Dámaso Verdolagas, or Padre Dámaso
NOLI ME TANGERE AND INDOLENCE OF FILIPINOS
WEEK 13
NOLI ME TANGERE
Noli Me Tangere is a novel by Filipino polymath
and national hero José Rizal first published in
1887 in Berlin. Early English translations used
titles like An Eagle Flight (1900) and The Social
Cancer (1912), but more recent translations
have been published using the original Latin
title
Rizal finished the novel on December 1886. At
first, according to one of Rizal' s biographers,
Rizal feared the novel might not be printed, and
that it would remain unread. He was struggling
with financial constraints at the time and
thought it would be hard to pursue printing the
novel. A financial aid came from a friend named
Máximo Viola which helped him print his book
at a fine print media in Berlin named Berliner
BuchdruckereiActiengesellschaft. Rizal at first,
however, hesitated but Viola insisted and ended
up lending Rizal P300 for 2,000 copies; Noli was
eventually printed in Berlin, Germany. The
printing was finished earlier than the estimated
five months. Viola arrived in Berlin in December
1886, and by March 21, 1887, Rizal had sent a
copy of the novel to his friend Blumentritt
CHARACTERS IN NOLI
Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra y Magsalin
commonly referred to the novel as Ibarra or
Crisóstomo, is the protagonist in the story. Son
of a Filipino businessman, Don Rafael Ibarra, he
studied in Europe for seven years.
María Clara de los Santos y Alba
commonly referred to as María Clara, is Ibarra '
s fiancée. She was raised by Capitán Tiago, San
Diego ' s cabeza de barangay and is the most
beautiful and widely celebrated girl in San
Diego.
Don Santiago de los Santos
known by his nickname Tiago and political title
Capitán Tiago is a Filipino businessman and the
cabeza de barangay or head of barangay of the
town of San Diego. He is also the known father
of María Clara.
is a Franciscan friar and the former parish
curate of San Diego. He is best known as a
notorious character that speaks with harsh
words and has been a cruel priest during his
stay in the town.
Elías
is Ibarra ' s mysterious friend and ally. Elías
made his first appearance as a pilot during a
picnic of Ibarra and María Clara and her friends.
He wants to revolutionize the country and to be
freed from Spanish oppression.
Filosofo Tacio
known by his Filipinized name Pilosopo Tasyo is
another major character in the story. Seeking
for reforms from the government, he expresses
his ideals in paper written in a cryptographic
alphabet similar from hieroglyphs and Coptic
figures hoping "that the future generations may
be able to decipher it" and realized the abuse
and oppression done by the conquerors.
Doña Victorina
is an ambitious Filipina who classifies herself as
Spanish and mimics Spanish ladies by putting on
heavy make-up. The novel narrates Doña
Victorina ' s younger days: she had lots of
admirers, but she did not choose any of them
because nobody was a Spaniard. Later on, she
met and married Don Tiburcio de Espadaña, an
official of the customs bureau who is about ten
years her junior. However, their marriage is
childless
Narcisa or Sisa
is the deranged mother of Basilio and Crispín.
Described as beautiful and young, although she
loves her children very much, she cannot
protect them from the beatings of her husband,
Pedro.
Basilio
is Sisa ' s 10-year-old son. An acolyte tasked to
ring the church bells for the Angelus, he faced
the dread of losing his younger brother and the
descent of his mother into insanity. At the end
of the novel, Elías wished Basilio to bury him by
burning in exchange of chest of gold located on
his death ground. He will later play a major role
in El Filibusterismo.
Crispín
is Sisa ' s 7-year-old son. An altar boy, he was
unjustly accused of stealing money from the
church. After failing to force Crispín to return
the money he allegedly stole, Father Salví and
the head sacristan killed him
Padre Hernando de la Sibyla
is a Dominican friar. He is described as short
and has fair skin. He is instructed by an old
priest in his order to watch Crisóstomo Ibarra
Padre Bernardo Salví
is the Franciscan curate of San Diego, secretly
harboring lust for María Clara. He is described
to be very thin and sickly. It is also hinted that
his last name, "Salvi" is the shorter form of
"Salvi" meaning Salvation, or "Salvi" is short for
"Salvaje "
El Alférez Or Alperes
Chief of the Guardia Civil; mortal enemy of the
priests for power in San Diego and husband of
Doña Consolacion
Doña Consolacíon
Wife of the Alférez, nicknamed as la musa de los
guardias civiles (The muse of the Civil Guards)
or la Alféreza, was a former laundrywoman who
passes herself as a Peninsular; best
remembered for her abusive treatment of Sisa
Don Tiburcio De Espadaña
Spanish Quack Doctor who is limp and
submissive to his wife, Doña Victorina.
Teniente Guevara
close friend of Don Rafael Ibarra. He reveals to
Crisóstomo how Don Rafael Ibarra ' s death
came about.
Alfonso Linares
is a distant nephew of Tiburcio de Espanada,
the would-be fiancé of María Clara. Although he
presented himself as a practitioner of law, it
was later revealed that he, just like Don
Tiburcio, is a fraud. He later died due to given
medications of Don Tiburcio.
Tía Isabel
Capitán Tiago ' s cousin, who raised Maria Clara.
Governor General
Unnamed person in the novel, he is the most
powerful official in the Philippines. He has great
disdain for the friars and corrupt officials, and
sympathizes with Ibarra
Don Filipo Lino
Vice mayor of the town of San Diego, leader of
the liberals.
Padre Manuel Martín
linguist curate of a nearby town who delivers
the sermon during San Diego ' s fiesta.
Don Rafael Ibarra
father of Crisóstomo Ibarra. Though he is the
richest man in San Diego, he is also the most
virtuous and generous.
Doña Pía Alba
wife of Capitan Tiago and mother of María
Clara, she died giving birth to her daughter. In
reality, she was raped by Dámaso so she could
bear a child
Don Pedro Y Barramendia
Great-grandfather of Crisóstomo Ibarra who
came from the Basque area of Spain. He started
the misfortunes of Elias ' family
Don Saturnino Ibarra
son of Don Pedro, father of Don Rafael and
grandfather of Crisóstomo Ibarra. He was the
one who developed the town of San Diego. He
was described as a cruel man but was very
clever.
Sinang
Maria Clara ' s friend. Because Crisóstomo
Ibarra offered half of the school he was building
to Sinang, he gained Capitan Basilio ' s support.
Capitán Basilio
Sinang ' s father, leader of the conservatives.
Pedro
Abusive husband of Sisa who loves cockfighting
Tandáng Pablo
leader of the tulisanes (bandits), whose family
was destroyed because of the Spaniards.
Sacristán Mayor
One who governs the altar boys and killed
Crispín for his accusation.
NOLI ME TANGERE PLOT SUMMARY
Having completed his studies in Europe, young
Juan Crisóstomo Ibarra y Magsalin comes back
to the Philippines after a 7-year absence. In his
honor, Don Santiago de los Santos, a family
friend commonly known as Captain Tiago, threw
a get together party, which was attended by
friars and other prominent figures.
One of the guests, former San Diego curate Fray
Dámaso Vardolagas belittled and slandered
Ibarra. Ibarra brushed off the insults and took
no offense; he instead politely excused himself
and left the party because of an allegedly
important task
The next day, Ibarra visits María Clara, his
betrothed, the beautiful daughter of Captain
Tiago and affluent resident of Binondo. Their
long-standing love was clearly manifested in
this meeting, and María Clara cannot help but
reread the letters her sweetheart had written
her before he went to Europe.
Before Ibarra left for San Diego, Lieutenant
Guevara, a Civil Guard, reveals to him the
incidents preceding the death of his father, Don
Rafael Ibarra, a rich hacendero of the town.
According to Guevara, Don Rafael was unjustly
accused of being a heretic, in addition to being
a subservient — an allegation brought forth by
Dámaso because of Don Rafael' s
nonparticipation in the Sacraments, such as
Confession and Mass.
Dámaso ' s animosity against Ibarra ' s father is
aggravated by another incident when Don
Rafael helped out on a fight between a tax
collector and a child fighting, and the former ' s
death was blamed on him, although it was not
deliberate.
Suddenly, all of those who thought ill of him
surfaced with additional complaints. He was
imprisoned, and just when the matter was
almost settled, he died of sickness in jail.
Still not content with what he had done,
Dámaso arranged for Don Rafael' s corpse to be
dug up from the Catholic Church and brought to
a Chinese cemetery, because he thought it
inappropriate to allow a heretic a Catholic burial
ground.
Unfortunately, it was raining and because of the
bothersome weight of the body, the
undertakers decide to throw the corpse into a
nearby lake.
Revenge was not in Ibarra ' s plans, instead he
carried through his father ' s plan of putting up
a school, since he believed that education
would pave the way to his country ' s progress
(all over the novel the author refers to both
Spain and the Philippines as two different
countries as part of a same nation or family,
with Spain seen as the mother and the
Philippines as the daughter).
During the inauguration of the school, Ibarra
would have been killed in a sabotage had Elías
— a mysterious man who had warned Ibarra
earlier of a plot to assassinate him — not saved
him. Instead the hired killer met an unfortunate
incident and died. The sequence of events
proved to be too traumatic for María Clara who
got seriously ill but was luckily cured by the
medicine Ibarra sent.
After the inauguration, Ibarra hosted a
luncheon during which Dámaso, gatecrashing
the luncheon, again insulted him.
Ibarra ignored the priest' s insolence, but when
the latter slandered the memory of his dead
father, he was no longer able to restrain himself
and lunged at Dámaso, prepared to stab him for
his impudence.
As a consequence, Dámaso excommunicated
Ibarra, taking this opportunity to persuade the
alreadyhesitant Tiago to forbid his daughter
from marrying Ibarra.
The friar wished María Clara to marry Linares, a
Peninsular who had just arrived from Spain.
With the help of the Governor-General, Ibarra '
s excommunication was nullified and the
Archbishop decided to accept him as a member
of the Church once again. But, as fate would
have it, some incident of which Ibarra had
known nothing about was blamed on him, and
he is wrongly arrested and imprisoned. The
accusation against him was then overruled
because during the litigation that followed,
nobody could testify that he was indeed
involved.
Unfortunately, his letter to María Clara
somehow got into the hands of the jury and is
manipulated such that it then became evidence
against him by the parish priest, Fray Salví. With
Machiavellian precision, Salví framed Ibarra and
ruined his life just so he could stop him from
marrying María Clara and making the latter his
concubine.
Meanwhile, in Capitan Tiago ' s residence, a
party was being held to announce the upcoming
wedding of María Clara and Linares. Ibarra, with
the help of Elías, took this opportunity to
escape from prison.
Before leaving, Ibarra spoke to María Clara and
accused her of betraying him, thinking that she
gave the letter he wrote her to the jury.
María Clara explained that she would never
conspire against him, but that she was forced to
surrender Ibarra ' s letter to Father Salvi, in
exchange for the letters written by her mother
even before she, María Clara, was born.
The letters were from her mother, Pía Alba, to
Dámaso alluding to their unborn child; and that
María Clara was therefore not Captain Tiago ' s
biological daughter, but Dámaso ' s.
Afterwards, Ibarra and Elías fled by boat. Elías
instructed Ibarra to lie down, covering him with
grass to conceal his presence. As luck would
have it, they were spotted by their enemies.
Elías, thinking he could outsmart them, jumped
into the water. The guards rained shots on him,
all the while not knowing that they were aiming
at the wrong man.
It was Christmas Eve when Elías woke up in the
forest fatally wounded, as it is here where he
instructed Ibarra to meet him. Instead, Elías
found the altar boy Basilio cradling his
alreadydead mother, Sisa.
The latter lost her mind when she learned that
her two sons, Crispín and Basilio, were chased
out of the convent by the sacristan mayor on
suspicions of stealing sacred objects.
(The truth is that, it was the sacristan mayor
who stole the objects and only pinned the
blame on the two boys.
The said sacristan mayor actually killed Crispín
while interrogating him on the supposed
location of the sacred objects. It was implied
that the body was never found and the incident
was covered-up by Salví).
Elías, convinced that he would die soon,
instructs Basilio to build a funeral pyre and burn
his and Sisa ' s bodies to ashes.
He tells Basilio that, if nobody reaches the
place, he come back later on and dig for he will
find gold.
He also tells him (Basilio) to take the gold he
finds and go to school.
In his dying breath, he instructed Basilio to
continue dreaming about freedom for his
motherland with the words: “ I shall die without
seeing the dawn break upon my homeland. You,
who shall see it, salute it! Do not forget those
who have fallen during the night. ”
Elías died thereafter.
In the epilogue, it was explained that Tiago
became addicted to opium and was seen to
frequent the opium house in Binondo to satiate
his addiction.
María Clara became a nun where Salví, who has
lusted after her from the beginning of the novel,
regularly used her to fulfill his lust.
One stormy evening, a beautiful crazy woman
was seen at the top of the convent crying and
cursing the heavens for the fate it has handed
her.
While the woman was never identified, it is
suggested that the said woman was María
SOBRE LA INDOLENCIA DE LOS FILIPINOS
Essay
Published in La Solidaridad
Madrid, Spain (July 15, 1890 –September 15,
1890)
INDOLENT
Idle
Lazy
Little love for work
Lack of activity
Sobre La Indolencia de los Filipinos, more popularly
known in its English version, "The Indolence of the
Filipinos, " is an exploratory essay written by
Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, to explain the
alleged idleness of his people during the Spanish
colonization
The Indolence of the Filipinos is a study of the
causes why the people did not, as was said, work
hard during the Spanish regime. Rizal pointed out
that long before the coming of the Spaniards, the
Filipinos were industrious and hardworking.
CAUSES OF DECLINE IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN THE
PHILIPPINES
1. The stablishment of the Galleon Trade cut off all
previous associations of the Philippines with other
countries in Asia and the Middle East. As a result,
business was only conducted with Spain through
Mexico. Because of this, the small businesses and
handicraft industries that flourished during the
preSpanish period gradually disappeared
2. Spain also extinguished the natives ’ love of work
because of the implementation of forced labor.
Because of the wars between Spain and other
countries in Europe as well as the Muslims in
Mindanao, the Filipinos were compelled to work in
shipyards, roads, and other public works,
abandoning agriculture, industry, and commerce.
3. Spain did not protect the people against foreign
invaders and pirates. With no arms to defend
themselves, the natives were killed, their houses
burned, and their lands destroyed. As a result of
this, the Filipinos were forced to become nomads,
lost interest in cultivating their lands or in rebuilding
the industries that were shut down, and simply
became submissive to the mercy of God.
4. There was a crooked system of education, if it was
to be considered an education. What was being
taught in the schools were repetitive prayers and
other things that could not be used by the students
to lead the country to progress. There were no
courses in Agriculture, Industry, etc., which were
badly needed by the Philippines during those times
5. The Spanish rulers were a bad example to despise
manual labor. The officials reported to work at noon
and left early, all the while doing nothing in line
with their duties. The women were seen constantly
followed by servants who dressed them and fanned
them – personal things which they ought to have
done for themselves.
6. Gambling was established and widely propagated
during those times. Almost every day there were
cockfights, and during feast days, the government
officials and friars were the first to engage in all
sorts of bets and gambles.
7. There was a crooked system of religion. The friars
taught the naïve Filipinos that it was easier for a
poor man to enter heaven, and so they preferred
not to work and remain poor so that they could
easily enter heaven after they died.
Lastly, the taxes were extremely high, so much so that a
huge portion of what they earned went to the
government or to the friars. When the object of their
labor was removed and they were exploited, they were
reduced to inaction.
Rizal admitted that the Filipinos did not work so
hard because they were wise enough to adjust
themselves to the warm, tropical climate. “An
hour’s work under that burning sun, in the midst of
pernicious influences springing from nature in
activity, is equal to a day ’s labor in a temperate
climate. ”
CAUSES OF THE INDOLENCE OF THE FILIPINOS
1. Wars
the inhabitants of the Philippines were dragged
to maintain the honor of Spain (thousands and
thousands of Filipinos were sent but nothing
was said if they ever returned to their homes.)
great diminution of the natives because the
governors got them as crewsfor the vesselsthey
sent out.
2. Pirate attacks
Devastation of the terrible pirates
Reduced more and more the number of
inhabitants of the Philippines
Burned down the towns, captured and enslaved
men
Disarmed and subjected to tributes so that they
were left without the meansto defend
themselves
3. Attitude of the friars
At that time, the friars advised their poor
parishioners:
To stop work in the mines,
To abandon their industries,
To destroy their looms and pointing them that
heaven istheirsole hope
The friars told them that it is easier for a poor
man to enter heaven than for a rich man
4. Lessening encouragement to labor
Trade contact or relations between the
Borneans, Siamese, Cambodians and Japanese
nations were being cut off
The coast wide trade which was flourishing
before disappeared
5. Miserly return for one’s labor
Because of selfish, greedy, mean Encomenderos
who:
Reduced many to slavery
Compelled filipinos to work for their benefit
Made them sell their products at an
insignificant price or for nothing or cheated
them with false measures
Treated them like slaves
6. Gambling
The local word sugal (from the Spanish word jugar,
means to gamble) indicates that gambling was
unknown in the Philippines before the Spaniards
arrived
Balasa – from the Spanish word barajar, the
introduction of playing cards
7. Fiestas
Gave their contribution to large number of
fiestas, lengthy masses, novenae, processions,
rosaries
Filipinos were much less lazy before the word
miracle was introduced into their language
8. Curtailment of individual liberty
Curtail means to cut off, to cut short
Individual liberty is being cut off
Accused of being a filibustero (rebel) or a
suspect
Lack of confidence in the future
Uncertainty of reaping the fruits of their labor
9. Apathy of the government
No encouragement, aid pertaining to commerce
or agriculture
The products coming from the Philippines were
burdened with imposts and duties and have no
free entry in the ports of the mother country
and the consumption of the products are not
encouraged
Due to the fraudulent (dishonest, deceitful)
manipulations of the Chinese, the Filipino
industries were dying
10. Ownership of the big estates by the friars
The best estates, the best tracts of land in some
provinces were in the hands of the religious
corporations
The friars have deceived many by making them
believe that those estates were prospering
because those were under their supervision
11. Lack of moral support
Absence of moral support
Absence of help from the government
Chemist (competitive examination)
Young man won a prize in a literary contest
Education of the Filipino
12. Deprivation of human dignity
The students have to contend with the daily
preaching that lowers human dignity, gradually
or brutally killing theirself-respect
Priests who boldly declared that it is evil for the
Filipinos to know Castilian, that the Filipinos
should not be separated from his carabao, and
that he should not have any further ambition.
13. Feeling of inferiority
Constant plucking (pulling, removing) of the soul
Deadens the energy
Paralyzes all tendency towards advancement
14. Vicious dressing of the intelligence and will
“You can’t do more than old So and So!-
Don’t aspire to be greater than the curate! You
belong to an inferior race! You haven’t any
energy. ”
They say this to the child; and as it is repeated
so often, it has inevitably engraved in his mind
and thence it seals and shapes all his actions.
Ridicules with cruel sarcasm
15. Lack of an ideal for a good worker
The Filipinos’ spirits were GOOD WORKER
transformed according to the taste of the
nation that imposed upon them its God and its
laws
INSTEAD:
Ideal and prototype tanned and muscular
laborer (who should have brought along with
him the useful iron implements and the hoes to
till the fields)
16. Lack of an ideal for a good worker
BUT IT WAS AN:
Aristocratic lord who brought along with
him stamped papers, crucifixes, bulls and
prayer books
AS A RESULT:
The imitative people became clerks, devout,
prayer-loving, acquired ideas of luxurious and
 ostentatious living without improving
correspondingly their means of subsistence
17. Lack of national sentiment
(expression of emotional ideas, feelings, etc.)
Scarcity of any opposition to the measures that
are prejudicial to the people and the absence of
any initiative that will redound to their welfare
Deprived of the right of association, therefore
they were weak and inert (inactive,
unmotivated, passive)
EL FILIBUSTERISMO AND THE PHILIPPINES A
CENTURY HENCE
WEEK 14
EL FILIBUSTERISMO
Filibusterismo (Spanish for "The Filibustering"), also
known by its English alternate title The Reign of
Greed, is the second novel written by Philippine
national hero José Rizal.
It is the sequel to Noli Me Tangere and like the first
book was written in Spanish.
It was first published in 1891 in Ghent, Belgium,
PLOT SUMMARY
Thirteen years after leaving the Philippines,
Crisostomo Ibarra returns as Simoun, a rich jeweler
sporting a beard and blue-tinted glasses, and a
confidant of the Captain-General. Abandoning his
idealism, he becomes a cynical saboteur, seeking
revenge against the Spanish Philippine system
responsible for his misfortunes by plotting a
revolution.
Simoun insinuates himself into Manila high society
and influences every decision of the Captain-
General to mismanage the country's affairs so that a
revolution will break out. He cynically sides with the
upper classes, encouraging them to commit abuses
against the masses to encourage the latter to revolt
against the oppressive Spanish colonial regime.
This time, he does not attempt to fight the
authorities through legal means, but through violent
revolution using the masses. Simoun has reasons for
instigating a revolution. First is to rescue María Clara
from the convent and second, to get rid of ills and
evils of Philippine society.
His true identity is discovered by a now grown-up
Basilio while visiting the grave of his mother, Sisa, as
Simoun was digging near the grave site for his buried
treasures. Simoun spares Basilio's life and asks him
to join in his planned revolution against the
government, egging him on by bringing up the tragic
misfortunes of the latter's family.
Basilio declines the offer as he still hopes that the
country's condition will improve.
Basilio, at this point, is a graduating student of
medicine at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. After
the death of his mother, Sisa, and the disappearance
of his younger brother, Crispin, Basilio heeded the
advice of the dying boatman, Elías, and traveled to
Manila to study.
Basilio was adopted by Captain Tiago after María
Clara entered the convent. With Captain Tiago's
help, Basilio was able to go to Colegio de San Juan de
Letrán where, at first, he is frowned upon by his
peers and teachers not only because of the color of
his skin but also because of his shabby appearance.
Captain Tiago's confessor, Father Irene is making
Captain Tiago's health worse by giving him opium
even as Basilio tries hard to prevent Captain Tiago
from smoking it. He and other students want to
establish a Spanish language academy so that they
can learn to speak and write Spanish despite the
opposition from the Dominican friars of the
Universidad de Santo Tomás.
With the help of a reluctant Father Irene as their
mediator and Don Custodio's decision, the academy
is established; however they will only serve as
caretakers of the school not as the teachers.
Dejected and defeated, they hold a mock celebration
at a pancitería while a spy for the friars witnesses
the proceedings.
Simoun, for his part, keeps in close contact with the
bandit group of Kabesang Tales, a former cabeza de
barangay who suffered misfortunes at the hands of
the friars. Once a farmer owning a prosperous
sugarcane plantation and a cabeza de barangay
(barangay head), he was forced to give everything to
the greedy and unscrupulous Spanish friars.
His son, Tano, who became a civil guard, was
captured by bandits; his daughter Huli had to work
as a maid to get enough ransom money for his
freedom; and his father, Tandang Selo, suffered a
stroke and became mute. Before joining the bandits,
Tales took Simoun's revolver while Simoun was
staying at his house for the night.
As payment, Tales leaves a locket that once
belonged to María Clara. To further strengthen the
revolution, Simoun has Quiroga, a Chinese man
hoping to be appointed consul to the Philippines,
smuggle weapons into the country using Quiroga's
bazaar as a front.
Simoun wishes to attack during a stage play with all
of his enemies in attendance. He, however, abruptly
aborts the attack when he learns from Basilio that
María Clara had died earlier that day in the convent.
A few days after the mock celebration by the
students, the people are agitated when disturbing
posters are found displayed around the city. The
authorities accuse the students present at the
panciteria of agitation and disturbing peace and
have them arrested.
Basilio, although not present at the mock
celebration, is also arrested. Captain Tiago dies after
learning of the incident and as stated in his will -
forged by Irene, all his possessions are given to the
Church, leaving nothing for Basilio. Basilio is left in
prison as the other students are released.
A high official tries to intervene for the release of
Basilio but the Captain- General, bearing grudges
against the high official, coerces him to tender his
resignation. Juli, Basilio's girlfriend and the daughter
of Kabesang Tales, tries to ask Father Camorra's help
upon the advice of an elder woman. Instead of
helping Juli, however, the priest tries to rape her as
he has long-hidden desires for Juli.
Julî, rather than submit to the will of the friar, jumps
over the balcony to her death. Basilio is soon
released with the help of Simoun. Basilio, now a
changed man, after hearing about Juli's suicide,
finally joins Simoun's revolution.
Simoun then tells Basilio his plan at the wedding of
Paulita Gómez and Juanito, Basilio's hunch- backed
classmate. His plan was to conceal an explosive
inside a pomegranate-styled Kerosene lamp that
Simoun will give to the newlyweds as a gift during
the wedding reception.
The reception will take place at the former home of
the late Captain Tiago, which was now filled with
explosives planted by Simoun. According to Simoun,
the lamp will stay lighted for only 20 minutes before
i flickers;
If someone attempts to turn the wick, it will explode
and kill everyone-important members of civil society
and the Church hierarchy-inside the house. Basilio
has a change of heart and attempts to warn Isagani,
his friend and the former boyfriend of Paulita.
Simoun leaves the reception early as planned and
leaves a note behind:
"Mene Thecel Phares." -Juan Crisostomo
Ibarra
Initially thinking that it was simply a bad joke, Father
Salvi recognizes the handwriting and confirms that it
was indeed Ibarra's. As people begin to panic, the
lamp flickers. Father Irene tries to turn the wick up
when Isagani, due to his undying love for Paulita,
bursts in the room and throws the lamp into the
river, sabotaging Simoun's plans.
He escapes by diving into the river as guards chase
after him. He later regrets his impulsive action
because he had contradicted his own belief that he
loved his nation more than Paulita and that the
explosion and revolution could have fulfilled his
ideals for Filipino society.
Simoun, now unmasked as the perpetrator of the
attempted arson and failed revolution, becomes a
fugitive. Wounded and exhausted after he was shot
by the pursuing Guardia Civil, he seeks shelter at the
home of Father Florentino, Isagani's uncle, and
comes under the care of Doctor Tiburcio de
Espadaña, Doña Victorina's husband, who was also
hiding at the house.
Simoun takes poison in order for him not to be
captured alive. Before he dies, he reveals his real
identity to Florentino while they exchange thoughts
about the failure of his revolution and why God
forsook him. Florentino opines that God did not
forsake him and that his plans were not for the
greater good but for personal gain.
Simoun, finally accepting Florentino's explanation,
squeezes his hand and dies. Florentino then takes
Simoun's remaining jewels and throws them into the
Pacific Ocean with the corals hoping that they would
not be used by the greedy, and that when the time
came that it would be used for the greater good,
when the nation would be finally deserving liberty
for themselves, the sea would reveal the treasures.
CHARACTERS OF THE EL FILIBUSTERISMO
SIMOUN – A powerful man who has a great influence
over the Kapitan Heneral. Using this, he plans to destroy
the Spaniards as his vendetta for the sufferings of
Crisostomo Ibarra.
BASILIO – The eldest of Sisa's two sons, now an aspiring
doctor whose medical education was being financed by
Capitan Tiago. He is now at the point of graduation
during the events in the novel.
ISAGANI – Poet and Basilio's best friend; portrayed as
emotional and reactive; Paulita Gómez' boyfriend before
being dumped for fellow student Juanito Peláez
KABESANG TALES – Cabeza Telesforo Juan de Dios, a
former cabeza de barangay of Sagpang, a barangay in San
Diego's neighboring town Tiani, who resurfaced as the
feared Luzón bandit Matanglawin
DON CUSTODIO – Custodio de Salazar y Sánchez de
Monteredondo, a famous "journalist" who was asked by
the students about his decision for the Academia de
Castellano.
MACARAIG – One of Isagani's classmates at the
University of Santo Tomas. He is a rich student and
serves as the leader of the students yearning to build the
Academia de Castellano.
JULI/HULI – Juliana de Dios, the girlfriend of Basilio, and
the youngest daughter of Kabesang Tales. To claim her
father from the bandits, she had to work as a maid under
the supervision of Hermana Penchang.
PAULITA GOMEZ – The girlfriend of Isagani and the niece
of Doña Victorina. In the end, she and Juanito Peláez are
wed, and she dumps Isagani
FATHER FLORENTINO – Isagani's godfather, and a secular
priest; was engaged to be married, but chose to be a
priest after being pressured by his mother
JUANITO PELAEZ – The son of Don Timoteo Pelaez, a
Spanish businessman, he is also one of the members of
Macaraig's gang who wish to have the Academia de
Castellano built.
DOÑA VICTORINA – Victorina delos Reyes de Espadaña,
known in Noli Me Tangere as Tiburcio de Espadaña's
cruel wife.
BEN-ZAYB – The pseudonym of Abraham Ibañez, a
journalist who believes he is the "only" one thinking in
the Philippines.
HERMANA PENCHANG – Sagpang's rich pusakal (ga
mbler). She offers Huli to be her maid so the latter can
obtain money to free Kabesang Tales.
FATHER CAMORRA – The parish priest of Tiani. He has
been desiring young women ever since. He nearly raped
Juli causing the latter to commit suicide.
PLACIDO PENITENTE – A student of the University of
Santo Tomas who was very intelligent and wise but did
not want, if not only by his mother's plea, to pursue his
studies.
TIBURCIO DE ESPADAÑA – Don Tiburcio is Victorina de
Espadaña's lame husband. He is currently on hiding with
Father Florentino.
FATHER ÍRENE – Captain Tiago's spiritual adviser.
Although reluctant, he helped the students to establish
the Academia de Castellano after being convinced by
giving him a chestnut.
DON TIMOTEO PELAEZ – Juanito's father. He is a rich
businessmen and arranges a wedding for his son and
Paulita. He and Simoun became business partners.
QUIROGA – A Chinese businessman who dreamed of
being a consul for his country in the Philippines. He hid
Simoun's weapons inside his house.
TANDANG SELO – Father of Kabesang Tales. He raised
the sick and young Basilio after he left their house in Noli
Me Tangere.
FATHER FERNÁNDEZ – The priest-friend of Isagani. He
promised to Isagani that he and the other priests will give
in to the students' demands.
SANDOVAL – The vice-leader of Macaraig's gang. A
Spanish classmate of Isagani.
HERMANA BÁLI – Another gambler in Tiani. She became
Huli's mother-figure and counselor; helped to release
Kabesang Tales from the hands of bandits
PASTA – One of the great lawyers of mid-Hispanic
Manila, opposed the students' demands for a Spanish
language academy
FATHER MILLON – The Physics teacher of the University
of Santo Tomas. He always becomes vindictive with
Placido and always taunts him during class.
TADEO – Macaraig's classmate. He, along with the other
three members of their gang, supposedly posted the
posters
LEEDS – An American who holds stage plays starring
decapitated; he is good friends with Simoun.
TANO – Kabesang Tales's elder son after his older sister,
Lucia died heads; he is good in childhood.
PEPAY – Don Custodio's supposed "girlfriend". A dancer,
she is always agitated of her boyfriend's plans. She seems
to be a close friend of Macaraig.
GOBERNADOR GENERAL – The highest- ranking official in
the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period.
PECSON – Basilio's classmate who had no idea on the
happenings occurring around him. He suggested that
they held the mock celebration at the panciteria.
FATHER BERNARDO SALVI – Former parish priest of San
Diego, now the director and chaplain of the Santa Clara
convent.
FATHER HERNANDO DE LA SIBYLA – A Dominican friar
introduced in Noli Me Tangere, now the vice-rector of
the University of Santo Tomas.
CAPTAIN TIAGO – Santiago delos Santos, although
making a cameo appearance, Captain Tiago is Maria
Clara's stepfather and the foster-father to Basilio.
MARIA CLARA – Introduced in Dr. Rizal's first novel "Noli
Me Tangere". She was once the girlfriend of Crisostomo
Ibarra but chose to became a nun despite Father
Damaso's (her real father) arguments. She eventually
committed suicide, as witnessed by Basilio when he
visited the convent of Santa Clara.
THE PHILIPPINES A CENTURY HENCE ("FILIPINAS DENTRO DE
CIEN AFLOS")
"The Philippines a Century Hence" is an essay written by
Philippine national hero Jose Rizal to forecast the future of
the country within a hundred years. Rizal felt that it was time
to remind Spain that the circumstances that ushered in the
French Revolution could have a telling effect forher in the
Philippines.
This essay presents a radical prophesy of Rizal of
how the Philippines would be through the century.
Rizal presented a clear idea of how our Motherland
will end up centuries later proposing that our
country will end up in either of the three ways:
That the Philippines will remain to be a colony of
Spain but will be in good terms with it's captors That
the Philippines will try to cut the ties of our
Motherland from it's captors through violent means
And lastly that we will be colonized by another
country
This essay, published in La Solidaridadin Madrid between
September 30, 1889 and February 1, 1890 starts by analyzing
the various causes of the miseries suffered by the Filipino
people:
Spain's implementation of her military policies
because of such laws, the Philippine population
decreased dramatically. Poverty became more
rampant than ever, and farmlands were left to
wither. The family as a unit of society was neglected,
and overall, every aspect of the life of the Filipino
was retarded.
Deterioration and disappearance of Filipino
indigenous culture-when Spain came with the losing
confidence in their past and their heritage, sword
and the cross, it began the gradual destruction of the
native Philippine culture. Because of this, the
Filipinos started became doubtful of their present
lifestyle, and eventually lost hope in the future and
the preservation of their race.
Passivity and submissiveness to the Spanish
colonizers -one of the most powerful forces that
influenced a culture of silence among the natives
were the Spanish friars. Because of the use of force,
the Filipinos learned to submit themselves to the will
of the foreigners
Eventually, the natives realized that such oppression
in their society by foreign colonizers must no longer
be tolerated.
Keeping the people uneducated and ignorant failed.
National had consciousness had still awakened, and
great Filipino minds still emerged from the rubble.
Keeping the people impoverished also came to no
avail. On the contrary, living a life of eternal
destitution had allowed the Filipinos to act on the
desire for a change in their way of life. They began to
explore other horizons through which they could
move towards progress.
Exterminating the people as an alternative to
hindering progress did not work either. The Filipino
race was able to survive amidst wars and famine
became even more numerous after such
catastrophes. To wipe out the nation altogether
would require the sacrifice of thousands of Spanish
soldiers, and this is something Spain would not
allow.
KEY POINTS IN THE ESSAY OR SEVERAL ISSUES THAT
CONCERN OUR COUNTRY:
Abuse of human rights
Lack of freedom of speech
Lack of representation in the Spanish Cortes
RIZAL'S ANNOTATIONS OF MORGA'S SUCESOS
DELAS ISLAS FILIPINAS AND ANALYSIS OF THE
LETTER TO THE YOUNG WOMEN OF MALOLOS
WEEK 15
RIZAL'S ANNOTATIONS TO MORGA'S SUCESOS DE LAS ISLAS
FILIPINAS
MEANING OF SUCESOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS
Las Islas Filipinas means "The Philippine Island" in
English and was named in honor of King Philip II of
Spain
Sucesos means the work of an honest observer,
versatile bureaucrat, who knew the workings of the
administration from the inside.
ABOUT SUCESOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS
One of the important works of the Philippines about
the colonization of Spain, published by Antonio De
Morga in Mexico 1609.
Explains the political, social and economical aspects
of a colonizer and the colonized country.
The book is based on the experience and
observation of Antonio De Morga
Annotated by Jose Rizal with a prologue by
Dr.Ferdinand Blumentritt
INTRODUCTION
To The Filipinos: In Noli Me Tangere I started to sketch the
present state of our native land. But the effect which my
effort produced made me realize that, before attempting to
unroll before your eyes the other pictures which were to
follow, it was necessary first to post you on the past. So only
can you fairly judge the present and estimate how much
progress has been made during the three centuries of Spanish
rule.
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 deem 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 in its last days.
Governor Antonio de Morga was not only the first to write
but also the first to publish a Philippine history. This
statement has regard to the concise and concrete form in
which our author has treated the matter. Father Chirino's
work, printed at Rome in 1604, is rather a chronicle of the
Missions than a history of the Philippines; still it contains a
great deal of valuable material on usages and customs. The
worthy Jesuit in fact admits that he abandoned writing a
political history because Morga had already done so, so one
must infer that he had seen the work in manuscript before
leaving the Islands.
ANNOTATIONS
By the Christian religion, Doctor Morga appears
to mean the Roman Catholic which by fire and
sword he would preserve in its purity in the
Philippines. Nevertheless, in other lands,
notably in Flanders, these means were
ineffective to keep the church unchanged, or to
maintain its supremacy, or even to hold its
subjects.
Great kingdoms were indeed discovered and
conquered in the remote and unknown parts of
the world by Spanish ships but to the Spaniards
who sailed in them we may add Portuguese,
Italians, French, Greeks, and even Africans and
Polynesians. The expeditions captained by
Columbus and Magellan, one a Genoese Italian
and the other a Portuguese, as well as those
that came after them, although Spanish fleets,
still were manned by many nationalities and in
them went negroes, Moluccans, and even men
from the Philippines and the Marianas Islands.
Three centuries ago it was the custom to write
as intolerantly as Morga does, but nowadays it
would be called a bit presumptuous. No one has
a monopoly of the true God nor is there any
nation or religion that can claim, or at any rate
prove, that to it has been given the exclusive
right to the Creator of all things or sole
knowledge of His real being.
The conversions by the Spaniards were not as
general as their historians claim. The
missionaries only succeeded in converting a
part of the people of the Philippines. Still there
are Mohamedans, the Moros, in the southern
islands, and negritos, igorots and other
heathens yet occupy the greater part
territorially of the archipelago. Then the islands
which the Spaniards early held but soon lost are
non-Christian-Formosa, Borneo, and the
Moluccas. And if there are Christians in the
Carolines, that is due to Protestants, whom
neither the Roman Catholics of Morga ' s day
nor many Catholics in our own day consider
Christians.
It is not the fact that the Filipinos were
unprotected before the coming of the
Spaniards. Morga himself says, further on in
telling of the pirate raids from the south, that
previous to the Spanish domination the islands
had arms and defended themselves. But after
the natives were disarmed the pirates pillaged
them with impunity, coming at times when they
were unprotected by the government, which
was the reason for many of the insurrections.
The civilization of the Pre-Spanish Filipinos in
regard to the duties of life for that age was well
advanced, as the Morga history shows in its
eighth chapter.
The islands came under Spanish sovereignty and
control through compacts, treaties of friendship
and alliances for reciprocity. By virtue of the last
arrangement, according to some historians,
Magellan lost his life on Mactan and the soldiers
of Legaspi fought under the banner of King
Tupas of Cebu.
The term " conquest" is admissible but for a
part of the islands and then only in its broadest
sense. Cebu, Panay, Luzon Mindoro and some
others cannot be said to have been conquered.
The discovery, conquest and conversion cost
Spanish blood but still more Filipino blood. It
will be seen later on in Morga that with the
Spaniards and on behalf of Spain there were
always more Filipinos fighting than Spaniards.
Morga shows that the ancient Filipinos had
army and navy with artillery and other
implements of warfare. Their prized krises and
kampilans for their magnificent temper are
worthy of admiration and some of them are
richly damascened. Their coats of mail and
helmets, of which there are specimens in
various European museums, attest their great
advancement in this industry.
Morga ' s expression that the Spaniards
"brought war to the gates of the Filipinos " is in
marked contrast with the word used by
subsequent historians whenever recording
Spain ' s possessing herself of a province, that
she pacified it. Perhaps "to make peace " then
meant the same as "to stir up war.
Magellan ' s transferring from the service of his
own king to employment under the King of
Spain, according to historic documents, was
because the Portuguese King had refused to
grant him the raise in salary which he asked.
Now it is known that Magellan was mistaken
when he represented to the King of Spain that
the Molucca Islands were within the limits
assigned by the Pope to the Spaniards. But
through this error and the inaccuracy of the
nautical instruments of that time, the
Philippines did not fall into the hands of the
Portuguese.
Cebu, which Morga calls "The City of the Most
Holy Name of Jesus, " was at first called "The
village of San Miguel."
The image of the Holy Child of Cebu, which
many religious writers believed was brought to
Cebu by the angels, was in fact given by the
worthy Italian chronicler of Magellan ' s
expedition, the Chevalier Pigafetta, to the
Cebuano queen.
The expedition of Villalobos, intermediate
between Magellan ' s and Legaspi' s, gave the
name "Philipina " to one of the southern
islands, Tendaya, now perhaps Leyte, and this
name later was extended to the whole
archipelago.
Of the native Manila rulers at the coming of the
Spaniards, Raja Soliman was called "Rahang
mura " , or young king, in distinction from the
old king, "Rahang matanda ". Historians have
confused these personages. The native fort at
the mouth of the Pasig river, which Morga
speaks of as equipped with brass lantakas and
artillery of larger caliber, had its ramparts
reinforced with thick hardwood posts such as
the Tagalogs used for their houses and called
"harigues " , or "haligui".
Morga has evidently confused the pacific
coming of Legaspi with the attack of Goiti and
Salcedo, as to date. According to other
historians it was in 1570 that Manila was
burned, and with it a great plant for
manufacturing artillery. Goiti did not take
possession of the city but withdrew to Cavite
and afterwards to Panay, which makes one
suspicious of his alleged victory. As to the day of
the date, the Spaniards then, having come
following the course of the sun, were some
sixteen hours later than Europe. This condition
continued till the end of the year 1844, when
the 31st of December was by special
arrangement among the authorities dropped
from the calendar for that year.
Accordingly, Legaspi did not arrive in Manila on
the 19th but on the 20th of May and
consequently it was not on the festival of Santa
Potenciana but on San Baudelio ' s day. The
same mistake was made with reference to the
other early events still wrongly commemorated,
like San Andres ' day for the repulse of the
Chinese corsair Li Ma-hong.
Though not mentioned by Morga, the Cebuans
aided the Spaniards in their expedition against
Manila, for which reason they were long
exempted from tribute.
The southern islands, the Bisayas, were also
called "The land of the Painted People " (or
Pintados, in Spanish) because the natives had
their bodies decorated with tracings made with
fire, somewhat like tattooing.
The Spaniards retained the native name for the
new capital of the archipelago, a little changed,
however, for the Tagalogs had called their city
"Maynila
When Morga says that the lands were "
entrusted" (given as encomiendas) to those
who had " pacified" them, he means "divided
up among." The word " entrust, " like " pacify, "
later came to have a sort of ironical
signification. To entrust a province was then as
if it were said that it was turned over to sack,
abandoned to the cruelty and covetousness of
the encomendero, to judge from the way this
gentry misbehaved.
Legaspi' s grandson, Salcedo, called the
Hernando Cortez of the Philippines, was the "
conqueror ' s " intelligent right arm and the
hero of the " conquest." His honesty and fine
qualities, talent and personal bravery, all won
the admiration of the Filipinos. Because of him
they yielded to their enemies, making peace
and friendship with the Spaniards. He it was
who saved Manila from Li Mahong. He died at
the early age of twenty-seven and is the only
encomendero recorded to have left the great
part of his possessions to the Indians of his
encomienda. Vigan was his encomienda and the
Ilokanos there were his heirs.
The expedition which followed the Chinese
corsair Li Ma-Hong, after his unsuccessful attack
upon Manila, to Pangasinan province, with the
Spaniards of whom Morga tells, had in it 1,500
friendly Indians from Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and
Panay, besides the many others serving as
laborers and crews of the ships. Former Raja
Lakandula, of Tondo, with his sons and his
kinsmen went, too, with 200 more Bisayans and
they were joined by other Filipinos in
Pangasinan.
If discovery and occupation justify annexation,
then Borneo ought to belong to Spain. In the
Spanish expedition to replace on its throne a
Sirela or Malaela, as he is variously called, who
had been driven out by his brother, more than
fifteen hundred Filipino bowmen from the
provinces of Pangasinan, Cagayan, and the
Bisayas participated.
It is notable how strictly the earlier Spanish
governors were held to account. Some stayed in
Manila as prisoners, one, Governor Corcuera,
passing five years with Fort Santiago as his
prison
In the fruitless expedition against the
Portuguese in the island of Ternate, in the
Molucca group, which was abandoned because
of the prevalence of beriberi among the troops,
there went 1,500 Filipino soldiers from the
more warlike provinces, principally Cagayan and
Pampanga.
The " pacification " of Cagayan was
accomplished by taking advantage of the
jealousies among its people, particularly the
rivalry between two brothers who were chiefs.
An early historian asserts that without this
fortunate circumstance, for the Spaniards, it
would have been impossible to subjugate them.
Captain Gabriel de Rivera, a Spanish
commander who had gained fame in a raid on
Borneo and the Malacca coast, was the first
envoy from the Philippines to take up with the
King of Spain the needs of the archipelago.
The early conspiracy of the Manila and
Pampanga former chiefs was revealed to the
Spaniards by a Filipina, the wife of a soldier, and
many concerned lost their lives.
The artillery cast for the new stone fort in
Manila, says Morga, was by the hand of an
ancient Filipino. That is, he knew how to cast
cannon even before the coming of the
Spaniards, hence he was distinguished as 4"
ancient." In this difficult art of ironworking, as in
so many others, the modern or present-day
Filipinos are not so far advanced as were their
ancestors.
When the English freebooter Cavendish
captured the Mexican galleon Santa Ana, with
122,000 gold pesos, a great quantity of rich
textiles-silks, satins and damask, musk perfume,
and stores of provisions, he took 150 prisoners.
All these because of their brave defense were
put ashore with ample supplies, except two
Japanese lads, three Filipinos, a Portuguese and
a skilled Spanish pilot whom he kept as guides
in his further voyaging.
From the earliest Spanish days, ships were built
in the islands, which might be considered
evidence of native culture. Nowadays this
industry is reduced to small craft, scows and
coasters.
The Jesuit, Father Alonso Sanchez, who visited
the papal court at Rome and the Spanish King at
Madrid, had a mission much like that of
deputies now, but of even greater importance
since he came to be a sort of counsellor or
representative to the absolute monarch of that
epoch. One wonders why the Philippines could
have a representative then but may not have
one now.
In the time of Governor Gomez Perez
Dasmariňas, Manila was guarded against
further damage such as was suffered from Li
MaHong by the construction of a massive stone
wall around it. This was accomplished " without
expense to the royal treasury." The same
governor, in like manner, also fortified the point
at the entrance to the river where had been the
ancient native fort of wood, and he gave it the
name Fort Santiago.
The early cathedral of wood which was burned
through carelessness at the time of the funeral
of Governor Dasmariňas ' predecessor,
Governor Ronquillo, was made, according to the
Jesuit historian Chirino, with hardwood pillars
around which two men could not reach, and in
harmony with this massiveness was all the
woodwork above and below. It may be
surmised from these how hard workers were
the Filipinos of that time.
A stone house for the bishop was built before
starting on the governor-general' s residence.
This precedence is interesting for those who
uphold the civil power. Morga ' s mention of the
scant output of large artillery from the Manila
cannon works because of lack of master
foundrymen shows that after the death of the
Filipino Panday Pira there were not Spaniards
skilled enough to take his place, nor were his
sons as expert as he.
It is worthy of note that China, Japan and
Cambodia at this time maintained relations with
the Philippines. But in our day it has been more
than a century since the natives of the latter
two countries have come here. The causes
which ended the relationship may be found in
the interference by the religious orders with the
institutions of those lands.
For Governor Dasmariňas ' expedition to
conquer Ternate, in the Moluccan group, two
Jesuits there gave secret information. In his 200
ships, besides 900 Spaniards, there must have
been Filipinos for one chronicler speaks of
Indians, as the Spaniards called the natives of
the Philippines, who lost their lives and others
who were made captives when the Chinese
rowers mutinied. It was the custom then always
to have a thousand or more native bowmen and
besides the crew were almost all Filipinos, for
the most part Bisayans.
The historian Argensola, in telling of four special
galleys for Dasmariňas ' expedition, says that
they were manned by an expedient which was
generally considered rather harsh. It was
ordered that there be bought enough of the
Indians who were slaves of the former Indian
chiefs, or principales, to form these crews, and
the price, that which had been customary in
pre-Spanish times, was to be advanced by the
encomenderos who later would be reimbursed
from the royal treasury. In spite of this
promised compensation, the measures still
seemed severe since those Filipinos were not
correct in calling their dependents slaves. The
masters treated these, and loved them, like
sons rather, for they seated them at their own
tables an gave them their own daughters in
marriage.
Morga says that the 250 Chinese oarsmen who
manned Governor Dasmariňas’ swift galley
were under pay and had the special favor of not
being chained to their benches. According to
him it was covetousness of the wealth aboard
that led them to revolt and kill the governor.
But the historian Gaspar de San Agustin states
that the reason for the revolt was the governor '
s abusive language and his threatening the
rowers. Both these authors ' allegations may
have contributed, but more important was the
fact that there was no law to compel these
Chinamen to row in the galleys. They had come
to Manila to engage in commerce or to work in
trades or to follow professions.
Still the incident contradicts the reputation for
enduring everything which they have had. The
Filipinos have been much more long-suffering
than the Chinese since, in spite of having been
obliged to row on more than one occasion, they
never mutinied.
It is difficult to excuse the missionaries '
disregard of the laws of nations and the usages
of honorable politics in their interference in
Cambodia on the ground that it was to spread
the Faith. Religion had a broad field awaiting it
then in the Philippines where more than nine-
tenths of the natives were infidels. That even
now there are to be found here so many tribes
and settlements of nonChristians takes away
much of the prestige of that religious zeal which
in the easy life in towns of wealth, liberal and
fond of display, grows lethargic.
Truth is that the ancient activity was scarcely for
the Faith alone, because the missionaries had to
go to islands rich in spices and gold though
there were at hand Mohamedans and Jews in
Spain and Africa, Indians by the million in the
Americas, and more millions of protestants,
schismatic and heretics peopled, and still
people, over six-sevenths of Europe. All of these
doubtless would have accepted the Light and
the true religion if the friars, under pretext of
preaching to them, had not abused their
hospitality and if behind the name Religion had
not lurked the unnamed Domination.
In the attempt made by Rodriguez de Figueroa
to conquer Mindanao according to his contract
with the King of Spain, there was fighting along
the Rio Grande with the people called the
Buhahayenes. Their general, according to
Argensola, was the celebrated Silonga, later
distinguished for many deeds in raids on the
Bisayas and adjacent islands. Chirino relates an
anecdote of his coolness under fire once during
a truce for a marriage among Mindanao "
principalia." Young Spaniards out of bravado
fired at his feet but he passed on as if
unconscious of the bullets.
Argensola has preserved the name of the
Filipino who killed Rodriguez de Figueroa. It was
Ubal. Two days previously he had given a
banquet, slaying for it a beef animal of his own,
and then made the promise which he kept, to
do away with the leader of the Spanish
invaders. A Jesuit writer calls him a traitor
though the justification for that term of
reproach is not apparent. The Buhahayen
people were in their own country, and had
neither offended nor declared war upon the
Spaniards. They had to defend their homes
against a powerful invader, with superior
forces, many of whom were, by reason of their
armor, invulnerable so far as rude Indians were
concerned. Yet these same Indians were
defenseless against the balls from their
muskets.
By the Jesuit' s line of reasoning, the heroic
Spanish peasantry in their war for
independence would have been a people even
more treacherous. It was not Ubal' s fault that
he was not seen and, as it was wartime, it
would have been the height of folly, in view of
the immense disparity of arms, to have first
called out to this preoccupied opponent, and
then been killed himself.
The muskets used by the Buhahayens were
probably some that had belonged to Figueroa ' s
soldiers who had died in battle. Though the
Philippines had lantakas and other artillery,
muskets were unknown till the Spaniards came.
By the Jesuit' s line of reasoning, the heroic
Spanish peasantry in their war for
independence would have been a people even
more treacherous. It was not Ubal' s fault that
he was not seen and, as it was wartime, it
would have been the height of folly, in view of
the immense disparity of arms, to have first
called out to this preoccupied opponent, and
then been killed himself.
The muskets used by the Buhahayens were
probably some that had belonged to Figueroa's
soldiers who had died in battle. Though the
Philippines had lantakas and other artillery,
muskets were unknown till the Spaniards came.
That the Spaniards used the word "discover "
very carelessly may be seen from an admiral' s
turning in a report of his "discovery " of the
Solomon Islands though he noted that the
islands had been discovered before.
Death has always been the first sign of
European civilization on its introduction in the
Pacific Ocean. God grant that it may not be the
last, though to judge by statistics the civilized
islands are losing their populations at a terrible
rate. Magellan himself inaugurated his arrival in
the Marianas islands by burning more than forty
houses, many small craft and seven people
because one of his boats had been stolen. Yet
to the simple savages the act had nothing
wrong in it but was done with the same
naturalness that civilized people hunt, fish, and
subjugate people that are weak or ill-armed.
The Japanese were not in error when they
suspected the Spanish and Portuguese religious
propaganda to have political motives back of
the missionary activities.
Witness the Moluccas where Spanish
missionaries served as spies; Cambodia, which it
was sought to conquer under cloak of
converting; and many other nations, among
them the Filipinos, where the sacrament of
baptism made of the inhabitants not only
subjects of the King of Spain but also slaves of
the encomenderos, and as well slaves of the
churches and convents. What would Japan have
been now had not its emperors uprooted
Catholicism? A missionary record of 1625 sets
forth that the King of Spain had arranged with
certain members of Philippine religious orders
that, under guise of preaching the faith and
making Christians, they should win over the
Japanese and oblige them to make themselves
of the Spanish party, and finally it told of a plan
whereby the King of Spain should become also
King of Japan.
In corroboration of this may be cited the claims
that Japan fell within the Pope ' s demarcation
lines for Spanish expansion and so there was
complaint of missionaries other than Spanish
there. Therefore, it was not for religion that
they were converting the infidels!
The raid by Datus Sali and Silonga of Mindanao,
in 1599 with 50 sailing vessels and 3,000
warriors, against the capital of Panay, is the first
act of piracy by the inhabitants of the South
which is recorded in Philippine history. I say "by
the inhabitants of the South" because earlier
there had been other acts of piracy, the earliest
being that of Magellan ' s expedition when it
seized the shipping of friendly islands and even
of those whom they did not know, extorting for
them heavy ransoms.
It will be remembered that these Moro piracies
continued for more than two centuries, during
which the indomitable sons of the South made
captives and carried fire and sword not only in
neighboring islands but into Manila Bay to
Malate, to the very gates of the capital, and not
once a year merely but at times repeating their
raids five and six times in a single season.Yet the
government was unable to repel them or to
defend the people whom it had disarmed and
left without protection. Estimating that the cost
to the islands was but 800 victims a year, still
the total would be more than 200,000 persons
sold into slavery or killed, all sacrificed together
with so many other things to the prestige of
that empty title, Spanish sovereignty.
Still the Spaniards say that the Filipinos have
contributed nothing to Mother Spain, and that
it is the islands which owe everything. It may be
so, but what about the enormous sum of gold
which was taken from the islands in the early
years of Spanish rule, of the tributes collected
by the encomenderos, of the nine million
dollars yearly collected to pay the military,
expenses of the employees, diplomatic agents,
corporations and the like, charged to the
Philippines, with salaries paid out of the
Philippine treasury not only for those who come
to the Philippines but also for those who leave,
to some who never have been and never will be
in the islands, as well as to others who have
nothing to do with them.
Yet all of this is as nothing in comparison with
so many captives gone, such a great number of
soldiers killed in expeditions, islands
depopulated, their inhabitants sold as slaves by
the Spaniards themselves, the death of
industry, the demoralization of the Filipinos,
and so forth, and so forth. Enormous indeed
would the benefits which that sacred civilization
brought to the archipelago have to be in order
to counterbalance so heavy a-cost.
While Japan was preparing to invade the
Philippines, these islands were sending
expeditions to Tonquin and Cambodia, leaving
the homeland helpless even against the
undisciplined hordes from the South, so
obsessed were the Spaniards with the idea of
making conquests.
In the alleged victory of Morga over the Dutch
ships, the latter found upon the bodies of five
Spaniards, who lost their lives in that combat,
little silver boxes filled with prayers and
invocations to the saints. Here would seem to
be the origin of the anting-anting of the modern
tulisanes, which are also of a religious
character.
In Morga ' s time, the Philippines exported silk
to Japan whence now comes the best quality of
that merchandise.
Morga ' s views upon the failure of Governor
Pedro de Acuna’s ambitious expedition against
the Moros unhappily still apply for the same
conditions yet exist. For fear of uprisings and
loss of Spain ' s sovereignty over the islands, the
inhabitants were disarmed, leaving them
exposed to the harassing of a powerful and
dreaded enemy.Even now, though the use of
steam vessels has put an end to piracy from
outside, the same fatal system still is followed
The peaceful countryfolk are deprived of arms
and thus made unable to defend themselves
against the bandits, or tulisanes, which the
government cannot restrain. It is an
encouragement to banditry thus to make easy
its getting booty.
Hernando de los Rios blames these Moluccan
wars for the fact that at first the Philippines
were a source of expense to Spain instead of
profitable in spite of the tremendous sacrifices
of the Filipinos, their practically gratuitous labor
in building and equipping the galleons, and
despite, too, the tribute, tariffs and other
imposts and monopolies. These wars to gain the
Moluccas, which soon were lost forever with
the little that had been so laboriously obtained,
were a heavy drain upon the Philippines. They
depopulated the country and bankrupted the
treasury, with not the slightest compensating
benefit.
True also is it that it was to gain the Moluccas
that Spain kept the Philippines, the desire for
the rich spice islands being one of the most
powerful arguments when, because of their
expense to him, the King thought of
withdrawing and abandoning them.
Among the Filipinos who aided the government
when the Manila Chinese revolted, Argensola
says there were 4,000 Pampangans " armed
after the way of their land, with bows and
arrows, short lances, shields, and broad and
long daggers." Some Spanish writers say that
the Japanese volunteers and the Filipinos
showed themselves cruel in slaughtering the
Chinese refugees. This may very well have been
so, considering the hatred and rancor then
existing, but those in command set the
example.
The loss of two Mexican galleons in 1603 called
forth no comment from the religious chroniclers
who were accustomed to see the avenging hand
of God in the misfortunes and accidents of their
enemies. Yet there were repeated shipwrecks
of the vessels that carried from the Philippines
wealth which encomenderos had extorted from
the Filipinos, using force, or making their own
laws, and, when not using these open means,
cheating by the weights and measures.
The Filipino chiefs who at their own expense
went with the Spanish expedition against
Ternate, in the Moluccas, in 1605, were Don
Guillermo Palaot, maestro de campo, and
Captains Francisco Palaot, Juan Lit, Luis Lont,
and Agustin Lont.They had with them 400
Tagalogs and Kapampangans. The leaders bore
themselves bravely for Argensola writes that in
the assault on Ternate, "No officer, Spaniard or
Indian, went unscathed."
The loss of two Mexican galleons in 1603 called
forth no comment from the religious chroniclers
who were accustomed to see the avenging hand
of God in the misfortunes and accidents of their
enemies. Yet there were repeated shipwrecks
of the vessels that carried from the Philippines
wealth which encomenderos had extorted from
the Filipinos, using force, or making their own
laws, and, when not using these open means,
cheating by the weights and measures.
The Filipino chiefs who at their own expense
went with the Spanish expedition against
Ternate, in the Moluccas, in 1605, were Don
Guillermo Palaot, maestro de campo, and
Captains Francisco Palaot, Juan Lit, Luis Lont,
and Agustin Lont.They had with them 400
Tagalogs and Kapampangans. The leaders bore
themselves bravely for Argensola writes that in
the assault on Ternate, "No officer, Spaniard or
Indian, went unscathed."
The Cebuanos drew a pattern on the skin before
starting in to tattoo. The Bisayan usage then
was the same procedure that the Japanese
today follow.
Ancient traditions ascribe the origin of the
Malay Filipinos to the island of Sumatra. These
traditions were almost completely lost as well
as the mythology and the genealogies of which
the early historians tell, thanks to the zeal of the
missionaries in eradicating all national
remembrances as heathen or idolatrous. The
study of ethnology is restoring this somewhat.
The chiefs used to wear upper garments, usually
of Indian fine gauze according to Colin, of red
color, a shade for which they had the same
fondness that the Romans had. The barbarous
tribes in Mindanao still have the same taste.
The " easy virtue " of the native women that
historians note is not solely attributable to the
simplicity with which they obeyed their natural
instincts but much more due to a religious belief
of which Father Chirino tells. It was that in the
journey after death to "Kalualhatian, " the
abode of the spirit, there was a dangerous river
to cross that had no bridge other than a very
narrow strip of wood over which a woman
could not pass unless she had a husband or
lover to extend a hand to assist her.
Furthermore, the religious annals of the early
missions are filled with countless instances
where native maidens chose death rather than
sacrifice their chastity to the threats and
violence of encomenderos and Spanish soldiers.
As to the mercenary social evil, that is
worldwide and there is no nation that can
'throw the first stone ' at any other. For the
rest, today the Philippines has no reason to
blush in comparing its womankind with the
women of the most chaste nation in the world.
Morga ' s remark that the Filipinos like fish
better when it is commencing to turn bad is
another of those prejudices which Spaniards
like all other nations, have. In matters of food,
each is nauseated with what he is
unaccustomed to or doesn 't know is eatable.
The English, for example, find their gorge rising
when they see a Spaniard eating snails, while in
turn the Spanish find roast beef English-style
repugnant and can 't understand the relish of
other Europeans for beefsteak a la Tartar which
to them is simply raw meat. The Chinaman, who
likes shark' s meat, cannot bear Roquefort
cheese, and these examples might be
indefinitely extended. The Filipinos ' favorite
fish dish is the bagoong and whoever has tried
to eat it knows that it is not considered
improved when tainted. It neither is, nor ought
to be, decayed.
Colin says the ancient Filipinos had minstrels
who had memorized songs telling their
genealogies and of the deeds ascribed to their
deities. These were chanted on voyages in
cadence with the rowing, or at festivals, or
funerals, or wherever there happened to be any
considerable gatherings. It is regrettable that
these chants have not been preserved as from
them it would have been possible to learn much
of the Filipinos ' past and possibly of the history
of neighboring islands.
The cannon foundry mentioned by Morga as in
the walled city was probably on the site of the
Tagalog one which was destroyed by fire on the
first coming of the Spaniards. That established
in 1584 was in Lamayan, that is, Santa Ana now,
and was transferred to the old site in 1590. It
continued to work until 1805. According to
Gaspar San Agustin, the cannon which the pre-
Spanish Filipinos cast were " as great as those of
Malaga, " Spain ' s foundry.
The Filipino plant was burned with all that was
in it save a dozen large cannons and some
smaller pieces which the Spanish invaders took
back with them to Panay. The rest of their
artillery equipment had been thrown by the
Manilans, then Moros, into the sea when they
recognized their defeat.
Malate, better Maalat, was where the Tagalog
aristocracy lived after they were dispossessed
by the Spaniards of their old homes in what is
now the walled city of Manila. Among the
Malate residents were the families of Raja
Matanda and Raja Soliman. The men had
various positions in Manila and some were
employed in government work nearby. "They
were very courteous and well-mannered, " says
San Agustin. "The women were very expert in
lacemaking, so much so that they were not at all
behind the women of Flanders."
Morga ' s statement that there was not a
province or town of the Filipinos that resisted
conversion or did not want it may have been
true of the civilized natives. But the contrary
 was the fact among the mountain tribes. We
have the testimony of several Dominican and
Augustinian missionaries that it was impossible
to go anywhere to make conversions without
other Filipinos along and a guard of soldiers.
"Otherwise, says Gaspar de San Agustin, there
would have been no fruit of the Evangelic
Doctrine gathered, for the infidels wanted to kill
the Friars who came to preach to them." An
example of this method of conversion given by
the same writer was a trip to the mountains by
two Friars who had a numerous escort of
Pampangans. The escort's leader was Don
Agustin Sonson who had a reputation for daring
and carried fire and sword into the country,
killing many, including the chief, Kabadi.
"The Spaniards, says Morga, were accustomed
to hold as slaves such natives as they bought
and others that they took in the forays in the
conquest or pacification of the islands."
Consequently, in this respect the " pacifiers "
introduced no moral improvement. We even do
not know if in their wars the Filipinos used to
make slaves of each other, though that would
not have been strange, for the chroniclers tell of
captives returned to their own people. The
practice of the Southern pirates almost proves
this, although in these piratical wars the
Spaniards were the first aggressors and gave
them their character.
THE WOMEN OF MALOLOS
BACKGROUND
1. WHO?
20 WOMEN FROM PROMINENT CHINESE-
FILIPINO FAMILIES IN MALOLOS, BULACAN
2. WHY?
REQUESTING PERMISSION TO OPEN A
NIGHT SCHOOL WHERE THEY COULD BE
TAUGHT THE SPANISH LANGUAGE UNDER
TEODORO SANDIKO
3. WHAT?
SIGNED AND PRESENTED A LETTER TO THE
GOVERNOR-GENERAL VALERIANO WEYLER
ON DECEMBER 12, 1888.
4. SO? M.H. DEL PILAR (WHO WAS IN BARCELON)
ASKED RIZAL (WHO IS IN LONDON) ON
FEBRUARY 17, 1889, TO WRITE A LETTER IN
TAGALOG TO THESE WOMEN. RIZAL SENT THE
LETTER BACK TO DEL PILAR ON FEBRUARY 22,
1889 FOR TRANSMITTAL TO MALOLOS.
MAIN POINTS
Saintliness is not just about going to church
and kissing the hands of the friars. It is not
blond ovedience. It is by reason because
thoughts are noble and free.
Mother is the first influence of man’s
consciousness. Do not be the women that
friars created, rather be like the Spartan
Woman.
The power and good judgment of Filipinos
are well known but now in slavery.
European and American women are
educated and strongwilled.
Mothers are very important in building a
strong family. She must teach her children
well and love her husband.
If not yet married, she should be honorable
and command respect
ANALYSIS
Patriarchy is perpetuated by friars. Women
should be submissive and saintly
The power of languange. A particular friar
opposed the idea of educating these women
seeing it is a threat to the rule of the
government.
Rizal believed that women should be
empowered because it will lead to a good
citizens.
Be open-minded and use reason for better
judgment. For marriage, find a honorable man

JOSE RIZAL AND THE PHILIPPINE NATIONALISM –
BAYANI AND KABAYANIHAN
WEEK 16
NATIONAL HERO OF THE PHILIPPINES
A national hero of the Philippines is a Filipino who has
been recognized as a national hero for his or her role in
the history of the Philippines. Loosely, the term may
refer to all Filipino historical figures recognized as
heroes, but the term more strictly refers to those
officially designated as such. In 1995 the Philippine
National Heroes Committee officially recommended
several people for the designation, but this was not
acted upon.
As of 2007, no one had ever been officially recognized
as a Philippine national hero.
The reformist writer José Rizal, today generally
considered the greatest Filipino hero and often given as
the Philippine national hero, has never been explicitly
proclaimed as the (or even a) national hero by the
Philippine government. Besides Rizal, the only other
Filipinos currently given implied recognition as national
hero such as revolutionary Andrés Bonifacio.
While other historical figures are commemorated in
public municipal or provincial holidays, Rizal and
Bonifacio are commemorated in public nationwide
(national) holidays and thus are implied to be national
heroes.
DR. JOSE P. RIZAL, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL HERO
Dr. José 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
Rizal had been very vocal against the Spanish
government, but in a peaceful and progressive manner.
For him, “the pen was mightier than the sword.” And
through his writings, he exposed the corruption and
wrongdoings of government officials as well as the
Spanish friars.
While in Barcelona, Rizal contributed essays, poems,
allegories, and editorials to the Spanish newspaper, La
Solidaridad. Most of his writings, both in his essays and
editorials, centered on individual rights and freedom,
specifically for the Filipino people. As part of his
reforms, he even called for the inclusion of the
Philippines to become a province of Spain.
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.
Upon his return to the Philippines, Rizal formed a
progressive organization called the La Liga Filipina. This
civic movement advocated social reforms through legal
means. Now Rizal was considered even more of a threat
by the Spanish authorities (alongside his novels and
essays), which ultimately led to his exile in Dapitan in
northern Mindanao.
This however did not stop him from continuing his plans
for reform. While in Dapitan, Rizal built a school,
hospital, and water system. He also taught farming and
worked on agricultural projects such as using abaca to
make ropes.
In 1896, Rizal was granted leave by then Governor-
General Blanco, after volunteering to travel to Cuba to
serve as doctor to yellow fever victims.
But at that time, the Katipunan had a full-blown
revolution and Rizal was accused of being associated
with the secret militant society. On his way to Cuba, he
was arrested in Barcelona and sent back to Manila to
stand for trial before the court martial. Rizal was
charged with sedition, conspiracy, and rebellion – and
therefore, sentenced to death by firing squad.
Days before his execution, Rizal bid farewell to his five horns) and the Rhacophorus rizali (a peculiar frog
motherland and countrymen through one of his final species).
letters, entitled Mi Último Adiós or My Last Farewell. Dr.
To commemorate what he did for the country, the
José Rizal was executed on the morning of December
Philippines built a memorial park for him – now referred
30, 1896, in what was then called Bagumbayan (now
to as Rizal Park, found in Manila. There lies a monument
referred to as Luneta). Upon hearing the command to
which contains a standing bronze sculpture of Rizal, an
shoot him, he faced the squad and uttered in his final
obelisk, and a stone base said to contain his remains.
breath: “Consummatum est” (It is finished). According
The monument stands near the place where he fell
to historical accounts, only one bullet ended the life of
during his execution in Luneta.
the Filipino martyr and hero.

After his death, the Philippine Revolution continued

until 1898. And with the assistance of the United States,
the Philippines declared its independence from Spain on
June 12, 1898. This was the time that the Philippine flag
was waved at General Emilio Aguinaldo ’ s residence in
Kawit, Cavite.

Today, Dr. Rizal’ s brilliance, compassion, courage, and

patriotism are greatly remembered and recognized by
the Filipino people. His two novels are continuously
being analyzed by students and professionals

NATIONAL HERO OF THE PHILIPPINES

Colleges and universities in the Philippines even require

their students to take a subject which centers around
the life and works of Rizal. Every year, the Filipinos
celebrate Rizal Day – December 30 each year – to
commemorate his life and works. Filipinos look back at
how his founding of La Liga Filipina and his two novels
had an effect on the early beginnings of the Philippine
Revolution. The people also recognize his advocacy to
achieve liberty through peaceful means rather than
violent revolution.

In honor of Rizal, memorials and statues of the national

hero can be found not only within the Philippines, but in
selected cities around the world. A road in the
Chanakyapuri area of New Delhi (India) and in Medan,
Indonesia is named after him. The José Rizal Bridge and
Rizal Park in the city of Seattle are also dedicated to the
late hero.

Within the Philippines, there are streets, towns/cities, a

university (Rizal University), and a province named after
him. Three species have also been named after Rizal –
the Draco rizali (a small lizard, known as a flying
dragon), Apogania rizali (a very rare kind of beetle with