Annotations of Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas

The Purpose
Like almost all of you, I was born and brought up in ignorance of our country's past and so,
without knowledge or authority to speak of what I neither saw nor have studied, I dream it
necessary to quote the testimony of an illustrious Spaniard who in the beginning of the new era
controlled the destinies of the Philippines and had personal knowledge of our ancient nationality
and in its last days.

- Dr. Jose Rizal

The Content
1. It talks about events from 1493-1603.
2. First published book about the Philippines showing the political, social, & economic
systems.
3. Showed the country under the Spaniards, Spanish trade policies, communication with
Japan, China, & missionary movements.
4. The envious motives of the Portuguese, & the danger of sea-sailing.

What is Annotation?

A note or explanation or comment (the annotator agrees or not) added to a text.

Rizal annotated Morga's book and printed new editions whose foreword or introduction was
written by Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt.

Jose Rizal Annotated the Book of Morga in 4 parts:

1. Belief

2. Social

3. Language

4. Lifestyle

Morga’s Beliefs Rizal’s Beliefs

 Taking a bathe without regard to
whether this might be injurious to
their health
 Crocodiles that are larger in size are
superior to the natives
 These reptiles are involved in the
oaths and execrations hurdle to the
hated people – even among
Christians.
 There were no priests or men of
religion to attend to religious matters
except old men sorcerers and
 Indios are very careful not to take a
bath during siesta, after luncheon,
first two days of catarrh, etc. This is
believed to be a hygienic custom.
 There had been friars eaten by
crocodiles while Indios escaped
 These priests, "Catalona or Babaylan"
were well-dressed rich people that
were not honored because they were
considered loafers. The case of
Francisco Amandao is proof that he
offered half of his body to the anitus
 wizards. People believed in omens
and superstitions which the devil
inspired them to do, so that they
could tell whether the sick person
would live or die.
Morga’s Social
 Namamahay are those who help build
their master's house, serve frequently
as helpers when there are guests, and
serve their master when the master
requires them to, without
compensation.
 The groom contributes a dowry, that
he had received from his parents,
while the bride does not bring
anything until she inherits some from
her parents.
 Morga said that in every island or
province, many principals were known
among the people some being more
important and having followers which
families and barrios obeyed and
respected. These known individuals or
families formed friendships and
relationships with each other and
sometimes, due to differences, even
wars.
Morga’s Language
 He said that a house with the parents
and children in a room together is
called "bahandin".
 According to Morga, "Inasawa" is a
wife married to a native man.
Morga’s Lifestyle
 A lawlaw is a very small fish which is
netted, dried in the sun or air, then
cooked in various ways.
and later on the other half was
paralyzed, this is believed to be
"public testimony of heathenism".
Rizal’s Social
 Namamahay slaves still exist but they
are now called 'kasama', they are now
partners or laborers of a capitalist or
farmer.
 A Filipino woman helps his husband
and is not seen as a burden when
they get married. To a man, marrying
means getting introduced to a lifestyle
that a bachelor is not accustomed to,
especially in terms of economy, or
finances.
 Rizal pointed out that 'friendly
relations' were more common than
those of wars.
Rizal’s Language
 In Tagalog, a house is called
"pamamahay". Rizal said that it is
impossible that bahandin has been
printed for bahayin, because it is an
obsolete derivative.
 "Asawa" is the term called for the wife
of a native man.
Rizal’s Lifestyle
 A lawlaw is called a salted and dried
sardine. He said that Morga seems to
refer to tawilis of Batangas or dilis.
Rizal's Arguments
1. The people of the Philippines had a culture of their own, before the coming of the Spaniards.

2. Filipinos were decimated, demoralized, exploited, and ruined by the Spanish colonization.

3. The present state of the Philippines was not necessarily superior to its past.

4. It is one of the important works on the early story of the Spanish colonization of the
Philippines published in Mexico in 1609 by Antonio de Morga.

5. Annotated by Jose Rizal with a prologue by Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt.

What leads Jose Rizal to Sucesos De Las Islas Filipinas?

 Rizal was an earnest seeker of truth and this marked him as a historian.
 He had a burning desire to know exactly the conditions of the Philippines when the
Spaniards came ashore to the islands.
 His theory was that the country was economically self-sufficient and prosperous.
Entertained 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
Philippines' rich tradition and culture.

3 Main Propositions in Rizal's New Edition of Morga's Sucesos

1. In his historical essay, which includes the narration of Philippine colonial history,

2. punctuated as it was with incidences of agony, tension, tragedies and

3. prolonged periods of suffering that many people had been subjected to.