Lesson 8 part 1

Page 32-36

Rizal’s Philosophies as Revealed Through the Noli, the Fili and Other Writings

Rizal wrote the novels for the noble purpose of redeeming his people from their
miserable conditions. His main purposes were to expose the social malady affecting the
country, and to awaken and develop the national consciousness of the people.

The Noli Me Tangere (Social Cancer) and the El Filibusterismo boldly exposed and
criticized Philippine social life during the 19 th century. The novels exposed the symptoms of
the cancer that were eroding Philippine society; the abuses of the friars and the civil guards,
the corruption in the government, defective educational system, the hypocrisy and apathy of
some Filipinos and the decadence of social order. In the Noli Rizal portrayed the substance
and character of the contemporary situation in the Philippines. He told his friend Blumentritt,
“ The Filipinos will find in Noli the history of the last 10 years”. The events that I have
recounted are all true and have actually happened.

Dr. Jose Rizal stresses the need to understand a people’s history and culture, trace
their development and pinpoint the barriers to their growth. A country can be analyzed by
looking into its major institutions: the family, the school, the church and the state. Rizal
maintains that in order to read the destiny of a people, it is necessary to open the book of its
past.

Rizal’s Thoughts on Filipino Culture

Socrates once said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” This statement calls for
one to evaluate his weaknesses and strength before attempting to comprehend his
surroundings. Rizal’s first novel is an expose. It is his idea to present each social institutional
on the pedestal of scrutiny as a means of evaluating the nation’s values, which strengthen it,
and its vices, which contribute to its weaknesses. This discussion will attempt to examine
social institutions up-close in the light of Dr. Rizal’s ideals and principles.

Some Filipino values and beliefs manifested in Dr. Rizal’s novels are:

Non-rationalism. A philosophy in life that revolves around the idea that man has to adopt
himself to nature and to forces outside of himself. It is an uncritical acceptance, reverence and
protection of tradition and rituals. Non-rationalism includes resistance to scientific methods,
unswerving loyalty to the group, and unquestioning obedience to authority.

Rationalism. A frame of mind, which is scientific, future-oriented and continuously guided

by experimentation. It puts premium to self-expression and creativity over group conformity
and security.

Personalism. An attitude of taking personal factors that guarantee intimacy, warmth, security
of kinship and friendship in getting things done.

Impersonalism. This is a depersonalized standardized or institutionalized function of position

and not the person occupying it.

Particularism. An individual’s devotion to sub-groups comprising of relatives, friends,

colleagues, associates, religious affiliates or members of his ethnic or regional group.

Universalism. This pertains to an advancement of collective or national good over personal,

regional or welfare.

Points to ponder:
1. Who among the characters in the two Novels best personify the above-mentioned beliefs?
1. What are the positive effects the above principles could bring to society?
2. What are the downsides to these principles?
3. What harm could these beliefs bring to development?

Rizal’s Thoughts On The Family

The family is the foundation of society. From this institution, a child absorbs positive and
negative values and attitude that act upon his survival, socio-economic status and social
mobility. Here are some of Dr. Rizal’s thoughts on the family:

 The tragic accounts of Elias, Capitan Pablo, Sisa, Don Rafael and Ma. Clara point to
a common factor that can drive an individual to commit acts that are either good or
bad. Strong family ties is a value typical of Filipinos. When one or more members of
the family is wronged, the next of kin cry out for revenge. Don Rafael’s
imprisonment, death, exhumation, the desecration of his remains, the denigration of
his memory impelled Ibarra to hit Father Damaso, nearly killing him.

 Elias’ grandparents were social outcasts.

 The rise of Balat as the dreaded outlaw is attributed to the murder of his uncle and the
rape-slaying of his sister.

 Capitan Pablo was a peaceful man from a middle-class family. His daughter was
abused by a priest and in avenging the injustice suffered by her, Pablo and his sons
became outlaws. When they were caught, both brothers were tortured and killed.
Pablo became the leader of the tulisanes.
 Sisa’s account is the most unfortunate of all. Having married a drunkard and a
gambler, she lost all her fortune so she was left with no choice but to send her
children to work in the parish. Crispin, the younger son was accused of stealing from
the treasury, was tortured and killed. Sisa in turn became insane.

Points to ponder:
1. What are the things Rizal was point to through examples of the family he gave in his two novels?
2. Why do you think did he give these examples?
3. What role does the family play to contribute to the betterment of society?
1.Is the family of today still on track in fulfilling these goals?
On Religion and The Church

Man in his limitations tries to find meaning in life. He tries to explain such things as
death, the meaning of life and death. Man searches the destiny that awaits him after his death
and he works hard in pursuit of happiness. He assigns to mysteries and miracles events
beyond his comprehension.
Religion came from the Latin term religare which means to bind again. For
Christians, religion makes man reconcile or be reunited with his creator. Rizal believes in the
necessity of bringing out the best in society but he also exposes how religion kept men
ignorant and in abject slavery. Ultimately, it is religion that corrupts the leaders of places like
San Diego.
The classical philosophers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle show how religion
interlinks with politics while modern political thinkers segregate politics from religion and
seek to uncover one’s ulterior motives behind religion. Voltaire departed from the teachings
of Socrates which was highly ethical, to one which is pragmatic and empirical. He whetted
away at speculations, imaginations and emotions. He recognized the effectiveness of religion
as a tool for unity of a state or as an instrument for the easy conquest of a nation. He said, “If
God doesn’t exist, then we would have invented him.” Karl Marx considered religion as the
opium of the masses. Bakunin went further by saying, “If God really exists, it would be
necessary to abolish him.” He justified his stand by citing that religion debases and corrupts
people. For him, religion destroys reason (the necessary instrument for human emancipation)
and reduces man to imbecility which is the essential condition to slavery.
San Diego is a showcase of conflict between the church and the state. Like any
community, the people are peace-loving, simple and naïve to social and political issues. They
are ultra-religious to the point of fanaticism. They also have their share of carpet-baggers,
lackeys and nonconformists with the latter branded as filibusteros or loco.
 At the laying of the cornerstone of the school-house, Tasio mused:
“…in those remote ages, men showed faith in some beings who professed to
be ministers of God and who established a direct communication between the
Creator and his creation. These men assigned to themselves the letters M.R.P. (Muy
Reverendo Padre). They are always right. They were a group by themselves who
professed to be
able to cause God to come down to earth by uttering some mysterious words. They
made the rest of the people believe, that their words were God’s and that they enjoy a
daily meal of his flesh and blood and cause the people to do the same occasionally.”

 How friars enriched themselves can be gleaned in the conversation between Fr.
Sibyla and his superior. They were discussing their sales of religious objects and
indulgences when the old priest said. “ We will enjoy power while the people believe
in us.”

 It was clear from the beginning that the friars were playing on the people’s ignorance.
No example is more appropriate than what happened to Doña Pia. Having no child
with Capitan Tiago, she was told by Padre Damaso to make daily novenas and
devotions to different saints. A “miracle” happened when she gave birth to a baby
girl. Everyone of course knew that the child she conceived was that of Father
Damaso’s. This is a classic example of blind allegiance.

Although Rizal pointed to religion as the cause of the many sufferings of his people, and
he was disappointed with the hypocrisies and corruption of the friars she remained steadfast
in his faith. In Noli Me Tangere, he portrays Tasio entering the church when nobody was
around, fervently prayong to God without the aid of religious objects. Here are some
reaffirmation of Rizal’s faith expressed through some Noli characters:

 Through Ibarra: “… the priest I forgive, on account of the institution he represents

which I wish respected because it elevates society.”

 Through Elias: “.. but I believe in Him… there has been great necessity in my life to
pin my faith in God since I have lost faith in man…”

 Through Tasio as he prays amidst the thunder and storm, “Oh God, I know that you
are not cruel. I know that you are just. I know that you are the ultimate God.”

Points to ponder:

1. What do you think were Rizal pointing out when he created the various religious figures in his two novels?
3. What role does the Church play to contribute to the betterment of society?
4. Is the Church of today still on track in fulfilling these goals?
The School and Education

 Rizal affirmed his commitment to education through the character of Ibarra who go
abroad in search of it. Ibarra then comes back to among others, establish a school for
the people of San Diego. Ibarra said, “ I desire the country’s welfare, therefore I will
build a schoolhouse. I seek it by means of instruction, by progressive advancement,
without light there is no road.”

 Rizal’s literary works and private correspondence abound with remarkable ideas on
education. He believes that education was a lighthouse that guided men to enjoy
freedom and prosperity. To raise the level of education in his country, Rizal
constantly advised his countrymen and the members of his family to acquire more
knowledge.

 In a letter to one of his sisters, he said, “it is regrettable that there in out country, the
main ornament of women almost always consists in dresses and luxury but not in
education.” One of the projects Rizal wished to establish was a college that would
respect academic freedom and develop the potential of the students. He stressed that
education would liberate the Filipinos from ignorance and prepare them for the
reforms and freedom they had been aspiring for.

 In a manifesto he wrote while confined in Fort Santiago, he emphasized the value of

education when he said, “ I place as a prior condition the education of the people,
that by means of instruction and industry, they may have a personality of their own
and make themselves worthy of these liberties.”

 Here are excerpts from two poems he wrote as a high school student:

“Wise education is a mother of virtues. Where the youth are wisely educated,
they become vigorous and their ideas are exalted. They become intolerant of
error, break the neck of vice, halt crime, tame the barbarous nation, and
raise the savage nations to a sober station.”

“Wise education lights the living flame of virtue. When education is

nourished by
the principles of religion, she may walk toward the good and spread
everywhere the fruits of virtue. The country progresses because of those
whose goodness comes from a Christian education.”

“Wise education is complete and true, there is no human suffering we cannot

overcome.
The educated citizen spreads his blessings among his fellowmen. His
examples make others climb the height of honor. He faces the problems of his
country and guides its destiny.

Through wise education, arts and science are born and enduring peace is
given to the motherland.

Wise education exalts the human mind, enlightens the motherland, lifts her to
lofty seat of glory and offers her endless glow.”

 He further said in the Noli, “ the school is the basis of society; the school is the book
on which is written the future of the nation. Show us the schools of people and we
 shall show you what people they are.”
Points to ponder:

1. What are the positive effects education brings to an individual?

2. What are the effects education brings to society?
3. Knowing the positive effects of education to our country, what personal commitments to the nation
can you make
as a student and as a citizen?

Other Points to ponder:

1. What role does religion play in educating people?

2. Is the interplay between education and religion important in changing society?
3. What has studying in a Christian institution brought to you as a human being?