Letter to the Young Women of Malolos

Highlighted – means not included in PPT

Introduction - PAQUIBOT

- Brief History

Mga kababayang dalaga ng Malolos, also known by its alternative English title “To the
young women of Malolos”, is a letter written by Filipino author and political reformer José Rizal
on February 22, 1889. It is written in Tagalog and is addressed to a group of women from
Malolos, Bulacan who successfully lobbied the Spanish colonial government to allow them to
open a school so that they could study the Spanish language.

WHO: 20 women from prominent Chinese-Filipino families in Malolos, Bulacan.

WHAT: Signed and presented a letter to Governor-General Valeriano Weyler on Dec. 12,
1888

WHY: They requested to open a night school where they could be taught the Spanish
language.

SO: Marcelo H. del Pilar asked Rizal who is in London, to write a letter in Tagalog to
these women

- Rizal’s Message to Filipino Women

Jose Rizal was greatly impressed by the fighting spirit that the young women of Malolos
had shown. In his letter, he expresses great joy and satisfaction over the battle they had
fought. In this portion of Rizal’s letter, it is obvious that his ultimate desire was for women to
be offered the same opportunities as those received by men in terms of education. During
those days young girls were not sent to school because of the universal notion that they would
soon only be taken as wives and stay at home with the children. Rizal, however, emphasizes
freedom of thought and the right to education, which must be granted to both boys and girls
alike.

 Jose Rizal was greatly impressed by the fighting spirit that the young women of Malolos
had shown.
 Letter to the Young Women of Malolos

 He expresses great joy and satisfaction over the battle they had fought.
 His ultimate desire was for women to be offered the same opportunities as those
received by men in terms of education.

Body – PAQUIBOT & PASTRANA

- Main Points

The salient points contained in this letter are as follows:

1. The rejection of the spiritual authority of the friars – not all the priests in the country at
that time embodied the true spirit of Christ and His Church. Most of them were
corrupted by worldly desires and used worldly methods to effect change and force
discipline among the people.
2. The defense of the private judgment
3. Qualities Filipino mothers need to possess – as evidenced by this portion of his letter,
Rizal is greatly concerned about the welfare of Filipino children and the homes they
grow up in.
4. Duties and responsibilities of Filipino mothers to their children
5. Duties and responsibilities of a wife to her husband – Filipino women are known to be
submissive, tender, and loving. Rizal states in this portion of his letter how Filipino
women ought to be as wives, to preserve the identity of the race.
6. Counsel to young women on their choice of a lifetime partner

- Qualities Mothers must Possess

Rizal enumerates the qualities Filipino mothers must possess:

1. Be a noble wife.
2. Rear her children in the service of the state – here Rizal gives reference to the women of
Sparta who embody this quality
3. Set standards of behavior for men around her.

- The Responsibilities of Filipino Mothers to their Children

 Letter to the Young Women of Malolos

Rizal stipulates several important points in this portion of his letter to the young women of
Malolos. The central idea here, however, is that whatever a mother shows to her children is
what the children will become also. If the mother is always kissing the hand of the friars in
submission, then her children will grow up to be sycophants and mindless fools who do
nothing, but do as they are told, even if the very nature of the task would violate their rights as
individuals.

“To the Women of Malolos” centers around five salient points (Zaide &Zaide, 1999):

1. Filipino mothers should teach their children the love of God, country, and fellow men.
2. Filipino mothers should be glad and honored, like Spartan mothers, to offer their sons in
defense of their country.
3. Filipino women should know how to protect their dignity and honor.
4. Filipino women should educate themselves aside of retaining their good racial values.
5. Faith is not merely reciting prayers and wearing religious pictures. It is living the real
Christian way with good morals and manners.

- Rizal’s Advice to Unmarried Men and Women

Jose Rizal points out to unmarried women that they should not be easily taken by
appearances and looks, because these can be very deceiving. Instead, they should take heed of
men’s firmness of character and lofty ideas.

Rizal points out three things that a young woman must look for in a man she intends to
be her husband:

1. A noble and honored name

2. A manly heart
3. A high spirit incapable of being satisfied with engendering slaves.
 Letter to the Young Women of Malolos

Closing – PASTRANA

- Purpose of Rizal’s Letter

1. Urge women to rise up

2. Help them recognize their role in the society through his message

3. Empower them to stand for their rights

4. Encourage them to refuse to submit to oppressors

- Conclusion

These characteristics seem to be slowly fading away in the behavior of Filipino women in
recent years. Mothers frequently find themselves neglecting their parental responsibilities
because they are preoccupied with the need to provide for the family and supplement their
husbands' income. Although putting in a lot of effort for the sake of the family has no negative
effects, people must always maintain a sense of balance in their lives. No amount of money or
popularity can make up for failure at home.