Read Chapter 8 of Antonio de Morga’s “Events of the Philippines Islands” with the Rizal annotation. Then take one section of Chapter 8 which talks about precolonial cultures and IN YOUR OWN WORDS, discuss its significance and use to our present-day ideas of culture, history, and identify. Jose Rizal’s annotation of Antonio Morga’s “Historical Events of the Philippine’s Islands”. “Rizal had a burning desire to know exactly the conditions of the Philippines when the Spaniards came ashore to the islands.
His theory was the country was economically self-sufficient and prosperous. Rizal entertained the idea that it had a lively and vigorous community enriched with the collective and sensitive art and culture of the native population. He believed the conquest of the Spaniards contributed in part to the decline of the Philippine’s rich tradition and culture. In order to support this argument, he had to find out a credible account of the Philippines before and at the initial Spanish encounter. ”
Because of the Spanish colonization in the Philippines, the Philippine’s culture and tradition were not in the top during the Spanish time because the Filipinos had to follow and respect the Spaniards. Rizal did something to know the condition of the Philippines when the Spaniards came to know the Islands and wants to own them and rule the Philippines tradition and culture. Because Filipinos were under the colonization of the Spaniards they have to follow them and for past few years all Filipinos should be influence for what they have thought and we should know that most of Filipinos have now are from the teachings of the Spaniards.
In present Filipinos study the Philippine History since grade school until college so all students are aware of the Spanish colonization in the Philippines. A lot of Filipinos said that they were half Spanish and it’s true, there were Spanish words that Filipinos use in their daily language that they also influenced it with the Spaniards and most about traditions and religions so it’s really important to learn the history of the Philippines.
In his essay “The Indolence of the Filipino”, Rizal cited at least ten (10) reasons why the Filipinos became indolent. Choose five (5) if of these reasons and discuss fully how Rizal linked it to the lives of the Filipinos of Spanish colonial society. First, the establishment of the Galleon Trade cut off all previous associations of the Philippines with other countries in Asia and the Middle East. As a result, business was only conducted with Spain through Mexico. Because of this, the small businesses and handicraft industries that flourished during the pre-Spanish period gradually disappeared.
Second, Spain also extinguished the natives’ love of work because of the implementation of forced labor. Because of the wars between Spain and other countries in Europe as well as the Muslims in Mindanao, the Filipinos were compelled to work in shipyards, roads, and other public works, abandoning agriculture, industry, and commerce. Third, Spain did not protect the people against foreign invaders and pirates. With no arms to defend themselves, the natives were killed, their houses burned, and their lands destroyed.
As a result of this, the Filipinos were forced to become nomads, lost interest in cultivating their lands or in rebuilding the industries that were shut down, and simply became submissive to the mercy of God. Fourth, there was a crooked system of education, if it was to be considered an education. What was being taught in the schools were repetitive prayers and other things that could not be used by the students to lead the country to progress. There were no courses in Agriculture, Industry, etc. which were badly needed by the Philippines during those times. Fifth, the Spanish rulers were a bad example to despise manual labor.
The officials reported to work at noon and left early, all the while doing nothing in line with their duties. The women were seen constantly followed by servants who dressed them and fanned them – personal things which they ought to have done for themselves. The reasons for this said indolence were clearly stated in the essay, and were not based only on presumptions, but were grounded on fact taken from history.
Another thing that Filipinos might add that had caused this indolence, is the lack of unity among the Filipino people. In the absence of unity and oneness, the people did not have the power to fight the hostile attacks of the government and of the other forces of society. There would also be no voice, no leader, to sow progress and to cultivate it, so that it may be reaped in due time. In such a condition, the Philippines remained a country that was lifeless, dead, simply existing and not living. As Rizal stated in conclusion, “a man in the Philippines is an individual; he is not erely a citizen of a country. ”
It can clearly be deduced from the writing that the cause of the indolence attributed to our race is Spain: When the Filipinos wanted to study and learn, there were no schools, and if there were any, they lacked sufficient resources and did not present more useful knowledge; when the Filipinos wanted to establish their businesses, there wasn’t enough capital nor protection from the government; when the Filipinos tried to cultivate their lands and establish various industries, they were made to pay enormous taxes and were exploited by the foreign rulers.
Discuss the common bases of Rizal’s works as a Revolutionary and how he used these bases to explain the ideas of his writings. Rizal denied the existence of the 1896 Revolution because he didn’t want his conscience to be marred by the blood of his countrymen who will inevitably suffer because of their unpreparedness for a full-scale revolution. Moreover, he believed that this will not make the Philippines a better country.
The Philippine Revolution freed the Filipinos from the hands of the Spaniards. Although Rizal had revolutionary ideas, he was not for armed revolution per se. He was more for the gradual and peaceful one. One that is catalyzed by the education of the people. He reasoned out that when subject people are educated, intelligent, and have become aware of their human rights, they would have self-determination and they would strive to be free from their mother country.
When this revolution happens, drastic changes will occur in the political, economical, social, religious, and intelligence sphere of a society paving the way for its independence someday. Even though Rizal did not actually support the revolution, he we can say that he also contributed in this revolution. His works and writings were the corner stone of the revolution and he was indeed an inspiration for the Katipuneros during those times. Rizal’s life was devoted to his country (Philippines). His works and writings were evidence for his noble act as a reformist.
