A.

INSTRUCTION:

Answer the questions below.

➢Prof. Felipe De Leon Jr. former Chairman of National Commission on

Culture and Arts coined the concept of Doña Victorina syndrome as
cultural malady of colonial mentality. Provide a critical analysis on how
Dr. Rizal dealt with this kind ailment and relate it to the present Filipino
mentality.

Doña Victorina, is the embodiment of the colonial mentalities of the

Filipinos. She’s a Filipino who is shameful of her legacy, claiming she is a
Spanish, who adopts Spanish culture, talks with a fake Spanish accent, and
has a poor perspective on her fellow Filipinos. Rizal used Doña Victorina as a
stereotype character in his novel “Noli Me Tangere” to portray what he sees as
the cancer of the Spanish regime. Rizal unveils in his novel how Filipinos try
very hard to hide their skin instead of being proud to wear their brown skin
and show off their rich dignity and beauty. Today, colonial mentality is one of
the common problem being faced by the country, people prefer foreign things
rather than the local ones. Rizal saw this problem, and that was two centuries
ago, that's why he used Doña Victorina to help Filipino people to be aware of
the worsening condition of colonial mentality in the Philippines.

➢Education is the forefront solution of Dr. Rizal in his first novel Noli Me
Tangere. In the level of analysis, Ibarra represent education based on
Western concept. Explain fully on how the height of enlightenment be
obtained under the very system that altered the Filipino consciousness of
our mindset.

Western ideology is usually linked to Liberalism. It was during the 19th

Century when the liberal ideas enter the Philippines as the illustrados led by
Rizal was encouraged to pursue higher education in the Western countries and
learn liberal ideas in universities of Europe. Liberalism advocates equal rights,
uniqueness and freedom. And as liberal ideas were introduced to the minds of
Rizal and other Filipino reformists, it gradually inspired them to do movements
for independence of their country from Spain.
➢GomBurZa fought for secularization of Parish Churches. Dr. Rizal
invoked Education as his method of Reform. Were these ideas geared
towards the ideology of Nationalism or these were sporadic move based on
personal goals and isolated retaliation against colonizers? Elaborate
substantially your position on this.

I firmly believe that GomBurZa's fight for secularization and Rizal's

invocation of Education as a method of reformation were both geared towards
the ideology of Nationalism. GomBurZa had written propaganda materials
exposing friars' abuses leading to secularization of Philippine parishes and so
the Spanish colonizers executed GomBurZa on subversive allegations. The
three priests' death and martyrdom sparked outrage and indignation among
Filipinos and have influenced the formation of the Propaganda Movement,
which sought reforms and informed Spain about the abuses of its colonial
administration. While Rizal's invocation of education aimed to introduce liberal
ideas to his fellow Filipinos to awaken their minds of the wrongdoings and
abusive undignified and inhumane acts of Spaniards at their own nation and
country. Apparently, both given scenario geared towards the ideology of
Nationalism and not just a sporadic move based on personal goals and isolated
retaliation against colonizers

➢In what context that freedom can be achieved when Dr. Rizal espoused
“…. when people reach this height…. tyranny will crumble like a house of
cards and liberty will shine like the first dawn”? Discuss fully.

Rizal believed that liberty is achieved not by the sword, but by those
people who make themselves deserving of it by elevating their knowledge and
dignity, by valuing justice, right, and greatness to the point of dying for them.
Rizal firmly believed in the power of reason and peace rather than violence to
achieve freedom. Making ourselves worthy of true liberty is the finest way to
ensure it. Our 123 years of freedom is the living proof that his visions come to
pass. God alone provided the weapon as Filipinos stood united in their passion
for freedom and justice. The idols of luxury and power were shattered, and
cruelty crumbled like an unstable house of cards. Though a century had been
passed, let's make ourselves worthy of this freedom that our hero's and
ancestors relentlessly asked.

Sources
https://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/in-focus/beyond-the-dona-
victorina-syndrome/

https://muntingnayon.com/105/105215/

https://www.philippine-history.org/gomburza.htm

https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1986/12/30/speech-of-president-corazon-
aquino-on-rizal-day-december-30-1986/