The Philippines A Century Hence

Questions: What are the predictions, or educated guesses of Rizal on what will happen to the
Philippines in a century? Cite them.

Answer:

Rizal made the following predictions:

a. “The Philippines will one day declare herself independent”

- This vision of Rizal really came true. Five decades after Rizal’s death, the Philippines
gained its long-awaited independence

b. “The great American Republic with interests in the Pacific…may one day think of
acquiring possessions beyond the seas”
- This prediction was also put in reality. In 1898, the Americans wrestled with Spain to
win the Philippines, and eventually took over the country.  Theirs was a reign of
democracy and liberty.

c. “Japan will swallow us”

- Amazingly, Rizal’s words came true again. The Japanese occupation of the
Philippines occurred between 1942 and 1945, when Imperial Japan occupied the
Commonwealth of the Philippines during World War II. The invasion of the
Philippines started on 8 December 1941, ten hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
As at Pearl Harbor, American aircraft were severely damaged in the initial
Japanese attack. Japan occupied the Philippines for over three years, until their
formal surrender on 2 September 1945.

d. “The Philippines will defend with indescribable ardor the liberty she bought at the cost
of so much blood and sacrifice”
- This prediction is kind of broad and is not pointing to some specific events.
However, in this case, he may have predicted that and we can associate it to the
1986 People Power Revolution that toppled strongman Ferdinand Marcos. People
would always break free from a tyrannical regime that tramples human rights.

e. “[once liberated] the Philippines will, perhaps, establish a federal republic.

- Philippines is still not under federalism but not a while ago, Malacañang was
vigorously pursuing federalism until Duterte decided to give it up and said that he
will accept it if the move towards federalism will not push through during his
administration.
f. “[the Philippines] will, perhaps, enter openly the wide road of progress and will work
jointly to strengthen the Mother Country at home, as well as abroad…”
- This prediction of Rizal is not entirely true or wrong. Our country has experienced
ups and downs, progress and regress, and success and failure. Is Philippines
destined for greatness? Only time will tell.