Lesson 5: Rizal’s Change in Perspective on the Spanish Rule

Things to be learn:

Section 1. Indolence and the Spanish Colonial Rule

Section 2. Rizal’s Abandonment of Assimilation

Section 3. El Filibusterismo

SECTION 1: INDOLENCE AND THE SPANISH COLONIAL RULE

Shortly after Rizal published his first novel, Noli Me Tangere, he became an active
contributor to the biweekly newspaper, La Solidaridad. Two of his essays published on
the newspaper were Sobre La Indolencia de los Filipinos (1890) and Los Agricultores
Filipinos (1889).

Sobre La Indolencia de los Filipinos

In Sobre La Indolencia de los Filipinos, Rizal acknowledged Gregorio Sancianco’s El

Progreso de Filipinos (1881) and recognized the evident indolence of the Filipinos.
However, he believed that such indolence was not inherent but was a caused by the
climate of the Philippines, Both in a physical sense (as a tropical country) and in a
socio-political sense (in relation to the social disorders rooted in the Spanish rule).
He compared it to an illness by saying that the indolence of the Filipinos must be
properly diagnosed before a prescription could be made. Specifically, there were the
economic policies implemented by the Spaniards that required Filipinos to pay
unreasonable taxes or tributo and render polo y servicio that mandated forced labor on
Filipino males 16-60 years old for a 40 day period.

In the essay, Rizal linked two factors to the indolence of the Filipinos. First was the
limited training and education provided to the Filipinos for the Spanish government
feared possible insubordination and retaliation. Second was the lack of national
sentiment of unity among Filipinos caused by the stigma that Filipino culture was inferior
to foreign culture which compelled humble submission.
Los Agricultores Filipinos
In the essay, Rizal recommended to the Minister of Colonies to consult Filipino tillers
who would be affected by any agrarian problem and to assist them. Rizal pointed out
that calamities were not solely to blame for the poor harvest of Filipino farmers but
rather, the abusive colonial policies, such as polo y servicio, that minimized the
productivity of farmers. Rizal also brought to attention the problem of banditry and
thievery in rural forms.

In Los Agricultores Filipinos, Rizal commended the intention of the Spanish colonizers
to develop agriculture in the Philippines as a means to social and economic
advancement. When he was exiled in Dapitan, Rizal dedicated much of his time tending
the form he bought in Talisay. In his farm, he used modern agricultural methods he
observed in his travels in Europe.
SECTION 2: RIZAL’S ABANDONMENT OF ASSIMILATION

Filipinos in Spain were also losing motivation. Others opted to passively participate in
Filipino initiatives while others decided to find their own ways to take part in more active
campaigns against Spain. This had been the scenario among the Filipino nationalists in
Spain. Personal rivalries among Filipinos also arose and became a hindrance to the
formation of concrete plans and actions.

Graciano Lopez Jaena and Jose Rizal’s withdrawal from La Solidaridad was caused by
disagreement and difference in locals and aspirations. This left Marcelo H. del Pilar to
manage the newspaper single-handedly. In addition, the desire of other Filipino
nationalists to establish a new organization to counter the Spanish rule resulted in
setbacks on the efforts initiated by La Solidaridad.

One of the predominant reforms lobbied by Filipinos was representation in the Spanish
Cortes. This move would have given Filipinos a voice in the Spanish government,
though in a limited capacity. Such representation was previously granted to the Filipinos
but was taken back. The lack of concrete commitment on the part of the Spanish
government only made the representation of Filipino barely enough to materialize.
Around that time, Rizal was also preoccupied with the troubles of hacienderos in
Calamba whose situation he already brought before the courts of Spain. For Rizal, the
lack of Philippine representation in the Spanish Cortes and the denial of justice to the
appeal of Filipinos over agrarian problem had proven the improbability of a campaign for
Filipino rights.
In a letter to Blumentritt in 1887, Rizal already hinted at such sentiment saying:
“The peaceful struggle must remain a dream, for Spain will never learn from her earlier
colonies in South America… But in the present circumstances we want no separation
from Spain; all we demand is more care, better instruction, better officials, one or two
representatives, and more security for ourselves and our property. Spain can still win
the Philippines for herself forever, if only Spain were more reasonable.” (Espina-
Clemente & Cruz, 2019)
Rizal set the course for his return to Manila after the publication of his second novel, El
Filibusterismo. All copies of the novel were shipped to the Philippines. Upon his arrival,
he established a new organization – the La Liga Filipina, a secret society that embodied
the ideas Rizal presented in El Filibusterismo. This included the calls for the provision of
mutual protection, defense against all injustices, and promotion of instruction and
education among Filipinos.

SECTION 3: EL FILIBUSTERISMO