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OVERVIEW OF MODULE 2B

Rizal was a propagandist, an attribution that would almost equal his heroism and martyrdom. This module
discusses the conjunctures that took place in the great propaganda movement in Philippine History
featuring Rizal’s distinguished involvement and outstanding contributions. Specifically, the module
showcases important events in the making and themes of Rizal’s twin novels, the Noli Me Tangere and
El Filibusterismo. This will also provide a grounding of Rizal’s counter narration of the colonial’s
narrative of the Philippines by annotating a special document/ report of a non-ecclesiastical governor,
Antonio Morga, the Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas or Events in the Philippine Islands.

Rizal and the Propaganda Movement

Schumacher on his book, The Propaganda Movement of 1880-1895 (1997) explained the term,’ propaganda’ to
generally mean campaign for information and bid for sympathy which the ilustrados and reformists in the 19th
century Philippines used to push on issues like assimilation, secularization and such other freedoms brought about
by liberalist ideas in their context and current world order. Schumacher stated that term should have been counter
propaganda because the core of such organizing was to correct fallacies and misinformation about the native
Filipinos brought about by the superior perspective and domination of Spanish Rule. Although the peak of the
Philippine Propaganda Movement can be dated from 1872 to 1892, it is best to trace it back from the time of Fr.
Pedro Pelaez, a Spanish mestizo who would be exposing the backwardness of the Philippines as a result of
domineering friars and would advocate for secularization until his death in 1863. He would be the mentor and
influencer of Fr. Jose Burgos, a prominent reformist who was martyred in 1872. Fr. Jose Burgos was the mentor
and influencer of Paciano, Rizal’s brother, a propagandist and reformist himself and would whom Rizal would
enter a pact with; their mission: to perform well in school and advocate for socio political changes and equal rights
with the colonial power.

Adding up to the on going liberal thinking brought about by the Spanish Revolution of 1868, the 19th century
Philippines tasted a brief encounter with liberal reforms
under Gov. Maria Carlos de la Torre who encouraged
freedom of speech, Filipinization of parishes and
the urge to educate their constituents for better living
dispositions. These were however curtailed after three
years upon the installation of a conservative governor general
who was Rafael de Izquierdo in 1871. Izquierdo and other
succeeding governor generals until the surrender of Spain
would continue leadership nurturing superiority of
Spanish race, violations of human rights, prejudices of
guardia civil and such other actions inflicting inferiority
among Filipinos and continued maladministration. A peak of
the abuses would lead mestizo soldiers and native workers in an organized dissent known in history as the Cavite
Mutiny in 1972. Priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora, or the GomBurZa were well known
advocates on of secularization were all implicated in the rebellion and as an outcome, were executed in public.
The incident had strongly ignited the native Filipinos’ rage and disgust and would be one of the core causes of the
more organized action a decade after --- to campaign on reforms, propagate liberal and scientific and ideas and
work for the elation of the Philippine colony.

Born mostly from the principalia, a wealthy class that would surface in the 19th century Philippines, the Propaganda
Movement consisted mainly of ilustrados or the enlightened youth who would be sent to Spain to study. It is
embedded to them by their Filipino and/ or mestizo parents who experienced Spanish cruelty and would vie for
reforms to make it a task not only to study and gain self- progress but to uplift their country as well. Specifically,
the injustices and poor situation in the Philippines should be forwarded to their network and gain the much needed
support so as reforms can breakthrough right back in their homeland. The propagandists specifically advocate for
assimilation, believing that it is only when the Philippines can be a state of Spain can its people enjoy equality and
improve their living conditions. Another is the support for the secularization process to wit the belief that Filipino
priest should also lead local parishes not only because local priests were contributory to the moral and religious
dispositions of the people but because local priests are at par with Spanish friars as well. The reformists also
advocated for freedom of speech, freedom of religion, representation to the Spanish legislation, economic reforms
and the right to education. As propagandists, they were expected to campaign on these issues, be at their best in
whatever field they chose and finally to produce materials that would create both impressions of excellence and
cater to the advances of the mentioned advocacies. Their works and writings highlighted the situations in the
Philippines, their counter narrations on the writings of western scholars about the Philippines and expressions
forwarding socio-economic reforms.

The first formal organization of the Propaganda Movement was the Circulo Hispano-Filipino but only lasted for a
year. Finding it difficult to organize as a formal group, they would later develop an official newspaper called the
La Solidaridad and would last for four years from 1889 to 1892. This organ served as repository of the writings of
propagandists from poetries to formal articles highly led and put in together by Marcelo H . Del Pilar, its avid
Editor, and contributions from supporters and networks from Europe like Dr. Blumentritt. Rizal was the most
serious, active and significant contributor as he ventured from poetry to fiction and his essays or counter narrations.
Other important writings of Rizal aside from the ones to be discussed were The Indolence of the Filipino People,
where he argued that the Filipinos were never born lazy and his article on the Ortography of the Tagalog Language
which displayed his greatness in research and formal writing.

Rizal was sent to Europe in 1882 to finish his career in

Medicine and to carry on a Rizal Pop Up: mission that was encouraged to
him by his brother, Paciano. His trip was funded by the likes of
The Philippines was never called
his uncle, also a reformist, fatherland by its patriots. The Philippines Mariano Rivera and would be
kept from his family until his is up to now being referred to as departure. His twice winning of
motherland or Inang Bayan. Rizal
the prestigious Liceo Artisto Literario de Manila while he
influenced the Filipino love for country
was still in UST for his poem, A that is likened to a mother to her child La Juventud Filipino (1879) and
play entitled, El COnsejo de Los (Ami Patria). In return, her children Dioses (1880) would earn him
should fight for her progress and well
respect and fame that he would be sought by elder
being. The Noli Me Tangere was
propagandists like Teodoro dedicated to Motherland. Basa who would introduce him
to his fellow ilustrados in Spain and would be asked to
contribute in the soon to be defunct Diaryong Tagalog
whose serving editor at the time was of course, del Pilar. His article, Ami/ Amor Patria would influence the mother
figure metaphor of the Filipino love for country and from then on use it to express patriotism. Another important
writing of Rizal that reached the Spanish colonial rule in Manila was his speech of toast (brindis, ) honoring
Hidalgo and Luna through insinuation of equality known in his famous lines: ‘Genius has no country. It blossoms
everywhere’; and ‘the patriarchal era in the Philippines has ended. The deeds of his illustrious children are no
longer wasted (1884, free translation)’.
Rizal’s Twin Novels

After finishing his academic requirements and served his practical courses or on
the job training as medical student, Rizal was set forth in producing a literature The cover of Noli Me Tangere is a
collage of Rizal’s doodles of
that could have been a group effort together with Pedro Paterno and Graciano
symbolisms. Can you name 5 of
Lopez Jaena. Instead of a formal essay depicting the conditions of the these figures and give their
motherland, Rizal creatively put his thoughts in giving life to characters, symbolisms?
weaving actual narratives of each in a sequence showing the abuses, if not the
tyranny of the colonial rule. Noli Me Tangere would be conceived in four
years(1884-1887) in three different places (Spain, France and Germany) and by
the time of its birthing, Rizal was almost in the verge of aborting it because of
dilemma and low morale. Rizal’s family was being persecuted in Laguna due to
agrarian disputes while he, though in poor condition and lacking basic
provisions for himself, was safe and sound in Germany. The draft of Noli was
almost put on fire because of this and was retrieved upon realizing the Noli, of
course was his instrument to reveal his own experiences and country’s
sufferings.

The title, Noli Me Tangere or literally, ‘Touch Me No’ was taken from the bible and was the answer of Jesus to
Magdalene’s weeping. In the book, the title appears to be the response of the writer as he ventured on the idea that
the motherland was suffering from cancer, a disease far to be cured. The situation in the Philippines is depicted in

the lives of Crisostomo Ibarra whose father suffered in the hands of his fiancee’s real father, Padre Damaso. Other
characters show the abuses done by guardia civil, a hovering rebellion in the hands of Elias, silent criticism and
hope for education in Pilosopo Tasyo and of course, the love and romance in the character of Maria Clara. The
novel consists of 64 chapters and was published with the help of a friend, Dr. Maximo Viola, March 21, 1887.
The novel incited warring reactions between the propagandists and reformists, who appreciated and disseminated
its themes as against the Spanish friars and officials who regarded it as seditious, erroneous of the church’s role
and devilish; there was even a campaign by the friars that whoever will read it will suffer in hell.

With the popularity and meaningful acceptance of the Noli Me tangere, Rizal started its sequel, El Filibusterismo,
right in his very home in Calamba and spent another three
years writing it in three other locations: London, Biarritz and While Rizal dedicated the Noli Me Tangere to
Belgium. Because of threats against his life and family, both the motherland, the El Filibusterismo was
dedicated to GomBurZa.
decided that he (Rizal) leave after spending 5 months in the
Philippines during the last two quarters of 1887. En route
Japan and the United States, he settled first in London and
moved to Biarritz and Belgium, had the novel published in
Ghent with the help of another friend, Dr, Valentin Ventura
and again doubly inspired and ignited patriotism in the
Philippines and supporters from colonial Spain. El
Filibustero, literally means, ‘The Filibuster’ or ‘The Rebel’
was explained by Rizal to Blumentritt as ‘a patriot who will
soon be hanged’ because of his persistence and might resort
to deadly means. The novel consists of 38 chapters and would
delve on Ibarra’s comeback as Simon, a wealthy jeweler who
befriended officials from the colonial masters and would in
the end initiate a revolution as his form of revenge. The
aspiration to be educated is a famous theme in the novel
where Rizal created youth patriots in the characters of Basilio
and Isagani. Again, the novel depicts the manipulations,
anomalies, wrongdoings of colonial Spain as how it inflicts
in the everyday lives of people.

The El Filibusterismo would end in the tragic suicide of Simon who while confessing his sins to Padre Florentino,
drinks poison that when he was pursued by the guardia civil by leading a revolution, had already passed out and
succumbed to death. He had left a chest of treasure to the priest who threw it on the see casting a promise that
whoever finds it will use it in rightful ways.

Rizal’s Annotation of Chapter 8 of the Sucesos de Las Islas Filipinas by Antonio Morga
What is annotation? How does annotation becomes a political act? What was the big deal in Rizal annotating the
work of a colonial power?
An annotation is a careful study of another’s work whereby the annotator can further explain, add, deduct, correct
and disprove the work of another person. In the time of Rizal or even at present, an annotation is a powerful act
that shows the superiority if not the mastery of the person who is annotating. Since Rizal was a Filipino, a student,
and among the Spanish conferred indio, it was not expected of
him considered a crime to annotate the work of a colonial
power, more so, an official or head of the state.

Antonio Morga was a Spanish administrator who served the

Philippines in the late 16th century. The last chapter of his
book, specifically entitled, ‘An Account of the Philippine
Island’ provided a description of the native Filipinos in the 16th
century and was referred to Rizal by his uncle, Jose Albert. It is
to note that Rizal became interested of the book because
for one, it was written by a non- ecclesiastical and two, it gives
an information of the Filipinos, though still from the lense of a
colonial power when the Philippines was not yet under
Spanish Rule. Rizal wrote in the beginning of the annotation, “ like almost all of you, I was born and brought up
in ignorance of our country's past and so, without knowledge or authority to speak of what I neither saw nor have
studied, I deem it necessary to quote the testimony of an illustrious Spaniard who in the beginning of the new era
controlled the destinies of the Philippines and had personal knowledge of our ancient nationality in its last days”

Rizal was known for his copying and rewriting word per word this Chapter 8 of the Sucesos, having had to catch
the opening and closing of British Museum where an original copy was stored and only for room use. He would
spend days in the British Museum in 1889 and had his annotation published in Garnier Hermanos in Paris in the
same year.
Rizal’s Annotation of Morga served the Propaganda Movement well as it upholds a critical narration of the
country’s history showing first and foremost, the Philippines’ own civilization or ‘glorious past’. Rizal clarified
that not all native Filipinos were conquered since the Igorots from the North and Moslems of the South have
maintained their freedom apart from what the rest of the country will experience. Ancient Filipinos had also fought
with krises and kampilans, tool and weapons that show both Filipino bravery and ingenuity. There were also
cannons and artilleries and the ancient Filipinos used these to defend themselves.

Rizal noted the existence of pintados in Panay, clarified Raja Mura and Soliman were one and the same and
highlighted that as sea farers, our ancestors have had good relationship in nearby Cambodia, China and Japan. He
would also state that the pacification the Spanish led the Filipinos instead done in good spirit, divided them and let
them fight each other.

Rizal’s annotation while proving his renowned scholarship created an impact of great national identity among
native Filipinos and proved a glorious civilization before Spanish incursion and subjugation

Exercise (Non Graded)

Review the characters and their significance in the two novels of Rizal by tracing the passing of the ownership of
Maria Clara’s locket filling up the shapes with their names, identity and intentions and/ or valuing of the said
locket.

Capitan Tiago,
father of Maria
Clara (Noli) Maria Clara, Beggar, a leper
gave her the daughter of (Noli) gave the
locket as sign of Capitan Tiago locket to
paternal gifted it to a 1)________ as
affection beggar payment for cure

2) _____ gifted it to
her girlfriend Huli or Juli/Huli showed it to
Julie (El Fili) as sign her father named 3)
of affection___ __________

4)__________
____________ handed it to
Simoun (El Fili) in exchange
for a 5)__________

(Cezar Majul’s essay on Maria Clara’s Locket, 1968 depicts a very creative review of both Noli Me and El
Filibusterismo by tracing the locket whom Capitan Tiyago gave her daughter, Maria Clara. The locket was
passed on to people Rizal creatively placed in both of his novels that can mark as a knot of the sequel. From
Maria Clara, it was passed on to a leper/ beggar as she (Maria Clara) did not have the money when she saw her
and was asked by alms. The beggar on the other hand gave it to Basilio who has been a doctor already in EL Fili
and cure the beggar from her leprosy. Basilio gave it Juli/Huli as affection. Kabisang Tales, on the other hand,
did not anymore informed Juli/Huli, his daughter that he was giving it to Simoun (Crisostomo Ibarra) in
exchange of a gun. The locket of course was remembered by him and was among the treasures he handed over to
Fr. Florentino before he died).

REFERENCES

El Filibusterismo (1891) Retrieved from https://www.gutenberg.org/files/10676/10676-h/10676-h.htm

Harvard Divinity School The Religious Literacy Project. (2020.) Retrieved from
https://rlp.hds.harvard.edu/faq/propaganda-movement

Jose Rizal University. (2004). Retrieved from http://www.joserizal.ph/pr01.html

Lourdes Tan. Rizal’s Annotation of the Sucesos delas Islas Filipinas. Retrieved from
https://www.academia.edu/42198655/Rizal_s_annotation_of_Morgas_Sucesos_De_Las_Islas_FIlipinas_
SUMMARY_

Noli Me Tangere. (1887). Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20228

Reply of John N. Schumacher to Floro Quibuyen's Response to the Review of His "A Nation Aborted" ( 2002)
Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/42634474?read-now=1&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Schumacher, John N. (1997). Chapter 2 Filipino Student Activities in Spain (1880-1882) Retrieved from
https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=6GU_Tzxu5qoC&pg=PA19&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onep
age&q&f=false

The 19th Century. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Propaganda-Movement

The Philippine News Agency. (2018) Retrieved from https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1038467