CHAPTER 6

ANNOTATION OF ANTONIO MORGA’S

SUCESOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. Analyze Rizal's ideas on how to rewrite Philippine history
2. Compare and contrast Rizal and Marga's different views about Filipinos and Philippine
culture

Class Activity:
1. Read the introduction and last chapter of RizaJ's Annotation of Antonio Morga 's
Sucesos de tas Islas Fiiipinas.
2. Read: "A Legacy of the Propaganda: The Tripartite View of Philippine History" by
Zeus Salazar

Introduction

Among Rizal's works that typically shown his nationalistic

sentiments, his annotations of Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas by Antonio
Morga was not as popular as his two novels, Noli Me Tangere and El
Filibusterismo. We can actually say that his annotations of Sucesos is as
equally-important as all his works. As Ocampo in his article published
in Philippines Studies would say, it shows that there is history of the
Philippines before the time of colonization.

Rizal's Propositions

Rizal agued in three main propositions in his annotations: 1) The inhabitants of the Philippines
has a culture even before Spanish colonization; 2) Filipinos then, were depressed, oppressed and
marginalized by mechanism of colonization and; 3) Philippines at present was not necessarily more
ahead than to its past.

In these arguments, we can see how much in favor is Rizal in the history of his motherland. He
insisted on the importance of knowing the cultural identity Filipinos have even before colonization.
Basing his arguments on the notes of a Spanish conquistador himself (Morga), He has supported in full
conviction the state of the Philippines and its people under the rule of the colonizers. That, even if the
Philippines was largely Hispanized because of more than 300 years of colonization, Filipinos and the
Philippines itself can equally be proud of the pre-conquest past with its culture and existence.
 Rizal's annotation of the Morga shows his social scientist side, most especially his side of being a
historian. Even if it is a question whether his work (being a mere annotation of somebody else's work)
can be a contribution in Philippine historiography, we cannot argue for the fact that he was a nationalist
in his arguments. Although in the streams of historical writing, what he had written was somewhat
invaluable because of it being as secondary source. As what Ocampo has written in his journal article:

Rizal's annotation are largely disregarded today stems basically from the recent
advances in historical, archeological and ethnographic research. Although many of Rizal's
assertions have been validated by recent research, the fact is that his work is now dated.
Moreover Rizal's annotations are secondary, and today's scholars concentrate more on the
primary source, Morga, than on Rizal 's notes. Few Filipinos today, even the most patriotic,
would find the time and energy to read the small text of Rizal's footnotes, evc11 if penned by
the national hero (Ocampo, 1998).

Rizal 's views on pre-conquest past were valid if and only if we have to look into his nationalistic
ideals. However, there are some notes on Morga which were validated by today's scholars which are
exaggerations on the part of Rizal so as not to deviate in his major argument. Some examples were
actually ment1oned in Ocampo's article. For the matter. It was however obvious why he made those
inconsistencies. Morga, being a Spanish who actually, according to Rizal made one of the most accurate
accounts of history before and dming Spanish colonization, had still his own biases in writing. Other
writers would even immortalize almost everything because it is their way of pacifying the Filipino
natives. How religious groups (religious missionaries, tlJe first three before the Jesuits) have made
stories just to get convert everyone is something Rizal, himself recent. His choice of annotating the work
of Morga has somehow show his anti-clergy sentiments and that would also show, ironically his own
bias in how history is portrayed during Spanish colonization. As Ocampo would say: Rizal maintained
mixed feelings for the Morga, depending on its usefulness for his thesis, that, 'Spanish colonization
retarded, rather than brought civilization to, the Philippines and its inhabitants' (Ocampo, 1998).

Conclusion

Rizal's annotation of Sucesos de/as ls-las Filipinas is a gem in the stream of Philippine
historiography. He did well in his ambitions of giving justice in the pre-colonial life of the Filipinos. His
patriotism was very evident in this piece and he did not get away in his personality in doing this work. He
also has set a good example in doing making researches (thus having his social scientist side).

Among many Spanish writers who had so much interest in writing about the Philippines and his
People, he chose Morga because he believes he was less biased than those from the religious orders.
Morga had connections to the Spanish government being a lieutenant but he was not a part of the
church. He also chose Morga because of his wide experience in the different places and cultures in the
Philippines. And as what Rizal has said in his annotations, it is very much evident in the accounts made
by Morga that our country can stand in terms of the richness of culture even without the influence of
the Spaniards.

Rizal has his own biases in writing his annotations, but he was never unaware of his arguments
and he never get away in his love for his country and countrymen. And more importantly, Rizal began
the task of writing the first Philippine history from the viewpoint of a Filipino. (Ocampo, 1998).
 Summative Assessment

EXERCISE 1

Name: __________________________________ Date: ___________________

Course & Year: ____________________________ Score: ___________________

Comparison and contrast:

Make a table comparing and contrasting Rizal and Morga's views on Filipino culture.

Aspects of Filipino Culture Comparison Contrast

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Recommended learning materials and resources for supplementary reading

1. RizaJ's Annotation of Antonio Morga 's Sucesos de tas Islas Fiiipinas-

file:///C:/Users/home/Downloads/37-Rizal_Annotations-to-Sucesos-Prologue-and-
Ch8.pdf
https://youtu.be/diGwdsVP-NI

2. "A Legacy of the Propaganda: The Tripartite View of Philippine History" by Zeus Salazar-
file:///C:/Users/home/Downloads/54-Salazar_A-Legacy-of-the-Propaganda.pdf

3. Zaide, Gregorio and Zaide, Sonia M.:

Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist, and National Hero
Second Edition. All – Nations Publishing Co., Inc. Quezon City. 1999.
 4. Purino, Anacoreta P.: Rizal, the Greatest Filipino Hero. Rex Book Store, Manila,
Philippines. 2008

5. José Rizal (1997). Prophecies of Jose Rizal about the Philippines: From the Pen of the
Visionary National Hero, Phenomenal Revelations and Coded Messages about Events
Past, Present and Future: Destiny of the Philippines …. Rex Bookstore, Inc.

6. Valdez, Maria Stella S. (2007). Doctor Jose Rizal and the Writing of His Story. Rex
Bookstore, Inc.

7. Rizal, José. 1996. Noli me tangere, trans. Ma. Soledad Lacson-Locsin. Makati: Bookmark.

8. Anderson, Benedict. 2008. Why counting counts: A study of forms of consciousness and
problems of language in Noli me tangere and El filibusterismo, pp. 1–37. Quezon City:
Ateneo de Manila University Press.

Bibliography

Editorial, 11th Anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal’s Martyrdom. Manila: Manila Bulletin. December 2007.
Guerrero, Leon Ma., The Forest Filipino: A Bibliography of Jose Rizal. Manila: National Historical
Institute, 1963, 1965, 1969, 1971, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1987, 1991.
Rizal, Jose P. Historical Events of the Philippine Islands by Dr. Antonio de Morga. Manila: National
Historical Institute, 1990.
Bantug, Asuncion Lopez (1982). Lolo Jose: An intimate portrait of Rizal. Manila: Instramuros
Administration.

Capino, Diosdado C., Gonzales, Ma. Minerva A. and Pineda, Filipinas. (1977). Rizal: Life, Works and
Writings.  Quezon City. JMC Press.

Guerrero, Leon Ma. (1998). The First Filipino. Philippines: Guerrero Publishing.

Zaide, Gregorio and Zaide, Sonia. (1999). Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings. Manila: All-Nations
Publishing Co., Inc.

Zaide, Gregorio and Zaide, Sonia. (1997). Jose Rizal: Buhay, mga Ginawa at mga Sinulat. Quezon City. All-
Nations Publishing Co., Inc.

Capino, Diosdado G., Minerva A. Gonzalez, Ma., and Filipinas E. Pineda. Rizal's Life, Works & Writings.
Quezon City: Publishers Association of the Philippines, 1977.