“Spirit of the Nation”

1. What is meant by “Spirit of the Nation”? Where was this excerpt quoted from? Explain
Rizal meant in his headnote which was part of his letter to Prof. Blumentritt.

- The Spirit of the Nation can be defined as the nation identity, which is the factors that
made us as a different and unique nation. Spirit of the Nation also means, it is the
unity of the nation, in which we people in this nation is connected by common aspects
such as culture and language. It is us people who gives the meaning of the “Spirit of
the nation”, it depends on us on how the world see us. Spirit of the nation is an
excerpt from the letter to Blumentritt, Epistolario Rizalino, V, Part 1, No.14, p. 78.
The headnote written by Rizal was a message on how the Filipino wanted to be
hispanized, Filipino back then in the era of Spanish era integrated the Spanish
language in education mandated by the Philippine, it made the Filipino very
hypocrite, the headnote was a form of short reminder that we should favor our own
language and give importance to it, for it is the foundation of our nations’ spirit.

2. At that time, according to Rizal’s estimate, how many native dialects were being spoken
by his countrymen?

- At that particular, time according to Rizal there are forty native languages that are
spoken in the different island of the Philippines. Those native dialects are one of the
unique features of our nation, the said dialects are believed to be the original spoken
language in a particular place or locality. The preservation of those language may
consider as keeping a treasure.

3. What was Rizal’s opinion on the learning of Spanish by the whole Filipino people?
According to him, nine of every ten will only be renegades to their native land. Why? To
his mind, what is the importance of a national language to a country?

- He said it was ridiculous for us to learn the Spanish language like we have about 40
native language and add Spanish to it. Learning such language will just give us a hard
time because it will just make confusions and misunderstanding and also will made us
understand one another less and less. Learning such language means denying your
nativity, it will make you a renegade of your native land. Denying your nativity
means denying yourself which means you yourself don’t accept who you are and
instead of embracing your nativity you tend to ignore it and set it aside. Spanish
language is not our native language learning it would just add another set of language
that is not understandable, our native language possesses the “Spirit of our Nation” it
is our core. According to Rizal, the importance of national language is that, it is our
connection from each other and protecting it means’ protecting our country.
4. Why did Rizal consider the Spanish colonial government here an incredible one? On the
other hand, what did he think of people who were trying hard to Hispanize themselves
instead of preserving our native language?

- Because the Spanish colonial Gov’t effort themselves to preserve their own language
by giving it to the people through colonization and also in education. People trying
hard to Hispanize themselves instead of preserving our native language, is ridiculous
and they seemed pretentious. The people who wished to be hispanized were seen as a
renegade of our nation. The willingness of the Filipinos to be educated by Spanish
language were really serious, as far as I remember the Spanish language course is
practiced in schools before especially in college and basics on the grade school.

5. What do you think of the underlying reasons for the ridiculous accusation of both sides?
Explain this fully to whether the consequences were advantageous or disadvantageous to
us people.

- I think I agree with Rizal because it is very crucial to the society to practice their own
dialect to preserve it. The two parties which are the Spaniards and Filipinos, they are
wrong in giving us the Spanish language as a subject in school but there are also some
scenarios that it might be helpful. The consequences are both advantageous and
disadvantageous, the Spanish language may create confusion while Filipino are
willing to take the Spanish language without knowing possible effects.
Thus, using own language or dialect preserves our cultures and it means you accepted
your nationality and who you are.