Popular Nationalism

Learning Outcomes: 
1. Discuss popular perceptions associated to Rizal
2. Compare and contrast the different perceptions/views of Rizal among
common people
Rizal has been a recipient of may titles by some writers:

Austin Craig is an American teacher who arrived in the

Philippines in 1904. He was a historian and a Rizal Scholar
who is an avid collector of Rizaliana materials.
Called Rizal as “Philippine Patriot”

Leon Ma. Guerrero a noted newspaperman before becoming an

eminent diplomat, wrote the prizewinning The First Filipino (1963),
which represents a significant contribution toward the present
understanding of a Rizal human enough to be the national hero.
Called Rizal as “The First Filipino”
• Nick Joaquin called Rizal as “the last
Spaniards” because he has been loyal
to spain even the last minute of his life.
Rizal said he was never a traitor to
Spain. Even asked the firing squad to
face them because he never betrayed
them.
Nick Joaquin
National Artist for Literature (1976)
(May 4, 1917 – April 29, 2004)
 
Rizal and his contemporaries in the
nationalist struggle:
Reform Movement: Revolutionaries:
• Marcelo H del Pilar • Andres Bonifacio
• Graciano Lopez Jeana • Emilio Jacinto
• Mariano Ponce • Apolinario Mabini
Great focus of Rizal can be attributed to the fact that he died as a martyr
1. Honoured by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo on the day of Rizal’s death
(December 30,1896) (Presidential Decree) and those who died from
Philippine revolution should be commemorate as the day of mourning.
2. December 30, 1898 – First monument was built in the town of Daet,
camarinesNorte
3. Philippine commission recognized Rizal as National Hero and the
creation ofRizal park (1911)
4. Rizal represented peaceful evolutionary change compared to Bonifacio
who represented revolutionary and radical change.
On the centenary of the Philippine revolution (1996) contextualized Rizal in
the Philippine history the National Historical Institute (National Historical
Commission)

• Called Rizal “The Great Visionary”

• Andres Bonifacio “The Man of Action”
• Emilio Aguinaldo “The Great General”
...NHI board “there can be no General Aguinaldo without Bonifacio(it was him which
inducted Aguinaldo into the Katipunan). There would be no Bonifacio without Rizal
because it was him who inspired Bonifacio to take action and lead the Katipunan”

...The death of the three priest (Gomez, Burgus and Zamora) inspired Rizal to write
his second Novel El Filibusterismo. Without the unjust death, there would be no El
Filibustrismo otherwise he would have been a Jesuits.

Yet Rizal never advocated Independence for the Philippines instead advocated
partnership with Spain and would guide Philippine to its destiny and become its ally
in any invasion.
His shared Critiques:
1. Friar called Rizal as ingrate as he and his family were beneficiaries of their
good graces yet turned against them
2. Conservative Spaniards as instigator or trouble during crisis of the
Calamba Estate (1887)
3. Modern writers called his illustrado who behaved like Spaniards and
womanizer
4. Writer Renato Canstantino called Rizal as American made hero
5. Some historians / students said that Bonifacio should be the national hero
6. Spanish writers called him Filipino hamlet because of his contradictory
views
Rizal was admired / famous because of:
1. He is part of the Filipino expression invoked (Ang kabataan ang pag-
asa ng bayan)
2. Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa hayop
at malansang isda.
3. Indonasians was inspired to sacrifice their lives for their country (Mi
Ultimo Adios)called as “the great Malayan”
4. Reawaken the Malayan about their true past and future destiny.
The fruit of the nationalist struggle
propaganda movement – They favored assimilation of the Philippines
- If full time province of Spain, Filipinos have equal rights like Spaniards
revolutionary movement – Goal was Philippine Independent or
Monarchy
- If independence state whether monarchy or republic, it would be the
Filipino people that would be followed

End results:
-better economic conditions
- opportunities and greater intellectual/academic freedom
But what about Filipinos from sidelines and Filipinos from below?
Would they care about independence? What type of government
would prevail? Would they care about the constitution?
How was Rizal seen from the sideline and below
Some Filipinos see him as more than an man. Seen Rizal as a saint or a
manifestation of God himself.

Rizalistas – People who believe him having supernatural

qualities. Believed to be the tagalog Christ and just like
Christ, he advocated the reform society he lived and both of
them publicly executed. Members believed him of his return
as a messiah and redeem that Philippine and form a utopian
society.
Santa Iglesia – believe Rizal as
supernatural being. The cult (millenarians)
waged an armed insurrection against the
Americans and its founder Felipe Salvador
(Apo Ipe) was captured and executed at
Bilibid prison on 1907. His followers
believe he is seeing Rizal talking to him.
The Adarnistas – Headded by Candida Balantac (inang Adarna) believed that
Rizal as God who is a true God and a true man and denied that Rizal was not
executed. They also believe that there are 4 personas to worship: God the
father, the mother, the son and the Holy Spirit.
The Bathalismo (Valenciano Wagan) – believe Rizal was not executed but
managed to fled to china and disguised as Chinese. According to the group
there are 3 spirits of man:1. Caluluwa – Intelligent soul2. Diwa – Sensitive
soul3. Lagyu – Vegetative soulIn order to save soul we must live a life of a
virtue to reap true happiness.
-Christ was reincarnated through Rizal
-Philippine is only for Filipinos and they predicted that the Philippines will
become a kingdom of monarchs
-The cult existed at mount Banahaw in Dolores, Quezon and is considered as
holy mountain
The Samahang Rizal (Basilo Aromin) founded in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija (1918)
– They believe Rizal was appointed by Bathala to redeem the Filipino race.
Offered his life to save mankind.
Samahang Filipina Sect – Believed that Rizal was the second Christ and
according to them “there is no hell and suffering is in this world”
Watawat ng Lahi (Arsenio de Guzman and Jose Barcanosa) – Believed Rizal
did not die, he was alive but physically and mentally present in place called
new Jerusalem. The sect believed that if third world war will break out, Rizal
will appear and lead the army of God.
However this group separated into two:
1.) Rizal was Jesus
2.) Rizal was just a special person of God’s creation.
Thank you!