GEC 9: The Life and Works of Rizal

First Semester S.Y. 2022-2023

Learning materials

LESSON 12: THE DESTINY OF THE PEOPLE

Learning objectives:
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

a. Summarize in their own words Rizal’s essay: “The Philippines a Century Hence”;
b. Present Rizal’s argument on what the Philippines would be like in the future; and
c. Construct their own arguments on what the Philippines at present will be like after fifty
years.

Lesson introduction:
Rizal’s work, “The Philippines a Century Hence” was serialized in La Solidaridad in four
installments from September 30, 1889 to January 21, 1890. In this essay, Rizal attempts to
answer the basic question of whether the Philippines will remain a Spanish colony or not.

Lesson Discussion:
Rizal’s essay entitled “The Philippines a Century Hence” presents compelling arguments
on what that state of the country will be like in the future. However, in order to be forward-
looking, one must, at first be able to look back at the country’s past. In Rizal’s words: “In order to
read the destiny of a people, it is necessary to open the book of its past.”
The first part of Rizal’s essay does this by illustrating that with the arrival of the
Spaniards, the Filipinos were forced to accept and subject themselves to a new and foreign
culture. Time passed when the Spaniards attempted to subjugate the Filipinos completely, but
Rizal argues that the continued oppression only resulted in the gradual awakening of the
Filipinos.
By the 19th century, economic conditions had become better in the Philippines and Rizal
recognizes this. However, beyond the material prosperity, he points out that the Filipinos
remain brutalized and oppressed. Since advancement or progress is clearly inevitable, Rizal
poses the question on whether the Philippines will remain a colony of Spain despite all the
changes.
To this question, his answer is straightforward. He states that the Philippines will
remain a colony of Spain if the mother country implements reforms such as freedom of the

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press and representation in the Cortes. Rizal also concedes that if Spain does not grant these
reforms, the Filipino will likely become independent after a violent and bloody revolution.
The final part of Rizal’s work presents another interesting point of discussion since he
attempts to look into the future of the country. He argues that if the Philippines becomes free in
the future, this independence will be short-lived since the United States of America will
probably acquire and colonize the country as one of their own territories.
In the end, Rizal makes a strong assertion that it is imperative for Spain to grant the
Filipinos reform, for as he eloquently states, “It is better to keep pace with the desire of a people
that to give way before them; the former begets sympathy and love, the latter contempt and
anger.”

Summary
The essay was Rizal’s attempt to answer the question of whether or not the Philippines
would continue to remain a colony of Spain. By presenting sound arguments, Rizal made a
compelling case that the Philippines would only remain a colony of Spain if the Filipinos were
granted reforms, particularly the freedom of the press and representation in the Spanish Cortes.
Without these reforms, Rizal forsaw the eventual independence of the Philippines resulting
from a violent revolution.

Evaluation: (See the separate file for learning activity)

References:
Rhodalyn Wani-Obias et. al., The Life and Works of Jose Rizal. C&E Publishing Inc. (2018)
Eugene Raymond P. Crudo et. al. The Life and Works of Jose Rizal. REX Book Store. (2019)

Prepared by:

John Rey R. Buan

Instructor

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