Kent Limmuel B. Tan 2010 – 2010 – 44012 44012
Reaction on Jose P. Rizal’s Rizal’s “The “The Philippines: A Century Hence” Hence”
“In order to read the destiny of a people, it is necessary to open the book of its past…”, past…”, this opening phrase on the second paragraph on the first part of Rizal’s Rizal ’s essay presented Rizal’s implied vision throughout his essay to clearly highlight the history of his people, the Malayan Mala yan Filipino, and relate it with their present situation under the Spanish occupation to visualize a future. The essay may have contained deep connotations and hidden meanings but Rizal was for me successful to vividly present and on his words paint a clear picture of the past for the future generation. For the future Filipino people to understand and possibly feel the hardships of their forefathers. He presented what he had analyzed for the “ possible future” future” and wanted to enlighten the Filipino on his time to open their eyes of their present reality, the oppression and the injustices of the Spaniards. His passion for the country and his very strong aim of saving the Philippines from the terror and tyranny of the Spa niards may have prompted him to write this essay. For Rizal, Philippines and its people before the arrival of the Western forces especially Spain were already civilized, with their own traditions, their recollections, their writings, their songs, their poetry and their laws but unfortunately, the y lowered them all and forgot for them th em to “understand other doctrines by heart, which they did not understand, und erstand, other ethics, other tastes, different from those inspired by their race, by their climate an d their way of thinking.” thinking.”. Spaniards may deemed that Philippines before they came was a backward society but for me, it is not and that they thought that with them the Philippines have progressed and “the people “the people have been redeemed from savagery”, it is false. I must agree with Rizal that rather progressing the Filipino customs, ethics and spirit have decayed and they have been enslaved and that all the good qualities have also been decayed. With it I agree with Rizal’s Rizal’s perception that the Spanish colonization have changed the cultural landscape of the Filipino people and have indoctrinated them but still like Rizal, I also believe that the Filipino still remains true to his character. “The Filipino loves his country no less, and although he is quieter, more peaceful, and with difficulty
stirred up, when he is once aroused he does not hesitate and for him the struggle means death to one or the other combatant. He has all the meekness and all the tenacity and ferocity of his carabao. Climate affects bipeds in the same wa y that it does quadrupeds.” Rizal’s essay was also evident of the situation during those times such as Spain’s implementation of her military powers and that the pop ulation has decreased drastically and that poverty is more rampant than ever. He also reiterated the lack of freedom of the press and the lack of representation in the Cortes. In the third part, Rizal then urged that keeping the Filipino uneducated and ignorant failed. This would then not be tolerated. On this part, I have seen that even if Rizal is a reformist, he acknowledge that even if reforms will be instituted by the governors, it will still deliver bad results and be useless if there is no liberty or freedom of the press. And telling the story of Sancho Panza as like the Philippines will end up rebelling to Spain and that for Rizal relating to history, “History does not record any enduring rule of one people over another, who belong to different races, with distinct usages and customs, with adverse or divergent ideals.” In here, Rizal could possibly be acknowledging that rebellion is inevitable. I think that even if Rizal’s tone in his essay is more on anger and hatred to Spain, he still acknowledge that Philippines could possibly remain Spanish if only Spain could have respected and give the Filipino the rights due to them. “To recapitulate: The Philippines will remains Spanish if they enter upon the life of law and civilization, if the rights of their inhabitants are respected, if the other rights due them are granted, if the liberal policy of the government is carried out without false interpretation.” On a personal note, the essay even if it’s lengthy have somewhat instilled that even if Filipino’s may sacrifice everything — liberty, ease, welfare, name, for the sake of an aspiration or a conceit, they will still remain true to his character as a Filipino that just like if I relate it on the present, even if we seek for better living in other countries, there will still came a time that we will return.
