- Brindis Speech or toast Speech of Jose Rizal

- “Brindis” is a Spanish word of “toast”

- Brindis speech is a magnificent speech delivered by Jose Rizal at Restaurant Ingles,in Madrid
Spain that attended by prominent Spanish artist, newspapermen, and men-of-letters,
statesmen and Filipino as well. The speech was Rizal’s toast to the triumph of Juan Luna and
Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo. This magnificent speech was greeted with wild ovations, for seldom
the Spaniards hear such an oration from the lips of a brown Filipino.

- On June 25, 1884, Jose Rizal gave a toast with his speech “ The Brindis” to honor Juan Luna and
Felix Hidalgo’s victory at The National Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid.
- It was held at banquet in the restaurant Ingles in Madrid, Spain.
- There were diverse audience who attended this gathering most of which are compatriots of the
painters, and also there were Filipino’s and Spaniards
* There were also Filipino students studying in Spain that time and they are also involved in the
reform movement , so they were there to participate

- Juan Luna is one of the Filipino painter who had won an award. Juan Luna won the first prize for
his work Spoliarium. The painting depicts a powerful and somber scene set in ancient Rome. He
spent 8 months completing the painting . The word "Spoliarium" itself refers to the basement of
the Roman coliseum where the bodies of a group of fallen gladiators who have just finished a
brutal battle in the arena. They are depicted as lifeless, injured, and exhausted, lying on the
floor. Some are still partially clad in their armor, while others are completely stripped of it.
Together with other works of Spanish academy, the spoliarium was on exhibit in Rome in April
1884.

- Felix Hidalgo’s winning was a landmark achievement that proved the ability of Filipino’s to
match the work of Spaniards and laid the claim that Filipino’s participation in European culture.
The painting portrays a group of Christian virgins who are exposed to a hostile and menacing
crowd. The virgins are typically depicted as young women dressed in white or pale garments,
symbolizing their purity and innocence led out, stolen from, and ridiculed. In contrast, the crowd
surrounding them appears aggressive and threatening.
* about his painting : one of the women is post-seated naked at the foreground of the painting
with her head bow and misery the semi-nude woman have been stripped not only of their
garments but also their dignity . The woman are young virgins cornered by a mobbed sexually
hungry roman men. One of the men as his hand over one seminal female whose eyes are
looking up to the heaven asking and begging for help that never comes .

- At the first few parts of Rizal’s speech, he described with much romanticism like he is circled by
“men of heart” and “where noble emotions dwell” and the air is full of empathetic good feeling.
 *Why did Rizal chose to used flowery terms and eloquent language in his speech?
At the time said, the Philippines were under much oppression by Spanish friars ;
so talking about those kind of things would result to being termed as filibuster. Rizal was well
aware of the political climate in the Philippines and the need to navigate it carefully. His
speeches and writings often employed indirect and metaphorical language to convey his
messages, allowing him to criticize colonial rule and injustice while avoiding direct confrontation
with the authorities. Rizal's writings and speeches were closely monitored by colonial
authorities, and he needed to ensure that his message could reach the intended audience
without being suppressed. The underlying purpose of the address was to convince Spaniards of
the need for reform and equality for Filipinos.

- Rizal fearlessly exclaims the reason why they are gathered and that is to signify an achievement
that had shed light into what has turned out to be a dark society as the painting itself portrays.

- He also gives praise to Hidalgo for illuminating the different ends of the globe and how high a
respect he has for them.

- The notable achievements are no longer limited within the boundaries of one's homeland. It
can be understood that individuals from this culture or region are undergoing a transformative
process, breaking away from their previous limitations, and pursuing their potential on a
broader stage.

- Jose Rizal noted when he was giving a speech, the spoliarium represented the significance and
essence of the Filipino’s social, moral, and political that includes humanity in severe ordeal
humanity and redeem reason. The idealism in an open struggle with prejudice, a funny seem
injustice. He actually indicated the purpose of Juan Luna for painting spoliarium which is painted
to awaken Filipinos from ignorance, blindness, mental darkness, and oppression. Then as he
talks regarding the spoliarium he claims that the canvas is “not mute” the shadow in the
darkness portrays the slavery, oppression, horror, and misery going on as an orphan faced their
faith likewise during those times the friars who enslave the Filipino’s persecute those who take
legal action .