PROJECT

IN
LIFE AND WORKS OF RIZAL

Submitted to: Sir Micahel C. Chicote

Submitted by: Esmeralda Amor D. Villa
1BSAIS-ABM

1. Describe the 19th Century Philippine as represented in the

film.
The film follows an innocent countryman through his leap of faith to become a
member of an imagined community. It is set at the turn of the 19th century and explores
the adventures and calamities of a simple, provincial young man named ‘Kulas’/Nicolas
Ocampo (Christopher de Leon) with the struggle for Philippine independence as a
backdrop to his story. Kulas is unintentionally sent to look for the bastard son of a
Spanish friar. Deciding to try his luck in the city, Kulas arrives in Manila at the time of the
Philippine Revolution against Spain. ‘Diding’/Matilde Diaz Patron (Gloria Diaz) attracts
Kulas and he falls in love. Kulas best friends a Chinese agent. As Kulas matures, he want
to find the meaning of being Filipino by seeking and determining his true nationality.

Kulas and his journey, of course, represent the birthing of a nationalist

consciousness. There is Trining, played by Gloria Diaz, who was a persona we would
describe as a social climber these days. Don Tibor as a greedy member of the principal
class ready to do the bidding for his Spanish and then American colonial masters for his
own gain. In his journey took a turn when he met the revolutionary Onofre "Kidlat"
Baltao in prison. Through the character of Kidlat, he learned that people of his kind were
being persecuted because of their desire for independence even against the new
American colonial master. These revolutionaries referred to themselves as Filipinos. The
film brighten up the element for the birth of the identity of the Filipinos; “struggle”.
Kulas’ fortunes and misfortunes cover social issues that were experienced during the
Spanish rule. The said movie emphasized the long-lived hardships of the Filipinos to
achieve independence from the Spaniards. The character of Kulas represented an
invisible observer of the conflicts between the Spanish and the Filipino revolutionaries.
He seemed to portray a passive side to the changes that were happening within his
society. As a matter of fact, after being charged with wealth and considerable
knowledge about his society, with the help of the foreign best, he still did nothing. He
knew the perspective of both sides yet he still was indifferent and unconcerned. This
was because Kulas walked between the line of the pleasures of wealth and the reality of
nationalism. In the end, he realized that he needed to overcome these imaginative
temptations and that love for his own country should have been his primary principle.
He also realized that ignorance would not save his country or his loved ones. These
series of events created elements of doubt, hope, and love that furthermore enhanced
the plot as the story progressed.

In this film shows the struggle of the Filipino people to define and brand
themselves as Filipinos. As you can see at the movie, it shows that Kulas didn’t know
what a Filipino is; he doesn’t know any reason why he is referred as one. This is because
in the old days, the natives are first distinguished and identified by the regions where
they lived, or the islands they were from, and since the Philippines is an archipelago, a
fragmented national identity was exercised among the citizens. This in turn let each
minority define themselves through a reduced perspective and not calling themselves
Filipinos as a race, and as a part of the same nation. For Diding character, it showed a
dark side of the Filipino identity, which was inactive towards nationalism and being
slaves of change and influence. The next character is Bindoy, he showed the identity of
Filipinos; resistance to change and loving one’s own origin. There were also a scenario
that showed how some Filipino revolutionaries before were living side-by-side with the
enemy with a concealed truth of pursuing independence through means of violence.
Next is Leoner, her character detailed portrayed how Filipinos before were too
indifferent about the state of their society, and the observer-like identity of the public
when it comes to abuse and corruption of the government. Her character is very
essential to the film and to the society for it showed a side of the Filipino identity that
emphasized the silent gestures of the Filipinos when it comes to talking about their
tracking of independence. Kulas, in the end, realizes that a Filipino is someone who
loves or will love the then newly created Filipino nation. It is not enough to be born in
the country in order to be called a Filipino. One should also love his country through
actions. Kulas approaches a group of orphans and reminds them to call themselves
Filipinos.

2. What is your own reflection on the film based on your

understanding?

Based on my own understanding, this film really asks “what is the true Filipino?
Or what is a Filipino?” and what we are as a nation, what our national identity is. As you
can see it already discussed about the movie, for me the adventures of Kulas; the main
character of the movie, confronts those questions every step of the way and each time.
He leads us on issues of identity and race. In the part of the movie there has a scene
that Kulas asks his mentor, Tibor. He asked “Am I a Filipino?” his mentor reply was “Not
yet, but you could be one someday.” For Tibor, the label of being a “Filipino” must be
really earned through education and achievement. This young man finds a worthy cause
to live for, as you can see at the movie he was so disgusted at so-called Filipinos joining
with the enemies, the Spaniard and the Americans. For us, the viewers will have the
same feeling with Kulas, because it is not good idea to saw that there were Filipinos that
collaborating with our enemies. I can see him as Jose Rizal, who was heartbroken; that
abandoned his love for a woman and gave it to his country. This film was so great. The
characters are real and full of surprises. At the end part of the movie, it gives me a
heartwarming moral lesson when Kulas was able to define and call himself as a Filipino.
This was born out of a painful choice, but one he decided for himself and stood by until
the end. We, the viewers will reach the same conclusion as Kulas did at the end of the
film: Being Filipinos doesn’t only mean the physical ties we have with the land, or with
tradition, or even with our family. It means recognizing ourselves as the protector of this
land, and protector of our fellow men. It is being able to fight a grand cause, fight for
what is good and right for our country, and preserve the dignity and freedom our heroes
have fought for.

PROJECT
IN
UNDERSTANDING
THE SELF

Submitted to: Professor Nanette C. Tamayo

Submitted by: Esmeralda Amor D. Villa
1BSAIS-ABM