Jessica I.

Recaido
3ABP6C
Activity no. 8 - Articles in La Solidaridad

Our National hero, Jose Rizal was known by his intellect, patriotism, artistry and creativity.

In the 19th century, voicing sentiments and addressing Spaniards injustices and oppressiveness will

lead an individual to crime of sedition and rebellion hence a group of propagandists established a

news column entitled “La Solidaridad” which was serve as the instrument in voicing reforms and

aspirations of their movement known as the Propaganda Movement. Rizal was one of the

proponent members of this group as he contributed numerous articles in the said news column and

three of his famous articles there were The Philippines: A Century Hence, On the Indolence of the

Filipinos and To the Young Women of Malolos. The purpose why Rizal wrote these articles as well

the message that Rizal wished to convey in each article will be discussed in the following

paragraphs.

First is “The Philippines a Century Hence.” It is an essay written by Rizal where

discusses the future prospect of the Filipino nation under Spanish rule which Influenced by

the French Revolution a century before him (Canonigo, 2015). In this essay, Rizal identified

the roots of the misery and social inequality induced by the Spanish colonial rule in the

Philippines: (1) Heavy-handed rule which cause the Filipino population has decreased

dramatically, (2) Death of Filipino indigenous culture which caused the Filipinos to lost its

cultural heritage and identity that eventually lead the Filipinos lose hope in the future and

the preservation of race and (3) Cultural cringe as the Spanish domination has made

Filipinos submissive thereby perpetuating a culture of silence (Rizal, 1889 as cited in

Canonigo, 2015). According to Rizal in the essay, Spaniards should not tolerate their
wrongdoings and oppressiveness because they cannot obstruct the Philippines to progress as

Rizal analyzed and presumed three consequences of Spaniards colonization: (1) Keeping the

people uneducated and ignorant had failed as the national consciousness had still awakened, and

great Filipino minds still emerged from the rubble, (2) Keeping the people impoverished also

came to no avail as the living a life of eternal destitution had allowed the Filipinos to act on the

desire for a change in their way of life and began to explore other horizons through which they

could move towards progress and (3) Exterminating the people as an alternative to hindering

progress did not work either as the Filipino race was able to survive amidst wars and famine, and

became even more numerous after such catastrophes. In this regard, Rizal’s purpose in writing

this essay is to warn the Spaniards and to stop them from exploiting Filipinos and to convey that

the Philippines will gain liberty someday.

Second is the “Indolence of the Filipino.” Ki (2020) affirmed that Rizal acknowledged that

indolence is present among the Indios, but detests that it is due to the backwardness of the

country. Rizal's aim was to show that this view was erroneous through recourse to both logic and

historical fact, facts which proved that pre-colonial Filipino society was relatively advanced,

suggesting that the presumed backwardness was due to colonialism (Alatas, 2011). Hence, Rizal

observed that the "miseries of a people without freedom should not be imputed to the people but

to their rulers" (Rizal, 1963 as Cited in Alatas, 2011). Furthermore, the essay conveyed that

Filipinos are not inherently indolent. As a matter of fact, the purpose of this article is to promote

nationalism as it highlights and acknowledge that Filipinos lack of unity and nationalistic values

were due to oppression and lack of opportunities (Ki, 2020).

Third is “To the Young Women of Malolos.” Honestly, it took me to read first the reason

why Rizal wrote the essay to fully understand it. Upon reading several articles about this essay, I
therefore found the motivation of Rizal in writing the letter was the group of young women in

Malolos. Due to Marcelo H. Del Pilar request, Rizal commended these young women who bravely

addressed petition for their desire of having an exclusive school for women as the women during

Spanish colonization were not able to have education because they were tied to the house and

confined exclusively to housekeeping and child rearing thus their reason for pushing this reform

and petition was to gain equality in men regarding education and to learn Spanish language because

it was the language of politics and society during that era (Palafox, 2012).. Additionally, Rizal

talked about the responsibilities of Filipino mothers to their children, qualities a mother possess

and advice to unmarried men and women. Moreover, Zaide (1997) posited that Rizal tackled seven

points in this essay which serves as the main purpose of the letter per se: (1) “the treachery of some

are the results of other’s cowardice and negligence.” Rizal’s first point urges that the reason why

there are people who choose to be coward and neglect the Spaniards oppressiveness was because

they saw other people doing it hence they imitate. Thus, Rizal in this point wanted us to not be

coward but to be patriot and brave so we can influence others for aiming change and justice, (2) “

Mother’s ridiculousness to her child were the causes of not having self-regard and fear to those

who abused her.” This point is related to the first point as Rizal insists in this point that mother

should have love for herself, should not be fearful to the Spaniards but to be fearless so her child

could mimic it also, (3) “Being ignorant is equivalent to being slave because what is in his mind

seems to be like him as a person; having no brain is having no personality; the blind who follows

others brain is just like an animal who tied by someone.” In this point, Rizal assert that we should

be hunger for knowledge and independence, that being blind follower is derision, (4) “If there’s

one who desires for concealment, he should help others so these others can help him too to be

concealed: each piece of besom is easy to shatter but a whole besom is not.” In this point, Rizal
contends the importance of allegiance and teamwork, (5) “If a Filipina cannot change, then she

should not raise a child but will serve as bearer only. She must not have authority in the house

because if she has, she will betray the innocent, husband, child, the nation and everything.” In this

point, Rizal wanted every Filipina desires for change as the Filipina during Spanish era was

submissive to the Friars and the government, (6) Human beings were born equal, naked and free.

God created people and gave the capacity to think and decide for himself, people were not created

to be slaves and blind followers.” Rizal purport in this point that we should not be contented being

slaves as the each of us born equal and free thus Spaniards should not enslave us hence should

give us the liberty that we are yearning, and lastly (7) Contemplate and examine the religion that

teaches to us, if the commandments were really from Christ teachings which core are faith, justice

and selflessness or from the Spaniards which core are greediness and selfishness. By this, Rizal

implies that we should be wise in choosing our religion and the teaching that we will receive. At

last, the message of the essay conveyed to contemplate and analyze the aforementioned points as

Rizal and Del Pilar believed that due to these essay of Rizal, every Filipina will be encouraged to

the Young women of Malolos who bravely ask for equality and education for them to be

enlightened and will effuse the patriotism of the Filipino compatriots.

Overall, after reading these superb articles of Rizal, I concluded that there are three

attributes of him that we should simulate: (1) Be a defender as what Rizal did in his essay, On

Indolence of the Filipino which he defended his countrymen from the wrong accusations of the

Spaniards. Like Rizal we should be the voice of those who are weak, vulnerable and oppressed,

(2) Be encourager as what Rizal portrayed in writing his essay, To the Young Women of Malolos

which he commend the bravery of the women and encouraged every Filipina and his compatriots

to not be hopeless but to be hopeful and (3) Be optimistic as what Rizal showed in writing The
Philippines: A Century Hence which he manifested boldness and even warned the Spaniards to

not exploit his countrymen because he believed that Spaniards will fail as the Philippines will gain

liberty someday and become more patriot, brave and firm for they suffered severely under Spanish

rule that will make them strong and more independent for the following centuries.

References:

• Alatas, S.F. (2011, March). On Eurocentrism and Laziness: The Thought of Jose Rizal.

https://www.globalasia.org/v6no1/book/on-eurocentrism-and-laziness-the-thought-of-

jose-rizal_syed-farid-alatas

• Canonigo, J.P. (2015, August 31). Jose Rizal's Future Forecast of a Philippines in 1990

(1890). https://futurelapse.blogspot.com/2015/08/jose-rizals-future-forecast-of.html?m=1

• Ki. (2020, June 10). The Indolence Of The Filipino – Does Rizal’s Essay Portray

Nationalism? https://philnews.ph/2020/06/10/the-indolence-of-the-filipino-does-rizals-

essay-portray-nationalism/

• Palafox, Q. (2012, September 4). Girl Power: The Women of Malolos.

https://nhcp.gov.ph/girl-power-the-women-of-malolos

• Zaide, G. & Zaide S. (1997). Jose Rizal: Buhay, Ginawa at mga Isinulat, ng Isang

Henyo, Manunulat, Siyentipiko at Pambansang Bayani. All- Nations Publishing Co.,

Lexicon Press.