Le Compte, Marc Juris J.

Reflection Paper

MW 9:00AM-10:30AM Ms. Lopez

Antonio Morga’s Sucesos De Las Islas Filipinas

Among the goals of Rizal in writing the Annotation of Antonio Morgas Sucesos de las
Islas Filipinas is to provide its readers with rich annotative footnotes concerning Philippine
culture and society, coupled with complete scholarly referenced resources and full citations. At
his own expense, he had the work of Antonio de Morga republished with annotations that
showed the Philippines was an advanced civilization prior to the Spanish.

“If the book (Sucesos de la Islas Filipinas) succeeds to awaken your consciousness of
our past, already effaced from your memory, and to rectify what has been falsified and
slandered, then I have not worked in vain, and with this as a basis, however small it may be, we
shall be able to study the future.” Rizal wrote as to what is the purpose in working on Morga’s
book.

With Morgas historical accounts as primary source, Rizal started writing his Annotation
that began in London, England and completing the book in Paris, France, to constitute a
valuable contribution to our history and culture. There was strong motive in annotating why he
wanted to correct the wrong impressions of most Spanish writers and historians.

As to the differences from the accounts of Morga’s and Rizal’s, there were contrast
pertaining Roman Catholicism. As to Morga, Roman Catholic which by fire and sword he
would preserve in its purity in the Philippines. Nevertheless in other lands, notably in Flanders,
these means were ineffective to keep the church unchanged, or to maintain its supremacy, or
even to hold its subjects.

In my honest opinion, I thought of the original work Morga was biased. Evident upon
his writing is the lack of research and the carelessness of his references. I did not expect a high
calibre of output from a foreigner as to someone who came from his/her own motherland and
attained the same education as the European like Rizal did.

I completely agree with Rizal’s annotation of the Sucesos with Morga’s dedication. As
the context does portray the discovery of the Philippines, and what Morga’s meaning of the
conversion of the Philippine Islands probably meant the implementation of Christianity across
nation.