GE - LWR (10:30AM – 12:00 PM) GROUP 6
Factor, Dovyle Arriesgado Jr. Giganto, Kristoffer John J. Gregorio, Jerald Patrick Mosqueda, John Vianney Taruc, Ched
PART I. - THE MATRIX
Topics Dr. Antonio de Morga
1. (P. 246) “They are all careful with their teeth, and
from their early age, they file and even up their teeth
with grinders and other implements of stone,[4]etc.,
Physical and give them a permanent black color which is
Appearance preserved until their old age, even if it is unpleasant
(Clothing, to the eyes.”
Fashion 2. (P.244-245) In the middle of the waist they wore
Dentistry, the bahaque[3] the legs being bare and the feet also
Concepts of bare, the head uncovered, with a narrow kerchief
Beauty, Jewelry) tied around it tightly over the forehead and temples,
called potong.[4] Around the neck they wore a long
chain of engraved gold links the same as we wear it
and on their arms they wore thick and engraved gold
bracelets called colombigas made in different
designs.”
3. (P. 241) “Visayans, otherwise called the ‘tattooed
ones’ for the reason that the most important male
residents here have since their childhood, decorated
their entire bodies by painting their skins, following a
pattern therein drawn[3] and by putting certain black
powder where the blood oozes out, and this can
never be removed.”
Food, Crops
Produced, 1. (P.257) “The ordinary food of the natives is a very
Dietary beliefs small fish which is netted, dried in the sun or air, then
and Practices, cooked in various ways; and they enjoy them better
Methods of than larger fishes. Among them they call this fish
Farming laulau [1].”
2. (P.253) “Some of the hens are black in their
feathers, skin, flesh, and bones and they taste
good.[4]There are broods of geese, swans, ducks,
and tame doves or squabs brought over from China.”
3. (P.247) “Their regular daily food is rice, crushed
by wooden pilons or pounders, which is cooked and
Date submitted: April 21, 2022
Dr. Jose Rizal
1. (P.246) “[4]This practice is still
done. [5] This custom also is found in
Japan among married women as a
proof of virtue. Today it is declining.
2. (P.244) “[3] Bahag, ‘rich colored
cloth and quite often with gold
stripes’, among the chiefs.”[4] They
put it in different ways like Moro
turbans or head dresses and also
decorate them elaborately to
showcase pride. The red patong was
worn by those who have killed at
least one man while the stripes
equate to a number of men killed.
3. (P. 241) “[3]That is, drawing first on
the skin that has to be tattooed. As it
will be seen further, the Bisayans
used the same method the Japanese
use today.”
1. (P.257) “[1] What is now called
lawlaw is the salted and dried
sardine. It seems that the author
refers to the tawilis of Batangas, or
dilis, which is smaller and a large
quantity of it is eaten by the natives.”
2. (P.258)”[4]The flesh of these
chickens that the Tagalogs called
ulikba is said to have medicinal
value.”
3. (P.247) “[4]Morisqueta to the
Group Remarks
1. Rizal backs up Morga's report's
credibility by emphasizing its
current use and relevance.
2. The externals of the outfits and
accessories are highlighted in
Morga's narrative by describing
how they appear when worn,
whereas Rizal's narrative
concentrates on their interior
significance. It is a symbol and a
representation in the culture.
3. The stories of Morga and Rizal
about the tattooing practices and
techniques on Bisayans
complement each other. Morga
gives a detailed description, while
Rizal relates it to his current
understanding of its use.
1. Rizal complements Morga's story
by rewriting it with exact phrasing
and spelling corrections to better
describe what Morga is saying.
2. Rizal's response, which adds to
Morga's story, provides additional
information about the people's
views and the value of chickens.
 is then called marisqueta,[4] and this constitutes the
daily
mainstay for the entire country, together with boiled
fish of which there is an abundance, and pork or
venison, likewise of wild buffalo or carabao. They
prefer meat and fish, saltfish which begin to
decompose and smell.[5]”
1. (P.261) “Igorrots, whose country has not yet been
Trade and penetrated by outsiders. They have rich mines of gold
Technology besides silver, of which they get as much mineral as
(Traded they need for their uses. They take their still unrefined
goods, and unperfected gold to certain appointed places
modes of where they meet the people from Ilocos, where, for
trading, their gold, they are given in trade, rice, pigs, carabaos,
Boat- blankets, and other articles which they need.[2]”
Building,Gold- 2. (P.262) A jar is worth a great deal of money, and is
working, adorned on the outside with fine gold-plating with much
Iron- elaboration, and is covered with brocade cloth, so that
Working) there are vases which are worth or sold for two
thousand eleven-reales tales each, or less, as the case
may be, even if it is slightly dented or has a flaw, for
the reason that this is no consequence so long as tea
an be safely kept in them. The natives of these islands
sell these articles to the Japanese as best they can,
and take pains to look for them for this purpose; and
as a matter of fact, these vases become very scarce
owing to the great demand for them.[2]”
3. (P.263-264) “In the province and river of Butuan, the
natives have another industry or trade which is quite
profitable. In as much as there is an abundance of wild
or civet cats, although they are smaller than the Guinea
civets, the natives get the musk or perfume out of the
cats and sell or trade the same, doing good and easy
business thereby.”[1]
1. (P.290-291) “In matters of religion, they proceeded
in primitive fashion and with more blindness than in
other matters, for the reason that, aside from being
Spaniards, because the Tagalog call
it kanin. [5]This is another
preoccupation of the Spaniards who,
like any other nation, in the matter of
food, loathe that to which they are not
accustomed or is unknown to
them…The fish that Morga mentions
does not taste better when it is
beginning to rot; all on the contrary: it
is bagoong and all those who have
eaten it and tasted it know that it is
not or ought not to be rotten.”
1. (P.261) “[2] This was forbidden later.”
2. (P.263) “[2] It is a pity that those
objects have not been studied better.
Discovering these very precious jars in
Cambodia, Siam, Cochin-china, the
Philippines, and other adjacent islands,
and their manufacture dating to a very
remote epoch, the study of their form,
structure, seals, and inscriptions, would
perhaps give us a key to finding a
common center of civilization for these
peoples.”
3. (P.264) “[1] It seems that this
industry is now very much forgotten, for
nothing more is heard of it.”
1. (P.291) “[2] In this matter of the true
God, every people believe what is
their own, and as until now there has
3. Rizal's narrative contradicts Morga's
in terms of spelling and references.
Rizal corrects Morga's story in some
ways. He also discusses Spaniards'
attitudes on regional cuisine.
1. Rizal never contradicts Morga's
claim and adds that Igorrots selling
their valuable minerals to Ilocos
residents was later prohibited.
2. The economic value of the jars to
the inhabitants of the time is the
focus of Morga's story, whereas
Rizal emphasizes the jars' historical
and anthropological relevance if
they had been explored.
3. Morga's story mentions a profitable
industry in Butuan, which Rizal notes
as "forgotten" since "nothing more is
known about it," which we believe is
why Rizal was unable to bolster
Morga's account.
1. Individuals lacked enough
understanding about true god,
according to Morga's narrative, and
 Gentiles, without any knowledge of the true God, [2]
Religion they did not take pains to reason out how to find Him,
(Religious neither did they envision a particular one at all.”
Beliefs and 2. (P.291-292) “Others worshipped the sun and the
Practices) moon, indulging in feasting and orgies during their
conjunction.[6]
3. (P.293) “They made prayers and offered
ceremonies
to the idols on behalf of their sick people; they believed
in omens and superstitions which the devil inspired
them to do, so they could tell whether their sick
persons would live or die. [2]
1. (P. 279) “Others has their own houses for their family
apart from the house of their master and who would
come to the house from time to time to help in the tilling
of the land in harvesting, also to serve as
crewmembers when their masters made sea-voyages;
those who helped in building the master’s house and
Social to serve frequently as helpers in the same when there
Organization are guests, and to serve there whenever the master
(Social requires them to do so, also without any
Classes and compensation, and the latter are known as
Social Nahamamahayes [6] slaves whose children and
Relations) descendants are also slaves to serve in the same
capacity.
2. (P. 275) Throughout these islands, there were
neither kinds nor lords to rule them all in the same
manner as in kingdoms and provinces [2] elsewhere.
not been found a reagent for the
discovery of the true God and
distinguish Him from the false ones,
Morga, was a person of superior
judgment to many of his
contemporaries, can only be forgiven
for such pretension for the sake of the
dominant ideas then and the fact that
Philip II has just terminated his reign.”
2. (P.291) “[6]The rational and grateful
man is recognized in the cult of the
sun and the moon; sometimes he
would see divinities, sometimes
symbols in those celestial bodies.
3. (P.293) “[2] This proves that
everywhere and in every religion the
profession of priest has always been
productive. Speaking of the sick and
Anitos to prove their falsehood, Fr.
Chirino tells the case of Francisco
Armandao who, while sick, offered half
of his body to the Anito to see if he
would be cured, then half of his body
was paralyzed and he could not move,
and the missionary concluded that
“this was public testimony of his
heathenism.”
1. (P. 279) “[6] This proves the high
spirit of strict justice that prevailed in
Filipino- Malayan communities. The
principle of the law was mathematically
observed and it was applied rigorously
and impartially.”
2. (P. 275) “[2]They were right because,
“... in view of the lack of rapid
communications, if the government of
all the islands resided in only one hand
and one sole will, and for everything
people had to go to and consult in one
place, the life in the towns would be
greatly paralized.”
3. (P. 278) “[4]This is the eternal
division that is found and will be found
everywhere, in all kingdoms and
Rizal adds to this by noting that
people are free to believe what they
want.
2. We believe Rizal's statement that
humans are inherently driven to
adore beautiful things matches
Morga's story.
3. Furthermore, Morga's report
describes people's religious
behaviors, whereas Rizal adds to
this by providing real examples.
1. Rizal praised Morga's answer
because it is unquestionably
correct even in the year 2022.
However, unlike in their day, we
treat them with greater respect and
name them kasambahay, which is
short for kasama sa bahay in our
opinion.
2. In response to Morga's statements,
"some of the
time indeed, even conflicts," Rizal
emerged with the assertion that
peaceful interactions were more
common before wars. Which was
certainly true, given that bayanihan
were common in the days of our
 Instead, in every island and province many principals
were known among the natives, some being more
important and outside than others, each having his
own followers and henchmens, forming barrios and
families who obeyed and respected them.
3. (P. 278) There were three social stations among the
natives of these Islands constituting the
commonwealth, to wit: Principal people, according to
what has already been stated; timawas which is
equivalent to plebaians; and slaves both of the
principals and of the Timaguas. [4]
Literacy,
Writing 1. (P. 272) “Throughout the Islands, writing is well
System and developed through certain characters or signs
Modes of resembling the Greek or Arabic, numbering fifteen
Entertainment signs in all three of which are vowels which serve in
lieu of our five vowels. The consonants are twelve.
2. Page (272) Language spoken in Luzon and
adjoining islands is very different from the spoken in
the Visayas.(1) People in Manila province called
Tagalog have a rich and abundant language and this
language is not difficult to learn and to speak the same.
3. (P. 273) Writing was done on bamboo pieces or on
paper, the line beginning from the right to left as in the
Arabic writing. [2] Almost all natives, both men and
women, know how to write in this dialect, and there are
few who do not write it well and properly.
1. (P.276) “The authority which these principal man or
leaders that they considered its components as their
subjects, to treat well or mistreat, disposing of their
persons, children and possessions at their will and
Laws and pleasure without any opposition from the latter, nor
Justice duty on their part to account for the principal’s action.
republics: the ruling class, productive
class, and servant class; head, body,
and feet.”
1. (P. 272) The same thing can't be said
today. The government in print and in
words tries to educate the Filipinos, but
indeed and at bottom, it foments
ignorance, placing education in the
hands of the friars who are accused by
Spaniards, Filipinos, and foreigners of
wanting the brutalization of the country
and they themselves prove it with their
behavior and writing.
2. Page (272) Tagalog spirit, a lover
and simplicity and clarity, contradict the
error later adduced by other writers with
respect to the imperfect writing and
consequent difficult reading.
3. (P. 273) What can be deduced it
seems is that they wrote in two ways,
vertical and horizontal: Vertical in the
first epoch when they wrote on canes
and palm leaves because in that way
the writing was much easier, and
horizontal when the use of paper
became general. As to the rest, the
form of the characters lends itself to
these different directions.
1. (P.276) “[6] These slaves were not
always in such a dismal condition.
Argensola says that they ate with their
master at the same table and afterward
they married members of the family.”
2. Page (280) This kind of slave still
exists in many places and especially in
forefathers.
3. Rizal praised Morga's answer
because it is unquestionably correct
even in the year 2022. However,
unlike in their day, we treat them with
greater respect and name them
kasambahay, which is short for
kasama sa bahay in my opinion.
1. Morga's assertion is contradicted
by Rizal's remark, which claims
that the same thing cannot be
stated today due to the
government's failure to educate
Filipinos.
2. Morga's assertions are once again
refuted by Rizal. Morga stated that
while Tagalog is simple to learn
and pronounce, it is difficult to read
for Rizal due to the poor quality of
the script.
3. Rizal's commentary supports
Morga's description because he
describes the two forms of writing in
great detail.
1. The leaders' violent treatment of
their slaves is depicted in
Morga's opinion; yet, Rizal
disputes this by stating that they
were not always mistreated.
2. The two ideas are
 System Upon their committing any slight offense or fault, these
henchmen were either punished, made slaves[6] or
killed.”
2. Page (280) Thus, all this system of slavery can be
traced to unsavory and unjust causes, among them the
suits between the natives, which have engaged the
attention of the Courts of Justice and confessors and
the human conscience. (1)
3. (286). The contracts and negotiations with the
natives were generally considered illegal, so that each
of them had to take care of himself or see how he could
best attend to his business. (4)
the Province of Batangas, but it must
be admitted that their condition is very
different from that of the slave in
Ancient Greece and Spaniards.
3. Page (286). So, we are the contracts
of all nations and of all people and so
also is and was the spirit of the
contracts of the first Spaniards with the
Filipino chiefs and God grant they might
have always adhered to the letter of
those contracts. (5)
complementary to one another.
In Morga's opinion, slavery is
uncomfortable and unethical, but
Rizal explains how slavery
differs from slavery in ancient
Rome and Negro.
3. Rizal, in our perspective, has a
stronger case because we are all
aware that it is not unlawful or
restricted. We Filipinos, on the
other hand, are obedient to the
regulations.

Part II. Group Analysis.

Answer the following questions;

● Based on his annotations, explain Rizal’s views of the pre-conquest past. Discuss the overall image of the pre-colonial past that Rizal wanted to
convey in his annotations.( 3-4 sentences)

Rizal diligently hand-wrote all 351 pages of Sucesos to correct or confirm Morga's narrative as an earnest seeker of truth. The
annotations by Rizal reinforce the idea that the Philippines had a separate culture before the Spaniards arrived. He also discussed how the
Spanish colonization of the Philippines degraded, demoralized, and exploited the Filipinos. His objectives are to reawaken Filipinos'
awareness of their rich ancestry and beautiful history, correct what has been misled about the Philippines as a result of Spanish
colonization, and show that Filipinos were well-cultured before the Spaniards arrived.

● Do you find Rizal’s version of the pre-colonial past valid and reliable? (Read the prologue of Ferdinand Blumentritt).Cite 2 strengths and 2
weaknesses of Rizal’s annotation according to Blumetritt.( 3-4 sentences)

We believe Rizal's version of the precolonial past is valid and reliable, given Morga's successes were truly grounded on experience and
observation. Another is that he made considerations in his book. One of them is that, unlike the friar stories, which were occasionally biased
or outright racist in tone and interpretation, this one is not. Morga appeared, at least in part, to be more sympathetic to the Indios. Apart
from that, despite their close bond.

Despite the fact that they had collaborated, Blumentritt continued to criticize Rizal's work. Rizal had made the same mistakes that many
modern historians had made in prior competitions, he realized. Rizal, according to Blumetritt, was not only pleased with but actively
commended his annotation.
● Why did Rizal choose Morga’s work over the other accounts of the pre-colonial past? What was Rizal’s motivation for annotating Morga’s Sucesos? (
Refer to the dedication) (2-3 sentences)

Rizal chose Morga's work over other pre-colonial narratives in order to exploit the testimony of a renowned Spaniard who observed the
closing moments of the Filipinos' ancient nationality and managed the nation's destinies at the dawn of her new period. His purpose for
annotating Morga's Sucesos was to present a Filipino perspective on a Spaniard's work while also adapting current orthography to make
the text more readable.