FILIPINAS DENTRO DE CIEN, AÑOS

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 II

 Chapter I states the objective of Rizal in writing the essay – try to forecast future events.
Chapter II specifically gives his general statement a timeframe – what will happen to the
Philippines in a century.

So these will be the content of our discussion

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“What will become of the Philippines within a century? Will they continue to be a Spanish
colony?”

Just like the first chapter---, recalls the past of Filipinos, this time making it specific – puts
the period three centuries ago dating back to the Precolonial Philippines. He imagines how
different groups of people would answer the question. -------Malayan Filipinos after Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi, Kagayanes with the spirit of Magalats, descendants of Gat Pulintang and
Gat Salakab of Batangas –independence was unquestionable. But to those who witness the
hardships of the lower classes, and disorganized upper class, what can be assured was
only defeat.
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“Now then, are the Philippines in the same condition they were three centuries ago?”

 At present, there are three perspectives as to how the Filipino people have progressed.
For the liberal Spaniards, the ethics of people remains the same, instigating that native
Filipinos have not advanced. For the friars and their followers, the people have been
redeemed from savagery. For many Filipinos, ethics, spirit and customs have decayed
because of slavery.

 Parallelism of the Political Landscape of the past and present. Disregard the perspective
that Spain gained the favor of Filipinos for 300 years.

PAST
Land:
a. Low manpower (300-500 soldiers);
b. Local (internal tribes) and international (Mohammedans in the south, against the
British and Dutch, or harassed by Japanese, Chinese) wars;
c. Slow communication with Mexico and Spain
d. Frequent and violent disturbances among the ruling powers in the Islands
e. Bankrupt treasury
f. One ship that handles Chinese trade

Sea:
a. Pirates
b. Weak defense by impoverished fleet
c. Unfaithful crews (rude adventurers, foreigners, enemies)
d. Mutiny of Chinese rowers to Gomez Peres Dasmariñas.

PRESENT
a. Stable colonies
b. Improved fleet
c. More organized civil and military affairs
d. Better communication with the sovereign
e. No enemies abroad
f. Desensitized colonies

 The true reason why Spain reigned over the Philippines for 300 years: the sentimentality
of Filipinos. According to Rizal, the people remained faithful during three centuries dazzled
by the promised Paradise (religious aspect), friendship of the noble, superiority of arms, and
peacemaking of Spaniards.

“Orientals and the Malays, in particular, are a sensitive people: delicacy of sentiment is
predominant with them.”

“…in spite of contact with the Occidental nations, who have ideas different from his, we see
the Malayan Filipino sacrifice everything – liberty, ease, welfare, name for the sake of an
aspiration or a conceit sometimes scientific, or of some other nature but at the least word
which wounds his self-love he forgets all his sacrifices…”
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If this state of affair continues , what will become in the Philippines within a century?

 Rizal predicts a future according to a certain present, and that is if the system continues to
alienate the goodwill of the natives, the Filipinos would rise in occasion to modify the
present state of affairs.

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“There now exists a factor which was formerly lacking – the spirit of the nation has been
aroused and a common misfortune, a common debasement has united all the inhabitants of
the Islands.”

 In predicting the future, Rizal also reflects from the current state of informed and educated
Filipinos, the very circumstance that he was in. He says that the enlightened class become
gradually better as the mistreatment forced them to go outside the country, garnering more
knowledge and at the same time in constant communication with the rest of the Islands. He
states that as their number increases, it will continue to do so in a few years until their
accumulated knowledge will manifest into revolutionary actions.

 In defense of the progress of Filipinos, Rizal enumerated various ways that Spain had at
its disposal:

1. Brutalization of the masses through a caste addicted to the government;

2. Impoverishment of the country;
3. Gradual extermination of the inhabitants; and
4. Fostering feuds among races.

 To which Filipinos have various ways to combat them:

1. Enlightenment is spreading and the persecution it suffers quickens it;

2. Poverty inspires the desire to change things and a poor colony would be a disadvantage
to its mother
country;
3. Philippine races, like all the Malays lives and thrives in every clime;
4. Better communication from innovations create mutual understanding within provinces.

 Therefore, as a way to answer the first question, “Will the Philippine Islands continue to be
a Spanish colony, and if so, what kind of colony?” Rizal answers that it can be either the
Philippines remain under Spanish domination but with more law and greater liberty, or
declare themselves independent after fighting for their country to death.

“Mutatis muntandis. For new men, a new social order.”