Rizal’s opposition to the 1986 Revolution and desire for the assimilation of the

Philippines to Spain affects the Nationhood or Nationalism

By: Mawirat, Jun Wilson A.

Jose Rizal is one of the most influential people in the history. He is considered as the
National hero as well as with Andres Bonifacio heroes because they are recognized as heroes on
a national level according to National Historical Commission (2013). Jose Rizal have made a
great impact to Filipino people in the time of Spaniards up until the present time. He published a
lot of articles that implicitly criticize the Spanish colonization as how they treat Filipino Citizens
like his books Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

Regarding the conspiracy theories that was circulating, Jose Rizal was said to opposed
the 1896 revolution and wanted the Philippines to be the province of Spain (Ladrido, 2017).
Moreover, it was also said that Jose Rizal was an enemy of Katipunan because he rejected the
offer of Revolt. In this case, Nationalism or sense of nationhood was disregarded as how Jose
Rizal act to be the province of Spain and did not lead the revolution as how Bonifacio and the
katipunan wanted to. However, Jose Rizal wanted to be the province of Spain in short time to
acquire equal treatment in education, and rights as how the citizens should be treated.

Could it be that the act of Rizal upon opposing the revolution and assimilation of the
Philippines to Spain contradict to his ideologies specially in his love for the country?

Jose Rizal’s actions was clearly planned and it implies a sense of nationhood because he
is looking forward for independence, the betterment of its citizens and an equal and fair
treatment of the system by not using violence.

Jose Rizal is a reformist who wants to change the system. According to the book of
Quibuyen(1998), Agocncillo (1974) cited the facts that the reformist including Jose Rizal were
(1) not for independence, (2)not anti-Spaniards but only anti-friar and (3) do not believe in armed
revolution as clearly implied in his book El Filibusterismo. In Valenzuelas memoir, he stated that
Rizal denied his support for revolution against spain but not until when there is sufficient support
from wealthy filipino. He reiterated it from Manifesto a Algunos Filipinos that was written last
December 15, 1896 that he opposed of the said rebellion that was planned and demonstrated it
with impossibility. It was then concluded by Constantino, a historian that in his Rizal Day
lecture in 1969 entitled “veneration without understanding”, it was said that Rizal was not a
leader of revolution but an opponent to it (Piedad-Pugay, Uckung,2020).

Base on the accounts, after Valenzuela have informed Bonifacio regarding Rizal’s opposition,
Bonifacio blatantly call Rizal a “coward”(The Kahimyang Project). Hence, his dis-agreement to
leading a revolt became a way for the downfall of the first revolution that was started by Andres
Bonifacio. Still, the Katipuneros used the reforms of Jose Rizal as a source of inspiration
(Quibuyen,1998).
 Although there are a lot of dis-agreements about Jose Rizal being a part of revolution. He
still gave an opportunity for the Filipino people to stand against the Spaniards and to achieve his
greatest dream which is freedom through his reforms.

A lot of historians and authors according to Quibuyen(1998) have misquoted the two
letters of Rizal to Blumentritt which is dated January 26, 1887 and February 21, 1887. In the first
letter January 26, 1887, it was stated in that account that Rizal was for the assimilation of the
Philippines to Spain. Although it was seen in his statement that Rizal shows lacked of patriotism
in the first letter, it shouldn’t be concluded as it is(Manila times, 2011). Rizal’s Reason desiring
to be a province of Spain is just to acquire the same rights as the citizens of Spain have and to
acquire equal treatment with fairness and justice according to the essay on “Philippines a
Century Hence”. Quibuyen(1998). Stated that Jose Rizal was hoping that the government of
Spain would approve the said reforms. According to manila times (2011), Jose Rizal should
have made a bolder statement about the assimilation if his intention was just to be same citizens
and government with the Spaniards. It was seen in the second letter which was dated February
21, 1887 that “they were wrong in aspiring for the said assimilation”. This letter shows that Rizal
indeed had taken back his words from the letter dated January 26, 1887 because Quibuyen 1998
stated that the real problem according to Rizal was the Spanish colonization itself. Rizal Believe
that separation would be expected if the said reforms are not granted and revolution might his
last resort. ”(The Kahimyang Project)

Rizal’s main reason why he didn’t approve the said revolution proposed by Katipunan is
that he is just waiting for the right timing. Hence, he agrees about having a revolution, but it
should be place when the time is right and the Spaniards have already weaken. In this case,
Agoncillo and Constantino was wrong in concluding and presenting their facts about Jose Rizal
as the main intention of Rizal and other reformists that was based on critical analysis is the
attainment of freedom for his fellow Filipino people. Jose Rizal’s dream is much bigger that he
desires a great country, a great education for people and a change in the system and Better future
for Filipinos.

It is very clear that Jose Rizal’s actions was planned and it implies a sense of nationhood
because he is looking forward for independence, the betterment of its citizens and an equal and
fair treatment of the system by not using violence. The sense of nationhood or nationalism is not
disregarded as the hopes and acts of sacrifice of Jose Rizal have been an inspiration to the
Katipuneros and other Filipino people to ignite burning desire of nationalism. Jose Rizal really
portrays the love and sense of nationalism by fighting through his mighty pen and paper without
using any force and indulging himself to sacrifice for a better purpose. Jose Rizal’s love for the
country really is the most powerful one
Works Cited

Quibuyen, F. (1988). Towards a Radical Rizal. 151-183. Retreived from JSTOR:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/42634256?seq=9#metadata_info_tab_contents

Tayo na Valenzuela. (n.d.). Retrieved from Valenzuela website:

https://www.valenzuela.gov.ph/article/news/72

Inquirer, R. (2013, november 30). In the Know: We have no ‘national hero’. Retrieved from
Inquirer : https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/537475/in-the-know-we-have-no-national-
hero#ixzz6XBMM5yfc

Piedad-Pugay, C., & Uckung, P. V. (2020, April 21). A Closer Look On The More Human Side
Of The National Hero of the Philippines, Dr Jose Rizal. Retrieved from Tatler
Philippines: https://ph.asiatatler.com/society/a-closer-look-on-the-more-human-side-of-
national-hero-dr-jose-rizal
Ladrido, P. (2017, December 29). 4 questionable myths about Jose Rizal. Retrieved from CNN:
https://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2017/12/29/rizal-myths.html?
fbclid=IwAR0hXTzQihmx2Hemg4dX4mAQxJ41UeXwgQCRK6SQqY5WJ4oLO24w4u
kUuVM

(n.d.). Retrieved from The Kahimyang Project :

https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1667/did-rizal-favor-the-revolution-a-
criticism-of-the-valenzuela-memoirs