The Philippine Century Hence Summary The first part of this novel is all about Rizal’s looking back of the Philippines. Here, Rizal showed the changes brought by the Spaniards when they colonize Philippines. Wherein, the former leader of the Philippines was under the hands of the conquerors, hoping that they will progress if they’ll be under the conquerors. The Filipinos gradually neglect and forget the ethnic culture, songs, poems and beliefs for them to be easy to cope up with the new and foreign doctrines, which they don’t really understand. They get ashamed and even denied their own culture. They praise and patronized anything that was from the conquerors until their hearts and minds have been captured. Years later, the religion which flashed also used the worship of God to persuade and ultimately enforcing the Filipinos to be under the Spaniards. When the Filipinos are treated like animals, deprived of thoughts and feelings and made slaves to serve conquerors in the development of Spain. Revived the dormant feelings of the Filipinos because of the pain and humiliation they experienced. There are some feelings awakened to the truth of the brutality and oppression of conquerors because of the ongoing vilification and exploitation which will gradually wake up the minds of the majority. The second part is about the failure of the colonial policy of Spain in the development of the Philippines. It is stated here the Philippines condition within the past 300 years from 1889. To those who wants freedom of his country, the country has it. For those who have seen the chaos and misunderstanding, they decided to accept freedom whatever the future holds. For liberal Spaniards, the country’s condition doesn’t have any progress but for the friars, there’s progress. The handling of the Spaniards to Philippines was uneasy but they still continue handling it. There is military force, slow communication between Mexico and Spain and expeditions are arduous for the sea are full of pirates and enemies of Spain. In the year 1889, the country’s condition is much better. There’s a fine organization within civil and military leadership. The communication is easier, faster and more reliable. Rizal said that the Philippines remained calm at the beginning of the Spanish domination. The Filipinos under Philippine military becomes official. An indio can be encomendero and become a general of an army. There’s no place for defamation and no people are insulted. All the good things that pertains to
the improvement of the country is gone. The government is replaced by intimidation, exploitation and slavery. While in the third part, stated the radical and political reforms if the Philippines will still be under the Spanish colony. The reforms in the Philippines will be successful if the implementation will be brutal and will be coming from the ordinary citizen. There’s a nee/d to change the political policy according to the needs of the people. Reformation will be in order and successful if it will come from the work on an authority. At the last part, Rizal stated the predictions and opinions about the future. And his message to Spain. MAJOR POINTS, CLAIMS & ASSUMPTIONS Part 1 >Analysis of the Past
Part 2 >Maintenance of Spanish Authority
Part 3 >Transformation in a political sense
Part 4 >The future of colonization
Chief causes of the suffering of the natives: >Implementation of Spain’s military policies > Gradual loss of ethnic culture and beliefs >Sensitivity of the Filipinos >Realization of the oppression of the conquerors
>Role of Priest >Brutalization of the masses >Impoverishment of the country
>Reforms : Freedom of the press Filipino representatives: as military, prove to be unruly
>Accumulations of acts of injustice. Philippines and other foreign powers.
>Gradual extermination of the inhabitants
>Criticisms
>A message to Spain
SIGNIFICANCE IN THE SOCIETY
Part 1 For those who have
Part 2 Blind by the
Part 3 To tell the Filipinos
Part 4 If the Philippines
this strong urge to
Spaniards fake
that their human
may be able to secure
fight for freedom, the
promises, Filipinos
rights must be
their independence
Philippines will never
give all their faith and
practiced in order for
after heroic and
be under the Spanish
liberty and freedom
them to cry out
stubborn conflicts,
colony again.
hoping that they will
against all abuses, and
they can be rest
get something good in
to have more law and
assured that no
weak and contented
return. But they was
greater liberty.
western countries will
that the country is
wrong. The spaniards
take up what Spain
oppressed, freedom
are it’s executioners
was unable to hold.
will never be claimed.
and exploiters.
But for those whose
REFLECTION After reading this novel, I’ve come up of realizing the Philippines worth to Dr. Rizal. He was that concerned to the country, even if he knows that he will not stay any longer. At the first part, analysing the past, I pity those Filipinos who suffered and even offered their lives just for the welfare of others. They were forced to embrace the culture of the Spaniards. Comparing the Philippines way back 1889 up to the present, the Philippines in 1889 was that oppressed and even Filipinos are “blind’ for they do not see or do not understand that the Spaniards were just using them. The Philippines did not grow any longer, but rather much retrograded. One more thing, I thank Dr. Jose Rizal for making the Filipinos realize about the country’s economy.
That when people start to awaken, and if the government doesn’t change its act, a revolution will occur. People only need to practice their human rights then a possible outcome will be declaring themselves independent. With regards to free press, it is needed in order to voice out our complaints and suggestions towards the reformation of the country. It will also keep the government in touch with public opinion.
Lastly, the terrible lessons and hard teachings that these conflicts will have afforded the Filipinos will operate to improve and strengthen their ethical nature.” If the Philippines may be able to secure their independence after heroic and stubborn conflicts, they can be rest assured that no Western countries will dare to take up what Spain was unable to hold.
