Organis, Zenaida D.

BS ECE, Life and Works of Rizal and other Heroes, N4

Final Exam

1. TOWARDS RADICAL RIZAL

A. Reformist/Assimilationist vs. Revolutionist

A

critical

examination

of

Rizals

correspondence

(1887-1892)

provides incontrovertible evidence of a subversive Rizal. Unlike del

Pilar (for whom the root problem was not Spain, but the interference
of the friars), Rizal during his second sojourn in Europe, had
completely lost faith in the colonial government and had given up
hope on the campaign for reforms a far cry from the Rizal image
that both the American colonizers and Constantino have constructed
and propagated. Here is one critical issue and event that defined
Rizals politics in the anticolonial struggle.

The question of strategy and tactics - Reform or Revolution.

It should be emphasized that as early as 1887, even

before the Calamba incident, Rizal had expressed the
view that independence through peaceful struggle was
nothing but a dream and that seeking assimilation to
Spain was a mistake. Here is the letter he wrote to
Blumentritt.

o The Filipinos had long wished for Hispanization and they

were wrong in aspiring for it. It is spain and not the
Philippines who ought to wish for the assimilation of the
country (letter of 21 February 1887; emphasis mine).
o A peaceful struggle shall always be a dream, for Spain will
never learn the lesson of her South American colonies.
Spain cant learn what England and the United States have

Organis, Zenaida D. BS ECE, Life and Works of Rizal and other Heroes, N4
Final Exam

learned. But under the present circumstances, we do not

want separation from Spain. All that we ask is greater
attention, better education, better government (officials),
one or two representatives (in parliament), and greater
security for persons and our properties. Spain could always
win

the

appreciation

of

Filipinos

if

she

were

only

reasonable. But, quos vult perdere Jupiter; prius dementat!

(letter of 26 January 1887; Rizal-Blumentritt, 44; emphasis
mine).

the very important latin line from the letter of 26

January 1887, which means quos vult perdere
Jupiter; prius dementat (whom Jupiter would destroy,
he first makes mad) was omitted by Constantino and
Roland, which emphasizes Rizals misgivings about
Spain coming to a reasonable settlement with the
Filipino reformists, would be madness because it will
lead to an unintended consequence: revolution.

Austin Coates (1968) perceives in the latin quotation

of Rizals pseudonym, Laong-laan almost fatalistic
attitude. If the government was going to happen, it
was going to happen; one must therefore be
prepared for any eventuality.

Rizal and his separatist faction (which included among others,

Antonio Luna, Edilberto Evangelista, Galicano Apacible, Jose
Alejandrino) had considered the peaceful campaign for reforms
as one tactic within abroad, long-term strategy of separatism.

In rizals circle, there was no question about the ultimate

goal independence. What needed to be worked out was
the method of achieving nationhood.

Organis, Zenaida D. BS ECE, Life and Works of Rizal and other Heroes, N4
Final Exam

Rizal had come to realize that the root problem was

Spanish colonialism itself. The only reason Filipinos went to
Europe was to acquire knowledge that was not available in
the

Philippines

because

of

friar

obscurantism

and

government repression.

However, three major events that occurred after the Nolis

publication precipitated Rizals turn to a more radical
politics. The most crucial of these was the Calamba
Hacienda case. Other incident, a demonstration that was
suppressed as soon as it started.

The manifestation of 1888, the waves of arrests in 1888

and 1889, and the Calamba hacienda case confirmed
Rizals worst fears that relying on the Spanish government
and campaigning for assimilation were a mistake.

Quibuyen, F. (2008). A nation aborted: Rizal, American

hegemony, and Philippine nationalism (Rev. 2nd ed., pp. 17-22).
Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.

B. Historian vs. Revisionist/Counter Historian

From the book, Philippine Studies, it describe the difference
between Historian and the Revisionist. Rizal had used Morgas book
since Antonio de Morga was the first to right and publish a
Philippine History. These comprises of annotation of Rizal in Morgas
book and his point of view about the history of the Philippines. The
narrative of the Philippine Islands and their natives, their antiquity,
customs

and

Government,

both

during

their

gentility

(non-

conversion) and after the Spaniards had conquered the Philippines

and other peculiarities.

Organis, Zenaida D. BS ECE, Life and Works of Rizal and other Heroes, N4
Final Exam

Rizals sarcastic rebuttal appears, surprisingly, not his satirical

novels or his polemical tracts, but in a scholarly work his
annotated reedition of Morgas Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas. Aside
from the racial slurs to which he was reacting, however, Rizal
maintained mixed feelings for the Morga, depending on its
usefulness for his thesis that Spanish colonization retarded, rather
than brought civilization to, the Philippines and its inhabitants.
The Rizals annotations are largely disregarded to day stems
basically from the recent advances in historical, archeological and
ethnographic research. Although of Rizals assertions have been
validated by recent research, the fact is that his work is now dated.
Moreover Rizals annotations are secondary, and todays scholars
concentrate more on the primary source, Morga, than on Rizals
notes.
Another factor in the relative obscurity of Rizals annotations to
Morga was censorship during the Spanish colonial period. Like Noli
me tangere and El Filibusterismo, the Rizal edition of Morga was
banned in the Philippines in the late nineteenth century. Therefore
copies confiscated by Spanish customs in Manila and other ports of
entry were destroyed.
An Indio Viewpoint
In the outline Rizals linear conception of history, and how he
uses the arrival of Spain as the turning point is clear. It is the break
in Philippine history that stunted the pre-Hispanic Philippine
civilization. Colonization, according to Rizals view of history, led to
the loss of both Philippine autonomy and its distinct character.
Rizals survey and study of the Philippine past showed that all
the chronicles on his country and people were written by Spaniards,
and thus reflected their biases. Unlike neighboring countries, Java,

Organis, Zenaida D. BS ECE, Life and Works of Rizal and other Heroes, N4
Final Exam

Burma or Vietnam, which had an abundance of ancient, pre-colonial,

written

texts,

the

Philippines

had

nothing

but

the

Spanish

chronicles. Further complicating the matter was the fact that Rizal
attempted to write on the pre-Hispanic Philippines before the arrival
of archaeology, and was thus left with no choice but to use Spanish
written sources. In the course of his research, he constantly had to
decide which sources to use for his history of the Philippines, but his
patriotism largely determined his choice.
Reading through these works, Rizal was continually irritated by
the raciest viewpoints of Spanish historians, who often highlighted
the primitive or uncivilized nature of the indios, vis--vis the
civilized Spaniards, whi brought both the Roman Catholic faith and
Hispanization to the Archipelago. Consequently, Rizal gave himself
the difficult task of rebutting the biased chronicles, and in so doing
brought into existence an indio viewpoint on the history of the
Philippines.
More
Philippine

important,
past,

Rizals

which

he

Morga
wanted

recreated
to

the

present

pre-Hispanic
his

sleeping

countrymen in order to awaken in them a sense of pride in their

race.
Ocampo, A. (1998). Rizals Morga and Views of Philippine History. In
Philippine Studies (Vol. 46, p. 184214). Ateneo de Manila University.
Austin Craig, (1929).Rizal's Life and Minor Writings, pp 310-331, Translations
were made by Mr. Chas. E. Derbyshire for the author.
Morga, A., & Rizal, J. (1962). Historical events of the Philippine Islands:
Published in Mexico in 1609 (Centennial ed.). Manila: Jose Rizal National
Centennial Commission.

2. JOSE RIZAL and NATIONALISM

Organis, Zenaida D. BS ECE, Life and Works of Rizal and other Heroes, N4
Final Exam

One kabatana of Noli Me Tangere that is related with the

contemporary issue in the Philippines is about Crispin being accused of
stealing two gold pieces by the senior sacristan. Crispins innocence
have been wrongly accused of the crime he did not commit. The
injustice he suffered under the hands of authorities during their time
were silenced by cover-ups and deaths. Just like today. There are
injustices that still exist. This condition is not new. One example of it
are those who belongs to low class society. Those who cannot afford to
pay lawyers to protect themselves from social injustices.
Another Kabanata that is related to the contemporary issue in
the Philippines is the Kabanata 38 of El filibusterismo. Filipino farmers
mistreated by the sadistic Filipino guardia civil. The issue here is that
Filipino farmers walk hatless and barefoot under the glare of the
noonday sun during the blistering summer month of May. And many of
them falls due to fatigue and hunger. Filipino guards are crueler than
their Spanish counterparts. Just like today. Farmers are still suffering by
mistreat of the Rich and Greedy Filipino Hacienderos who are only
concerned with their wealth and their own good.
(2015).Viloria, M. (Ed.). (n.d.). El Filibusterismo Chapter Summaries.
Retrieved October 14, 2015, from
http://buod.elfilibusterismo.com/2011/08/el-fili-chapter-38-twist-offate.html

3. JOSE RIZAL and SOCIAL MEMORY

1. Rizal was known for being the first Filipino Hero. I watched a video
on youtube entitled Nasa puso natin si Rizal. It was an interview
about Jose Rizal. People in the community were being interviewed

Organis, Zenaida D. BS ECE, Life and Works of Rizal and other Heroes, N4
Final Exam

about Rizals complete name, his family members name, the place
where he was exiled, the date of his death and where he was exiled
and the like. People nowadays can only recall that Jose Rizal was our
national hero. None of the people who were interviewed got the
correct answer. People nowadays are forgetful of the History of the
Philippines. Maybe few can recall. Even high school students do not
know who is Crisostomo Ibarra and Simoun. He may not be known
for his biography but he is still the National Hero of the Philippines.
T. (2013, June 26). WOTL: Nasa puso natin si Rizal [youtube].

2. We all know of heroes as warriors that bashes swords, marksman

that hits the target with his gun or a guy with some special powers.
But Rizal was a hero not through a swordplay battle, duel or fancy
powers rather a man that had his revolutionary ideas aimed to
educate

and

make

common

people

change

to

make

"his

countrymen" aware of their rights and own power. He proved that in

order to be a hero, a battle is better fought in the mind and hearts.
For the people and with all of people. My perception of a hero and of
Jose Rizal was changed from a simple comic fight plot to a noble
biography of dedicating life, talent and blank to your beloved
country and countrymen Blank change to excellence.
(2015).Relleve, E. Rizal Until Today. Retrieved October 14, 2015.