Annotation of Morga’s Sucesos de las Islas
As Deputy Governor in the
Filipinas
Annotation
- short explanation or note added to a text
or image, or the act of adding short
explanations or notes.
- goal is to briefly summarize the source
and/or explain why it is important for a
topic.
- Sucesos means the work of an honest
observer, a versatile bureaucrat, who
knew the workings of the administration
from the inside. Las Islas Filipinas means
“The Philippine Island” in English and was
named in honor of King Philip II of Spain.
Sucesos de Las Islas Filipinas
- One of the important works depicting the
Philippines during the colonization of
Spain,
- written and published based on
experience and observation.
- Written by Antonio De Morga in Mexico
1609
- Said to cover the years 1493 to 1603.
- Recommended by Dr. Ferdinand
Blumentritt, a knowledgeable
Filipinologist and personal friend.
- Rizal found the book while he was in
London at the British Museum’s reading
room.
- Hand-copied the whole 351 pages of the
book and annotated every chapter of it.
- First historical work on the Philippines by
a Filipino and the first history written from
the point of view of the colonized, not the
colonizer.
- The work consists of 8 chapters -- includes
a prologue by Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt.
Antonio de Morga Sánchez Garay
- (1559 – July 21, 1636) Historian.
- was a Spanish lawyer and a high-ranking
colonial official for 43 years, in the
Philippines (1594 to 1604), New Spain and
Peru, where he was president of the
Audiencia for 20 years.
- After being reassigned to Mexico, he
published the book Sucesos de las islas
Filipinas in 1609, considered one of the
most important works on the early history
of the Spanish colonization of the
Philippines.
Philippines, he restored the audiencia.
Also took command of Spanish ships in a
1600 naval battle against Dutch corsairs
but suffered defeat and barely survived.
What led Jose Rizal to Morga’s Work?
- Rizal was an earnest seeker of
truth, and this marked him as
historian.
- His theory was that the country
was economically self-sufficient
and prosperous.
- Entertained by the idea that it had
a lively and vigorous community,
he believed the conquest of the
Spaniards contributed in part to
the decline of the Philippine’s rich
traditions and culture.
- Devoting four months research and
writing and almost a year to get his
manuscript published in Paris in
January 1890.
Why Jose Rizal Chose Morga’s Work?
- Rizal choose Morga to be his primary
source of information on the Philippines
and its people at the point of first contact
with Spain due to its objective,
trustworthy, sympathetic to the indios,
and eyewitness qualities. It was also the
only civil history of the Philippines written
during the colonial period.
Rizal’s purpose of annotating Morga’s work
- Awakening Filipino consciousness to
correct Spanish Conquest and prove
civilization.
Rizal’s Annotations
- The pre-Hispanic Philippines had
advanced culture, high literacy, self-
sufficiency, and smooth foreign relations,
but were decimated, demoralized,
exploited, and ruined by Spanish
colonization.
- Shows that the ancient Filipinos. had
army and navy with artillery and other
implements of warfare.
 - Their prized krises and kampilans for their
magnificent temper, some of them are
richly damascened.
- The Philippines was depopulated,
impoverished, and retorted, with no
confidence in its past.
Corcoa –
Bagoong - salt fish, The Filipinos favorite fish
dish is the bagoong and whoever has tried to eat
it knows that it is not considered improved when
tainted. It neither is, nor ought to be, decayed.
The islands came under Spanish sovereignty and
control through compacts, treaties of friendship
and alliances for reciprocity.
By virtue of the last arrangement, according to
some historians, Magellan lost his life on Mactan,
and the soldiers of Legaspi fought under the
banner of King Tupas of Cebu.
Ferdinand Blumentritt’s Prologue to Sucesos
delas Islas Filipinas
Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt encouraged Rizal to
write about the Philippines' pre-colonial History,
praised his works as "Scholarly and well-thought
out" and noted that few libraries have it. He also
criticized Rizal's explanation on two accounts:
one that Rizal had committed the mistakes of
modern historians and two that Rizal should not
condemn Catholicism.
"SUCESOS" appeared for the first time in the
Philippines in 1958 and is the sixth volume of his
Series of Writings, published by the Jose Rizal
National Centennial Commission.
That the Filipinos were decimated, demoralized,
exploited, and ruined by the Spanish
colonization.
Thus, the present state of the Philippines was not
necessarily superior to its past.
Cebu, which Morga calls "The City of the Most
Holy Name of Jesus," was at first called "The
village of San Miguel."
Noli Me Tangere
- Noli Me Tangere is Latin phrase that
means “Touch me not.” Interestingly, it
was lifted from the Bible, in fact, he wrote
a letter to Felix Hidalgo on March 5, 1887,
where he informed Hidalgo that it was
from the Gospel of Luke. Rizal made a
mistake in citing the Bible as this phrase
was from the Gospel of John, particularly
the chapter 20 verse 17.
- This was when Mary Magdalene tried to
touch the newly risen Jesus and the latter
said, “Touch me not; for I am not yet
ascended to my Father.”
- Additionally, he dedicated his novel to his
country – the Philippines.
JOURNEY TO PUBLICATION
- Rizal’s inspiration in writing his first novel
was Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel entitled
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a novel that portrayed
the pathetic and inhumane conditions of
Negro slaves brought by the brutalities of
American slave-owners.
- This led to Rizal’s idea of creating a novel
that would depict the oppression of the
Spaniards to the Filipinos. He was then a
student at Universidad Central de Madrid.
- On January 2, 1884, during the reunion
of Filipinos at the Paterno’s residence in
Madrid, Rizal proposed to his compatriots
to write a novel about the Philippines.
- This proposal was unanimously approved
by the present Filipinos in the gathering,
among were the Paterno brothers,
Graciano Lopez Jaena, Evaristo Aguirre,
Eduardo de Lete, Julio Llorente, Melecio
Figueroa, and Valentin Ventura.
- Rizal was disappointed by his compatriots'
lack of involvement in the novel, which
was planned to cover all phases of
Philippine life. Instead, they focused on
gambling and flirting with Spanish
women, leading to him having to write the
novel alone.
- Toward the end of 1884, Rizal began
writing the novel in Madrid and finished
about one-half of the novel.
- After completing his studies in the
Universidad Central de Madrid in 1885, he
went to Paris and continued writing until
the third quarter. The last quarter of the
novel was finished in Germany and the
last few chapters were written in
Wilhelmsfeld between April to June 1886
 - On March 21, 1887, the Noli Me Tangere
came off the press. Rizal immediately sent
- One of the darkest periods in Rizal’s life
the first copies of the novel to his intimate
occurred during the winter days of
friends, including Ferdinand Blumentritt,
February 1886 in Berlin, it was the same
Dr. Antonio Ma. Regidor, Graciano Lopez
time he made the final revisions of the
Jaena, Mariano Ponce, and Felix Hidalgo.
manuscript of Noli.
- As a token of gratitude and appreciation,
- He was penniless, sick, and being
he gave Viola the galley proofs of the Noli
hopelessness in the publication of his
carefully rolled around the pen he used in
novel, he almost threw the manuscript of
writing the novel and a complimentary
Noli into the flames.
copy on March 29, 1887. He put an
inscription to it: “To my dear friend,
- Rizal was living his life in misery when his
Maximo Viola, the first to read and
friend Maximo Viola of San Miguel,
appreciate my work.
Bulacan sent him a telegram about his
coming to Berlin. It was before the
SYMBOLISM
Christmas of 1886 when Viola arrived in
- The original cover of the novel was divided
Berlin and was shocked upon seeing the
into two triangles separated by the title
condition of Rizal. He was living in poverty
“Noli Me Tangere”. The upper triangle
and malnourished. Believing on Rizal’s
represents the life situation in Rizal’s time
natural talent and determination in the
while the lower triangle represents the
publication of his novel, Viola lend him
oppression of his countrymen at the
some money for his living expenses and
hands of the Spanish tyranny. The partly
the publication of Noli Me Tangere.
covered text is secret message of Rizal to
his parents:
- Rizal removed the original chapter
twenty-five “Elias at Salome” due to the
expensive cost of publication.
- Lower Triangle (It represents the
oppression of his countrymen at the
- It was on February 21, 1887, when the
hands of Spanish tyranny.)
Noli was finally finished and ready for
o A man in a cassock with hairy feet
printing.
– represents the priests that use
religion as a façade to their dirty
- Together with Viola, Rizal spent days of
doings and to oppress the Indios.
surveying different printing shops in
o Chains – it represents slavery.
Berlin that would offer the cheapest
o Flogs and Whips – it symbolizes the
printing service to his novel. It was
cruelties of the Spaniards.
Berliner Buchdruckrei-Action-
o Bamboo stalk – depiction of the
Gesselschaft that gave the lowest charge
resilience of the Filipinos.
of 300 pesos for 2000 copies of the novel.
o Helmet of Guardia Civil – the
Fact: arrogance of those in authority
Rizal was suspected of being a French spy during
- Upper Triangle (It represents the life
the printing of Noli and given four days to secure
situation in Rizal’s time.)
a passport. With the help of Viola, he went to the
o Silhouette of a Woman – some
Spanish embassy, but the ambassador failed to
claimed that it represents Maria
help him. After an ultimatum, Rizal apologized
Clara, the epitome of a Filipina on
and asked why he would be deported. He
the Spanish times, but it could also
explained that he was a Filipino physician and
represent the motherland –
scientist who was observing the customs and
“Philippines” to which Rizal
lifestyles of the simple inhabitants in Berlin. The
dedicated his novel.
chief police were impressed and allowed him to
o Cross/Crucifix – it is situated above
stay freely in Germany.
the silhouette of a woman which
symbolizes the dominance of the
 church during the Spanish regime;
sufferings.
o Pomelo Blossoms & Laurel Leaves –
both elements symbolized Rizal’s
aspiration for the Filipinos, in
specific, honor and fidelity. As a
common practice during his times,
pomelo blossoms were utilized as a
scent to the air commonly used
during ceremonies and rituals,
whereas laurel leaves were used as
crowns during the Ancient Greek
Olympics to signify the best of all the
bests.
o Burning Torch – it symbolizes rage
and passion.
o Sunflower – this represents a new
beginning, enlightenment.
Originally, Noli Me Tangere was written in
Spanish, however, the English version of the
novel is commonly known as The Social Cancer
Main Characters
▪ Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin - was
a Filipino who studied abroad and was
outspoken, idealistic, and liberal. He was
the son of Don Rafael, a wealthy
businessman in San Diego, and a
childhood friend of Maria Clara. He was
patient and serious, but when provoked,
he became violent and impulsive. He
exemplified Jose Rizal's vision for the
youth of the Philippines.
▪ Maria Clara de los Santos y Alba - Maria
Clara is the (adopted) daughter of Capitan
Tiago and is related to Rizal's childhood
sweetheart, Leonor Rivera. She is
portrayed as a faithful sweetheart, good
friend, and obedient daughter who does
not impose her will except when she
refuses to be married off to Linares.
o She often wore dainty dresses and
religious artifacts (such as rosaries
and a locket that contained a
religious relic (agnos) from St
Peter's boat believed to where
Jesus’s rode in thousand years
ago).
o carries a silk pouch that holds
Ibarra's farewell letter.
o carries a fan which she uses to hide
her face when embarrassed.
• Elias - Elias is a former boatman who
became one of the most wanted criminals
in San Diego. He distrusts human
judgment and prefers God's justice. He
was saved by Ibarra from a crocodile and
thwarted a plot against him. He is said to
be the personification of Andres Bonifacio.
• Padre Damaso Verdolagas - a Franciscan
friar and former parish curate of San
Diego. He is the real father of Mara Clara
and an enemy of Crisóstomo's father,
Rafael Ibarra. He symbolizes the Spanish
friars of Rizal's time, and his actions speak
for the oppression and belittling of the
Indios.
• Pilosopo Tasio - Don Anastasio is known
as Filosofo Tacio (Tacio the Sage) or Tacio
el Loco (Tacio the Insane). He is a pessimist
and untrustful of human altruism and
symbolizes the learned Filipinos who
became disenchanted when they returned
to the Philippines.
Other Supporting Characters Characters in Noli Me
Tangere who are depicted to be victims of poverty and
ignorance.
o Sisa - mother of Basilio and Crispín, who
went insane after losing her sons.
o Crispin - younger son of Sisa who died
from the punishment from the soldiers
from the false accusation of stealing an
amount of money.
o Basilio - Elas, an acolyte tasked to ring
church bells for the Angelus, faced the
dread of losing his brother and his
mother's insanity. He wished Basilio to
bury him in exchange for a chest for his
education.
o Cabesang Tales - A former farmer was
driven to irrationality by circumstances
that revealed the roots of agrarian malaise
in the country.
o Tano - The son of Cabesang Tales is sent
to military service in the Carolinas, leading
to physical and moral distress.
The Undesirables
These are characters that portray the
pervading social cancer in the novels of Rizal.
• Capitan Tiago - Capitan Tiago was
a rich native-born Filipino who
rubbed elbows with the powers that
be during Jose Rizal's time. He
 wanted Maria Clara to marry an
affluent man and quickly
abandoned his support to Ibarra
when the friars disgraced his name.
He symbolized the rich Filipinos
who oppress their fellow
countrymen in exchange for
influence and riches.
• Doña Victorina de los Reyes de
Espadaña - is a classic depiction of
"colonial mentality" which believed
that foreign-related things were
superior and all that connected
with indigenous were inferior.
• Don Tiburcio de Espadaña - The
husband of Dona Victorina is an
ignorant Spaniard who blindly
follows his superior despite the
harm it could cause his victims.
• Doña Consolacion - She is an older
Filipina woman married to the
ensign who is known for her
brutality and encourages her
husband to take action against
Father Salvi. She often pretends to
forget her native language to make
herself more worthy of respect.
•