PREFINAL LESSON #3

THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT AND LA LIGA FILIPINA

Most Essential Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this module, the learners are expected to:
 Narrate how the Propaganda movement and the Katipunan were developed;
 Summarize the events that caused the intense spirit of Nationalism among Filipinos;
and
 Explain the teachings of La Liga Filipina and the Katipunan.

Rizal’s Nationalism: First in Asia

A strong nationalist movement—one of the earliest and most advanced in
Asia—emerged in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and brought dramatic change to
Southeast Asia. Though still only loosely united under the Spanish control, early Filipino society
was quickly developing a new social identity. This growing commonality was sparked by Spain's
introduction of a common religion and language. While regional, ethnic, and familial identities
continued to play critical roles, three great wars against three powerful colonial adversaries
further redefined the Filipino community to include any individual born in the Philippines. Social
and ideological differences took a back seat to the more pressing issue of foreign occupation.
During the Philippine Revolution, the Philippine-American War and the Japanese occupation of
World War II, nationalism thrived in the face of colonial control—a common threat to the
Philippines was critical for the overall mobilization of a Filipino nation. Between the early
emergence of Filipino nationalism in the 1850s and final independence in 1946, Filipinos
gradual expanded and embraced a unified, popular identity that superseded previous regional
and ethnic associations. A widespread discontent with Spanish economic and social oppression
created a suitable environment for the re-imagining of Filipino society. As colonial control moved
from Spain to the United States, and then for a time to Japan, the consolidation of Filipino
factions into a single nation accelerated.
One would expect the Philippines—with its ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity
spread over thousands of islands—to defy any cohesive, national tendency. Yet the country,
along with many of its neighbors throughout Southeast Asia, experienced a profound
transformation of identity. The term Filipino as it is used today did not exist until the late 1800s,
and originally referred to Philippine-born Spaniards (creoles). The new identity of the Filipino
arose during the Propaganda Movement of the 1870s, when the writer Apolinario Mabini
redefined the term with a nationalistic connotation in his essays. The ilustrados embraced unity
in their public rhetoric, yet still promoted their regional origins. Despite this, a significant shift
had occurred by 1896, and the Philippines developed a broader understanding of nationhood
and national identity. Foreign colonial control enabled the shift from a local to national
consciousness. The Spanish occupation had created a large, cohesive territory encompassing
the individual islands, and Spanish colonial control united the many disparate peoples as a
common Filipino society. Over time, the shared experience of colonization strengthened this
bond and united Filipinos in popular discontent. From these many islands and tribes emerged a
new collective Filipino identity, and under the ilustrados the concept grew to encompass a wide
range of peoples. The Philippines' first strong nationalist movements were based on anti-
colonialism. The artificial borders imposed by foreign rulers crafted the Philippine nation as it
exists today.

The Propaganda Movement

 After the Cavite Mutiny of 1872, the conditions of the country worsened. Spanish
oppression and abuses continued. The patriotic intellectuals, who dared to voice the sentiments
of the people were persecuted. The propaganda movement was founded on the principle of
peaceful campaign for reforms. This was primed by patriotic Filipino students abroad. Inspired
by a common cause, they banded together and consecrated themselves to the sublime ideal of
working for the welfare and happiness of their motherland. Aggressively but peacefully, by
means of “pen and tongue”, they crusaded for reforms to correct the evils of Spanish colonial
system.

The propaganda movement’s aims are as follows:

1. Equality of Filipino and Spanish before the law.
2. Assimilation of the Philippines as a regular province of Spain.
3. Restoration of Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes.
4. Filipinization of Philippine Parishes.
5. Individual liberties for Filipinos, such as freedom of speech, freedom of the
press, and freedom to meet and petition for redress of grievances.

Led by our hero Dr. Jose Rizal, towering above the composition of this movement were
young education Filipinos who represented Filipino intelligence. Rizal together with Marcelo H.
del Pilar - lawyer and journalist, and Graciano Lopez-Jaena - an orator and satirist, proved that
young Filipinos can do things above and beyond academics. In fact, Rizal reflected this on his
El Fili novel in the persona of Basilio and Isagani who fought for quality education.
Despite the courage and sacrifices of the La Liga Filipina propaganda movement, it
ended in failure due to: lack of funds which caused the La Solidaridad to stop its publication,
poverty and sickness of its key leaders, and the exile of Rizal in Dapitan. The end was tragic,
however, it had two achievements: (1) it succeeded in exposing the oppression of the Filipinos,
and (2) it paved the way for the Philippine Revolution.

The Founding of the KKK

On the night of July 7, 1892, Andres Bonifacio and his friends met secretly in a house
occupied by Deodato Arellano (brother-in-law of M.H. del Pilar) or Azcarraga Street (now Claro
M. Recto Avenue), Tondo, Manila. Among Bonifacio’s friends present in the secret meeting
were Deodato Arellano, Valentin Diaz, Jose Dizon, Ladislao Diwa and Teodoro Plada. After
discussing the shocking news of Rizal’s exile to Dapitan and the weakness of the La Liga
Filipina, Bonifacio and his friends founded a secret revolutionary society for Filipinos. Its fill
name was Kataastaasan Kagalang-galangan Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (Highest and
Most Respectable Society of the Sons of the People). It was called the Katipunan for short.
Bonifacio conceived the idea of founding a revolutionary society while reading the book
on French Revolution. Just like the La Liga, the KKK had two aims:
1. To unite all Filipinos into one solid nation.
2. To obtain Philippine independence.

Yet, unlike the La Liga Filipina, the Katipunan emerged to prepare the country for an
armed revolution to win a nation’s freedom.

Rizal and the Katipunan

In June 1896, Dr. Pio Valenzuela, acting as Bonifacio’s emissary sailed for Dapitan to
solicit Rizal’s support for the coming revolution. To cover his real mission from Spanish
authorities, he brought with him a blind man who was in need of Rizal’s professional services.
Immediately upon his arrival in Dapitan, he lost no time in conferring with the exiled hero.
 According to the momoirs of Valenzuela, Rizal refused to agree to the Katipunan’s plan
of starting a rebellion because the people were not ready for it. Filipinos should be EDUCATED
first before leading the country. With much hesitations, he advised the Katipunan to seek the
help of Antonio Luna to obtain financial aid from the elites.
After the KKK failed to convince him, Rizal continued with his usual routine by improving
and expanding his school and hospital.