Philippines: A Century Hence by J.P.

Rizal Reading through the essays of Rizal, one could say that the hero is not just as great writer but a great Historian as well. His essay, The Philippines a Century Hence 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;(1) that the Philippines will remain to be a colony of Spain but will be in good terms with its captors;(2) that the Philippines will try to cut the ties of our Motherland from its captors through violent means;(3) and lastly that we will be colonized by another country. The thoughts of Rizal were not only based on his mere imagination, he tried to read in between the lines of the History of the many nations to come up with his recommendations of how the Philippines would look like. Rizal saw how the uprising in different nations started and thought that if Spain continuous to ignore the cries of its inhabitants, there will come a time that the oppressed will come into arms to recapture their lost freedom. In his essay, Rizal exposed the several issues that concern our country. The abuse of human rights, the lack of freedom of the press and the lack of representation in the Spanish Cortes are the key points discussed in the lengthy essay of Rizal. According to Rizal, the Filipinos must enjoy liberty of the press so that they can voice out their cries against the cruelty of the Spaniards. In addition, they must also have a representative in the Spanish Cortes to make known to the government and to the nation whether or not their decrees have been duly obeyed. Lastly, Filipinos are also seeking for justice and for human rights. Given these things, Rizal warned Spanish that if they wouldnt stop their abuse to the natives, they will plot separatist movements putting justice into their own hands. As a reader of Rizal, we could see in the essay his urge to put freedom in our land through peaceful negotiations with the Spanish Government in Spain. I noticed that he didnt view Philippines as an independent country being organized by the natives. Rizal just wanted liberty from Spain and not total separation. He believes that you can achieve freedom without being independent for he still doubt the extent to which we Filipinos know about running our own government. The essay, although doesnt want peaceful separatism, pledged to be equally treated and heard by its colonizers which I think is just as good as having an independent country. I guess what Rizal was thinking was that between a chaotic but independent country and a peaceful and glorious one under the government of Spain, he would rather choose the latter. The lesson I presented must also be pondered to be applied in contemporary times. Even if deny some allegations, most of our countryman still suffers because of the Padre Damaso and Padre Salvi in our government. Even within us, there are things which we ourselves do that make life difficult for the other person. Learning to live together and prospering as a nation will help build a strong foundation or our motherland. Sa Kababaihan ng Malolos

Sa kanyang liham sa mga kadalagahan ng Malolos na sinulat noog 1889, ipinahahayag ni Jose Rizal ang kanyang papuri at paggalang sa katapangang ipinamalas ng mga ito sa pagsusulong ng karapatan sa edukasyon isang di-karaniwang hakbang para sa maraming kababaihan sa kanyang panahon. Ayon kay Rizal , namulat siya sa pananaw na ang kababaihang Pilipino ay katuwang sa layunin para sa ikagagaling ng bayan. Batay sa kanya, ang mithiin ng mga kadalagahan ng Malolos para sa karunungan ay patunay ng pagkamulat sa tunay na kahulugan ng kabanalan - kabanalang nakatuon sa kabutihangasal, malinis na kalooban at matuwid na pag-iisip. Binibigyang-diin ni Rizal ang tungkulin ng kababaihan bilang dalaga at asawa sa pagbangon ng kanilang dignidad at halaga sa lipunan. Kaugnay nito, inilalarawan niya ang katangian ng kababaihan sa Europa at bilang halimbawa ay pinakita ang babaing Sparta bilang huwaran ng pagiging mabuting ina. Ipinapayo ni Rizal na gamitin ang halimbawang ito upang maitaguyod ang isang anak na marangal at magtatanggol sa bayan. Bahagi rin ng liham ang pagpapaalala ni Rizal sa lahat na gamitin ang isipang kaloob ng Diyos, upang matukoy ang katotohanan at hindi maging alipin ninuman. Pinupuna ang mga hindi kanais-nais na gawain ng mga prayle, gayundin ang pagiging mulat ukol sa tunay at huwad na relihiyon. Ang payo ni Rizal ay "mulatin ang mata g anak sa pag-iigat at pagmamahal sa puri, pag-ibig sa kapwa sa tinubuang bayan, at sa pagtupad g ukol. Ulit-uuliting matamisin ang mapuring kamatayan sa alipustang buhay".

Mga Tala: Ika-17 ng Pebrero 1889 nang isulat ni Jose Rizal gamit ang wikang Tagalog ang liham na ito habang ginagawa ang anotasyon sa aklat ni Morga. Isinulat niya ito sa London, limang araw matapos ipaalam sa kanya ni Marcelo H. del Pilar ang isang mahalagang pangyayari sa bayan ng Malolos. Ayon sa pagsasalaysay, ika-12 ng Disyembre 1888 nang may 20 kadalagahan ng Malolos ang naghain ng petisyon kay Gobernador-Heneral Weyler upang magtayo ng isang "panggabing paaralan." Layunin nila na mag-aral ng wikang Espaol sa ilalim ni Teodoro Sandiko, isang propesor sa Latin. Gayunpaman, hindi sinang-ayunan ni Padre Felipe Garcia, ang kura paroko, ang petisyon. Naging dahilan ito upang hindi rin pumayag ang gobernador-heneral na maitatag ang paaralan. Sa kabila ng pagtutol, hindi dagliang sumuko ang mga kadalagahan sa kanilang layunin. Patuloy silang nanawagan at nang lumaon, pumayag na rin ang pamahalaan na maitatag ang paaralan, bagama't tumagal lamang ito ng tatlong buwan. Si Seora Guadalupe Reyes ang nagsilbing guro ng mga kadalagahan. 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. The Spanish reign brought about a decline in economic activities because of certain causes: First, the establishment 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 pre-Spanish period gradually disappeared. Second, 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.

Third, 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. Fourth, 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.

Fifth, 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. Sixth, gambling was established and widely propagated during those times. Almost everyday there were cockfights, and during feast days, the government officials and friars were the first to engange in all sorts of bets and gambles. Seventh, there was a crooked system of religion. The friars taught the nave 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 hours work under that burning sun, in the midst of pernicious influences springing from nature in activity, is equal to a days labor in a temperate climate.

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