Filipino Drama and Novel during the Propaganda Movement

Introduction

Spanish colonization of the Philippines began in 1565 but it was not until the late
19th century that significant writing in Spanish by Filipino emerged. A key reason for
the late development is that while printing was introduced in 1593 (with the first book
printed in the Philippines, Doctrina Cristiana), the conditions for a “culture of literacy” –
particularly, the rise of journalism and an educational system based on letters –
developed only in the 19th century. Between 1593 and 1800, only 541 books were
published in the Philippines. Before 1800, the only noteworthy Filipino writers in
Spanish were those who wrote religious literature, usually in collaboration with the
Spanish missionaries.

The production and circulation of literature were regulated by the colonial

government. Censorship was in force, restricting the entry into the colony of books like
those of Victor Hugo, Alexander Dumas, and Eugene Sue. Even Cervantes’ Don Quixote
was initially banned for depicting “immoral customs.” Yet, the force of social economic
changes created openings for the emergence of Filipino writing in Spanish.

An important vehicle was the nationalist “Propaganda Movement” carried out by

Filipinos in Europe and the Philippines. The generation of the Propaganda Movement
produced a major wave of literary activity. The most important figure is that of Jose
Rizal (1861-1896), who produced, among many other writings, Noli me Tangere(1887)
and El Filibusterismo (1891) which remain, to this day, the most important novels
written by a Filipino. Important writers of Rizal’s generation include Pedro Paterno
(1858-1911), Marcelo H. del Pilar (1850-1896), Graciano Lopez-Jaena (1856-1896), and
Mariano Ponce (1863-1918). The organ of the Propaganda Movement in Spain, La
Solidaridad (1889-1895), was the leading medium for 19th-century nationalist writings
in Spanish.

 The Propaganda Movement was a period of time when native Filipinos were

calling for reforms, lasting approximately from 1880 to 1886 with the most
activity between 1880 and 1895. It was organized by the Ilustrados.
 Ilustrados are the enlightened ones; Filipino educated class during the Spanish
colonial period in the late 19th century. They were the middle class who were
educated in Spain and exposed to Spanish liberal and European nationalist
ideals.
 The Propaganda movement was the vehicle used by Filipinos in their quest for
independence from Spain. The movement started off with subtle
 recommendations and activities. It was started by members of the Filipino
community who left the country for Europe to pursue their studies. The reason
they sought education abroad was because higher education in the Philippines
was limited and delivered in Spanish which was unpopular among the Filipinos.
 Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena are the leaders of
the said movement.

RISE OF PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT

 It began in 1872, when Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto
Zamora were executed at the Luneta.
 Work of promoting the welfare and happiness of the fatherland.
 Aggressively but peacefully, by means of writing and speeches, they crusaded for
reforms to rectify the evils of the Spanish colonial system.
 First Filipino nationalist movement, led by a Filipino elite
 In February 17, 1872, Fathers Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jocinto Zamora
(Gomburza), all Filipino priest, was executed by the Spanish colonizers
on charges of subversion. The charges against Fathers Gomez, Burgos and
Zamora was their alleged complicity in the uprising of workers at the Cavite
Naval Yard. The death of Gomburza awakened strong feelings of anger and
resentment among the Filipinos. They questioned Spanish authorities and
demanded reforms. 
 The martyrdom of the three priests apparently helped to inspire the organization
of the Propaganda Movement, which aimed to seek reforms and inform Spain of
the abuses of its colonial government. One of the primary platforms of the
movement was to get Spain to recognize the Philippines as a province and
recognize the rights of Filipinos.

GOALS OF THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT

1. Recognition of the Philippines as a province of Spain
2. Equal status for both Filipinos and Spaniards
3. Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes
4. Secularization of Philippine parishes.
5. Recognition of human right

La Solidaridad (Organ of the Propaganda Movement)

 In order to help achieve its goals, the Propaganda Movement put up its own
newspaper, called La Solidaridad. The Soli, as the reformists fondly called their
official organ, came out once every two weeks. The first issue saw print was
published on November 15, 1895.
  The Solidaridad’s first editor was Graciano Lopez Jaena. Marcelo H. del Pilar took
over in October 1889. Del Pilar managed the Soli until it stopped publication due
to lack of funds.

Why the Propaganda Movement Failed

 The propaganda movement did not succeed in its pursuit of reforms. The
colonial government did not agree to any of its demands. Spain itself was
undergoing a lot of internal problems all that time, which could explain why the
mother country failed to heed the Filipino’s petitions. The friars, on the other
hand, were at the height of their power and displayed even more arrogance in
flaunting their influence. They had neither the time nor the desire to listen to the
voice of the people.

Literature during the Propaganda Movement

Authors and their Works/ Contributions

Dr. Pedro A. Paterno – doctor of laws

 Ninay - is the first novel authored by a native Filipino. Originally written in the
Spanish language by Pedro Alejandro Paterno when he was twenty-three years.
Ninay marked the beginning of the awakening of national consciousness among
the Filipino intelligentsia. Being a "largely cultural" novel, the narrative provides a
"folkloristic tour" of the distinctive culture of the Philippines.
 Volume of melodious poems “Sampaguitas” (Madrid 1880)
 La Antigua Civilizacion Tagalog- historical book (Madrid 1887)

Gregorio Sancianco y Goson - a lawyer and early advocate of economic reforms in

the Philippines, which was then under Spanish rule. Sancianco is considered as the "first
Filipino economist
 El Progreso de Filipinas – about the colonial economy of the Philippines under
Spanish colonization. For Sancianco, the progress and development of the
Philippines is by strengthening their livelihood. This will happen if they have
enough harvest and sell to the market and free trade in exporting their products
to other countries.

Marcelo H. Del Pilar – lawyer and journalist, excelled as political pamphleteer

 Dasalan At Tucsohan –this work of Del Pilar is a reflection of intense cruelty and
greed of the Spanish Friars.

Ang Tanda ng Cara-i-Cruz

(Parody  ng “Sign of the Cross“)
Ang tanda nang cara-i-cruz ang ipangadya mo sa amin Panginoon naming Fraile sa
manga bangkay naming, sa ngalan nang Salapi at nang Maputing binte, at nang
Espiritung Bugaw. Siya naua.

 La Soberania Monacal en Filipinas (Friar Supremacy in the Philippines) was one

of the first pamphlets Marcelo H Del Pilar wrote in Spain.
 La Frailocracia

Graciano Lopez Jaena - a Filipino journalist, orator, reformist and national hero who
is well known for his newspaper, La Solidaridad
 Fray Botod – show how this priest maltreated the poor Filipinos
 He ridiculed the Spanish friars who became very fat for eating too much and
living in luxury at the expense of poor Filipinos, whom they abuse.
 In one of his articles published in La Solidaridad entitled “En Tinieblas” (In Utter
Darkness), he lambasted the biased Spanish writers for their absurdities.

Antonio Luna
 Impressiones – a collection of essays describing the customs of the Spaniards in
Madrid

Jose Maria Panganiban

 La Universidad de Filipinas: Plan de Estudios – a critical essay in La Solidaridad
which exposed the defects of the church-dominated education in the Philippines

Isabelo delos Reyes – folklorist and historian

 El Folk-Lore Filipino (1887)
 Historia de Ilocos

Mariano Ponce – biographer

 Celebres Filipinos

Dr. Jose Rizal – greatest writer of the Propaganda Movement

 Noli Me Tangere
 El Filibusterismo
 La Vision del Frey Rodriguez
 Por Telefono

Drama/ Plays during the Propaganda Movement

Quadros Filipinos (Philippines Scenes)

 • First staged on 1882 by the Compana Lirico Dramatica at the Teatro Filipino.
Written by a Spanish novelist and journalist, Francisco De P. Entrala who
arrived in Manila in 1837. This is the first locally written play having local
characters and settings in Spanish.

Recreational Plays

 Cenakulo - Dramatic performance of the passion and death of Christ.

 Zarzuela - Zarzuela, form of Spanish or Spanish-derived musical theatre in which
the dramatic action is carried through an alternating combination of song and
speech.
 Lagaylay - A special occasion for Pilarenos of Sorsogon during Maytime to get
together.
 Tibag - Dramatic performance for the purpose of manifesting devotion for the
Holy Cross.
 Panuluyan - Philippine Christmas dramatic ritual narrating the whole family’s
search for place to stay in Bethlehem for Jesus Christ’s birth through songs.
 Sainete - was a popular Spanish comic opera piece, a one-act dramatic vignette,
with music. It was often placed at the end of entertainments, or between other
types of performance.