Philander Gereen Pinili Reflection Paper of Annotating Colonial Histories: José Rizal & The Rethinking of Filipino Identity The Annotating Colonial Histories: José Rizal and The Rethinking of Filipino Identity in 19th Century Europe gave enlightenment to Jose Rizal's discoveries, and encounters which also include the life, situation, and problems faced in Europe. It also made us aware of Filipino history and identities, According to the speaker, London was an Intellectual City, with galleries and the British Library Museum. The British Library had many Filipino Books, and the reason why is due to the Philippines opening its ports to the world, AK.A “The Galleon Trade", Which paved the way for not only, goods and economic boosts, but also Adventurers called by Rizal, Philippinologist. Which makes the Galleon Trade an important part of history, and the reason that made Jose Rizal the Hero of our country. The video also sparked me to appreciate the Reformist Movement, not because of Jose Rizal, but as a whole. The Reformist Movement, which wants to fight through words and letters, rather than swords, wanted to find ways on g ing Fili 10s equal rights. And because how the Spanish said, that the Filipino Natives in history were "Uncivilized People", Rizal wanted to research the History of the Philippines, in the British Library and access granted by his friend. Though he wasn't the first one to create the History of the Philippines. It also made me realize that the history and past recordings were also written by men and women, which are prone to over-the-top exaggerations, and false writings. As pointed out in the video, the writer named Isabelo de Los Reyes, which he already published multiple books on Philippines History. He claims folklore and Philippine stories, which lacked adequate scholarship but are understandably popular, due to their propaganda value. Another Example was Paterno, even with the resources and access to books and articles, his books are left to be desired. It is due to his exaggerations of information and his use of imagination. Even when it's dismissed by Rizal, Paterno's writings and still being used in the present day as facts and its quite saddening on how simple works by people in the past can greatly affect the future and the people has integrated it to its society. But due to the works of Paterno and Los Reyes, it proved that Filipinos has History, Culture and Politics. The works may be exaggerated. but it doesn't mean it is not true in some capacity. It just means that some information are just excessive and border line somewhat not true. It made me appreciate the works even if its exaggerated, it made Rizal think and create notations that will help us in the future and also in his way of protecting the Filipino People.I think that the annotations of Dr. Jose Rizal elucidated many misconceptions and debunk the deceits. Rizal elaborated that the Philippines has a perfect geography, an organized society, forms of religion, and a stable economy before the colonization. Rewriting history is one way for Rizal to prove our real identities as Filipinos, we were not savage people before colonization. Due to Morga’s Sucesos, Jose Rizal's annotation Was a success so to say, even though Jose Rizal criticized the books for being anti- Catholic and the annotation Jose Rizal relied on the situation or event only after it happened or developed. The book was still a success. Though like the Noli me Tangere, Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas, was directly banned. Which made me realize how the Spaniards hates works that criticized Spain or any Propaganda Rizal’s annotations on Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas made me and more Filipinos appreciate how deserving Rizal is to be the greatest hero in the Philippines. Through his annot ns, he gave the Philippines and the Filipinos their own true and unique identity that we can call our own, that there is the authenticity of us being Filipino without any added, subtracted, and manipulated part of the history. His works, from the start, opened people’s eyes to the Spaniards’ injustice up until now. All of this taught us how to love our race, it gave us the patriotism of being Filipino and of being proud of who we are and where we came from. We may be able to find meaningful ways to mitigate our country’s illness by reading and learning about Rizal’s works, who fought for the common good for the liberty of our country.