RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS

Lesson 10
-The Philippines: A Century Hence
-Annotation of Antonio Morga’s LEARNING OUTCOMES
Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas  Analyze Rizal’s ideas on how to
rewrite Philippine history.
 Compare and contrast Rizal and
Pre-test Morga’s different views about
Filipinos and Philippine culture
Encircle the correct answer.

1. Who was the author of Travelers in the Philippines which Rizal read and
admired for such author foretell the downfall of the Spanish rule and the
coming of Americans to the Philippine shore?
A. Alexander Dumas C. Beecher Stowe Subversive
B. Hans Andersen D. Dr. Feodor Jagor
2. In this political essay, Rizal mentioned in the near future America would
invade the Philippines. How many years in the future that this foresight
happened in our country?
A. 100 C. 50
B. 150 D. P300
3. In Leitmeritz, when Rizal and Viola was visiting Professor Ferdinand
Blumentritt who was amazed by Rizal's fluency in German language. How
many months did he study German?
A. 9 C. 5
B. 7 D. 11

Pre-activity
If you were to be given the chance or ability to see the future of the
Philippines 30 years from now, what do you think would you see?
Write your predictions.

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The Philippines A Century Hence

A sketch map, by Dr. Rizal, of spheres of influence in the Pacific at the time of writing “The Philippines A Century Hence,” as they appeared to him. Most of the French names will
be easily recognized, though it may be noted that “Etats Unis” is our own United States, “L’Angleterre” England, and “L’Espagne” Spain.

Originally named “Filipinas dentro de Cien Años” and published

in La Solidaridad (September 30,1889-February 1, 1890). Charles
Derbyshire – Translated Dr. Jose Rizal’s “Philippines: A Century Hence” in
English language.

Based from the prediction made by Feodor Jagor, a German

traveler and professor whom Rizal met in Berlin, Germany. Feodor Jagor
visited the Philippines in 1873 whom where he noticed some of the signs in
his predictions. Rizal read the book by Feodor Jagor in Spanish translation
when he was still in Ateneo de Manila. It was given by his older brother,
Paciano.

It is an essay wrote by Dr. Jose Rizal pertaining of what could

happen to the Philippines a hundred years in the future. According to the
translated version made by Charles Derbyshire, the book of Jagor may
fueled Rizal’s aspiration for preparing his countrymen to Industrial and
Commercial competition.

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PART I
Dr. Jose Rizal predict that the
Philippines may soon threat to the Spain.
"Our frankness may bring upon us; we shall
in the present article threat of the future"

Rizal narrated a brief history of the

Philippines for it is necessary to know the
history of the country to determine its
future. "In order to read the destiny of
people, its necessary to open the book of its
past."

The Philippines are so attached to

Spain that whenever the Spain have changes,
Filipinos are greatly affected. "When people
changes its form of government, its law,
usage, customs, religion and beliefs, the
Philippines were depopulated, impoverished
and retarded – caught their metamorphosis
without confidence in their past, without
faith in their present and with no fond hope
for the years to come.

PART II

Rizal mentioned some of the first heroes of the

Philippines such as Gat Pulintang and Gat Salakab. He
also mentioned the heroic Kagayanes and Magalats.

Filipinos still remain in savagery even after three

centuries. Rizal states that the Spanish government had
failed to keep the ignorance of the Filipinos, thus
awakening their national consciousness which are
augmented by ethical advancement of the Filipinos.

The new class of people (educated) who are

augmented by the realities of the Spanish authority will
soon form the existence of the country. The Catholic
censorship had keep the Filipinos to Holy ignorance
thus, rejecting freethinkers.

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PART III
The governors realize that
the transformation of the Philippines
will be bloody but I will be less
bloody if the transformation come
from the upper class.

Upon realizing the probable

escalation from this transformation,
the government have introduced
some reforms. Dr. Jose Rizal
addressed this reforms as
“Palliative” meaning that the Government are introducing cure without knowing the cause and making
them not different from quack doctors.

With this, our country is most likely reminded to Sancho Panza in Barataria island where he took his
seat on appointed table covered with fruits and variety of food but when Pedro Rezio interposed Sancho
was as hungry as ever.
The result is the long suffering of Sancho (Philippines) misses
 Sancho Panza = Philippines
his liberty and ends up rebelling. In this manner as long as the
 Dishes = Reforms
Philippines have no liberty of press, all the efforts of the colonial
 Pedro Rezio = many people
ministers will meet the fate like the dishes in Barataria Island.
interested in not having the
food touched A government that governs in a country may even dispense
with the press because it is on the ground has eyes and ears, and
directly observes what is rules and administers.

The minister who wants his reforms be reforms must begin by declaring the press in the Philippines
free and by instituting Filipino delegates.

Eventually, the natives realized that such oppression in

If the Philippines would be assimilated
their society by foreign colonizers must no longer be
with Spain then there should be a
tolerated. In this case some governors have been trying to political reformation through:
introduce needed reforms.
 Freedom of Press so the
The question then arises as to what had awakened the
peninsula could hear the
hearts and opened the minds of the Filipino people with Filipino’s complaints.
regards to their plight.  Inclusion of Filipino deputies in
the government
 Equal educational opportunities

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PART IV
“The existence of a foreign body within
another endowed with strength and
activity is contrary to all natural and
ethical laws. Science teaches us that it is
either assimilated, destroys the
organism, is eliminated or becomes
encysted.”

Wars have overturned domination of

other countries. Rizal state that if Spain
do not push reforms for the Philippines,
someday, the Philippines may declare its
independence.

Rizal predicted the rise of Japanese

empire in Korea.

Dr. Jose Rizal is hopeful that if the country, Filipinos will fight in inexplicable valiant. He is optimistic about
Filipinos joining development and progress. Rizal also predicted that the United States will soon overtake
the country. He states that other countries colonizing the Pacific area have no interest invading Philippines.

It was mentioned in the

introduction in this essay is supplemented
by Rizal’s previous works in the Noli Me
Tangere, El Filibusterismo, Antonio de
Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas de Filipinas,
which historically signifies “recalling the
past, painting the present and sketching
the future.” Take into consideration that
this fact is a life changing statement and
patiently in the process that Filipinos in
general had a prescription to work for it.

RESOURCES/ REFERENCE:
 Rizal, Jose. “The Philippines a Century Hence” can be assessed through:
http://www.archive.org/stream/philippinescentu00riza/philippinescentu00riza_djvu.txt
 Schumacher, John. 1997. Rizal’s break with del Pilar. In The propaganda movement: 1880– 1895; The creators of a Filipino consciousness, the
makers of the revolution, 260–80. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.
 Schumacher, John. 1997. Renewed activity in Madrid. In The propaganda movement: 1880– 1895; The creators of a Filipino consciousness, the
makers of the revolution, 182–211. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.
 Schumacher, John. 1997. The Filipino past and education for the future, 1887–1891 In The propaganda movement: 1880– 1895; The creators of
a Filipino consciousness, the makers of the revolution, 235–44. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.
 Schumacher, John. 1997. Rizal’s break with del Pilar. In The propaganda movement: 1880– 1895; The creators of a Filipino consciousness, the
makers of the revolution, 245–60. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press
 https://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2011/04/noli-me-tangere-summary-and-analysis-of_1304.html

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Annotation of Antonio Morga’s

Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas
The different concepts of Filipinos did not exist until Rizal’s time and
Filipino nation did not exist until the establishment of the Philippine republic
under Aguinaldo. Being irritated by the false claims written by the Spaniards about
the pre-colonial Philippines, Rizal realized the importance of the past as the tool
to understand the present. Rizal as he was writing Philippine history the
historiographical importance of this little-read scholarly work by Rizal is that it was
the first historical work on the Philippines by a Filipino.

Dr. Jose Rizal wished to embark on some historical research, but he felt
inadequate as what he told to Ferdinand Bluementritt after he asked Rizal to write
a history of the Philippines. Even pre-colonial Philippines, at most when he arrived
in London, explored the book of de Morga.

By this time, he began working on a sequel for Noli Me Tangere and had a change of heart and began to
produce a work that will influence his countrymen to think correctly. Rizal was a realist who accepted the fact
that scholarly books would not be financially rewarding and stated to a letter to Bluementritt that his aim was to
present a new edition to the public, above all the Filipino public and he is doing it solely for his country, because
his work will not bring him either honor or money.

Antonio de Morga
Antonio de Morga Sanchez Garay was born on November 29,
1559 in Seville, Spain and died on July 21, 1636 in Quito, Ecuador at the
age of 76.

He was Spanish lawyer, a high rank colonial official for 43 years

and also a historian. He graduated from the University of Salamanca in
1574 and receive a doctorate in canon law and returned to Salamanca
to study civil law and graduated in year 1678. In addition, Morga was a
former president of the real audiencia for 20 years.

He is the author of Sucesos De Las Islas Filipinas. He published

the book in 1609, one of the most important works on the early history
of Spanish Colonization of the Philippines.

Real Audiencia, or simply

Audiencia, was the highest court
in Spain and its empire.

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Sucesos De Las Islas Filipinas

The book narrates the history of wars, intrigues, diplomacy and evangelization of the Philippines.
Morga’s work is based on personal experiences or on documentation as he personally witnesses the events
described. It explains the political, social and economic aspects of a colonizer and the colonized country.

Antonio de Morga’s work greatly impressed Philippine independence hero Jose Rizal, so that Jose Rizal
decided to annotate it and publish a new edition. He began work on this in London, completing it in Paris in
1890.

Morga (1609) wrote that the purpose for writing Sucesos was so he could chronicle "the deeds achieved
by our Spaniards, the discovery, conquest, and conversion of the Filipinas Islands - as well as various fortunes
that they have from time to time in the great kingdoms and among the pagan peoples surrounding the
islands. "

The work consists of 8 chapters

1. Of the first discoveries of the Eastern islands.
2. Of the government of Dr. Francisco de Sande.
3. Of the government of don Gonzalo Ronquillo de Peiialosa.
4. Of the government of Dr. Santiago de Vera.
5. Of the government of Gomes Perez Dasrnariiias.
6. Of the government of don Francisco Tello.
7. Of the government of don Pedro de Acuiia.
8. An account of the Philippine Islands.

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Rizal’s View of History

This interpretation of history (Sucesos De Las Islas Three examples central to Rizal’s arguments will
Filipinas) makes Rizal booth a boon and a bane to suffice to prove his influence:
Philippine nationalism. He made historical assertions Generations of Filipino school children from the
necessary for his time and purposes, but Filipinos a American colonial period to the present have
century later, educated on the same viewpoint, refuse to been raised to accept that the pre-Hispanic
see Rizal’s work in the context of recent scholarship. Filipinos had a system of writing and an
accompanying, written literature which was
Most of Rizal’s historical assertions have been destroyed by the missionaries who saw these as
validated by recent research. However, there are flaws in “works of the devil.”
his reconstruction of pre-Hispanic Philippine civilization. Second, is the view that the pre-Hispanic Filipinos
Three examples central to Rizal’s arguments will suffice to had an advanced knowledge of metallurgy, the
prove his influence. evidence being the fine cannons made by an
indio named Panday Pira.
All these, it is said, were systematically ruined by Third, was the existence of a pre-Hispanic ship
the Spanish. building industry.
What lead Jose Rizal to Morga’s work?
Rizal found the book while he was in London at the British Museum’s reading room. He hand-copied the
whole 351 pages of the book and annotated every chapter of it. It was the first historical work on the
Philippines by a Filipino. It is the first history written from the point of view of the colonized not the
colonizer.

Rizal was an earnest seeker of truth and this marked him as historian. He had a burning desire to know
exactly the condition of the Philippines when the Spaniards came ashore to the islands

His theory was that the country was economically self-sufficient and prosperous. Entertained the idea that
it had a lively and vigorous community. He believed the conquest of the Spaniards contributed in part to
the decline of the Philippine’s rich traditions and culture.

He then decided to undertake the annotation of Antonio de Morga’s Sucesos De Las Islas Filipinas. His
personal friendship with Ferdinand Blumentritt provided the inspiration for doing a new edition of Morga’s
Sucesos. Devoting four months’ research and writing and almost a year to get his manuscript published in
Paris in January 1890.

Rizal’s Purpose of annotating Morga’s work

• To awaken the consciousness of the Filipinos regarding their glorious ways of the past
• To correct what has been distorted about the Philippines due to Spanish Conquest
• To prove that the Filipinos are civilized/advanced even before the coming of the Spaniards

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Metallurgy – based on Panday Pira – a well-known

ironsmith on the region. Rizal based the idea of
metallurgy existing on the islands of our country
because of Panday Pira and his skills on being an
ironsmith. He stated that no Spaniards nor his
(Panday Pira) kids know what he can do or replicate
the things he did after he died. This was proven
wrong by a letter of Vera asking help to the Viceroy
wherein he said that no natives can be skilled enough to do big
cannons. Leading to the request of cannons came from Spanish
ships or made by Robles (a Spanish master founder), this was
stated in Retana’s version.

Ship-building industry – Rizal exaggerated that natives could build

ships that could hold around 2000 tons but later came to extinction
due to cutting down of trees by the Spaniards.

Rizal’s Annotation and de Morga’s Sucesos

MORGA's Perspective RIZAL's Perspective

EXPORTATION

Cotton raised through the island and Yes, they harvest cotton and not just rice. Out of
they spin it to thread and sell it and they cotton textile there was an encomendero who
weaves blankets. left a fortune of about 50,000.
ECONOMY
ARTIFACTS
The natives of the island sell artifacts to
the Japanese and they become known Agreed
for it.
CLIMATE

In Manila by December to February, the

Winters and summers are opposite of
temperature goes down more than it does during
those in Europe.
August to September.
GEOGRAPHY
Rainy season begins from June to With regards to the season, it resembles Spain as
September. Summer season begins from all the rest of the North Hemisphere
October to May.

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MORGA's Perspective RIZAL's Perspective

BODY TATTOO
Draws pattern first before putting black
Agreed, and same method as the Japanese.
powder where blood oozes out.
GOVERNMENT
No Kings nor Queens - but considered Agreed
SOCIETY principal among natives
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
They will always choose violence until the
Natives - tribes of whom one cannot be government enters because of their inhumane
safe, because of engaging violence. ways as answers to those who do not submit to
friars.
HEALERS

I will prove the falsehood of the sick and the

anitos through a story of Fr. Chirino about (the
case of armandao) who offered half of his body
Deceived wizards and sorcerers - worship
to the anito to see if he will be cured and if he
idols, believed in omens
was cured what could have be said to those who
died despite of the masses offered into different
virgins.

CUSTOMS OF THE DEAD

FAITH
Buried their dead in their own houses
keeping their body and bones into long
time process and venerating their skulls.
We find it more natural and pious to venerate
In their funeral, neither pomp nor the remains of our loved ones than those
procession played any part except those fanatical martyrs whom we have no dealings and
performed by members of the household probably will never remember us.
of the dead.
After grieving, they indulge into eating
and drinking to the degree of intoxication
among themselves.

RESOURCES/ REFERENCE:
 Aguilar, Filomeno. 2005. Tracing Origins: Illustrado Nationalism and the racial Science of migration waves. Journal of Asian Studies 64 (3): 605-
637
 Ocampo, Ambeth. “Rizal’s Morga and views of Philippine History” in Philippine Studies vol. 46 no.2 (1998).
http://www/philippinestudies.net/ojs/index.php/ps/article/viewFile/662/663
 Salazar, Zeus. “A Legacy of the Propaganda: The Tripartite View of Philippine History” in Atoy Navarro and FLordeliza Lagbao-Bolante, eds/ Mga
Babasahin sa Agam Panlipunang Pilipino: Sikolohiyang Pilipino, Pilipinolohiya, at Pantayong Pananaw. QC:C&E Publishing, 2007.
http://www.bagongkasaysayan.org/downloadable/zeus_005.pdf
 Rizal, Jose. Historical events of the Philippines Islands by Dr. Antonio de Morga, published in Mexico in 1609, recently brought to light and
annotated by Jose Rizal, preceded by a prologue by Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt. Manila: Jose Rizal National Centennial Commission, 1962
 https://www.academia.edu/42198655/Rizal_s_annotation_of_Morgas_Sucesos_De_Las_Islas_FIlipinas_SUMMARY_
 https://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2011/04/noli-me-tangere-summary-and-analysis-of_1304.html

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