A La Juventud Filipina, Sobre la Indolencia de los
Filipinos, and Letter to the Young Women of Malolos
Sobre la Indolencia de los Filipinos by Jose Rizal
Brief History
Language
-The article is originally written in Spanish, meaning
“The Indolence of the Filipino”.
Date Published
-It was published in La Solidaridad in five installments,
from July 15 to September 15, 1890.
Location of publishment
-Published in La Solidaridad in Madrid, Spain.
BACKGROUND
The Indolence of the Filipino was written by Jose Rizal
as a response to accusation of Indio or Malay indolence.
He admits the existence of indolence among the
Filipinos, but stresses that it could be attributed to a
number of reasons.
CAUSES OF INDOLENCE
01. The establishment of the Galleon Trade cut off
all previous associations of the Philippines with
other countries in Asia and the Middle East.
02. Spain also extinguished the natives’ love of
work because of the implementation of forced
labor.
03. Spain did not protect the people against foreign
invaders and pirates.
04. There was a crooked system of education.
05. The Spanish rulers were a bad example to
despise manual labor
06. Gambling was established and widely
propagated during those times.
07. There was a crooked system of religion.
08. The taxes were extremely high, so much so that
a huge portion of what the Filipinos earned
went to the government or to the friars.
A La Juventud Filipina by Jose Rizal
Language
-The poem is written in Spanish, meaning “To
the Filipino Youth”.
Date Presented
-First presented in 1879 when Rizal was 18
years old.
Place Presented
-A literary contest held by the Artistic-Literary
Lyceum of Manila in University of Santo Tomas.
INSPIRATION
-The Philippines, as Rizal’s home/motherland,
and the youth as the key to nation-building.
DEDICATION
-The poem is dedicated to the youth of the
Philippines.
To the Filipino Youth
Translation by Charles E. Derbyshire
ANALYSIS
-Dr. Jose Rizal wanted the Filipino youth to use
their capabilities, talents and skills to stand out
not only for their own praise and success but
also for the praise and success of their own
motherland, the Philippines. He wanted the
Filipino youth to build up their abilities and use
them to help those who are in need. Rizal
challenged the youth through this poem to
refine and nurture their talents in the arts, to
invigorate and reinforce their knowledge of the
sciences, and to look forward and continue their
chain of servitude.
A Letter to The Young Women of Malolos
BY JOSE RIZAL
BRIEF HISTORY
Language
-The letter was written in Tagalog upon the
request of Marcelo H. del Pilar.
Date Written
-Rizal penned the letter and sent it to Marcelo
H. del Pilar on February 22, 1889.
Location
-Rizal was in London when he made the letter.
BRIEF HISTORY
-On December 12, 1888, a group of 20 young
women of Malolos petitioned Governor-General
Weyler for permission to open a “night school”
so that they might study Spanish under Teodoro
Sandiko. Fr. Felipe Garcia, the Spanish parish
priest, objected to the proposal.
-They finally succeeded in obtaining
government approval to their project on the
condition that Señora Guadalupe Reyes should
be their teacher.
-The incident caused a great stir in the
Philippines and in far-away Spain. Del Pilar,
writing in Barcelona on February 17, 1889,
requested Rizal to send a letter in Tagalog to
the brave women of Malolos.
-Accordingly, Rizal, although busy in London
annotating Morga’s book penned this famous
letter and sent it to Del Pilar on February 22,
1889 for transmittal to Malolos.
-Duties and responsibilities of Filipino mothers
to their children
-Duties and responsibilities of a wife to her
husband
-Counsel to young women on their choice of a
lifetime partner
RIZAL’S MESSAGE TO FILIPINO WOMEN
- for women to be offered the same
opportunities as those received by men in
terms of education
-emphasizes on freedom of thought and the
right to education
ANALYSIS

INSPIRATION
-The 20 brave young women of Malolos who
persevered to pursue the establishment of a
night school where they can study Spanish.
DEDICATION
-Rizal dedicated it to all the women – mothers,
wives, the unmarried, etc. and expressed in the
letter everything that he wishes them to keep in
mind.

THE WOMEN OF MALOLOS

Elisea T. Reyes
Juana T. Reyes
Leoncia S. Reyes
Olympia S.A. Reyes
Rufina T. Reyes
Eugenia M. Tanchangco
Aurea M. Tanchangco
Basilia V. Tantoco
Teresa T. Tantoco
Maria T. Tantoco
Anastacia M. Tiongson
Basilia R. Tiongson
Paz R. Tiongson
Aleja R. Tiongson
Mercedes R. Tiongson
Agapita R. Tiongson
Filomena O. Tiongson
Cecilia O. Tiongson
Feliciana O. Tiongson
Alberta S. Uitangcoy

SALIENT POINTS IN THE LETTER (SUMMARY)

-The rejection of the spiritual authority of the
friars
-The defense of private judgment
-Qualities Filipino mothers need to possess
JOSE RIZAL AND PHILIPPINE NATIONALISM –
NATIONAL SYMBOL