THE INDOLENCE OF FILIPINO PEOPLE

Indolent: (Encarta Dictionary)

1. lazy: lethargic and not showing any interest or making any effort
2. painless and slow to change: describes a disease or condition that is slow to develop or be healed, and causes no
pain
This work of Rizal was something to be applauded for. It was definitely well-written and a must-read piece. The way
he presented the ideas were on point and properly organized. This was a defense of the alleged indolence of the Filipinos.
Rizal did make a critical study of the causes why his countrymen did not work hard during the Spanish regime and his main
thesis was that the Filipinos are not nature indolent and by this, he wanted to end the insults to the Filipinos about this
instilled culture. He wanted to awaken his countrymen to their own faults and at same time condemning the defects in
Spain’s colonial system which causes shortcomings among Filipinos.
We cannot deny the fact that indolence is indolence even in the simplest form like disobeying traffic rules, not falling
in line when there’s supposed to be one, leaving the trash behind when you can throw them properly yourself, procrastinating
and the countless, mamaya nalang orbukas nalang syndrome and of course there were certainly people who don’t like to
work for the simplest reason that they do not want to use their energy, and want to stay at home doing nothing or at the
street and in other words, laziness or sloth or in Pinoyterms sometimes considered “tambays”.
In this article, he pointed out that even before the Coming of Spaniards, Filipinos were Industrious and hardworking
and active in agriculture, industries and commerce and the coming of the Spaniards to the country brought about the decline
in economic activities because the Filipinos had abandoned their pre-Hispanic industries.
When the Spaniards came in the Philippines full-forced, burned houses, eradicated some goods and resources,
killed many Filipinos and take over and control the economy even the lands, farms and villages. Polo y servicios was
required for many Filipino male and farms were left uncultivated. Frailocracy is at its dominancy, and Filipinos were being
denied of economic rights and thus resulted for any Filipinos to give up their work, lands and even their life. They become
hopeless and inferiority complex was developed even more. Gambling was rampant because work for them as well as
sacrifices would not suffice their daily life and money for them became their saving grace. Twisted Friars controlled the
minds of innocent Filipinos and instilled them false beliefs on Catholicism. Education was not granted for all and it instantly,
the Spaniards became the long nightmare for the Filipinos.
Rizal, in this article mentioned about the weather can be one of the reason, comparing tropical and non-tropical
countries, saying that in tropical countries like the Philippines, when the sun is so high and when it’s so hot, workers who
work under the sun tend to rest and for non-tropical countries with four seasons and should work hard during spring and fall
because they cannot easily work in excessive heat during summer and on extreme cold during winter seasons. Thus,
despite of that, the total work is almost the same. As human beings, it is by nature to adopt to our environment in different
conditions and therefore, being indolent during hot conditions is reasonable.
He also said something about irresponsibility of the Filipinos towards work, virtues, and credibility that perhaps
resulted to mental stagnation among Filipinos to sought for social and political justice.
He pointed out that Filipinos lack of national sentiment is a major factor, and this he says, “Breeds another evil,
which is the scarcity of any opposition to the measures that are prejudicial to the people and the absence of any initiative
that will affect to their welfare.”
He also emphasize the lack of cooperation and awareness of the Filipinos to the current situation of the country and how
the government took away the attention of the Filipinos through their deceiving schemes and empty promises that resulted
to the masses remorse and destruction.
Dr. Jose Rizal would not wanted this, he wanted progress in our country and to attain that, we have to start from
small steps and small things within ourselves before focusing on the bigger picture that is more complicated.