RIZAL AND THE UNDERSIDE OF PHILIPPINE HISTORY BY REYNALDO C. ILETO In 1890 Jose Riz!" #$e %o&e'os# Fi!i(ino Fi!i(ino in#e!!e)#*! n+ (#&io# ,$i)$ #$e 19#$ Cen#*&- (&o+*)e+" (&oi+e+ in $is nno##ions #o 1/#$Cen#*&- S(nis$ #e# s)$o!&!- !e2i#i'iz#ion %o& #$e ie, #$#" ,i#$ S(nis$ &*!e #$e (eo(!e 3%o&2o# #$ei& n#ie !($4e#" #$ei& son2s" #$ei& (oe#&-" #$ei& !,s" in o&+e& #o (&&o# o#$e& +o)#&ines #$# #$e- +i+ no# *n+e&s#n+.5 T$e &es*!# o% #$ei& 4!in+ i'i##ion o% #$in2s %o&ei2n n+ in)o'(&e$ensi4!e ,s #$# 3#$e- !os# !! )on6+en)e in #$ei& (s#" !! %i#$ in #$ei& (&esen#" n+ !! $o(e %o& #$e %*#*&e.5 Riz! !4o&e+ %o& -e& in #$e B&i#is$ 7*se*' #o +o)*'en# #$e i'2e o% o*&is$in2 (&e)o!oni! )ii!iz#ion" #$e Los# E+en" ,$i)$ $e" #$e os(&in2 o% n e& o% &#ion!i#-" ,:ene+ )ons)io*sness n+ se!%sse&#ion" %e!# 4*&+ene+ #o (*# in ,&i#in2. T$e Fi!i(ino (eo(!e $+ #o 'oe %o&,&+" n+ in o&+e& #o +o so $+ #o 4e ,&e o% #$ei& o&i2ins" #$ei& $is#o&- s )o!onize+ (eo(!e" n+ #$e 2ene&! (&o2&ess o% 'n:in+ #o ,$i)$ #$ei& %*#*&e s$o*!+ 4e 2e&e+. Riz!;s )ons#&*)#ion o% 3*s4!e (s#"5 #o *se )*&&en#!- (o(*!& #e&'" in ee)# (&ii!e2e+ #$e s##*s o% #$e ilustrados" ilustrados" #$e !i4e&!e+*)#e+ e!i#e ,$i)$ ie,e+ i#se!% s" 'on2 o#$e& #$in2s" &e!ese+ %&o' #$e #$o*2$,o&!+ o% #$e $is#o&-!ess" s*(e&s#i#io*s" 'ni(*!#e+ 'sses" #$e pobres #$e pobres y ignorantes. In ignorantes. In #$e e&- )# o% in#e&(&e##ion" #$en" Riz! $+ #o i2no&e o& s*((&ess < *n)ons)io*s!-" (e&$(s < ($eno'en ,$i)$ &esis#e+ $is o&+e&in2 'in+. T$ese eis#e+ on #$e %&in2es o% $is !i%e n+ ,o&: 4*# $e no# 4een s#*+ie+ se&io*s!-. Ins#e+" ,e en+!ess!- +e4#e ,$e#$e& $e ,s &e!is# o& n i+e!is#" ,$e#$e& $e ,s +ese&in2 o% #$e ene&#ion $e &e)eies. T$e&e is (&o4in2 o% #$e in#en#ions 4e$in+ $is )#ions" s(ee)$es n+ ,&i#in2s" n ##e'(# #o )!&i%- $is )on#&i4*#ion #o #$e (&o)ess o% )#ion4*i!+in2" n+ so %o&#$. B*# #$e&e is no =*es#ionin2 o% $is eo!*#ionis# (&e'ises" (&#i)*!&!- #$e no#ion o% e'e&2en)e i#se!% ,$i)$ 4e!on2s #o #$e &e!' o% #$e %'i!i&" #$e 3)o''on sense.5 As ,e s$!! see" #$is no#ion is (&o4!e'#ize+ in #$e 'enin2s #$# Riz!;s 2es#*&es e!i)i#e+ 'on2 #$e pobres #$e pobres y ignorantes. Riz! 4e)'e i'(!i)#e+ in #$e e&- ,o&!+ ,$i)$ #$e ilustrados so*2$# #o e)e. >$# ,e s$!! see: #o *n)oe& in (&#i)*!& is #$e (!- o% 'enin2s ,$i)$ $is +&'#i) ee)*#ion in 189? se# in#o 'o#ion. I% #$is een# ,e&e si'(!- )on+e'ne+ 'n;s ##e'(# #o (e&(e#*#e $is o,n 'e'o&-" o& $is '&#-&+o' is 2ins# o((&ession n+ o4s)*&n#is'" #$en ,$-" 'on2 'no#$e& )#s o% '&#-&+o' n+ ee)*#ion" ,s i# sin2!e+ o*#" &e'e'4e&e+"
)o''e'o&#e+ %o& +e)+es %#e&@ >$# 'o+es o% #$o*2$# (&# %&o' #$# o% #$e ilustrados in%o&'e+ ilustrados in%o&'e+ #$e een#@ THE 3FALL 3FALL5 IN ILUSTRADO ILUSTRADO CONSCIOUSNESS ien #$e ((&en# %)# #$# #$e indios ,e&e indios ,e&e )one&#e+ #o C$&is#ini#-" ,e nee+ #o 'oe 4e-on+ es#4!is$e+ n+ %'i!i& ie,s o% $o, #$ei& ,o&!+ ,s e)#e+ 4- #$e ne, &e!i2ion. On one $n+" (&o%esse+!- C#$o!i) ,&i#e&s n+ His(no($i!es )!i' #$# C$&is#ini#- 4&o*2$# )ii!ize+ ,-s" s!#ion n+ *ni##o #$e is!n+s. On #$e o#$e& $n+" n#ion!is#s &2*e (ssion#e!- #$# C$&is#ini#- ,s ,e(on #o %)i!i##e #$e (o!i#i)! n+ e)ono'i) s*4*2#ion o% #$e n#ies. In ei#$e& ie," #$e indio is indio is #$e (ssie &e)i(ien#. T$e S(nis$ %&i&" s &e(&esen##ie o% o+ on e&#$" is seen s ee&#in2 (o,e&%*! 'o&! $o!+ oe& #$e indios. indios. Fo& 4e##e& o& %o& ,o&se" $e in#e&(&e#s #$e (&o(e& &*!es o% C$&is#in 4e$io&" &e,&+in2 #$e o4e+ien# n+ s*4'issie" n+ (*nis$in2 ei!+oe&s. F*&#$e&'o&e" #$e&e is n i'(!i)i# ss*'(#ion #$# C$&is#ini#-;s i'()# )n 4e *n+e&s#oo+ 4- &e%e&en)e #o )e&#in )o&e )$&)#e&is#i)s" %o&e'os# 'on2 #$e' 4ein2 i#s o#$e&,o&!+!- o&ien##ion ,$i)$ en)o*&2e+ &esi2n#ion #o #$e &e!i#!ie+ 4- #$e indios indios &esi2n#ion #o %o&)e+ !4o& n+ #$e $e+ #" #o #$e &*!e o% #$e maguinoo o& maguinoo o& n#ie )$ie%s n+ #$e !#e& principales !#e& principales ,$o ,$o ,e&e 'os#!- 2en#s o% )o!oni! &*!e. T$ose ,$o &e *n,i!!in2 #o )&i#i)ize #$e &e!i2ion i#se!% ie, i#s (&#i)*!& e(&ession in #$e P$i!i((ine )on#e# s one o% e)essie (o'( n+ (2en#&-" o% )o*n#!ess %es#i!s" (&o)essions n+ &i#*!s #$# :e(# #$e indios in indios in s*)$ s##e o% %s)in#ion #$# #$e- %i!e+ #o 2&s( #$e &e!i#- o% )o!oni! e(!oi##ion. To To ,$#ee& (o!e #$e &2*'en# #en+ < C$&is#ini#- s #$e indios’ s!#ion s!#ion o& C$&is#ini#- s #$e &oo# o% #$ei& !ien#ion < #$e&e is !,-s &oo' %o& !!o,in2 %o& o& )e!e4&#in2 #$e #&i*'($ o% !i4e&! i+es in #$e !#e 19#$ )en#*&-. In #$e 6&s# (!)e" #$e no#ion #$# C$&is#ini#- 4e!on2s #o #$e &e!' o% #$e o#$e&,o&!+!- s +is#in)# %&o' #$e se)*!& n+ (o!i#i)! !!o,s #$e +# on (o(*!& +is#*&4n)es n+ &eo!#s. I% #$e- o))*& +*&in2 #$e 3(&een!i2$#en'en#5 )en#*&ies" s*)$ ($eno'en &e &e2&+e+ s ins#in)#ie" !&2e!- !o)!ize+ &e)#ions #o o((&essie 'es*&es" 3n#iis#i)5 ##e'(#s #o &e#*&n #o (&e)o!oni! (s#" # 4es# (&i'i#ie (&e)*&so&s #o #$e &eo!*#ion. His $o&izons n&&o,e+ 4- &e!i2ion n+ #$e +ii+e n+&*!e #)#i) o% #$e S(ni&+s" #$e indio is indio is +ee'e+ *n4!e #o )o'(&e$en+ $is si#*#ion 3&#ion!!-5 #$*s $e &e)#s 4!in+!-" in #$e 2*#" #o 'o*n#in2 i&&i#n#s i'(&in2in2 *(on $i'. On!- ,i#$ #$e +en# o% Riz! n+ #$e ilustrados is ilustrados is #$e&e
)!e& *n+e&s#n+in2 o% #$e )*ses o% +iss#is%)#ion. On!- ,i#$ #$e %o*n+in2 o% An+&es Boni%)io;s #i(*nn se)&e# so)ie#- is #$e&e n o&2niz#ion ,i#$ )!e& s#&#e2ies n+ 2o!s. >$en #$e #i(*nn is s*(e&se+e+ 4- E'i!io A2*in!+o;s Re(*4!i)n 2oe&n'en#" #$e Fi!i(ino (eo(!e &e 6n!!- &e!ese+ no# on!- %&o' #$e )o!oni! 'o#$e& )o*n#&- 4*# %&o' +&: (s#. T$e $is#o&- o% 3%i!*&e5 en+s ,i#$ #$e 4i&#$ o% #$e se)*!&" (&o2&essie" en!i2$#ene+ Re(*4!i). >i#$ #$e +o'inn# )ons#&*)#s se)*&e!- es#4!is$e+" i# is i'(ossi4!e #o &e2&+ s n-#$in2 4*# )*&io*s si+e!i2$# #$e %)# #$# P&esi+en# A2*in!+o" e&'*)$ in #$e s#-!e o% #$e 18 #$ &e4e! Die2o Si!n2" ,s !so seen s #$e Li4e&#o& sen# 4- o+. O& #$# Riz!" !i:e A(o!in&io +e ! C&*z in 181" ,s $i!e+ s T2!o2 C$&is# n+ in2. In 1898 n+ 1899 #$e Re(*4!i)" e&- '*)$ !i:e #$e o!+ )o!oni! +'inis#&#ion" ,s 4ese# ,i#$ *n&es# !e+ 'os#!- 4- Po(es" C$&is#s" Ps#o&s n+ S*(&e'os. S*)$ 3si+e!i2$#s5 s*22es# #$# (e&son!i#ies n+ een#s #o,&+ #$e en+ o% #$e 19#$ )en#*&- ,e&e &e(e#i#ions" ,i#$ &i#ions o% )o*&se" o% #$e (s#. T$e- +&, o*& ##en#ion #o #$e %)# #$# !i'i#in2 %&'e,o&:s $e 4een ((!ie+ #o 19#$ P$i!i((ine $is#o&-" #$# #$e&e &e" #$ese e!*+e+" 3e)ess5 +# ,i#$ ,$i)$ ,e )n ##e'(# #o )on%&on# #$e +o'inn# (&+i2's n+ e!i)i# (!o% 'enin2s in (!)e o% )!ose+ s#&*)#*&es. I% Riz! 4e!on2e+ #o se&ies o% C$&is#s n+ T2!o2 in2s" ,e 'i2$# ,e!! s ,$# #$e )on+i#ions &e %o& in)!*sion in #$e se&ies n+ #$e 'o+e o% $is#o&i)! ,&eness i# s*22es#s. Riz! 4e)o'es !ess #$e in#e!!e)#*! )$iee'en# o% #$e )en#*&- #$n )o'(!e 62*&e ,$o oe&e+ +ie&en#" so'e#i'es )oni)#in2" &e+in2s o% $is !i%e n+ ,o&:. T$e &e((e&n)e" #$e (e&sis#en)e oe& #i'e" o% 62*&es 4e&in2 #$e '&: o% C$&is#ini#- )o*!+ e4 in#e&(&e#e+ s si2n o% #$e #o#! Fi!i(ino s*4*2#ion 4S(in. I# )o*!+ si2ni%- #$e 4&e:" #$e !oss n+ ens!e'en# &es*!#in2 %&o' #$e Con=*es#. Riz! !'en#e+ #$e %)# #$# P$i!i((ine #&+i#ions ,e&e no !on2e& *#$en#i) 4e)*se #$ei& o&i2ins ,e&e ei#$e& %o&2o##en o& (#en#!- %o&ei2n. To $i'" #$e %o&2e##in2 o% o&i2ins '&:e+ #$e onse# o% +&:ness 3T$ese #&+i#ions o% !in:s ,i#$ S*'#&G ,e&e )o'(!e#e!- !os#" *s# !i:e #$e '-#$o!o2- n+ 2ene!o2ies o% ,$i)$ #$e o!+ $is#o&ins s(e:" #$n:s #o #$e ze! o% #$e &e!i2io*s in e#i&(#in2 ee&- &e'e'4&n)e o% o*& n#ion!i#-" o% (2nis'" o& o% i+o!#&-.5 P$i!i((ine !i#e&&- $is#o&ies s(e: o% #$e !os# !i#e&#*&e o% #$e !o,!n+s 4ein2 &e(!)e+ 4&e!i2io*s (oe#&- ,&i##en # 6&s# 4- S(nis$ 'ission&ies n+ #$en 4- se!e)# indios ,$o $+ se&e+ s #&ns!#o&s %o& #$e S(ni&+s. T$e #$e'es o% s*)$ (oe#&see' +io&)e+ %&o' P$i!i((ine e(e&ien)e 3!oe %o& #$e Ho!- F'i!-"5 3o+ #$e !i2$# o% #$e ,o&!+"5 37&-" s#& o% #$e se5 2*i+in2 'en in #$ei& o-2e #$&o*2$
#$e s#o&'- +&:ness o% sin n+ i2no&n)e. T$e&e &e #&)es o% (&e+o'inn#!se%&in2 7!- so)ie#- in #$e !s# #$e'e" 4*# i# is !o)#e+ in se o% +&:ness" i!!*'ine+ on!- 4- #$e !i2$# o% %o&ei2n i+eo!o2-. In #$e 18#$ Cen#*&-" 'e#&i)! &o'n)es %&o' S(in n+ 7ei)o ,e&e !!o,e+ #o 4e #&ns!#e+ o& #o se&e s 'o+e!s %o& (o(*!& %o&' o% in+i2eno*s !i#e&#*&e )!!e+ awit . T$is #&ns(!n#e+ #o P$i!i((ine soi! #$e #&+i#ions o% E*&o(en 'e+ie! &o'n)e. T2!o2 (oe#&4e)'e +o'in#e+ 4- #$e'es &n2in2 %&o' #$e Pssion o% C$&is# #o #$e C&*s+es 2ins# #$e 7oo&s. Ilustrados %&o' Riz! #o #$is +- $e !'en#e+ #$is ((&en# +is#o&#ion o% #$e Fi!i(ino 'in+. 3Bo&n n+ 4&o*2$# *( in i2no&n)e o% o*& -es#e&+- !):in2 n *#$o&i##ie oi)e #o s(e: o% ,$# ,e nei#$e& s, no& s#*+ie+5 < Riz! )o*!+ no# $e 4e##e& e(&esse+ #$e nie#- o% 4ein2 !e%# #o one;s o,n ,i#s" *nn)$o&e+ in s#4!e (s#. T$e !): o% )on#in*o*s" *nin#e&&*(#e+ $is#o&- o% Fi!i(ino )ons)io*sness !- 4e$in+ #$e ilustrado nos#!2i %o& !os# o&i2ins. Riz!;s eo&#s #o &e)ons#&*)# #$e $is#o&- o% o*&is$in2" (&eS(nis$ )ii!iz#ion #$# en#e&e+ *(on #$e +e)!ine )n 4e ie,e+ s n ##e'(# #o &e)ons#i#*#e #$e *ni#- o% P$i!i((ine $is#o&-" #o 4&in2 *n+e& #$e s,- o% #$e ilustrado 'in+ #$e +is)on#in*i#ies n+ +ie&en)es #$# )$&)#e&ize+ )o!oni! so)ie#-. T$e ilustrados ,e&e e&- '*)$ in #*ne ,i#$ 19#$ )en#*&- )on)e(#ions o% $is#o&-. T$ei& )#ii#- ,s 2e&e+ #o #$e !#e 19#$ )en#*&- E*&o(en se&)$ %o& #o#! $is#o&-" in ,$i)$ !! #$e +ie&en)es o% so)ie#- 'i2$# 4e &e+*)e+ #o sin2!e %o&'" #o #$e o&2niz#ion o% ,o&!+ie," #o #$e es#4!is$'en# o% #$e s-s#e' o% !*es" #o )o$e&en# #-(e o% )ii!iz#ion.5 I&oni)!!-" #$e +e'n+ %o& o&+e& n+ )o$e&en)e !e+ #o )&i#i=*e no# on!- o% #$e S(ni&+s 4*# o% #$e ilustrados’ n)es#o&s ,$o" +'i##e+ Riz!" !os# #$ei& $e&i#2e 4e)*se #$e- 3$s#ene+ #o 4n+on ,$# ,s #$ei&s #o #:e *( ,$# ,s ne,.5 I2no&n)e n+ nie#e &e #$e %'i!i& e(!n#ions %o& ,$# ((e&s #o $e 4een #$e 4sen)e o% 6e+ 4o*n+&ies in #$e )on)e(#*! ,o&!+ o% #$e e&!Fi!i(inos. One %)# #$# &en+e&s #$e no#ion o% 3F!!5 (&o4!e'#i)" $o,ee&" ,s #$e s*&i! o% #$e in+i2eno*s !n2*2es. Fo& e'(!e" #$e ,$o!e )&o( o% %o&ei2n s#o&- !ines in T2!o2 !i#e&#*&e" ,$i)$ on #$e one $n+ s*22es# )e&#in !oss o% *#$en#i)i#-" *(on )!ose& e'in#ion #*&n o*# #o 4e 's:s #$# )on)e! 2eo!+ (&eo))*(#ions. >e s$!! see !#e& on #$# #$e %i!*&e o% s*)$ #e&'s s 3so*!5 n+ se!%; #o en)o'(ss #$e 'enin2s o% loob !i#." 3insi+e5G &e!eses #$e T2!o2 Pssion o% C$&is# Pasyon) %&o' #$e )on#&o! o% #$e C$*&)$. T$e #&ns!#ion o% !ien s#o&-!ines n+ )on)e(#s in#o T2!o2 no# on!- &es*!#e+ in #$ei& +o'es#i)#ion"
#$ei& ssi'i!#ion in#o #$in2s !&e+- :no,n" 4*# 2e &ise #o &io*s (!-s o% 'enin2.
