CHAPTER 8: IMAGINING A NATION

 Towards the end of 19th century, economic conditions in the Philippines gad improved in such a way that it
was possible for many creole and mestizo families to send their sons to school not only in Manila but also
in Europe.
 The young Filipino students sojourn to the Peninsula would awaken in their minds ideas about progress
and love for their motherland.
 19th century Spain going through several processes of change. Politically speaking, the restoration put back
into place the monarchy of Alfonso XII and established a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral
legislature.
 The Constitution of 1876 ensured that the political stability relied on the rotation of the Liberal and
Conservative parties in the government. The parliamentary system of two parties, however, was weakened
by managed elections and numerous turnovers of government employees.
 While the Constitution of 1876 declared Catholicism as the religion of the state, private sectors of other
religions was tolerated, CHURCH HAD LITTLE INFLUENCE ON POLITICAL MATTERS
 The ENVIRONMENT where Filipinos immersed themselves, ENVIRONMENT ALLOWED THESE
YOUNG FILIPINO STUDENTS TO THINK, QUESTION, AND IMAGINE WHAT NATION IS.

VOCABULARY WORDS
Cortes – legislative or law making body of the Spanish Government
Creole – a Spaniard born in the Philippines
Mestizo – an individual born of mixed ancestry; may refer to a Spanish mestizo or Chinese Mestizo
Propaganda – Information used to promote or publicize a particular cause or point of view.
Restoration – refers to the Spanish Restoration; a period in Spanish history spanning the years 1874-1931
that saw the restoration of the monarchy under Alfonso XII together with the establishment of a bicameral
legislature

 The earliest attempt to unite Filipino’s studying in Spain was the formation of the Circulo Hispano-
Filipino, an organization under the leadership of a creole, Juan Atayde/
 It had the support of the Spaniards who were sympathetic towards Filipino’s.
 The Cirulo published a bi-weekly newspaper entitled Revista del Circulo Hispano-Filipino in 1882, but
only lasted 1883.
 In 1883, periodical entitled Los Dos Mundos came out with the intention of demanding for the overseas
Hispanic colonies equality of rights and equal opportunities for progress.
 Although it could not be determined wether the newspaper was a Filipino project, Graciano Lopez Jaena
and Pedro Govantes y Azcarraga involved as staff members.
 Other Filipino like Rizal and Eduardo de Lete also contributed articles concern with sicio-political and
economic reforms in the Philippines.
 During the time of Rizal’s 1st novel, Noli Me Tangere, came out 1887, another newspaper titled Espana en
Filipinas began its publication through the support of creoles and mestizos in Madrid.
 The newspaper also short lived because of GLARING DIFFERENCES AND INTERNAL FEUDING
(pagtatalo) AMONG ITS STAFF
 In 1889, Filipino community in Barcelona prepares for the new publication of periodical (a magazine or
newspaper published at regular intervals.) supporters are Mariano Ponce and Pablo Rianzares.
Graciano Lopez Jaena as editor, Marcelo H. Del Pilar also joined the efforts.
 February 15, 1889 La Solidaridad 1st released. 1st article, the staff defined its program as “to combat all
reaction, to impede all retrogression, to applaud and accept every liberal idea, to defend all progress”
newspaper sought (1) Philippines representation in the Cortes, (2) freedom for the press, (3) and the end of
the practice of exiling residents without due process.
 La Solidaridad often ran articles dealing with Spanish politics, attacks on friars, and reforms for the
Philippines.
 Among who contributed articles were Jose Rizal, Dominador Gomez, Jose Maria Panganiban, Antonio
Luna, and renowned Filipinist scholar Ferdinand Blumentritt.
 Del Pilar gradually took on the active role of running the paper, Lopez Jaena editor, and spent most of his
days in cafes and was known to be incapable of sustained work.
 Del Pilar decided to go to Madrid with the paper, and on November 15, 1889 1st issue printed in Madrid
came out
 By 1890, Rizal always held the opinion that to serve the country better, one had to bring the issues closer to
home. One had to speak to the Filipinos, rather than the Spaniards. Del Pilar on the other hand, was a
skilful politician who felt that efforts at persuading the Spanish leaders and officials needed to be continued
and that this was the best way to achieve the reforms Filipino were seeking.
 Things came to a head when at a New Year’s Eve Banquet in 1891, 3 inconclusive ballots on the 1st day
and 2 more ballots on 2nd day and Rizal won because of the Manipulation of Mariano Ponce, few weeks
later Rizal left. Rizal stopped in contributing in La Solidaridad rather focus on writing novels.
 The periodical only last until 1895, because of lack of fund and internal feuding, newspaper release its final
issue on November 15, 1895. In its final issue, its editor, Del Pilar had written “We are persuaded that no
sacrifices are too little to win the rights and the liberty of a nation that is oppressed by slavery”
IMAGINING A NATION

Vocabulary:

Cortes - the legislative or lawmaking body of the Spanish government

Creole - a Spaniard born in the Philippines

Mestizo - an individual born of mixed ancestry; may refer to a Spanish mestizo or a Chinese mestizo

Propaganda - information used to promote or publicize a particular cause or point of view

Restoration - refers to the Spanish restoration; a period in Spanish history spanning the years 1874 - 1931 the saw the
restoration of the monarchy under Alfonso XII together with the establishment of a bicameral legislature.

Introduction

Towards the end of the nineteenth century economic conditions in the Philippines had improved in such a way that it was
possible for many creole and mestizo families to send their sons to school not only in Manila, but also in Europe. The young
Filipino students' sojourn to the Peninsula would awaken in their minds ideas about progress and love for their motherland .

Presentation

At the end of the 19th century, economic conditions had improved in the Philippines.

● Creole and Mestizo family can send their children to Europe to study.
● Filipino students learned the virtue of progress and love for their motherland through their sojourn in the
Peninsula.
● In Europe, Filipino students learned how to think, question, and imagine what a nation is.
● Circulo Hispano-Filipino was the earliest attempt to unite Filipinos studying in Spain.
● It is an organization under the leadership of a creole, Juan Atayde.
● It had the support of Spaniards who were sympathetic towards the Filipinos.
● It published a bi-weekly newspaper titled Revista del Circulo Hispano-Filipino in 1882.
● The newspaper and organization lasted until 1883.
● In 1883, Los Dos Mundos came out with the intention of demanding for the overseas Hispano Colonies equality
of rights and equal opportunities for progress.
● Graciano Lopez Jaena and Pedro Govantes y Azcarraga were staff members.
● Rizal and Eduardo de Lete were article contributors concerned with socio-political and economic reforms in the
Philippines.
● Another newspaper titled Espana en Filipinas started its publication through the support of Filipinos, creoles, and
meztizos in Madrid.
● The newspaper was short-lived due to glaring diffences and internal feuding among its staff.
● La Solidaridad
● It released its first issue on February 15, 1889.
● The staff defined its program as:
● to combat all reactions;
● to impede all retrogression;
● to applaud and accept every liberal idea;
● to defend all progress.
● Reforms sought:
● Philippine representation in the cortes
● Freedom of the press
 ● End of the practice of exiling residents without due process.
● It ran articles dealing with Spanish politics, attacks on friars, and reforms for the Philippines.
● Article contributors:
● Jose Rizal
● Dominador Gomez
● Jose Maria Panganiban
● Antonio Luna
● Ferdinand Blumentritt
● Del Pilar gradually took on the active role of running the paper.
● Lopez Jaena was the editor in name and known to be incapable of sustained work.
● Del Pilar decided to move to Madrid and the paper went with him.
● The first issue printed in Madrid came out on November 15, 1889.
● A month later, Del Pilar took the helm of editorship.
● In 1890, Rizal and Del Pilar had differences with regard to Philippines affairs.
● Rizal believes that to serve the country better, one had to bring the issues closer to home.
● Del Pilar was a skillful politician who felt that efforts at persuading the Spanish leaders and officials needed to be
continued and that this was the best way to achieve the reforms Filipinos were seeking.
● At New Year’s Eve banquet in 1891, Filipinos in Madrid proposed that they elect a leader to unite their community.
● Rizal agreed with the proposal while Del Pilar expressed initial misgivings; nevertheless, the voting took place.
● Rizal won the election, but upon learning that he won due to the manipulation of his friend, Mariano Ponce, he felt
a shallow triumph so he left Madrid.
● The newspaper released its final issue on November 15, 1895.
● Marcelo H. del Pilar wrote his final editorial saying, ‘’We are persuaded that no sacrifices are too little to win
the rights and the liberty of a nation that is oppressed by slavery.’’
Summary

Early efforts to unite the Filipino community in Spain began as early as 1882 and reached its height with the emergence of the
newspaper La Solidaridad in 1889. Journalism became a means for Filipino to engage the Spanish-reading public on issues
concerning the Philippines. Among the reforms they sought were representation in the Spanish Cortes, freedom of the press,
and the end of the practice of exiling Filipino residents without due process. By the mid-1890s, internal feuding and lack of funds
would end the Propaganda Movement while a few Filipinos, like Rizal, would bring the struggle closer to home.