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O God, wellspring of goodness and blessings, we give you thanks and praise as one Louisian
community. The graces You incessantly grant upon us and Your divine providence have sustained
our beloved University throughout the years of mission and excellence.
Having been founded by the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we pray that You
keep us committed and dedicated to our mission and identity to serve the Church and the society
as we become living witnesses to the Gospel values proclaimed by Jesus. For if we are steadfast
in our good and beautiful mission, our works will bring success not only to ourselves but also to
those whom we are bound to love and serve.
Inspired by St. Louis our Patron Saint, who was filled with a noble spirit that stirred him to love You
above all things , may we also live believing that we are born for a greater purpose and mission as
we dwell in Your presence all the days of our life.
Learning Outcomes: At the end of this module, you are expected to:
J
osé Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, is not only
admired for possessing intellectual brilliance but also for taking
a stand and resisting the Spanish colonial government. While
his death sparked a revolution to overthrow the tyranny, Rizal
will always be remembered for his compassion towards the Filipino
people and the country.
When he enrolled in the Ateneo Municipal de Manila (now referred to as Ateneo De Manila
University), he dropped the last three names from his full name, after his brother’s advice – hence,
his more popular name José Protasio Rizal. His performance in school was outstanding –
winning various poetry contests, impressing his professors with his familiarity of Castilian and other
foreign languages, and crafting literary essays that were critical of the Spanish historical accounts
of pre-colonial Philippine societies.
Apart from being known as an expert in the field of medicine, a poet, and an essayist, Rizal
exhibited other amazing talents. He knew how to paint, sketch, and make sculptures. Because he
lived in Europe for about 10 years, he also became a polyglot – conversant in 22 languages.
Aside from poetry and creative writing, Rizal had varying degrees of expertise in architecture,
sociology, anthropology, fencing, martial arts, and economics to name a few.
But, among his best works, two novels stood out from the rest – Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not)
and El Filibusterismo (The Reign of the Greed).
In both novels, Rizal harshly criticized the Spanish colonial rule in the country and exposed the ills
of Philippine society at the time. And because he wrote about the injustices and brutalities of the
Spaniards in the country, the authorities banned Filipinos from reading the controversial books. Yet
they were not able to ban it completely. As more Filipinos read the books, their eyes opened to the
truth that they were suffering unspeakable abuses at the hands of the friars. These two novels by
Rizal, now considered his literary masterpieces, are said to have indirectly sparked the Philippine
Revolution.
Days before his execution, Rizal bid farewell to his motherland and countrymen through one of his
final letters, entitled Mi último adiós or My Last Farewell. Dr. José Rizal was executed on the
morning of December 30, 1896, in what was then called Bagumbayan (now referred to as Luneta).
Upon hearing the command to shoot him, he faced the squad and uttered in his final breath:
“Consummatum est” (It is finished). According to historical accounts, only one bullet ended the
life of the Filipino martyr and hero.
Rizal wrote this literary poem when he was still studying at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST).
Originally written in Spanish (A la juventud filipina), Rizal submitted this piece for a poem contest
organized for Filipinos by the Manila Lyceum of Art and Literature. At the age of 18, this work is
beaming with strong messages to convince readers, the youth in particular, that they are the hope
of the nation. He also stresses the importance of education to one’s future. Rizal won the first
prize and was rewarded with a feather-shaped silver pen and a diploma.
Addressed to the Filipino women, Rizal’s letter entitled To The Young Women of Malolos reflects
his inheritance and issues reminders to Filipino women. In his letter, he addresses all kinds of
Filipino women – mothers, wives, and even the single women. Throughout this literary piece, he
highlights the qualities that Filipino mothers should possess, the duties of wives to their
husbands and children, and a counsel on how young women should choose their lifetime partners.
The idea behind this letter sparked after he was impressed by the women of Malolos who won the
battle they fought. Rizal advises women to educate themselves, protect their dignity and
honor, and live with good manners – setting up as a role model.
Hymn to labor
Jose Rizal’s patriotism is shown in this poem where he urges his fellowmen to strive and work for
their country whether in war or in peace. This poem was originally written in Tagalog as Imno sa
Paggawa.
Noli Me Tángere
One of the most sought-after books in Philippine literature until today, is Rizal’s famous novel
titled Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not). Driven by his undying love for his country, Rizal wrote the
novel to expose the ills of Philippine society during the Spanish colonial era. At the time, the
Spaniards prohibited the Filipinos from reading the controversial book because of the unlawful acts
depicted in the novel. Yet they were not able to ban it completely and as more Filipinos read the
book, it opened their eyes to the truth that they were being manhandled by the friars. In this
revolutionary book, you’ll learn the story of Crisostomo Ibarra, how he dealt with Spanish
authorities, and how he prepared for his revenge, as told in Rizal’s second book, El
Filibusterismo.
El Filibusterismo
This is Rizal’s sequel to his first book, Noli Me Tángere. In El Filibusterismo (The Reign of the
Greed), the novel exhibits a dark theme (as opposed to the hopeful atmosphere in the first novel)
in which it depicts the country’s issues and how the protagonist attempts a reform. The story takes
place 13 years after Noli Me Tángere, where revolutionary protagonist Crisostomo Ibarra is now
under the guise of Simoun – a wealthy jewelry tycoon. Because the novel also portrays the abuse,
corruption, and discrimination of the Spaniards towards Filipinos, it was also banned in the country
RIZAL 1013- Life and works of Rizal | 7
at the time. Rizal dedicated his second novel to the GOMBURZA – the Filipino priests named
Mariano Gomez, Jose Apolonio Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora who were executed on charges of
subversion. The two novels of Rizal, now considered as his literary masterpieces, both indirectly
sparked the Philippine Revolution.
Filipino Nationalism
The earliest signs of Filipino Nationalism could be seen in the writings of Luis Rodriquez Varela,
a Creole educated in liberal France and highly exposed to the romanticism of the age. Knighted
under the Order of Carlos III, Varela was perhaps the only Philippine Creole who was actually
RIZAL 1013- Life and works of Rizal | 8
part of European nobility. The court gazzette in Madrid announce that he was to become a
Conde and from that point on proudly called himself 'Conde Filipino'. He championed the rights of
Filipinos in the islands and slowly made the term applicable to anyone born in the Philippines.
However, by 1823 he was deported together with other creoles (allegedly known as Hijos del
Pais), after being associated with a Creole revolt in Manila led by the Mexican Creole Andres
Novales.
Varela would then retire from politics but his nationalism was carried on by another Creole Padre
Pelaez, who campaigned for the rights of Filipino priests and pressed for secularization of
Philippine parishes. The Latin American revolutions and decline of friar influence in Spain resulted
in the increase of the regular clergy (friars) in the Philippines. Filipino priests were being replaced
by Spanish friars and Pelaez demanded explanation as to the legality of replacing a secular with
regulars—which is in contradiction to the Exponinobis. Pelaez brought the case to the Vatican
almost succeeded if not for an earthquake that cut his career short and the ideology would be
carried by his more militant disciple, Jose Burgos. Burgos in turn died after the infamous Cavite
Mutiny, which was pinned on Burgos as his attempt to start a Creole Revolution and make himself
president or 'reyindio'. The death of Jose Burgos, and the other alleged conspirators Mariano
Gomez and Jacinto Zamora, seemingly ended the entire creole movement in 1872. Governor-
General Rafael de Izquierdo unleashed his reign of terror in order to prevent the spread of the
creole ideology—Filipino nationalism.
But the creole affair was seen by the other natives as a simple family affair—Spaniards born in
Spain against Spaniards born the Philippines. The events of 1872 however invited the other
colored section of the Ilustrado (intellectually enlightened class) to at least do something to
preserve the creole ideals. Seeing the impossibility of a revolution against Izquierdo and the
Governor-General’s brutal reign convinced the ilustrado to get out of the Philippines and continue
propaganda in Europe. This massive propaganda upheaval from 1872 to 1892 is now known as
the Propaganda Movement. Through their writings and orations, Marcelo H. delPilar, Graciano
Lopez Jaena and Jose Rizal sounded the trumpets of Filipino nationalism and brought it to the
level of the masses. Rizal’s Noli me tangere and El filibusterismo rode the increasing anti-Spanish
sentiments in the islands and was pushing the people towards revolution. By July 1892, an
ilustrado mass man in the name of Andres Bonifacio established a revolutionary party based on
the Filipino nationalism that started with ' los hijos del pais'—Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan.
Ideology turned into revolution and gave Asia its first anti-imperialist/nationalist revolution by the
last week of August 1896.
The opening of Manila (1834) and other parts of the Philippine to foreign trade brought not only
economic prosperity to the country but also a remarkable transformation in the life of the Filipinos.
As the people prospered, their standard of living improved. They came into contact with foreign
ideas and with travelers from foreign lands. They read periodicals and books, including those
brought in from abroad. As a result, their mental horizons were broadened. They became
discontented with the old order of things and wanted social and political changes that were in
harmony with the freer spirit of the times.
Economic prosperity produced a new class of Filipinos–the intelligentsia–educated, widely read,
and enlightened individuals. Many Filipinos had learned Spanish, and some knew other Western
languages such as French, English, and German. Boldly patriotic, they discussed social and
economic problems and advocated reforms to remedy the evils of colonialism. Many of them sent
their children to colleges and universities not only in Manila but in Europe too. From the
intelligentsia came patriotic leaders who sowed the seeds of Filipino nationalism. Among these
were Father Pedro Pelaez, Father Jose Burgos, Dr. Jose Rizal, Marcelo H. delPilar, the Luna
Brothers (Juan and Antonio), Jose ma. Panganiban, Mariano Ponce, Graciano Lopez Jaena and
Pedro A. Paterno.
Through the newly opened ports of the Philippines streamed liberal and modern idea. These ideas
were contained in books and periodicals brought in by ships form Europe. These included ideas of
freedom of the American and French revolutions and enlightened thoughts of Montesquieu,
Rousseau, Voltaire, Locke, Jefferson, and other philosophers of freedom. The Filipinos began to
wonder at the deplorable situation in the Philippines. In their minds sprouted the aspirations for
reforms, justice, and liberty.
The opening of the Suez Canal which was built by Ferdinand de Lesseps to world shipping on
November 17, 1869, linked the Philippines closer to Europe. It promoted the flow of ideas of
RIZAL 1013- Life and works of Rizal | 10
freedom into the Philippines.
This stimulated the economic activities in the country which brought prosperity to some of the
Filipinos but most of all to the Chinese and the Spaniards. It resulted to the rise of a new social
class referred to as “Middle Class” or the “Illustrados”.
Clamored for social and political equality with the colonial masters
With the opening of the Philippines to world trade, European ideas freely penetrated the country in
form of printed books, newspapers, and treatises made available to the natives as they
participated in the process of exchange of goods and products. The new knowledge and current
events they learned and acquired outside affected their ways of living and the manner of their
thinking.
The middle class or the Illustrado family sent members of their family particularly male children to
study abroad. These students would be exposed to European thoughts and would later lead in call
for reforms Filipino patriots and propagandist mostly came from this class.
The Suez Canal was created by a French engineer named Ferdinand de Lesseps
This man-made canal made transportation easier, making the transfer of goods and ideas better
and faster. With the opening of this canal, the distance of travel between Europe and the
Philippines was significantly shortened and brought the country closer to Spain. With this canal,
the trip was reduced to only 32 days. The opening of the Suez Canal facilitated the importation of
books, magazines and newspapers with liberal ideas from Europe and America which eventually
influenced the minds of Jose Rizal and other Filipino reformists. Political thoughts of liberal
thinkers like Jean Jacques Rousseau (Social Contract), John Locke (/two Treatises of
Government), Thomas Paine (Common Sense) and others entered the country (Maguigad &
Muhi 2001; 62).
The opening of this canal in 1869 further stimulated the local economy which give rise—as already
mentioned above--to the creation of the middle class of mestizos and illustrados in the
19th century. The shortened route has also encouraged the ilustrados led by Rizal to pursue
higher studies abroad and learn liberal and scientific ideas in the universities of Europe. Their
RIZAL 1013- Life and works of Rizal | 12
social interaction with liberals in foreign lands has influenced their thinking on politics and
nationhood.
The rule of the first liberal governor general in the person of General de la Torre became
significant in the birth of national consciousness in the 19th century. De la Torre’s liberal and pro-
people governance had given Rizal and the Filipinos during this period a foretaste of a democratic
rule and way of life. De la Torre put into practice his liberal and democratic ways by avoiding luxury
and living a simple life. During his two-year term, Governor De la Torre had many
significant achievements. He encouraged freedom and abolished censorship (Maguigad & Muhi
2001: 63). He recognized the freedom of speech and of the press, which were guaranteed by the
Spanish Constitution. Because of his tolerant policy, Father Jose Burgos and other Filipino priests
were encouraged to pursue their dream of replacing the friars with the Filipino clergy as parish
priests in the country (Zaide 1999: 217).
Governor De la Torre’s greatest achievement was the peaceful solution to the land problem in
Cavite. This province has been the center of agrarian unrest in the country since the 18thcentury
because the Filipino tenants who lost their land had been oppressed by Spanish landlords.
Agrarian uprisings led by the local hero, Eduardo Camerino, erupted several times in Cavite. This
agrarian problem was only solved without bloodshed when Governor De la Torre himself went to
Cavite and had a conference with the rebel leader. He pardoned the latter and his followers,
provided them with decent livelihood and appointed them as members of the police force with
Camerino as captain.
It was during his term as governor general that freedom of speech was allowed among the
Filipinos
De la Torre was a well-loved leader because he was concern with the needs of the natives
He ordered the abolition of flogging as punishment for military disobedience
NATIONALISM
Acquiring a better understanding of Rizal’s life demands a deeper and more profound analysis of
his life and writings. His firm beliefs were the results of what he had seen and experienced during
his European days. Thus, to clear up vague thoughts about him requires a glimpse into his past.
Rizal was one of the elites who demands changes in the Philippine government during the Spanish
colonization.
Together with his other ilustrado friends, Rizal voiced the inclusion of Filipinos as
representatives in the Cortes.
Filipinization in churches and equal rights were among the requests made by Rizal to the
Spanish government.
Rizal fought for equality with the Spaniards. Rizal and his fellow ilustrados wanted to
acquire the same education and wealth as the Spanish students and families in the
Philippines have.
The unheard cries of the natives and the increasing fame of Rizal fueled revolts in the country. The
natives organized groups and continued to engage in bloody battles to acquire reforms and
democracy. Rizal’s writings made a huge impact on the minds of the native who wished to break
free from the abuses of the Spaniards. When Rizal was imprisoned, numerous plans to break him
out of jail were initiated by the revolting group but none of them prospered as Rizal preferred to
engage in a bloodless battle for independence.
The dilemma that Rizal faced was depicted in his two famous novels, the Noli and El Fili
In Noli Me Tangere, Rizal was represented by both Elias and Ibarra.
In the chapter, “Voice of the Hunted,” Elias believed in the need for radical reforms in the armed
forces, priesthood, and administrative justice system. While, Ibarra did not agree with the
reforms Elias wanted and believed in the power of the authorities and the need for necessary
evil.
In the chapter, “Elias’ Story,” Elias saw the need for an armed struggle and resistance against
the opposing forces while Ibarra disagreed and believed that education was the key to make
In the chapter “Chase on the Lake,” Elias suddenly had a change of heart; he believed in
reforms while Ibarra became a filibuster, initiating revolution. This change of heart in Ibarra was
a product of hardships and the desire to attain personal vengeance
This trend of vagueness continued in the novel El Fili, were Rizal was reflected in the
characters of Simoun, Basilio, and Padre Florentino.
In the conclusion of the El Fili, Rizal has implied his resolution when in the story, he killed
Simoun, the promoter of revolution, and made Padre Florentino, an advocate of peace.
In real life, Rizal reiterated his stand regarding this issue in his December 15 Manifesto when
he declared that he was against the revolution, and he favored the reform programs, especially
regarding education.
In the process of making circumstances favorable for both, his appeal was for reforms and
education. What would liberate the people was the massive movement of the natives united
against the oppressors. When Rizal died, the natives were able to push through their freedom with
their strong nationalism that had been heated up and strengthened by his artistic and realistic
viewpoints in his writings. He had influenced numerous natives to fight for independence.
The result of independence was very sweet for the Filipinos who fought and died for it, and it was a
regret feel that Rizal was not able to see that the revolution that he did not favor was what
liberated his people.
Nationalism usually springs from the consciousness of a national identity of being one people. It is
that all pervading spirit that binds together men of diverse castes and creeds, clans and colors,
and unites them into one people, one family, one nation with common aspirations and ideals
(Anderson, 1983)
IMAGINED COMMUNITY
NATION
“An imagined political community- and imagined as both inherently limited and sovereign”.
(Benedict Anderson, Imagined Community)
It is an anthropological spirit, then I propose the following definition of the Nation: it is an imagined
community-and imagined as both inherently limited and sovereign.
Text Books:
Anderson, B. 1998. Introduction. In Imagine communities. Reflections on the origins of spread of
nationalism, 1-7. Revised Ed. London and New York: Verso Pasig City
Online References:
Ronica Valdeavilla, The Life and Legacy of José Rizal: National Hero of The Philippines, June2018
Retreived September 3, 2020 https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/the-life-and-legacy-
of-jose-rizal-the-philippines-national-hero/
Ronica Valdeavilla Writer27 April 2018
Retrived September 3, 2020 https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/the-8-most-important-
literary-works-by-jose-rizal/
https://www.joserizal.com/to-the-philippines/
https://www.joserizal.com/hymn-to-labor/#:~:text=Jose%20Rizal's%20patriotism%20is%20shown,in
%20war%20or%20in%20peace
Learning Materials
1. Worksheet (teacher-made)
LEARNING CONTENT
Introduction
J
ose Rizal lived in the nineteenth century, a period
in history when changes in public consciousness
were already being felt and progressive ideas were
being realized. Studying Rizal’s genealogy, therefore,
will lead to a better understanding of how Rizal was
shaped and influence by his family.
LEARNING PROPER
A
s discussed in the previous modules, Rizal was born on
June 19, 1861 in the town of Calamba, province of
Laguna. Calamba, the town with around three to four
thousand inhabitants, is located 54 kilometers south of Manila.
It is found in a heart of a region known for its agricultural
prosperity and is among the major producers of sugar and rice,
with an abundant variety of tropical fruits. On the Southern part
of the town lies the majestic Mount Makiling, and on the other
side is the Lake called Laguna the Bay. The wonders of
Rizal’s father, Francisco Mercado, was a wealthy farmer who leased lands from the Dominican
Friars. Francisco’s earliest ancestors were Siang-co and Zun-nio, who later gave birth to Lamco.
Lam-co is said to have come from the district of Fujian in Southern China and migrated to the
Philippines in the late 1600’s. In 1967, he was baptized in Binondo, adopting “Domingo” as his first
name. He married Ines de la Rosa of a known entrepreneurial family in Binondo. Domingo and
Ines later settled in the estate of San Isidro Labrador, owned by the Dominicans. In 1731, they had
a son whom they named Francisco Mercado. The surname Mercado, which means “market,” was
a common surname adopted by many Chinese merchants at that time (Reyno, 2012).
Francisco Mercado became one of the richest in Biñan and owned the largest herd of carabaos.
He was also active in local politics and was elected as capitan del pueblo in 1783. He had a son
named Juan Mercado who was also elected as capitan del pueblo in 1808, 1813, and 1823.
(Reyno, 2012).
Juan Mercado married Cirila Alejandra, a native of Biñan. They had 13 children, including
Francisco Engracio, the father of Jose Rizal. Following Governor Narcisco Claveria’s decree in
1849 which ordered the Filipinos to adopt Spanish surnames, Francisco Engracio added the
surname “Rizal,” form the word “racial” meaning “green field”, as he later settled in the town of
Calamba as a framer growing sugar cane,
rice, and indigo. Being in a privileged family,
Francisco Engracio (1818-1898) had a good
education that started in a Latin school in
Biñan. Afterwards, he attended the College
of San Jose in Manila. IN 1848, Francisco
married Teodora Alonso (1826-1911) who
belonged to the one of the wealthiest
families in Manila. Teodora, whose father
RIZAL 1013- Life and works of Rizal | 19
was a member of the Spanish Cortes, was educated at the College of Sta. Rosa. Rizal described
her as a “woman of more than ordinary culture” and that she is “a mathematician and has read
many books” (letter Blumentritt, November 8, 1888). Because of Francisco and Teodora’s industry
and hard work, their family became prominent member of the principalia class in the town of
Calamba. Their house was among the first concrete houses to be built in the town. Rafael Palma,
one of the first biographers of Jose Rizal, described the family’s house:
From his mother he learnt the primacy of improving oneself- thus growing up
he took pains to comprehend the logic of mathematics; to write poems; to
draw, and sculpt; to paint. Sadly, for all these he earned not only glory but
also the fear of myopic souls.
By taking the lead in running the family’s businesses- farms, flour and sugar
milling, tending a store, even making fruit preserves, aside from running a
household, Teodora imbibed in him the value of working with one’s hands, of
self-reliance and entrepreneurship. And by sharing with others she taught
him generosity and helping to make the world a better place for those who
had less in the material life. All these lessons he applied himself during his
exile in Dapitan, as he improved its community by building a dam; encouraging
the locals to grow fruit trees, establishing a school, even documenting the
local flora and fauna.
His mother also taught him to value hard-earned money and better yet, the
importance of thrift and of denying oneself, and saving part of one’s earnings
as insurance against the vagaries of life. Thus he learned to scrimp and save
despite growing up in comfort and wealth. These would later prove very
RIZAL 1013- Life and works of Rizal | 21
useful to him during his stay in Europe as he struggled with privation,
considering the meager and often delayed allowance that his family sent him
(by then his family was undergoing financial reverses due to land troubles).
Whenever his precious allowance ran out, he went without lunch and supper,
putting up a front before everyone by going out of his dormitory every day to
give the impression that he took his meals outside. But, as he walked the
streets of Berlin or Barcelona, his nostrils would be assailed by the delicious
aroma of the dishes being cooked within buildings and houses, increasing his
hunger pangs and his suffering all the more. Other times he saved up on rent
by foregoing breakfast altogether, his breakfast consisting of biscuits and
water for a month.
Above all, it was from her he learned about obedience, through the story of
the moth that got burned by the flame because he disobeyed his mother
moth’s warning not to get too near the flame. But life as it often happens has
poignant way of turning around, for it was obedience to the Catholic Church,
as his mother taught him, which proved too hard to live by especially when he
struggled with a crisis of faith in its teachings. Teodora took none too gently
his defection from the Church, which she saw was an apostasy from faith
itself.
One of the turning points of his life, which had a profound influence on his
becoming a political activist later on, was the unjust arrest of his mother on
the charge of conspiring to poison a relative, despite the lack of evidence
against her. But what made the arrest even worse was her humiliating
treatment at the hands of authorities who made her walk all the way from
Calamba to the provincial jail in Santa Cruz, which was 50 kilometers far.
There she was imprisoned for two years before gaining her freedom. All
these she took with calm and quiet dignity, which Rizal though only a child of
eleven about to embark on secondary school in Manila would remember and
replicate during his final moments just before a firing squad snuffed out his
meaningful life on that fateful December morn in 1896.
Paciano Rizal was the elder and only brother of Jose Rizal. He supported his brother financially when
he was in school. He was able to send him to Europe to study, with only 700 pesos. He was very
supportive that he gave up his dreams in studying and gave it to his brother. He was then tortured by
the Spaniards when Jose was kept imprisoned in Fort Santiago because he refused to condemn his
younger brother. After the execution of Jose Rizal, Paciano joined the revolution. He then died at the
age of 79 due to Tuberculosis.
Jose Rizal’s other sisters namely; Narcisa, Olympia, Lucia, Maria, Concepcion, Josefa,Trinidad, and
Soledad, weren’t really involved too much in Rizal’s life. Narcisa was a teacher and a musician. It was
said that she could recite almost all the poems made by his younger brother. Olympia, was a telegraph
operator from Manila. Rizal approaches her and sometimes talks about his love life with Segunda
Katigbak. Lucia was the fifth of the Rizal family who was married to Mariano Herbosa. Maria, the sixth
child, married Danile Faustino Cruz of Binan Laguna.
RIZAL 1013- Life and works of Rizal | 23
Concepcion, who was the next child after Rizal, died when she was three. She was also known as
“Concha”. When Concha died of sickness in 1865, Jose mournfully wept at losing her. He later wrote in
his memoir, “When I was four years old, I lost my little sister Concha, and then for the first time I shed
tears caused by love and grief.” From Concha’s life we could learn that not a few children in those
times died young. If records are correct, more than ten of Rizal’s nieces and nephews also died young,
not to mention that Jose’s child himself experienced the same fate.
Josefa, also called “Panngoy” by her family, remained a spinster all throughout his life. She was a
member of Katipunan. Lastly, Soledad the youngest of them all was married to Panteleon Quintero, a
native of Calamba. She also became a teacher and it was said that she is the most educated among
all the sisters.
REFERENCES
Textbooks
Rhodalyn, Wani-Obias et al. (2018). The Life and Works of Jose Rizal. C& E Publishing, Inc
Virlyn Francisco et al. (2018). Rizal, A modular Approach. MINDSHOPPERS CO., INC.
Online
Ma. Cielito G. Reyno, Rizal and The Lessons His Mother Taught Him, September 18, 2012
Retrieved September 15, 2020 https://nhcp.gov.ph/rizal-and-the-lessons-his-mother-taught-him/
Jensen DG. Mañebog Concepcion Rizal: The Hero's First Grief 2013
Retrieved September 15, 2020 https://ourhappyschool.com/history/concepcion-rizal-heros-first-
grief
https://www.scribd.com/document/146670963/Rizal-and-His-Family#:~:text=Rizal%20and%20his
%20siblings%20were,a%20second%20father%20to%20him.
LEARNING CONTENT
Introduction
P
hilippine history is not complete as basis for understanding contemporary society unless it
includes the contributions of the Chinese mestizos to the development of the Philippines as
a nation They played a significant role in the
formation of the Filipino middle class, in the call for reforms,
in the 1898 revolution, and in the formation of Filipino
nationalism
LESSON PROPER
A
s early as the 16th century, the Chinese were already in the Philippine archipelago.
However, some historians asserted that it was during the pre-colonial period that the
Chinese first arrived in the country as merchants between the coasts of Manila and China.
Still, it was only during the Spanish colonial period that Chinese immigrants became prominent in
Philippine society. In 1594, the Spanish Governor Luis Perez Dasmariñas created Binondo as a
permanent settlement for Chinese mestizos who converted to Catholicism. In this part of Manila
Chinese merchants and traders were free to do their business. Binondo also became the place of
intermarriages between Chinese immigrants and Filipino natives, thus the emergence of Chinese
mestizos. As the Chinese population increased, the Spaniards saw them as a threat to their own
rule. They feared that the Chinese would be far less loyal to the Spanish regime than the indios.
Nevertheless, one fact that the Spaniards could not discount then was that the Chinese became
pivotal to their colonial rule because they provided valuable capital to Manila. Thus, despite orders
of expelling all Chinese from the Philippines, Governor Dasmarinas realized that Manila needed
the Chinese for economic reasons.
Chinese mestizo communities, aside from Binondo, emerged in many other parts of the
archipelago. In Manila, notable communities were Santa Cruz and Tondo. In the early 17th
century, more than 100 Chinese individuals were married to native Filipinos in Iloilo, Pampanga,
From the beginning of the Spanish colonial period until 1740, the inhabitants of the Philippines
were classified into three: Spaniards, Indios, and Chinese. As the Chinese mestizo population
grew questions regarding their legal status as inhabitants of the country arose. It was only in 1741
that their legal status was officially established when the whole population of the Philippines was
reclassified into four according to tax payment or tribute. These classes are the (1) Spaniards and
Spanish mestizos, (2) Indios, (3) Chinese, and (4) Chinese mestizos. Spaniards and Spanish
mestizos were not required to pay tribute or tax, whereas the three other classes were required to
pay taxes depending on their income More so, a policy that limited the number of Chinese
individuals who could reside in the Philippines and restricted their area of settlement was
implemented. At the end of the 19th century, there were almost 500,000 Chinese mestizos in the
Philippines with 46,000 living in Manila. A Chinese mestizo then was:
The expulsion of Chinese immigrants in the Philippines enabled the Chinese mestizos to take over
the markets that the former previously controlled. Chinese mestizos became prominent and
influential figures in the area of industry, commerce, and business during the Spanish colonial
period. They carried on a lucrative commerce by collecting goods from the north and selling them
to Manila and nearby provinces They monopolized the internal trading in the Philippines while the
Spanish mestizos were concerned with foreign trade. The entrepreneurial power of the Chinese
mestizos gave way to the emergence of the Philippine middle class described as "more
active and enterprising, more prudent and pioneering, more oriented to trade and
commerce than the Indios" (Bowring, 1963). They shared economic power in terms of exports and
imports. They became landholders, wholesalers, retailers, and owners of the majority of the artisan
shops.
Aside from contributing to economic stability, another significant role that Chinese mestizos played
in Philippine society was the formation of the Filipino identity. This was evident during the latter
part of the 19th century when they became clearly influential in the economy of the Philippines as
a Spanish colony. This caused the Spaniards to be concerned with the ability of the Chinese
mestizos to cause discord in society. By 1800s, Chinese mestizos in the provinces began to form
opinions regarding the Spanish colonial rule. It was also difficult to separate the Indios from the
Chinese mestizos since they identified themselves with each other socially and culturally. Chinese
mestizos shared grievances with the Indios about the harsh conditions under the Spanish rule.
Spaniards feared that the independent mindset and liberalism of Chinese mestizos might influence
RIZAL 1013- Life and works of Rizal | 27
the political consciousness of Indios. Evidently, this emergent middle class, the Chinese mestizos,
rekindled and intensified the growing national opposition to colonial abuses and demanded
sweeping social reforms.
The most vivid manifestation of the budding sense of Filipino nationalism appeared in the late
1870s in the writings of Pedro Paterno and Gregorio Sanciano, who were both Chinese mestizos.
Paterno and Sancianco wrote about the essence of being a Filipino, defended the dignity of the
Filipinos, and explained the supposed indolence of the Indios. Their writings were nurtured by Jose
Rizal, a known pride of the Malay race but also a Chinese mestizo. Rizal descended from a pure
Chinese ancestor and a long line of Chinese mestizos and mestizas.
The significant role of the Chinese mestizos in the making of the nation was highly evident at the
turn of the century. Their involvement in the armed revolt against the colonizers showed that they
recognized Spain as the enemy--the oppressor. The Philippine Revolution of 1896 to 1898 was the
act of determination on the part of Filipinos-Indios and Chinese mestizos alike-to claim for
themselves and for future generations the incomparable birthright of nationhood.
Through his novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Rizal exposed the abuses and
corruption of the Spanish authorities, condemned the oppression of the people by the colonizers,
and ridiculed the hypocrisy and overbearing attitude of the Spanish friars. He also depicted the
bloody revolution that sparked people's fury and eventually led them to revolt. At the same time, as
a sign of his contempt towards Chinese immigrants in the Philippines, his novels brimmed with
insults and scorn for them.
Rizal clearly manifested his anti-Chinese feelings in his writings, as well as in his correspondence
with family and friends. By virtue of his lineage, Rizal could have had a special connection with the
Chinese, but such was not the case.
The concern on whether Rizal's disdain over his Chinese lineage made him less of a hero is not
something to argue about Chinese mestizo or not, Rizal is a nationalist and a Filipino
The Philippine society felt the impact of the developing economy. As a result, social relations
underwent redefinitions and the changing dynamics brought about a renegotiation of social
stratification. With the growing relevance of the mestizo population, new lines were drawn with the
following social strata:
As the Spaniards lost economic power in the nineteenth century, they asserted dominance by
virtue of their race. This issue brought complications with the rising principalia and mestizo
populations who realized their indispensable position in society as movers and facilitators of the
economy. The renegotiation continued throughout the century as the mestizos and the principalia
elite eventually demanded social recognition that the pure-blooded Spaniards had consistently
denied them.
These wealthy mestizos and members of the principalia continued to amass economic and cultural
capital. They also availed themselves the opportunity to obtain higher degrees of education not
only in Philippines but also in Europe. These activities augmented their relevance in society as it
was from these ranks that articulations of nationalism would emerge.
References
Textbooks
Rhodalyn, Wani-Obias et al. (2018). The Life and Works of Jose Rizal. C& E Publishing, Inc
Virlyn Francisco et al. (2018). Rizal, A modular Approach. MINDSHOPPERS CO., INC.
Online
https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/bitstream/handle/1808/1129/CEAS.1964.n10.pdf?sequence=1
Name: Scores:
Course and Year: Contact No.:
Instructor Code:
LEARNING TASK 1
ESSAY
Instruction: Answer the question below then write your answer in the box. Answer in 4-5 sentences
only. Your essay will be grade based on this rubric:
RIZAL 1013- Life and works of Rizal | 30
Criteria Points
Content 10
Organization of ideas 7
Grammar 3
Total 20
1. What were the implications of the emergence of Chinese mestizos in Philippine society?
2. Instruction: Make a reaction paper of 7-10 sentences considering the above quoted statement
and make a passage similar to the one above as a conclusion.
TRUE OR FALSE
Instruction: Read the following questions below then determine if it is correct or not. Write TRUE if
it is correct and if otherwise, write FALSE. (10 points)
ESSAY
Instruction: Read the following questions below and give your answers in the box provided. You
will be graded according to the given rubrics below.
Criteria Points
Content 20
Organization of ideas 7
Grammar 3
Total 30
1. Is Dr. Jose Rizal a nationalist or a patriot? Explain well your answer. A mere yes or no will not
be given points. (15 points)