A Letter to the Young Women of Malolos

A Letter to the Young Women of Malolos Kim Maric T. Bernat

About the Letter •

A letter requested by Marcelo H. Del Pilar

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Originally written in Tagalog Tagalog

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Penned by Dr. Jose Rizal on February 22 !""# in $ondon w%ile annotating de Morga&s boo'. A letter w%ic% addresses not only on t%e young wo(en o) Malolos but also to all 'inds o) Fili*ino wo(en

Analysis of the Letter A.Biographical Analyses i.Letter to the Young Women of Malolos ii.The Infancy Ideals iii.Filibustero B.istorical Analyses i.Frailocracy ii.!olo Y "er#icious$

Biographical Analysis- Letter to the Young Women of Malolos •

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A grou* o) twenty young wo(en o) Malolos *etitioned go+ernor, general -eyler )or *er(ission to o*en a nig%t sc%ool/ to study 0*anis% under Teodoro 0andi'o on Dece(ber !2 !""". Fr. Feli*e 1arcia obected t%e *etition.

 T%ey 3nally succeeded in obtaining go+ern(ent a**ro+al to t%eir *roect on condition t%at 0e4orita 1uadalu*e Reyes s%ould be t%eir teac%er. T%e sc%ool re(ained o*en )or t%ree (ont%s.

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Del Pilar writing in 5arcelona on February !6 !""# requested Rizal to send a letter in Tagalog to t%e bra+e wo(en o) Malolos.

Biographical Analysis- Letter to the Young Women of Malolos “However, when the news of what happened at Malolos reached us, I saw my error, and great was my rejoicing.  After all, who is to blame me? I did not now Malolos nor its young women, e!cept one called "milia, and her I new by name only# 

7(ilia Tiongson (et Jose Rizal w%o( %e dance in  Tanc%angco %ouse w%en %e +isited Malolos in !""".

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Biographical Analysis- The Infancy Ideals “$hen I wrote %oli Me &angere, I ased myself whether bravery was a common thing in the young women of our  people. I brought bac to my recollection and reviewed those I had nown since my childhood, but there were only few who seem to come up to my ideal# 

 T%e 8ational Hero&s writings including %is letter to t%e young wo(en o) Malolos are t%e realization o) %is ardor ai( )or t%e )uture o) t%e P%ili**ines.

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Biographical AnalysisFrailocracy “&he o'cial or friar can no longer assert that they alone are responsible for their unjust orders, because (od gave, each individual reason and a will of his or her own to distinguish the just from the unjust) all were born without shacles and free, and nobody has a right to subjugate the will and the spirit of another. And, why should you submit to another your thoughts, seeing that thought is noble and free?# 

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Frailocracy , unique )or( o) go+ern(ent in His*anic P%ili**ines so na(ed

because it was a go+ern(ent by )riars wit% religion as t%eir )ront.

Biographical AnalysisFilibustero It is more presumptuous for a man to constitute himself into an idol and pretend to be in communication of thought with (od) and it is more than presumptuous and even blasphemous for a person to attribute every movement of his lips to (od, to represent every whim of his as the will of (od, and to brand his own enemy as an enemy of (od. *f course, we should not consult our own  judgment alone, but hear the opinion of others before doing what may seem most reasonable to us.# 

Biographical Analysis- !olo Y "er#iciou$ T%e (ot%er w%o can only teac% %er c%ild %ow to 'neel and 'iss %ands (ust not e9*ect sons wit% blood ot%er t%an t%at o) +ile sla+es/ :it is because o) t%is t%at s%e %as been %oodwin'ed and tied and rendered *usillani(ous; and now %er ensla+ers rest at ease because so long as t%ey can 'ee* t%e Fili*ina (ot%er a sla+e so long will t%ey be able to (a'e sla+es o) %er c%ildren./

"ociological Analysis- %on&ned Women T%ere was it is true an abundance o) girls wit% agreeable (anners beauti)ul ways and (odest de(eanor but t%ere was in all an ad(i9ture o) ser+itude and de)erence to t%e words or w%i(s o) t%eir so,called  due to e9cessi+e 'indness (odesty or *er%a*s ignorance. T%ey see(ed )aded *lants sown and reared in dar'ness %a+ing ?owers wit%out *er)u(e and )ruits wit%out sa*./

"ociological Analysis- %on&ned Women 8ow t%at you %a+e res*onded to our 3rst a**eal in t%e interest o) t%e wel)are o) t%e *eo*le; now t%at you %a+e set an e9a(*le to t%ose w%o li'e you long to %a+e t%eir eyes o*ened and be deli+ered )ro( ser+itude new %o*es are awa'ened in us and we now e+en dare to )ace ad+ersity because we %a+e you )or our allies and are con3dent o) +ictory. 8o longer does t%e Fili*ina stand wit% %er %ead bowed nor does s%e s*end %er ti(e on %er 'nees because s%e is quic'ened by %o*e in t%e )uture; no longer will t%e (ot%er contribute to 'ee*ing %er daug%ter in dar'ness and bring %er u* in conte(*t and (oral anni%ilation. And no longer will t%e science o) all sciences consist in blind sub(ission to any unust order or in e9tre(e co(*lacency nor will a courteous s(ile be dee(ed t%e only wea*on against insult or %u(ble tears t%e ine@able *anacea )or all tribulations./

"ociological Analysis'neducated Filipinas

-e 'now t%at you lac' instructi+e boo's; we 'now t%at not%ing is added to your intellect day by day sa+e t%at w%ic% is intended to di( its natural brig%tness; all t%is we 'now %ence our desire to bring you t%e lig%t t%at illu(inates your equals %ere in 7uro*e. ) t%at w%ic%  tell you does not *ro+o'e your anger and i) you will *ay but a little attention to it t%en %owe+er dense t%e (ist (ay be t%at be)ogs our *eo*le  will (a'e t%e out(ost e@ort to %a+e it dissi*ated by t%e brig%t rays o) t%e sun w%ic% will gi+e lig%t t%oug% t%ey (ay be di((ed. -e s%all not )eel any )atigue i) you will %el* usB 1od too will %el* to scatter t%e (ist because He is t%e 1od o) trut%; He will restore to its *ristine condition t%e )a(e o) t%e Fili*ina in w%o( we now (iss only a criterion o) %er own because good qualities s%e %as enoug% and to s*are. T%is is our drea(; t%is is t%e desire we c%eris% in our %earts; to restore t%e %onor o) wo(an w%o is %al) o) our %eart

"ociological Analysis'neducated Filipinas ) s%e is a (aiden t%e young (an s%ould lo+e %er not only because o) %er beauty and %er a(iable c%aracter but also on account o) %er )ortitude o) (ind and lo)tiness o) *ur*ose w%ic% quic'en and ele+ate t%e )eeble and ti(id and ward o@ all +ain t%oug%ts. $et t%e (aiden be t%e *ride o) %er country and co((and res*ect because it is a co((on *ractice on t%e *art o) 0*aniards and )riars %ere w%o %a+e returned )ro( t%e slands to s*ea' o) t%e Fili*ina as co(*laisant and ignorant as i) all s%ould be t%rown into t%e sa(e class because o) t%e (isste*s o) a )ew and as i) wo(en o) wea' c%aracter did not e9ist in ot%er lands. As to *urity w%at could t%e Fili*ina not %old u* to ot%ersC/

"ociological Analysis- The Wea( Females of the !hilippines ...8o longer will t%e (ot%er contribute to 'ee*ing %er daug%ter in dar'ness and bring %er u* in conte(*t and (oral anni%ilation. And no longer will t%e science o) all sciences consist in blind sub(ission to any unust order or in e9tre(e co(*lacency nor will a courteous s(ile be dee(ed t%e only wea*on against insult or %u(ble tears t%e ine@able *anacea )or all tribulations:/ $et t%e (aiden be t%e *ride o) %er country and co((and res*ect because it is a co((on *ractice on t%e *art o) 0*aniards and )riars %ere w%o %a+e returned )ro( t%e slands to s*ea' o) t%e Fili*ina as co(*laisant and ignorant as i) all s%ould be t%rown into t%e sa(e class because o) t%e (isste*s o) a )ew and as i) wo(en o) wea' c%aracter did not e9ist in ot%er lands. As to *urity w%at could t%e Fili*ina not %old u* to ot%ersC/

"ociological Analysis- )ole of the Mothers -%at o@s*ring will be t%at o) a wo(an w%ose 'indness o) c%aracter is e9*ressed by (u(bled *rayers; w%o 'nows not%ing by %eart but awits no+enas and t%e alleged (iracles; w%ose a(use(ent consists in *laying *anguingue or in t%e )requent con)ession o) t%e sa(e sins -%at sons will s%e %a+e but acolytes *riestEs ser+ants or coc'3g%ters t is t%e (ot%ers w%o are res*onsible )or t%e *resent ser+itude o) our co(*atriots owing to t%e unli(ited trust)ulness o) t%eir lo+ing %earts to t%eir ardent desire to ele+ate t%eir sons. Maturity is t%e )ruit o) in)ancy and t%e in)ant is )or(ed on t%e la* o) its (ot%er. T%e (ot%er w%o can only teac% %er c%ild %ow to 'neel and 'iss %ands (ust not e9*ect sons wit% blood ot%er t%an t%at o) +ile sla+es. A tree t%at grows in t%e (ud is insubstantial and good only )or 3rewood. ) %er son s%ould %a+e a bold (ind %is boldness will be deceit)ul and will be li'e t%e bat t%at can not s%ow itsel) until t%e ringing o) +es*ers./

"ociological Analysis- Blind *bedience As to t%e (ites and gi)ts to 1od is t%ere anyt%ing in t%e world t%at does not belong to 1od -%at would you say o) a ser+ant (a'ing %is (aster a *resent o) a clot% borrowed )ro( t%at +ery (aster -%o is so +ain so insane t%at %e will gi+e al(s to 1od and belie+e t%at t%e (iserable t%ing %e %as gi+en will ser+e to clot%e t%e reator o) all t%ings 5lessed be t%ey w%o succor t%eir )ellow (en aid t%e *oor and )eed t%e %ungry; but cursed be t%ey w%o turn a dea) ear to su**lications o) t%e *oor w%o only gi+e to %i( w%o %as *lenty and s*end t%eir (oney la+is%ly on sil+er altar %angings )or t%e c%urc% or gi+e it to t%e )riar w%o li+es in abundance in t%e s%a*e o) )ees )or (asses o) t%an'sgi+ing or in serenades and 3rewor's. T%e (oney ground out o) t%e *oor is bequeat%ed to t%e (aster so t%at %e can *ro+ide )or c%ains to subugate and %ire t%ugs and e9ecutioners. O% w%at blindness w%at lac' o) understandingC/

"ociological Analysis- Blind *bedience onsider well w%at 'ind o) religion t%ey are teac%ing you. 0ee w%et%er it is t%e will o) 1od or according to t%e teac%ings o) %rist t%at t%e *oor be succored and t%ose w%o su@er alle+iated. onsider w%at t%ey are *reac%ing to you t%e obect o) t%e ser(on w%at is be%ind t%e (asses no+enas rosaries sca*ularies i(ages (iracles candles belts etc. etc. w%ic% t%ey daily 'ee* be)ore your (inds ears and eyes ostling s%outing and coa9ing; in+estigate w%ence t%ey ca(e and w%it%er t%ey go and t%en co(*are t%at religion wit% t%e *ure religion o) %rist and see w%et%er t%at *retended obser+ance o) t%e li)e o) %rist does not re(ind you o) t%e )at (il' cow or t%e )attened *ig w%ic% is encouraged to grow )at not t%roug% lo+e o) t%e ani(al but )or grossly (ercenary (oti+es./

"ociological Analysis- *+cial %orruption T%e oGcial or )riar can no longer assert t%eir unust orders:/ -%y t%en do t%e )riars now re)use to stir a )oot unless *aid in ad+ance And as i) t%ey were star+ing t%ey sell sca*ularies rosaries belts and ot%er t%ings w%ic% are not%ing but sc%e(es )or (a'ing (oney and a detri(ent to t%e soul: T%us also t%roug% cu*idity and lo+e o) (oney t%ey will )or a *rice re+o'e t%e nu(erous *ro%ibitions suc% as t%ose against eating (eat (arrying close relati+es etc. ou can do al(ost anyt%ing i) you but grease t%eir *al(s. -%y t%at an 1od be bribed and boug%t o@ and blinded by (oney not%ing (ore nor less t%an a )riar T%e brigand w%o %as obtained a bull o) co(*ro(ise can li+e cal(ly on t%e *roceeds o) %is robbery because %e will be )orgi+en. 1od t%en will sit at a table w%ere t%e)t *ro+ides t%e +iands Has t%e O(ni*otent beco(e a *au*er t%at He (ust assu(e t%e role o) t%e e9cise (an or gendar(e ) t%at is t%e 1od w%o( t%e )riar adores

"ociological Analysis- )acial ,iscrimination <n a boo' *ublis%ed by D. 0inibaldo de Mas and in ot%er )riar s'etc%es sins are related o) w%ic% wo(en accused t%e(sel+es in t%e con)essional and o) w%ic% t%e )riars (ade no secret in tal'ing to t%eir 0*anis% +isitors seasoning t%e( at t%e best wit% idiotic and s%a(eless tales not wort%y o) credence.  cannot re*eat %ere t%e s%a(eless stories t%at a )riar told Mas and to w%ic% Mas attributed no +alue w%ate+er. 7+eryti(e we %ear or read anyt%ing o) t%is 'ind we as' eac% ot%erB Are t%e 0*anis% wo(en all cut a)ter t%e *attern o) t%e Holy Iirgin Mary and t%e Fili*inas all re*robates  belie+e t%at i) we were to balance accounts in t%is delicate question *er%a*s../

%onclusion  T%e salient *oints contained in t%is letter are as )ollowsB !. T%e reection o) t%e s*iritual aut%ority o) t%e )riars  not all o) t%e *riests in t%e country t%at ti(e e(bodied t%e true s*irit o) %rist and His %urc%. Most o) t%e( were corru*ted by worldly desires and used worldly (et%ods to e@ect c%ange and )orce disci*line a(ong t%e *eo*le. 2. T%e de)ense o) *ri+ate udg(ent K. Lualities Fili*ino (ot%ers need to *ossess  as e+idenced by t%is *ortion o) %is letter Rizal is greatly concerned o) t%e wel)are o) t%e Fili*ino c%ildren and t%e %o(es t%ey grow u* in. . Duties and res*onsibilities o) Fili*ino (ot%ers to t%eir c%ildren N. Duties and res*onsibilities o) a wi)e to %er %usband  Fili*ino wo(en are 'nown to be sub(issi+e tender and lo+ing. Rizal states in t%is *ortion o) %is letter %ow Fili*ino wo(en oug%t to be as wi+es in order to *reser+e t%e identity o) t%e race.