Name: Palang, Ashley Jay E.

Course/Year/Section: Mark Jonh Gotem

ACTIVITY 1: RIZAL AND GOMBURZA

Instruction: Read the following excerpt from a letter Jose Rizal wrote to Mariano Ponce and answer the
questions that follow:

Without 1872 there would not be now either a Plaridel, or Jaena, or

Sanciangco, or would tere exist brave and generous Filipino colonies in
Europe; without 1872 Rizal would be a Jesuit now and instead of writing Noli
Me Tangere, would have written the opposite. At the sight of those
injustices and cruelties, while still a child, my imagination was awakened, and
I swore to devote myself to avenge one day so many victims, and with this
idea in my mind I have been studying and this can be read in all my works and
writings. God will someday give me an opportunity to carry out my promise.
Good! May they commit abuses, let there be imprisonments, banishments,
executions, good. Let destiny be fulfilled! The day they lay their hands on us,
the day they martyrize innocent families for our faults, goodbye, friar
government, and perhaps, goodbye Spanish governme nt!

1. What is Rizal’s main message in this letter? (10 points)

-In this excerpt, Rizal emphasizes his realization about the importance of his
childhood experience that made him what he is. He recalled the memories of 1872, which is
the time of Cavite mutiny that awakened his senses for injustices and cruelty in his own
land. He expressed his thoughts about the impact of that experience that allowed him to see
that something must be done to end it. He highlighted the idea of vengeance to the enemies
of his time which is the friars and Spanish government. He gave a point of possible revenge
by preparing his life in studying to make his plans of avenge a success. He expressed his
eagerness to end the inequality- to end the sufferings of the Filipinos. The main message of
the letter is that Rizal is expressing his awakening to the real situation of the Filipinos in his
time, giving an oath that one day he will do something to change the oppression of the
government to its constituents.
2. List two things in the letter that support Rizal’s main message.(10 points)
- Rizal’s main message in the letter is his intention of avenging the oppressed Filipino
people and give justice to the inequality of the government. It is evidently supported by this
line “At the sight of those injustices and cruelties, while still a child, my imagination was
 awakened, and I swore to devote myself to avenge one day so many victims” which
ultimately expresses his determination and intention to bring the oppressive regime to its
end.
Second thing in the letter is the line where he gave his threat “ The day
they lay their hands on us, the day they martyrize innocent families for our
faults, goodbye, friar government, and perhaps, goodbye Spanish government”
where he expressed his grief and longing for change in this line grounded with
his determination that supports his message of change in the excerpt .

3. What does the letter tell you about the nineteenth century Philippines?(10 points)
-It was an era of pure challenges. Philippines in 19th century is longing for freedom,
justice and equality. A timeline that is plotted in pure pain, sacrifices, and grief for the life
of the Filipino citizens, it is the time where heroes are still in action of saving its motherland
from being a helpless captive against the regime. The experiences of our forefathers in 19 th
century fueled their hearts to be full of courage and determination to change the oppressive
government which is what we can also tell from Rizal based on his short excerpt. It is a time
of pure test, a moment of calling for the bringer of change and the time that measures the
people’s courage to win or to just cede and be oppressed.
4. Write a question that was left unanswered by the letter.(10 points)
-Rizal started his letter with a correlation of people with a certain event and that is
the happenings during the 1872. His idea of relating the 1872 experiences to people was very
vague and broad for it only stated a handful to no reason why they are related to that
certain happenings. 1872 is also a year full of important history which is not specified by
Rizal what part of the 1872 was he relating to. The person in the excerpt he was correlating
with the happenings of 1872 was also not elaborated as to why they have been entangled
with the said event. There biographies of these people where not at least introduced in
order for the reader of the letter to know the reason behind their correlation to the
happenings of 1872.
5. Where would you find the possible answer to your questions?(10 points)
-The answer in the question of the reason behind the relationship of those people
with the 1872 happenings can be sought in other references such as searching for their
biographies that will indicate their experience during the time of 1872 and their significance
with the said timeline. 1872 may also be broadened by pinning to certain situation such as
indicating exact dates and timeline of significant events that ultimately led this people
including Rizal to be united in their quest for freedom and justice.