Name: Juan Miguel Caparas Section: OL165

Course: RZL110 Date: June 13, 2022

Society, in my opinion, is the most important factor that can affect a person's

character. Society's definition can be subjective; this can mean different for each

person. A society may be a group of people, a way of living, or a group created for such

activity or purpose. The first society a person encounters is their family; they can adapt

everything they see into their character. In this stage, the society where they belong is

very critical. The values, culture, and practices are taught and absorbed. Let's say that

a person changed their society or moved to a new group of people; a high percentage

may adopt the behaviors of the new group or society. People sometimes underestimate

the power of society; they underestimate the things that a society can change to one's

character. A society can completely change a person, and I always remind myself to

surround myself with people who will help me succeed and bring me one step closer to

the top. A person who surrounds themself with negative people will also bring

negativity to their life. That is how vital society is to a person. Society is what molds us

into what we will become; I can also agree that the mind is our powerful weapon, and

our minds can change our ways of life. If we use our minds with society, we will know

what kind of society we want. If a person knows their identity, they know what type of

person they will include in their society. There will always be instances when a person

may not be affected by society, but this will only happen if a person has already

established their identity. This occurs when a person is mature enough not to be carried

away by the practices and values of society. Society is essential; the people around us
and the values, culture, and traditions of the persons around us are crucial to our

character. Society will always be a part of our character. Some people base their

judgment on what society they came from. We must acknowledge how society can

affect our life.

When the Spaniards colonized our country, they discovered a population of

Chinese people, especially in Manila. When they came here to the Philippines, they

wanted to spread Catholicism and do everything in their power to spread it. When

Spain colonized our land, they brought with them their culture. They established several

economic systems in our land, including Western, Native American, and Chinese

economies. (Wickberg,1965) Spaniards were determined to achieve their objectives

regardless of the obstacles. People were killed, and those who survived utilized their

authority to preach their faith. They encouraged non-Catholic Chinese people to marry

Catholics, known as intermarriage. They hoped to convert the Chinese by having them

married to an Indio because Chinese ladies were small in the population. The offspring

of this marriage is what they call Chinese mestizo. These mestizos are a higher class

than Indios, and in 1741 they were officially established when there was a

reclassification of tax payment according to the social classes. They paid double the

taxes of an Indio. They became abundant in society and influential in the business and

commerce industries during the Spanish colonization. Mestizos played a big part in the

role in forming the Filipino Identity because they were the ones who spread the

combined culture of Chinese and Indios that helped the two classes to unite. When the

Spaniards recognized the unity of social classes, they became cautious and became
more abusive in their powers. (Wickberg,1965) The Chinese mestizos and Indios are

united because of the Spaniards' abusive behaviors and abuse of dominance. Jose

Rizal's great family started as a family of Chinese Mestizos, Cua Yi Lam; his great-great-

grandfather was a pure Chinese and the only reason why Rizal Became Indio is because

of Rizal's great grandfather. (Saul, 2018) Jose Mercado converted himself to an Indio's

social class, resulting in Rizal's father and his family being called Indio. Although Jose

Rizal was classed as an Indio, he lived as a Chinese mestizo and had money to study in

different countries. Jose Rizal was originally a Chinese mestizo, but he united with

Indios and helped them achieve freedom. He played the most significant part in this

revolution because he sparked the emotions and nationalism of every Filipino reading

his novels. Without Rizal's knowledge, without his wisdom, and nationalism, we

wouldn't have our freedom now.

During the Spanish colonization, the abuse of power by the friar was hidden in

the society, and Rizal knew all about it. But in the other eyes of society, Friars actually

helped us to develop the identity of being a Filipino. (Alas, 2020) They taught us to

speak and read and introduced the values some Filipinos still have in modern times.

Most importantly, they were the primary tool for spreading Christianity during the

Spanish colonization. They were part of different industries; some worked as farmers,

writers, scientists, and doctors. Rizal's Novels El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere

exposed the friar's negative behaviors hidden from people. Although his novel was

considered fiction, many believe it symbolized actual events under the Spanish abuse.

There are different reasons why Rizal talked negatively about friars; some people
believe that the cause was Rizal being a Freemason. A freemason is a person that is

against Catholicism. (Alas, 2020) But those people who revolutionized after reading the

novels thought that the things that were written there were the abuse hidden from

society. I have already read the novels, and I believe that some were fictional, and I

firmly believe that some were symbols of the Spanish colonization. Jose Rizal became

this nation's role model as he uniquely showed nationalism in a way where violence is

not included. He used his wisdom and intelligence to speak to the people. Because of

his issue with friars, he became one of the people who questioned how Spaniards

spread Catholicism. He criticized them, and he didn't become hesitant to use his voice

to fight for freedom. Jose Rizal became an influential being as he had a different impact

on our history. Jose Rizal will always be our national hero; wisdom and intelligence are

powerful weapons.