Rizal’s Three Selected Essays:

“ The Philippines: A Century Hence”

“The Indolence of the Filipinos”
“To The Young Women Of Malolos”
Summary & Analysis
 The Philippines a Century Hence: Summary and Analysis
“The Philippines a Century Hence” is an essay written by Philippine national
hero Jose Rizal to forecast the future of the country within a hundred years.
Rizal felt that it was time to remind Spain that the circumstances that ushered
in the French Revolution could have a telling effect for her in the Philippines.
This essay, published in La Solidaridad starts by analyzing the various causes
of the miseries suffered by the Filipino people:
1. Spain’s implementation of her military policies – because of such laws, the
Philippine population decreased dramatically. Poverty became more
rampant than ever, and farmlands were left to wither. The family as a unit
of society was neglected, and overall, every aspect of the life of the
Filipino was retarded.
2. Deterioration and disappearance of Filipino indigenous culture – when
Spain came with the sword and the cross, it began the gradual destruction
of the native Philippine culture. Because of this, the Filipinos started losing
confidence in their past and their heritage, became doubtful of their
present lifestyle, and eventually lost hope in the future and the preservation
of their race.
3. Passivity and submissiveness to the Spanish colonizers – one of the most
powerful forces that influenced a culture of silence among the natives were the
Spanish friars. Because of the use of force, the Filipinos learned to submit
themselves to the will of the foreigners.
 The question then arises as to what had awakened the hearts and opened
the minds of the Filipino people with regards to their plight? Eventually, the
natives realized that such oppression in their society by foreign colonizers
must no longer be tolerated.
 One question Rizal raises in this essay is whether or not Spain can indeed
prevent the progress of the Philippines:
➢ Keeping the people uneducated and ignorant had failed. National
consciousness had still awakened, and great Filipino minds still emerged
from the rubble.
➢ Keeping the people impoverished also came to no avail. On the contrary,
living a life of eternal destitution had allowed the Filipinos to act on the
desire for a change in their way of life. They began to explore other
horizons through which they could move towards progress.
➢ Exterminating the people as an alternative to hindering progress did not
work either. The Filipino race was able to survive amidst wars and famine,
and became even more numerous after such catastrophes. To wipe out the
nation altogether would require the sacrifice of thousands of Spanish
soldiers, and this is something Spain would not allow.
 Spain, therefore, had no means to stop the progress of the country. What
she needs to do is to change her colonial policies so that they are in
keeping with the needs of the Philippine society and to the rising
nationalism of the people.
 What Rizal had envisioned in his essay came true. In 1898, the Americans
wrestled with Spain to win the Philippines, and eventually took over the
country. Theirs was a reign of democracy and liberty. Five decades after
Rizal’s death, the Philippines gained her long-awaited independence. This
was in fulfillment of what he had written in his essay: “History does not record
in its annals any lasting domination by one people over another, of different
races, of diverse usages and customs, of opposite and divergent ideas. One
of the two had to yield and succumb.”
 The Indolence of the Filipinos: Summary and Analysis
La Indolencia de los Filipinos, more popularly known in its English version, "The
Indolence of the Filipinos," is a exploratory essay written by Philippine national
hero Dr. Jose Rizal, to explain the alleged idleness of his people during the
Spanish colonization.
 SUMMARY
The Indolence of the Filipinos is a study of the causes why the people did
not, as was said, work hard during the Spanish regime. Rizal pointed out that
long before the coming of the Spaniards, the Filipinos were industrious and
hardworking. The Spanish reign brought about a decline in economic activities
because of certain causes:
❖ 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.
❖ Sixth, gambling was established and widely propagated during those times.
Almost every day there were cockfights, and during feast days, the
government officials and friars were the first to engage in all sorts of bets and
gambles.
❖ Seventh, there was a crooked system of religion. The friars taught the naïve
Filipinos that it was easier for a poor man to enter heaven, and so they
preferred not to work and remain poor so that they could easily enter heaven
after they died.
❖ Lastly, the taxes were extremely high, so much so that a huge portion of
what they earned went to the government or to the friars. When the object of
their labor was removed and they were exploited, they were reduced to
inaction.
 Rizal admitted that the Filipinos did not work so hard because they were wise
enough to adjust themselves to the warm, tropical climate. “An hour’s work
under that burning sun, in the midst of pernicious influences springing from
nature in activity, is equal to a day’s labor in a temperate climate.”
 ANALYSIS
 It is important to note that indolence in the Philippines is a chronic malady,
but not a hereditary one. Truth is, before the Spaniards arrived on these
lands, the natives were industriously conducting business with China, Japan,
Arabia, Malaysia, and other countries in the Middle East. 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 we 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 merely 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.
 It is not only the Philippines, but also other countries, that may be called
indolent, depending on the criteria upon which such a label is based. Man
cannot work without resting, and if in doing so he is considered lazy, they we
could say that all men are indolent. One cannot blame a country that was
deprived of its dignity, to have lost its will to continue building its foundation
upon the backs of its people, especially when the fruits of their labor do not
so much as reach their lips. When we spend our entire lives worshipping
such a cruel and inhumane society, forced upon us by aliens who do not
even know our motherland, we are destined to tire after a while. We are not
fool, we are not puppets who simply do as we are commanded – we are
human beings, who are motivated by our will towards the accomplishment
of our objectives, and who strive for the preservation of our race. When this
fundamental aspect of our existence is denied of us, who can blame us if we
turn idle?
 To the Young Women of Malolos:
 Jose Rizal’s legacy to Filipino women is embodied in his famous essay entitled,
“To the Young Women of Malolos,” where he addresses all kinds of women –
mothers, wives, the unmarried, etc. and expresses everything that he wishes
them to keep in mind.
 SUMMARY
“To the Women of Malolos” was originally written in Tagalog. Rizal penned this
writing when he was in London, in response to the request of Marcelo H. del Pilar.
The salient points contained in this letter are as follows:
❑ The rejection of the spiritual authority of the friars – not all of the priests in the
country that time embodied the true spirit of Christ and His Church. Most of them
were corrupted by worldly desires and used worldly methods to effect change
and force discipline among the people.
❑ The defense of private judgment
❑ Qualities Filipino mothers need to possess – as evidenced by this portion of his
letter, Rizal is greatly concerned of the welfare of the Filipino children and the
homes they grow up in.
❑ Duties and responsibilities of Filipino mothers to their children
❑ Duties and responsibilities of a wife to her husband – Filipino women are known to
be submissive, tender, and loving. Rizal states in this portion of his letter how
Filipino women ought to be as wives, in order to preserve the identity of the race.
❑ Counsel to young women on their choice of a lifetime partner
 RIZAL’S MESSAGE TO FILIPINO WOMEN
❖ Jose Rizal was greatly impressed by the fighting spirit that the young women
of Malolos had shown. In his letter, he expresses great joy and satisfaction
over the battle they had fought. In this portion of Rizal’s letter, it is obvious that
his ultimate desire was for women to be offered the same opportunities as
those received by men in terms of education. During those days young girls
were not sent to school because of the universal notion that they would soon
only be taken as wives and stay at home with the children. Rizal, however,
emphasizes on freedom of thought and the right to education, which must be
granted to both boys and girls alike.
 THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF FILIPINO MOTHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN
❖ Rizal stipulates a number of important points in this portion of his letter to the
young women of Malolos. The central idea here, however, is that whatever a
mother shows to her children is what the children will become also. If the
mother is always kissing the hand of the friars in submission, then her children
will grow up to be sycophants and mindless fools who do nothing but do as
they are told, even if the very nature of the task would violate their rights as
individuals.
 QUALITIES MOTHERS HAVE TO POSSESS
 Rizal enumerates the qualities Filipino mothers have to possess:
▪ Be a noble wife.
▪ Rear her children in the service of the state – here Rizal gives reference to
the women of Sparta who embody this quality
▪ Set standards of behavior for men around her.
RIZAL’S ADVICE TO UNMARRIED MEN AND WOMEN
 Jose Rizal points out to unmarried women that they should not be easily
taken by appearances and looks, because these can be very deceiving.
Instead, they should take heed of men’s firmness of character and lofty
ideas. Rizal further adds that there are three things that a young woman
must look for a man she intends to be her husband:
o A noble and honored name
o A manly heart
o A high spirit incapable of being satisfied with engendering slaves.
 In recent times, it seems that these qualities are gradually lost in the way
Filipino women conduct themselves. There are oftentimes moments where
mothers forget their roles in rearing their children because of the overriding
idea of having to earn for the family to supplement their husband’s income.
Although there is nothing negative about working hard for the welfare of the
family, there must always be balance in the way people go through life.
Failure in the home cannot be compensated for by any amount of wealth or
fame.
My Takeaways: During the colonization of the Spaniards, women were not
allowed to have an education. Their duty was to simply to serve the men and to
take care of the house. When I found out the bravery of the women in Malolos to
establish a school, it made me feel proud to be a Filipina myself. They defied the
norm of women during those times. Rizal's letter gave high praises for their deed
and showed his beliefs on the duties of women.
Rizal's vision that of women are given rights to education became a reality. We
are not anymore held back as merely servants but instead reach our full
potential. We must not take granted of this right because our ancestors worked
hard to achieve it. We must not complain of the works we receive from school,
but instead we must be thankfully of the opportunity that was given to us. We
must not waste this opportunity. Let us seize this opportunity to prove our worth to
the world.