THE PHILIPPINES:

A CENTURY
HENCE
By: Apolinario S. Canillo II
THE PHILIPPINES A CENTURY
HENCE
■ “The Philippines a Century Hence” is an essay written by Philippine
national hero Jose Rizal to forecast the future of the country within a
hundred years. Rizal felt that it was time to remind Spain that the
circumstances that ushered in the French Revolution could have a telling
effect for her in the Philippines.
Chapter I
 THE PHILIPPINES A CENTURY
HENCE
■ Following our usual custom of facing squarely the most
difficult and delicate questions relating to the
Philippines, without Weighing the consequences that our
frankness may bring upon us, we shall in the present
article treat of their future.
THE PHILIPPINES A CENTURY
HENCE
■ Causes of the miseries suffered by the Filipino people: Spain’s
implementation of her military policies – because of such laws,
the Philippine population decreased dramatically. Poverty
became more rampant than ever, and farmlands were left to
wither. The family as a unit of society was neglected, and
overall, every aspect of the life of the Filipino was retarded.
THE PHILIPPINES A CENTURY
HENCE
■ Deterioration and disappearance of Filipino indigenous culture
– when Spain came with the sword and the cross, it began the
gradual destruction of the native Philippine culture. Because of
this, the Filipinos started losing confidence in their past and
their heritage, became doubtful of their present lifestyle, and
eventually lost hope in the future and the preservation of their
race.
THE PHILIPPINES A CENTURY
HENCE
■ Passivity and submissiveness to the Spanish colonizers
– one of the most powerful forces that influenced a
culture of silence among the natives were the Spanish
friars. Because of the use of force, the Filipinos learned
to submit themselves to the will of the foreigners.
THE PHILIPPINES A CENTURY
HENCE
■ The question then arises as to what had awakened the hearts
and opened the minds of the Filipino people with regards to
their plight. Eventually, the natives realized that such
oppression in their society by foreign colonizers must no
longer be tolerated.
QUESTIONS;
■ Will the Philippine Islands continue to be a Spanish
colony, and if so, what kind of colony?
• Will they become a province of Spain, with or without
autonomy? And to reach this stage, what sacrifices will have to be
made?
• Will they be separated from the mother country to live
independently, to fall into the hands of other nations, or to ally
themselves with neighboring powers?
One question Rizal raises in this essay:
Can Spain prevent the progress of the Philippines?

■ Keeping People Uneducated and ignorant.

■ Keeping Filipino Poor.
■ Exterminate Filipinos.
■ Keeping the people uneducated and ignorant had failed. National consciousness
had still awakened, and great Filipino minds still emerged from the rubble.
■ Keeping he people impoverished also came to no avail. On the contrary, living a
life of eternal destitution had allowed the Filipinos to act on the desire for a
change in their way of life. They began to explore other horizons through which
they could move towards progress.
■ Exterminating the people as an alternative to hindering progress did not work
either. The Filipino race was able to survive amidst wars and famine, and
became even more numerous after such catastrophes. To wipe out the nation
altogether would require the sacrifice of thousands of Spanish soldiers, and this
is something
 THE PHILIPPINES A CENTURY
HENCE

■ Spain, therefore, had no means to stop the progress of

the country. What she needs to do is to change her
colonial policies so that they are in the keeping with
the needs of the Philippine society and to the rising
nationalism of the people.
CHAPTER II
A. For those who have strong spirit over the liberty
of the country, independence was assured.
B. But for those who are discouraged and
disillusioned by sad experiences shall be a
Prison of the colony forever.
What will become of the Philippines within a
Century? Will they continue to be a Spanish
Colony?
A. For the Liberal Spaniards: The ethical condition
of the people remained the same.
B. For the Friars and their followers: They have
progress.
C. For many Filipino ethics: They have
retrograded.
■ The Spanish were able to take hold of the Philippines for three
centuries because the Filipinos remained faithful during three
centuries, giving up their liberty and their independence,
sometimes dazzled by the hope of the Paradise Promised, some
times cajoled by the friendship offered them by a noble and
generous people like Spanish.
■ Filipinos see them as protectors but sooner they
realizes that they are exploiters and executers.
Enlightment is spreading and the persecution it suffers
quickens it.
If this state of affair continues , what will become
in the Philippines within a century?
People start to awaken and if the government
doesn’t change it’s acts, a revolution will
occur. What do people like?

1. A Filipino representative for the Cortes and an

authorized to cry out against all kinds of abuses.
2. To practice their human rights.
Possible Outcomes

1. The Philippines will remain under Spanish

colonization, but with more law and greater liberty
2. They will declare themselves independent.
■ The following situations explains that Rizal just
wanted liberty from Spaniards not total separation. In
his essay we see his urge to put freedom in our land
through peaceful negotiations with the Spanish
Government in Spain.
CHAPTER III
■ If the Philippine will remain under the control of Spain, transformation
will eventually happen and will affect the people. In this case, some
governors have been trying to introduce needed reforms.
■ But it produced scanty result for the government as well as to the country.
With this, our country is most likely reminded to Sancho Panza in
Barataria Island where he took his seat on appointed table covered with
fruits and variety of food but when Pedro Rezio interposed Sancho was as
hungry as ever.
■ That he should not eat except according to the usage and custom of other
island.
Sancho Panza = Philippines
Dishes = Reforms
Pedro Rezio= many person interested in not having the food touched.
■ The result is the long suffering of Sancho (Philippines) misses his liberty
and ends up rebelling. In this manner as long as the Philippines have no
liberty of press, all the efforts of the colonial ministers will meet the fate
like the dishes in Barataria Island.
■ The minister who wants his reforms be reforms must begin by
declaring the press in the Philippines free and by instituting
Filipino delegates.
■ A government that governs in a country may even dispense
with the press, because it is on the ground, it has eyes and ears,
and directly observes what is rules and administers.
■ But a government that governs a far requires that the truth and
facts reach its knowledge by every possible channel that it may
weigh and estimate them better, and this need increases when a
country like Philippines is concerned. What risk does the
government see in them? One of the three things either that
they will prove unruly, become political trimmers, or act
properly.
CHAPTER IV
■ “Now, applying these considerations to the Philippines, we must
conclude, as a deduction from all we have said, that:
1. if their population will not assimilate to the Spanish nation.
2. if the dominators do not enter into the spirit of their inhabitant.
3. if equitable laws and free liberal reforms do not make each forget
that they belong to different races.
4. If both peoples be not amalgamated to constitute one mass, socially
and politically, homogeneous , that is, not harassed by opposing
tendencies and antagonistic ideas and interests some day the
Philippines will fatally and infallibly declare.
■ Keeping People Uneducated and ignorant.
■ Keeping Filipino Poor.
■ Exterminate Filipinos.
“WE HAVE SAID AND STATISTICS
PROVE THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO
EXTERMINATE THE FILIPINO PEOPLE”.
THE PHILIPPINES IS IN DANGER IN FALLING INTO OTHER HANDS AGAIN. WHO
ARE THE POSSIBLE COLONIZERS?
■ ENGLAND
■ GERMANY
■ FRANCE
■ HOLLAND
■ JAPAN
■ US
 ”Spain, must we some day tell Filipinas that thou
hast no ear for her woes and that of she wishes to
be saved, she must redeem.
■End