La Solidaridad & La Liga Filipina

●●● La Liga Filipina ●●●

In 1892, Jose Rizal (full name: Jose Protacio Mercado Rizal y Alonzo) returned to the
Philippines and proposed the establishment of a civic organization called “La Liga Filipina.” On
July 3, 1892, the following were elected as its officers: Ambrosio Salvador, president: Agustin dela
Rosa, fiscal; Bonifacio Arevalo, treasurer; and Deodato Arellano, secretary. Rizal functioned as its
adviser.

●●● La Liga Filipina aimed to ●●●

Unite the whole country

Protect and assist all members
Fight violence and injustice
Support education
Study and implement reforms

La Liga Filipina had no intention of rising up in arms against the government; but the
Spanish officials still felt threatened. On July 6, 1892 only three days after La Liga Filipina’s
establishment, Jose Rizal was secretly arrested. The next day, Governor General Eulogio Despujol
ordered Rizal’s deportation to Dapitan, a small, secluded town in Zamboanga.

La Liga Filipina's membership was active in the beginning; but later, they began to drift
apart. The rich members wanted to continue supporting the Propaganda Movement; but the
others seemed to have lost all hope that reforms could still be granted. Andres Bonifacio was one
of those who believed that the only way to achieve meaningful change was through a bloody
revolution.

●●● La Solidaridad ●●●

In order to help achieve its goals, the Propaganda Movement put up its own newspaper,
called La Solidaridad. The Soli, as the reformists fondly called their official organ, came out once
every two weeks. The first issue saw print was published on November 15, 1895.

The Solidaridad’s first editor was Graciano Lopez Jaena. Marcelo H. del Pilar took over in
October 1889. Del Pilar managed the Soli until it stopped publication due to lack of funds.
●●● Why the Propaganda Movement Failed ●●●

The propaganda movement did not succeed in its pursuit of reforms. The colonial
government did not agree to any of its demands. Spain itself was undergoing a lot of internal
problems all that time, which could explain why the mother country failed to heed the Filipino’s
petitions. The friars, on the other hand, were at the height of their power and displayed even
more arrogance in flaunting their influence. They had neither the time nor the desire to listen to
the voice of the people.

Many of the reformists showed a deep love for their country, although they still failed to
maintain a united front. Because most of them belonged to the upper middle class, they had to
exercise caution in order to safeguard their wealth and other private interests. Personal
differences and petty quarrels, apart from the lack of funds, were also a hindrance to the
movements success. Lastly, no other strong and charismatic leader emerged from the group
aside from Jose Rizal.