Kobe A.

Reyes - 201911029
Long Quiz #2 in Life and works of Rizal

1. How did Rizal defend his side during his trial? What are his defenses that he was
not the leader of the revolution?
- Jose Rizal deliberately defended himself during his trial by separating himself from
the revolutionary cause and highlighting his preference for nonviolent change over
violent revolt. Rizal reiterated that the purpose of his literary works, including "Noli
Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo," was to draw attention to the social injustices
that existed in Philippine society while it was ruled by Spain and to promote reforms.
He insisted that rather than being a call to arms, his publications were statements of
intellectual opposition. Rizal even argued that he wouldn’t comply to the order of
Spanish government to exile him in Dapitan if he was the leader of the revolution.
Rizal underlined his loyalty to the Spanish Government and advocated for the
assimilation of the Philippines as a province of Spain, advocating for equal rights for
its citizens. To dissociate himself from any active engagement in revolutionary
actions and to dispel the notion that he was the uprising's leader, Rizal portrayed
himself as a peaceful supporter of social change within the framework of Spanish
rule. Rizal made an effort, but in 1896 he was found guilty and put to death.
2. What are the aims of La Liga Filipina? Prove that this is a civic society and not a
revolutionary one. Argue.
- Jose Rizal established La Liga Filipina in 1892 with clearly civic goals in mind. Rather
than calling for a whole revolution, the organization prioritized nonviolent change
and the advancement of social and economic status. La Liga Filipina was founded by
Rizal with the goal of uniting Filipinos and encouraging support for one another's
economic and educational advancements. The group used a variety of strategies,
including creating cooperative organizations, fostering education, and advocating for
mutual aid, to try and accomplish these objectives. La Liga Filipina was envisioned
by Rizal as a civic organization that would address the problems the Filipino people
were encountering under Spanish colonial control by working within the framework
of the law as it was in place. The bylaws of the association clearly condemned revolt
and aggressive tactics, placing a strong emphasis on adherence to the Spanish
Crown and lawful, peaceful means of bringing about change. La Liga Filipina was
founded with the intention of providing a forum for civic participation, teamwork,
and the pursuit of shared objectives for the advancement of Filipino society. The
civic character of La Liga Filipina is obvious in its emphasis on non-revolutionary,
legal measures to address social issues, despite its brief existence as a result of
Rizal's arrest.
Kobe A. Reyes - 201911029
Long Quiz #2 in Life and works of Rizal

3. Assuming that the retraction of Rizal was really true, would this affect his contribution to
nation-building?
- It has been proven through the latest document found from the logbook of the Civil
Guard on duty for guarding Rizal’s prison in Fort Santiago, that the retraction really
did happen. However, this shouldn’t affect his contributions to nation-building. First
and foremost, Rizal made significant works and contributions to advocate for equal
rights for the Filipinos. Rizal did not want any kind of revolution, the only thing that
Rizal seeks for the Filipinos is reform, not independence. The things that Rizal did
are real, what he fought for was real, all the things that Rizal did and worked for
made significant contributions for the betterment of the Filipinos and a single
retraction letter cannot erase the fact that Rizal made significant changes to the
society and the minds of the Filipinos fighting for the same thing back then. I think it
should be important to remember that Rizal's impact on nation-building lies not only
in the circumstances of his death but also in the ideas and principles he championed,
which continue to resonate in the collective consciousness of the Filipino people.
4. Prove that Rizal was not for independence. Cite at least 3 reasons.
- Rizal was not for independence because of the following reasons:
 Reforms and Adaptation in the Spanish System - The works of Rizal,
especially the novels "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo," highlight his
preference for integration and reforms over complete independence. In his
view, the Philippines would be a colony of Spain, affording its people equal
rights. Rizal thought that within the confines of the current colonial system,
education and enlightenment would open the door to constructive social
transformations.
 Loyalty to the Spanish Government - Rizal was a devout supporter of the
Spanish Government and made it clear that he wanted the Philippines to
become a part of Spain. Rather than supporting the creation of an
independent country, his advocacy was based in the perspective of pursuing
justice, equality, and representation for Filipinos inside the Spanish system.
 La Liga Filipina - La Liga Filipina is a civic group that Rizal formed with the
intention of advancing education, self-help, and socioeconomic advancement
among Filipinos. The group strongly opposed using force and instead
advocated for peaceful and lawful ways to bring about change. La Liga
Filipina, although being short-lived because of Rizal's being imprisoned
illustrates his preference for civic engagement above revolutionary
endeavors.