To Barrantes on the Tagalog Theater

by José Rizal
 
Vicente Barrantes, a Spanish academician in Madrid and a member
of the Royal Spanish Academy and the Royal Academy of History
was considered by many as knowledgeable in matters of the
Philippines.  His criticism of the Tagalog theater caused Rizal to
reply in a sarcastic rebuttal in a two part open letter in  La
Solidaridad (15 June 1889 and 30 June 1889). In it Rizal pointed
out that Barrantes really did not know the subject of which he
spoke.  NOTE: The picture to the left is of the Mariones Festival in
Marinduke which carries on the tradition of the Passion Play, one of
the chief presentations of the Tagalog Theater.

Barrantes, Vicente.  An authority on the Philippines and

detractor of Philippine culture, who opposed Rizal from Spain. 
Barrantes was a member of both the Royal Spanish Academy and
the Royal Academy of History.  He once served as civil governor
and director of administration in the Philippines.  In Rizal’s Noli Mi
Tangere there is an important public official who falsely imprisons
a rich resident of Tondo with the intent of extortion.  The same
character refuses to rescue Maria Clara in the Epilogue.  Rizal,
himself, said that Barrantes was the prototype for this character. 
Barrantes’ defense of the Catholic clergy led Rizal to write La
Visión de Fr. Rodriguez.  In a letter to Ferdinand Blumentritt*
Rizal wrote: “Barrantes is so stupid and so ignorant that I believe
one does not need to break his head to refute his arguments;
recently he published The Tagalog Theater and committed
phenomenal errors.  I believe I am wasting my time and my work
in correcting his enormous errors, and he is one of the
Academicians!  One of the historians!  God help me!  Truly I had
a better idea of the Spanish Academicians.  He is not only a fool
but a malicious one.”  Rizal had only heated and angry words for
his opponent during his lifetime.