LEARNING ASSESSMENT

ACTIVITY 1: Answer the questions comprehensively.

1. Is Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas still relevant in the contemporary times?
Why or why not?
2. Differentiate Morga’s work and the accounts of Spanish friars about the
Philippines.
3. Based on Rizal’s interpretation of history, how do we foster a national identity?

ANSWERS:
1. Dwa
2. There have been numerous published works about the pre-colonial Philippine
history. However, Rizal's choice of annotating Morga rather than other
contemporary historical accounts was due to the obvious fact that the book itself
was rare. The author, Antontio de Morga, was civil in writing the book as it was
written free from religious narratives full of miracle stories, reflecting Rizal's
strong anti-clerical bias. Moreover, Rizal thinks that Morga was more
sympathetic to the Indios and he was not only an eyewitness but he played a
huge role in the events he narrated. And thus, with his dedication to give his
fellow Filipino a view of the history of the Philippines, he laboriously copied the
entire work while making annotations.
3. It has been a century already before Rizal’s Morga was released and until now,
the search for a genuine national identity continues. Despite that, the significance
of Rizal’s Morga still holds true and its influence felt in Philippine
historiography. Rizal clearly argued that, “To foretell the destiny of a nation, it is
necessary to open the book that tells of her past." This leaves us with the
inevitability of dealing with the past in order to predict the future. The
reconstruction of the Philippine past will give us the way to forge a national
identity.
ACTIVITY 2: Write a short reflection about what you gained from the chapter focusing
on the guide question “As a citizen of your country, how can you better exemplify the
goal of Rizal in realizing a Philippine history that is truly reflective of and sympathetic
to the Filipino’s interests?”. (500-800 words)

ACTIVITY 3: CHARACTER RELATIONSHIP MAP. After reading the novel, make a

character map of the main characters listed below. Describe each of the characters and
write your impressions about them. Afterwards, connect the characters to each other by
stating their relationship in terms of the roles or parts they play in the story. Make a
creative presentation of your work.
Crisostomo Ibarra Capitan Tiago Pilosopo Tasio
Elias Padre Damaso Basilio
Maria Clara Padre Salvi Donia Pia
Sisa

Crisostomo Ibarra – a young man studied in Europe but came back to the Philippines
right after 7 years. He grown up to be a cultured and well-honored man during his time
but the friars are not fond of him. Ibarra is a man that should be looked up to because
he is determined to fight for his own country.
Maria Clara – is Ibarra’s childhood friend and sweetheart, she is beautiful, gentle, and
conservative. She is a woman of grace that should be set as an example of a Filipina
woman especially for young children.
Elias – is a runaway that resents the Spanish government and church. He is also strong-
willed who devotes his life for his country. He is a man that is not afraid to fight for
what he believes in. A true friend that will help you no matter what circumstance you
are in.
Capitan Tiago – Maria Clara’s father is a well-respected elite. Since he is wealthy, high-
rank people are close to him including the friars. He is also one of the richest property
owners in Manila and San Diego. A wealthy and powerful man that can be easily
swayed by persuasion upon by having Ibarra be disgraced. He is concerned with his
image to be respected by other people.
Padre Damaso – he is a Spanish friar who is arrogant and rude. Despite the fact that he
lived in the Philippines for many years, he still does not fully speak or understand
tagalog. He is shameless and he does not live up to his life as a friar. Damaso does not
care about whom he messes up with as long as he is superior to them.
Padre Salvi – a Spanish friar that takes over the post of Padre Damaso as the town
priest. He is a manipulative man that uses his power for political influence. He is just
like Padre Damaso that abuses their power to belittle those who and powerless and
innocent.
Sisa – a loving mother living in San Diego that went mentally ill upon knowing that her
sons Basilio and Crispin were missing. She is a mother that her sons enough to not give
up in searching for them.
Basilio – he is the older brother of Crispin and son of Sisa. He is a young boy that serves
in the church of San Diego. A fearless young boy that fought for his and his brother’s
life in order to live.
Pilisopo Tasio – is an old man that used to study Philosophy and prefers secular
knowledge. Due to his view, the religious people gave the name “Pilisopo Tasio”. A
man that does not care about what people will think of him and his beliefs.
Donia Pia – is born into a wealthy family and is married to Capitan Tiago. She died
shortly after giving birth to Maria Clara. She is empowered due to her status in life but
she has been easily deceived by Padre Damaso.

Donia Pia

Padre Damaso Capitan Tiago

Maria Clara

Padre Salvi Elias

Crisostomo Ibarra

Pilisopo Tasio Basilio

Sisa

ACTIVITY 4: NOLI AND THE COLONIAL SOCIETY. Complete the table below by
identifying what the major characters in Noli Me Tangere symbolize in relation to
colonial Philippine society.

Character Symbolism
Crisostomo Ibarra He exemplified the vision that Jose Rizal had
aimed for the youth of the Philippines during his
time. Others attribute Ibarra as Rizal’s reflection
of himself.
Maria Clara Symbolizes the purity and innocence of a
sheltered native woman during the time of
Spanish Occupation. She does not value material
things that were abundantly bestowed upon her
by admirers and family alike but holds in high
esteem her parents’ honor and promise she had
given to her sweetheart.
Capitan Tiago Captain Tiago represents the Filipinos who
believed what the friars said about salvation.
Filipinos were forced to adapt the Spaniard's
culture, then we forget our own. This character
showed how fearful some of the Filipinos had
become that they just followed the friars' orders
to avoid disgrace and to receive the blessings
they needed to live. In addition, this character
showed their dependence to the orders of the
colonizers which made them forget their true
identity and their right and capability to decide
for themselves.
Padre Damaso He symbolizes the Spanish friars of Rizal’s time
and is a comment on the Spanish control of the
Philippines.
Sisa The character of Sisa is a mother of two, who
went out of her mind when she cannot find her
children. In relation to colonial Philippine
Society, we can say that this character represents
the oppressed people of the colonized country in
which they can’t further express what they are
thinking or feeling. We can also say that her
character represents the motherland who suffers
from the hands of colonizers.
Pilosopo Tasio He symbolizes the learned Filipinos who had
once embraced the culture of the Spanish regime.
They eventually became disenchanted when they
returned to the Philippines and observed the
stark contrast their countrymen received from
their colonizers. The more they turned to
learning, the more they become eccentric to the
masses they seek to enlighten.
Donia Victorina Her character only shows ambitiousness of
oneself. She tries her best to fit into a society that
will never welcome her as theirs because she is
never born a Spanish. She is one of those who
have distorted view of their identity. Everything
that is foreign, is superior and above what or
who is on our native land.
Basilio His character to the novel Noli Me Tangere is a
young boy who witnessed how the church
dominates the native people and rule the religion
saying things that are not even based with facts.

ACTIVITY 5: ABOUT THE CHARACTERS. Relate the following characters in El

Filibusterismo to current social issues they represent and justify your answer.

Character Current social issue/s he/she represents

1. Juli She represents innocence, bravery, and as
someone who would rather suffer with
 pride and honor.
2. Capitan Tiago He represents those Filipino people who
hold positions in government but still
useless since they are subject to orders by
government of Spain particularly orders
from Spanish friars.
3. Senyor Pasta He represents the part of the society that
is only generous and sympathetic to the
rich and powerful. His self-centeredness
overshadows his patriotism.
4. Ben-Zayb He represents those persons who are
keen in searching for the hidden truth.
5. Pepay
ACTIVITY 6: HEADS OR TAILS: REFORMIST OR REVOLUTIONIST? Create a
position paper (1-2 pages) discussing the key points as to whether Rizal is a reformist or
a revolutionist. Cite evidences or instances to justify your position.