GE9 – Life and Works of Rizal
Name: Vanjeli Janine M. Tiblani Schedule: 5:30 – 7:30 TTH Date: Sept. 26, 2022
Instruction: Give your interpretation of the following texts.
1. On Morga’s and Rizal’s view of Indio’s cuisine.
Views
Morga Their daily fare is composed of: rice crushed in wooden
pillars and when cooked is called morisqueta (this is the
staple throughout the land); cooked fish which they
have in abundance; pork, venison, mountain buffaloes
which they call carabaos, beef and fish which they know
is best when it has started to rot and stink (Retana 1909,
174).
Rizal This is another preoccupation of the Spaniards who, like
any other nation, treat food to which they are not
accustomed or is unknown to them with disgust. The
English, for example, feel horror to see a Spaniard eating
snails. To the Spaniard roast beef is repugnant and he
can- not understand how Steak Tartar or raw beef can
be eaten; the Chinese who have tahuri and eat shark
cannot stand Roquefort cheese etc. etc. This fish that
Morga mentions, that cannot be good until it begins to
rot, is bagoong [salted and fermented fish or shrimp
paste used as a sauce in Filipino cuisine] and those who
have eaten it and tasted it know that it neither is nor
should be rotten (Rizal 1890, 264).
Interpretation
As a first-time visitor to a foreign land, Morga's
view of Filipino food was no longer strange, it
was disgusting. He ended it with the word
"Filipino", considering it is abundant in the
country.
Filipinos have a unique palate, especially when
it comes to food. they came up with something
else
Their appetizing gravy.
Bagoong is a famous sauce in our country. It's
made from fish, so it's delicious to eat
with vegetables. Cebu's lechon sauce is also a
memorable sauce. Bring out the juicy flavor
Lechon. Ilocos also has a special beniger. Goes
very well with many dishes
pocket. For those who want sweets, there is
Latic. delicious coconut syrup
Honey. T is usually used as a sauce for suman.
Finally, patisserie or fish sauce is the extracted
juice
It is a fish that goes well with various Filipino
dishes such as sinigang and niraga. Patisse is a
business
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2. On Blumentritt’s criticism of Rizal’s annotation
Blumentritt’s criticism
My great esteem for your notes does not impede me from
confessing that, more than once, I have observed that you
participate in the error of many modern historians who censure
the events of past centuries according to the concepts that
correspond to contemporary ideas. This should not be so. The
historian should not impute to the men of the sixteenth century
the broad horizon of ideas that moves the nineteenth century.
The second point with which I do not agree is against
Catholicism. I believe that you cannot find the origin of
numerous events regrettable for Spain and for the good name
of the European race in religion, but in the hard behavior and
abuses of many priests (xii)
3. On Isabelo de los Reyes’ comment on Rizal’s Morga
De lo Reyes’ comment
But that very laudable patriotism of his, it seems to me, blinds
him at times, and as an historian ought to be rigorously
impartial, the optimism of the said author [referring to Rizal]
turns out to be passionate in some points, taking exceptions of
the general rule, and vice-versa. The consensus among authors
The gravy is typical of Filipinos. These are just
some of the famous sauces in our country.
He writes in Spanish instead of his native language German.
He praised Rizal's work as "learned and well-thought-out" and
said that Morga's successes are so rare that "one of the few
libraries he possesses looks as if it were an Incan treasure." As
such, we are adhering to it with the same care." He criticized
Rizal's work on two points. He first said that Rizal made the
mistake of many modern historians who judged past events in
the context of contemporary thought and practice. Rizal should
limit his criticism to the Filipino monastic order, which has gone
to great lengths to quell reform demands. Prologue of
Ferdinand Blumentritt.
Interpretation
Delos Reyes wanted to highlight how strongly Rizal feels about
a certain issue. He made the point that, in order to understand
something thoroughly as a historian, you must not only rely on
one dimension but also on other perspectives.
GE9 – Life and Works of Rizal
who had no reason to lie in these cases ought to be taken into
account. The true character of that [pre-Hispanic] civilization
and what is still preserved of it in the present customs of the
people (Quoted in Rizal's reply to de los Reyes, La Solidaridad)
4. On Rizal’s sarcastic reply to de los Reyes’ comment of his annotation
Rizal’s reply
I do not know how discreet it is to raise oneself as a judge of
others . . . [when] neither one or the other was an
eyewitness or more or less an influential actor. But this,
which in anyone else could be censured as vain
presumption, ceases to be so in Mr. Isabelo de los Reyes
who knows very well how to interpret the historians of the
Philippine
As I based my assertion on seven contemporary writers, I do
not know if in this case, I shall be the exception and de los
Reyes the general rule. I know that the authority of de los
Reyes is worth seven times more than mine; but with my
seven authors and he with his Fr. Rada, we can balance
ourselves, if he does not take offense... dealing with
historical facts, only the testimony of contemporaries can
be authori- tative, a testimony that ought to be subjected to
the processes of criti- cism (ibid.)
Interpretation
Delos Reyes frequently used phrases from the Philippines in
his writing, particularly those in his own tongue, Ilocano,
thus Rizal asked him to (mis)translate Morga's "principles"
into Ilocano.
similar, agturay.
When Rizal boasts about his knowledge of original
materials, he is being petulant. However, this
sour conversation provides crucial understanding of Rizal's
beliefs, particularly his Tagalog-centered
viewpoint on history. This historical thesis is not supported
by scholarly research or the validity of
sources, but national pride. History must serve a purpose,
not just to inform but also to shape the present and future.
Those in my country "think right," viewing history not from
the perspective of the Spanish chroniclers but instead
from the perspective of the indios. After washing his hands,
Rizal ends his diatribe.
GE9 – Life and Works of Rizal