Suzzaine A.

Carpio
Hist 100

Review paper on “Rizal and the Illustrados in Spain” by: Noel V. Teodoro

This article focuses on the experiences of the illustrados as exiles in Spain. Censorship
was an important factor in the decision of several illustrados to leave the country. In addition to
the notable propagandistas, Jaena, del Pilar, and Rizal, the article also mentions others who were
part of the Filipino community in Spain. In their campaign for reforms, the illustrados worked hard
to correct racist images drawn by Spanish writers about the Philippines and the Filipinos. Together
with progressive Spaniards, they represented their demands for assimilation, good governance,
and representation in the Cortes. The newspaper La solidaridad and the founding of masonic
organizations were the venues for the reforms waged by the illustrados. Rizal later concluded that
they needed to return to the Motherland and to initiate change from within.
It is important to mention at this point the statement of Jaime C. de Veyra that the Filipinos
in Spain came from the different regions of the archipelago. Julio Llorente, a native of Cebu,
finished his doctorate in law in Madrid while writing for La solidaridad. Valentin Ventura, who gave
financial help to Rizal for the publication of his second novel, El filibusterismo, was from Bacolor,
Pampanga, and died in Barcelona in 1935. Francisco Liongson, who also studied in Madrid, was
Ventura’s townmate. Jose Maria Panganiban was from Mambulao, Camarines Norte. He also
wrote for La solidaridad, and like Jaena and Ventura, died in Barcelona on August 19, 1890, due
to tuberculosis.
For Mariano Ponce, education was the fundamental aim of masonry, particularly in
propagating the importance of cooperation and collective or organized efforts. It was deemed
important to educate Filipinos so that they would be able to understand anti-clerical ideas,
nationalism, and the progressive program of the Propaganda Movement. For del Pilar, there was
a need to focus the direction of the masonry to the study of problems related to economic, political,
and military organization of the country, while giving due attention to the development of new
municipal governments.