James Lorie S.

Leala
1700049
SOCSCI_105 Life & Works of Rizal
June 29, 2021

Assessment

1. Why did Spain succeed in colonizing these islands? How did ilustrados
explain the fact of conquest?

Spain had three objectives in its policy toward the Philippines, its only
colony in Asia: to acquire a share in the spice trade, to develop contacts with
China and Japan in order to further Christian missionary efforts there, and to
convert the Filipinos to Christianity. Only the third objective was eventually
realized, and this not completely because of the active resistance of both the
Muslims in the south and the Igorot, the upland tribal peoples in the north. Philip
II explicitly ordered that pacification of the Philippines be bloodless, to avoid a
repetition of Spain's sanguinary conquests in the Americas. Occupation of the
islands were accomplished with relatively little bloodshed, partly because most of
the population (except the Muslims) offered little armed resistance initially.

2. Past how did Rizal portray the precolonial past, and why did he represent it
that way?

Rizal explains in his introduction to the "Morga" that he got the inspiration
while he was working on the Noli, that is, by depicting the actual situation of the
Philippines. The very influence of the Noli convinced him that it was necessary to
know the past fully in order to understand the present. With the knowledge and
appreciation of yesterday, one can arm one's self for tomorrow.
Rizal's intention of publishing the "Morga" anew and adding to its lengthy
annotations were clear. He wanted to prove, by means of a reputable work, that
the people of the Philippines did possess a high level of culture and morality
before the arrival of the Spaniards, did have a mastery of a distinct handicraft art,
did develop a flourishing trade and did maintain a good contact with the outside
world. Knowledge of their own past should strengthen the self-confidence of his
countrymen and promote their political and scientific growth.