Chapter 10

LETTER TO WOMEN OF
MALOLOS
Dr. Jose Rizal’s travel in the different parts of the world enabled him to meet different kinds of women
with their varied characteristics based on their cultural and social status in life. His experiences outside
the Philippines made him some realizations regarding the characteristics of Filipino women. With his
keen eyes and high respects to women back home considering that he grew up surrounded with 7
sisters, he wanted the women of Malolos ( representing the Philippine women) to prove their worth in the
society just like that of women abroad and not just inferior human species, but retaining some Filipina
trademarks that made them unique compared to the other women races. Rizal wrote his letter to the
young women of Malolos while he was in London in response to the request of Macelo H. del Pilar.
 GROUP OF 20 FILIPINO WOMEN FROM
MALOLOS, BULACAN

• Eugenia M. Tanchangco • Elisea T. Reyes

• Agapita R. Tiongson
• Aurea M. Tachangco
• Filomena O. Tiosong
• Basilia V. Tantoco
• Cecilia O. Tiongson
• Teresa T. Tantoco
• Feliciana O. Tiongson
• Maria T. Tantoco
• Alberta S. Uitangcoy
• Anastacia M. Tiongson
• Juana T. Reyes
• Basilia R. Tiongson
• Leonica S. Reyes
• Paz R. Tiongson
• Olympia S.A. Reyes
• Aleja R. Tiongson
• Rufina T. Reyes
• Mercedes R. Tiongson
 DECEMBER 12, 1888
 20 Women of prominent Chinese Filipino
families in Malolos, Bulacan signed and
presented to Governor- General
Valeriano Weyler requesting permission
to open up a night school where there
could be taught the Spanish language
under Teodoro Sandiko.

Valeriano Weyler
(17 September 1838 – 20 October 1930)
 However the Spanish Parish Priest Father Felipe Garcia objected their plan
so, the Governor- General turned down the petition. The young woman
bravely continued their petition of the school and they succeeded in
obtaining government approval in certain conditions a thing unheard of in
the Philippines in those times on one condition, that Señorita Guadalupe
Reyes should be their teacher and that classes be held in the day time and
not at night
 December 12, 1888
 To continue in February 17, 1889,
Marcelo H. del Pilar requested Rizal to
send a letter in Tagalog to the brave
women of Malolos, even though he is
busy annotating Morgan’s book he
managed to send his very long letter to
del Pilar, on February 22, 1889.
Marcelo H. del Pilar
August 30, 1850 – July 4, 1896),
 JOSE RIZAL LEAVE A LEGACY TO THE FILIPINO WOMEN IN HIS
LETTER ENTITLED THE YOUNG WOMEN OF MALOLOS WHERE HE
ADDRESSES TO ALL KINDS OF WOMEN WHETHER A MOTHER,
WIVES, UNMARRIED, GIRL, AND ETC. HE LEFT HIS LETTER SO
THAT EVERY WOMEN SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THE MESSAGE
THAT HE WROTE IN THIS LETTER. IT HAS A SIX PART SUMMARY;

1. THE REJECTION OF THE
SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY OF
THE FRIARS
It did not embody true spirit of God-
corrupted by worldly desires and ways
and forced discipline to people the
Nation priest at the time did not all
share the same devotions to Christ in
his church which resulted in a rejection
of the friar spiritual leadership, the
majority of them were corrupted by
materialistics desires and used
materialistic tactics to impose discipline
and effect change among the public.
The majority of them are corrupted by
worldly aspirations and employed
worldly strategies to enforce discipline
on the populace and bring about
change.
SUMMARY
3. QUALITIES OF FILIPINO
2. THE DEFENSE OF
WOMEN AND THEM AS A
PRIVATE JUDGEMENT
MOTHER
- “di dapat naman tayong umasa sa sarili This is deeply concerned about the
lamang; kundi magtanong, making sa iba, well-being of Filipino children and the
at saka Gawain ang inaakalang lalong households they are in, which they are
matuid” raised. Filipino women are reowned for
being obedient, compassionante, and
caring, Filipino mother taught their
children about the obligations and
responsibilities of a wife to her
husband.
 SUMMARY

4. FILIPINO WOMEN AS A 6. A CHOICE OF A

WIVES
Aid their husband refrain causing their
husband to worry – and sweetened
husband’s of affiction. In this passage
of his letter, Rizal describes the ideal
role of a Filipino wife in preserving
racial identity.
5. FAITH IN GOD
Faith is not merely reciting prayers and
wearing religious pictures- living with good
morlas and manners.
LIFETIME PARTNER
Look for a man that is noble and
honored name a manly heart and a
high spirit with incapable of being
satisfied with engendering slaves, look
for a women with a firm character and
smart, rather than physical.
Rizal ended his letter with seven important points to remember;
 First of all. That the tyranny of some is possible only through cowardice and negligence on the part of others.

 Second. What makes one contemptible is lack of dignity and object fear of him who holds one in contempt. ( Ang
mga inalipusta ay walang kompiyansa sa sarili dahil kulang sa pagmamahal sa sarili at masiyadong na expose sa
pang-aalipusta

 Third. Ignorance is servitude, because as a man thinks, so he is; a man who does not think for himself and
allowed himself to be guided by thought of another is like the beast led by halter. ( Tayo ay mangmang kung kaya’t
nag papaalipin at sunod-sunoran sa mga priale kahit mali ay pinaniniwalaang tama).

 Fourth. He who does his independence must first aid his fellowman, because he who refuses protection to others
will find himself without it. ( Tumulong sa kapwa dahil mas malakas kung nagkakaisa).

 Fifth. If the Filipina will not change her mode of being, let her rear no more children, let her merely give birth to
them. She must cease to the mistress of the home, otherwise she will unconsciously betray his husband, child,
native land and all. ( Kung ang kamang-mangan ng isang Filipina ay hindi mag babago mabuting paalisin sa
tungkulin ng tahanan dahil maipapasa ito sa anak at asawa)
 Sixth. All men are born equal, naked, without bonds. God did not create man to be slave; nor did he endow him
with intelligence to have him hoodwinked, or adorn with reason to have him deceived by others. ( Tayo ay binigyan
ng kalayaang pumili kung ano ang gawin o hindi, kung magpapaalipin ba o hindi.

 Seventh. Consider well what kind of religion they are teaching you. See whether it is the will of God or according
to the teachings of Christ that the poor be succored and those who suffer alleviated. ( Alamin ng mabuti ang mga
itinuturong relihiyon ng mga priale at ikumpara sa totoong turo ng Diyos.
 Letter to the young women of Malolos is the important document by Jose
Rizal the national hero of the Philippines during the late 19 th century.
Although it was written over a hundred years ago the letter still holds
relevance in the context of contemporary issues in the Philippines.
 “ TO THE WOMEN OF MALOLOS” centered around five salient points (Zaide& Zaide, 1999)

1. Filipino mothers should teach their children love of God, country and fellowmen.
2. Filipino mothers should be glad and honored, like Spartan mothers, to offer their sons in
defense of their country .
3. Filipino women should know how to protect their dignity and honor.
4. Filipino women should educate themselves aside from retaining their good racial values.
5. Faith is not merely reciting prayers and wearing religious pictures. It is living the real
Chiristian way with good morals and manners.
 CONCLUSION
 Jose Rizal greatly praised the bravery of the young women of Malolos. In his
portion of his letter, it was written that he desire to have an opportunity to
educate equally both men and women.

“ sa kadalahang punlaan na namumuga’y dapat mag-ipon ng yamang

maipapamana sa lalaking anak” Rizal said, that a woman should raise a child with
love that is to serve its people and not the “dios-diosan” who only taught woman
with their ways “mag dasal at lumuhod ng matagal, humalik sa kamay ng pari,
ubusin ang salapi sa simbahan”. And so Rizal addresses says the ignorance of
the Filipino people which he advised the young women of Malolos that “ Ang
kamangmanga’y kaalipinan sapagka’t kung ano ang isip ay ganoon ang tao”.
Emphasizing his words also the 6 th line “ Kung ang babai’y tagalog ay di
magbabago, ay hindi dapat magpalaki ng ana, kungdi gawing pasibulan
lamang; Dapat alisin sa kanya ang kapangyarihan sa bahay, sapagka’t kung
dili’y pag kakunulong walang malay, asawa, anak, bayan at lahat” speaks that
women should raise a child with intellect which wil be greatly affect the
society.
THANK YOU!