GE 12

MWF 7:15-8:15
CHRISTINE P. IGNAS
BSED FIL-2

Summary of the Annotation of Rizal Sa Sucesos Felices of Antonio Marga

The annotation of Rizal to Morga's "Sucesos Felices" refers to the notes and comments made by
the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, on Antonio de Morga's work titled "Sucesos de las
Islas Filipinas" (Events in the Philippine Islands). Morga, a Spanish lawyer and magistrate, wrote
his book in the late 16th century, providing a historical account of the Philippines during the
Spanish colonial period.Rizal, in his annotations, critically examined Morga's work and used it to
highlight the achievements of pre-colonial Filipino society. Rizal aimed to debunk the prevailing
European notion of Filipinos as savages before the arrival of the Spaniards. He pointed out the
advanced civilization, culture, and social organization that existed in the Philippines prior to
Spanish colonization.
Rizal's annotations were instrumental in challenging the colonial narrative and promoting a
sense of national pride among Filipinos. By critically analyzing Morga's text, Rizal sought to
show that the Philippines had a rich cultural heritage that predated the Spanish colonization
and was not a mere tabula rasa waiting to be civilizeThe annotated edition of Morga's "Sucesos
Felices" by Rizal serves as a historical and cultural commentary, contributing to the
development of a Filipino national identity and fostering a sense of awareness about the
country's pre-colonial history. Rizal's writings and annotations played a crucial role in the
intellectual awakening and nationalist movement in the Philippines during the late 19th
century. Jose Rizal did not write a history book, he annotated one yet the significance of Rizal's
annotations to Antonio de Morga's (1609) Sucesos de las islas Filipinas is that this is an
expression of the writing of the History of the Philippines from a Filipino viewpoint.