Buenaseda, Janina Bianca V.

RZL110 – A81
1. What does Rizal say as reasons why Filipinos are indolent?

In Rizal’s essay Sobre La Indolencia de los Filipinos, he described the indolence of

Filipinos as non-inherent. Rizal considered the physical climate and sociopolitical sense of the
country as factors contributing to the indolence among Filipinos. In other words, the main cause
of such indolence is the hot climate of the country, and the oppression or abuse Filipinos underwent
during the Spanish regime. Since the local inhabitants were deprived of training and education due
to the government’s fear of insubordination and retaliation, Rizal asserts that Filipinos are not to
blame for being indolent. Moreover, the discrimination against the natives of opportunities
available for foreigners built a stigma among Filipinos that their own culture is much inferior to
foreign culture; thus, they oblige to submitting to their oppressors.

2. What led to Rizal's shift in ideology (abandonment of assimilation)? Was the shift justifiable?

Rizal’s abandonment was caused by the differences in ideals of the Filipino nationalists.
Personal rivalries prompted the withdrawal of the members from La Solidaridad. Moreover,
Rizal’s personal troubles contributed to his shift in ideology. Due to the recurring problem of
hacienderos in the courts of Spain and the imprisonment of both his mother and sister, Rizal opted
to demand aid from the Spanish government. Instead of fighting against the government, Rizal
decided that it would be best if Filipinos would be given a voice in the Spanish Cortes. He
demanded for security, care, adequate representation of Filipino natives, and better officials
offered to Filipinos. I personally think that Rizal’s shift in ideals is indeed justifiable. Considering
the circumstances he underwent during those times, hoping for aid from the Spanish government
seemed to be the best solution available at the time.

3. What was the main theme of El Filibusterismo?

As the title itself suggests which translates to “The Reign of Greed”, the main theme of the
novel revolves around exposing the corrupt officials, abusive friars, and selfishness of elite
Filipinos during the Spanish colonial rule. In other words, the novel provided a fictive narrative
aimed at condemning the Spanish rule. Moreover, the theme of the novel provides a call to action
to the youth in nation-building.