What are the key themes we can see in Rizal’s letter?

Why does he keep on repeating

points on ignorance, oppression, and education? Is this atmosphere still present today in
the Philippines?

Rizal’s letter addressed to the young women of Malolos speaks facts on women’s rights,
responsibilities and obligations, how unequal men and women were during the spanish
colonization, and how rampant was slavery back then due to the ignorance of Filipinos. Apart
from that, it gives the readers an idea as to how unjust, mischievous, deceiving and selfish the
Spanish priests are during their time. Rizal spoke volume about the misleading principles taught
in churches during their time. The Spanish friars abused their spiritual authority given to them by
the church, which made Rizal doubtful of the teachings of the friars, whether it was for God or
for themselves. For Rizal women empowerment is the best foundation of a great nation, as the
mother/woman holds great responsibility towards influencing her offsprings.

Ignorance of certain facts and truths lead to slavery of onselef or for others. It is a deadly
trap as it encapsulates our being into a slumber of unknown possibilities and prone to
oppression. Oppression is the deadly effect of the marginalized difference between education
and ignorance. The educated have the upper-hand compared to the ignorant, which in turn is
the cause of oppression, because people abuse their authority, power and understanding over
the ignorant. Lastly Rizal kept on repeating about education. Education is the foundation that
serves as a platform for each and every one to have a purpose and right in this society. It
negates the risk of oppression and being ignorant. These three points mentioned by Rizal is the
very situation that all people from all nations experience when there is ignorance and lack of
access to education; oppression occurs. This atmosphere of ignorance, oppression, and
education is still present here in the Philippines. And instead of friars, politicians are the ones
acting as the oppressor and the users who abuse their political power and authority in serving
their own selfish interests.

One great evidence of this recurring atmosphere is the Marcos regime and many other
political dynasties present here in our country. The country experienced the greatest debt crisis
during the Marcos regime causing slow projected economic growth for decades, according to
Rappler news. Now this data is very alarming since a lot of registered voters today support the
son of the man who caused the great depression in the Philippine economy. Rizal mentioned
that ignorance paves way for evil. With ignorant voters willing to vote incompetemt leaders into
office, there is no escaping the oppression that this may create. Education is the only answer to
this problem. We should create more citizens who value and influence others to fight for their
right over ignorance and oppression.

Education is not only found in schools, it starts within the households of our family. The
presence of a mother caring for the welfare of her child and teaching her the ways of the world;
that is also education. Which is why the calling for empowered women is very crucial if we want
to repair the nation from all the corrupt politicians leading it. Yes the process may not be quick,
but it is effective. Patriarchal mindsets should be set aside to make way for empowered women
to create empowered children, which in turn creates empowered citizens for better countries
and a better world. Women empowerment is taken lightly not knowing that it is the women of
this country who give birth to young men and women capable of serving this country. We must
set aside our inequalities and stereotypes. We need to live in a society wherein men and women
have equal rights, and wherein men would value every woman as to how they value their own
mothers. And women also need to be educated, be empowered and be a beacon of hope and
light for every man, be they old or young.

Striving for a better nation should start within the household, and this can only be
achieved if education is given importance, politicians should never be idolized, and men should
respect the responsibility of women to help lead an empowered community. This is what Rizal
would have wanted for everyone. A society where the foundation of the people is based on
unbiased and paralleled views in order to make way for education, opportunities, and
constructive reasoning.

LIM, JESTER L.
HIST3 - ACB4