Module 14: Jose Rizal and Philippine Nationalism

Nationalism
Nationalism is a philosophy predicated on the idea that a person's allegiance to their
nation-state comes before their own or other people's interests. People have always been loyal
to their home countries, to their parents' customs, and to the established authorities in their
territories, but nationalism did not become widely accepted as a force shaping public and private
life until the end of the 18th century. This is one of the most significant, if not the most important,
single defining elements of modern history.

Within the Philippine setting, nationalism begins as a sense of shared identity with the
Hispanic and Catholic communities throughout the Spanish Empire. Based on the political,
religious, social, and intellectual views of the archipelago as an essential unit equivalent to the
other parts of the Spanish empire and all unified under the king, this sentiment was rather
restricted. According to this view, the people of the Philippines were considered to be on par
with other peoples living in Spain, America, and other parts of the empire.

Rizal’s Stand on Nationalism

Throughout his life, Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, steadfastly
supported nationalism. He thought that Filipinos ought to be proud of their history, culture, and
identity and strive to improve their nation. Rizal was adamant that the Filipino people must unite
and take charge of their own destiny if they are to experience genuine development and
independence.
For Rizal, nationalism included social justice, economic self-sufficiency, and the
upholding of Filipino customs and values in addition to political independence. He challenged
the Filipino people to develop a sense of patriotism and love for their country, stressing the role
that education plays in fostering national awareness.
According to Rizal, genuine nationalism necessitated involvement and active
participation in national matters. He urged Filipinos to be social activists, politically conscious,
and change-agents. He thought that everyone in society, especially the younger generation and
women, should be involved in the quest of nationalism rather than just a small group of people.
Every Filipino has a part to play in the development of their country, and true progress can only
be made by working together, according to Rizal. Rizal was adamant that the progress of the
nation and its citizens depended on maintaining national unity and fortifying the Filipino identity.

Rizal’s Concept of Nation Building

(Education)
Rizal's vision of nation building was built in his confidence in the power of education,
progressive thought, and collaborative action to bring about genuine societal change. Rizal
realized that an educated and enlightened populace was necessary for the development of a
strong and cohesive nation. In order to build critical thinking abilities, a feeling of national
identity, and a common grasp of the values and ideals that would lead the country forward, he
underlined the significance of education. In addition, Rizal supported the investigation of novel
concepts and the rejection of antiquated customs and traditions since he thought that
progressive thinking was essential. Additionally, Rizal was a strong proponent of the benefits of
group effort, stressing the significance of people cooperating to achieve shared objectives for
the advancement of society.
Based on the notion that a nation could only be genuinely constructed and sustained by
its people's combined efforts, education, and progressive thought, Rizal developed his concept
of nation building. The cornerstone of Rizal's vision for a powerful and cohesive nation was his
emphasis on education, progressive thought, and group action. It is a vision that still serves as
motivation and direction for our own national-building initiatives. A strong and cohesive nation
must be built, and Rizal's vision of nation building placed a great emphasis on the importance of
education, progressive thought, and group action.

(Pride and Dignity as Filipinos)

The lengthy period of colonial dominance, along with the ongoing persecution and
humiliation the Filipino people endured at the hands of their colonial masters, led to a lack of
racial pride and dignity as well as a sense of inferiority. This mentality needs to give way to the
people's sense of national pride being restored. Rizal sought to instill in his people a knowledge
of history because he felt that this was where true nationalism originated. In Noli me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo, he critiqued the frivolous, flag-waving category that nationalism would
descend into in the absence of these roots.

Rizal’s Program of Actions towards Nation Building

Circulo Hispano - Filipino
It was established and organized by a group of Filipino students in Madrid to work on
solving the problems of the Philippines. Jose Rizal is one of the prominent members of the
organization together with Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Juan Luna, and Graciano Lopez Jaena. They
publish their own newspaper publications named Revista Del Circulo Hispano-Filipino which
expresses thoughts about the Spanish rulers in the Philippines.

Noli Me Tangere.
Noli Me Tangere, penned by José Rizal and published in Spanish in 1887, was a
seminal work in Philippine political history. By utilizing personal experience, nineteenth-century
novel traditions, and European liberal ideals, Rizal presented a withering analysis of a society
ruled by Spain.
The book revealed the atrocities and wrongdoings carried out by the Catholic Church
and the Spanish colonial administration, illuminating the harsh conditions that the Filipino people
had to endure at the time. (Albela & Hila, 2020). Noli Me Tangere raised national awareness
and encouraged individuals to challenge the repressive structures in place by presenting the
social, political, and religious challenges in a fictitious story. It inspired the Filipino people to
strive for change and defend their rights by reawakening a feeling of solidarity and national
identity.

Indolence of the Filipinos

Rizal had astute economic judgment in Indolence, especially when he looked at the
relationships between institutions and geography and economy.
In this essay, Rizal analyzed the Filipinos’ inclination to indolence “thoroughly, without
superciliousness or sensitiveness.” Instead of dismissing Filipino indolence outright, Rizal
argued, “we believe that indolence does exist there. The Filipinos, who are among the world's
most active peoples, won't likely deny this admission because it is true that they work and
struggle against men, the environment, and climate change.

La Solidaridad
La Solidaridad is an organization formed by Filipino reformists including Jose Rizal in
Spain on December 13, 1888. The group, which was made up of liberal Filipinos who had been
exiled in 1872 and students enrolled in universities in Europe, sought to foster tighter
relationships between the Philippines and Spain as well as raise Spanish awareness of the
concerns of its colony, the Philippines. Under the leadership of Galicano Apacible, it also
published a newspaper with the same name that debuted on February 15, 1889, in Barcelona,
Spain. Graciano López Jaena and Marcelo H. later revised it. del Pilar. La Solidaridad published
information about the social, cultural, and economic circumstances of the colonial Philippines.
The journal also included speeches made by liberal Spanish speakers regarding the Philippines.

Rizal’s Program of Reform

Educational
Rizal exposed in his writings how messed up the education system in the Philippines
was during the Spanish occupation. He mentioned how brutal and discriminatory the Spanish
priests are to Filipinos. In his work Instruction, wherein he advocated for changes to teaching
practices and school infrastructure, Rizal expounded on the significance of education. He
contended that the neglect of the Spanish authorities in the islands was the real reason for his
country's backwardness during the Spanish era, not the rulers' stated indifference, apathy, or
laziness among the Filipino people. According to Rizal, the purpose of education is to change
people's mindsets and bring the nation to its pinnacle of grandeur. Rizal asserted that education
is the cornerstone of society and a necessary condition for social advancement, and that it is the
only way to free the nation from foreign rule.

Political and Economical

Dr. Jose Rizal is one of the figures behind the famous revolutionary organization La Liga
Filipina. This organization sought to reform activities and movements of the government of
Spain in the Philippines. Its primary aim is to unite the archipelago into one. In addition to being
a civic movement, La Liga Filipina seeks to establish a Supreme Council for the entire nation.
There is a Popular Council for every municipality and a Provincial Council for every province.
Anyone who is a Filipino and loves their country is welcome to join the movement. However, on
July 6, the Spanish Government detained Rizal and imprisoned him in Fort Santiago because
they started to suspect that La Liga Filipina was a revolutionary organization.

The nation's reformist movement falls short of its objectives. The desired reform from the
Spanish government was not realized. The group's overall requirements and problems had
been exacerbated by their individual issues, such as illness and financial difficulties. They were
unable to continue raising the money required for La Solidaridad's printing and distribution.
Panganiban also passed away, as did Lopez Jaena. Following Rizal's deportation to Dapitan,
there would be more collapses, and many of them broke up with one another due to their
antagonistic attitudes.

Rizal also advocated magna carta to protect the life, liberty, and property of Filipinos. He
also aimed to get back the representation of Filipinos in the Spanish Cortes to provide a voice
that stands for the citizens’ concerns. As a writer himself, Rizal aimed for the Philippines to gain
press freedom and equality in association, religion, and in law. He also aimed for freedom
assimilation in the Philippines.

References

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Banks, W. V., Schaeffer, J., & Sanchez, O. (2020). The Filipino Reformist Movement

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Cruz, R. V. (n.d.). NATIONALISM IN 19TH CENTURY MANILA• Romeo V. Cruz, Ph.D

Nationalism, in the context of Philippine experience, initially develo. Asian Studies:

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https://www.britannica.com/topic/nationalism

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https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1746-1049.1968.tb01123.x

Rizal, J., Francia, L. H., & Rizal's, J. (2020, March 7). Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

by Jose Rizal - Reading Guide: 9780143039693 - PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books.

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Sta. Ana, F. (2021, December 26). The relevance of Rizal’s Indolence of the Filipino.

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