To the Young Women of Malolos: Summary and Analysis Jose Rizal’s legacy to Filipino women is embodied in his famous essay entitled, “To the Young Women of Malolos, whe!e he add!esses all "inds of women # mothe!s, wi$es, the unma!!ied, etc% and e&p!esses e$e!ything that he wishes them to "eep in mind% '(MM)RY “To the Women of Malolos was o!iginally w!itten in Tagalog% Rizal penned this w!iting when he was in *ondon, in !esponse to the !e+uest of Ma!celo % del -ila!% The salient points contained in this lette! a!e as follows. /% The The !e0e !e0ect ctio ion n of the the spi! spi!it itua uall auth autho! o!it ity y of the the f!ia f!ia!s !s # not not all of the p!iests in the count!y that time embodied the t!ue spi!it of 1h!ist and is 1hu!ch% Most of them we!e we!e co!!upted by wo!ldly desi!es and used wo!ldly methods to effect change and fo!ce discipline among the people% 2% The The defe defen nse of p!i$ !i$ate 0udg 0udgme ment nt 3% 4ual 4ualit itie ies s Fil Filip ipin ino o mot mothe he!s !s need need to poss posses ess s # as e$idenced by this po!tion of his lette!, Rizal is g!eatly conce!ned of the welfa!e of the Filipino child!en and the homes they g!ow up in%
5% 6uti 6uties es and and !es !espo pons nsib ibililit itie ies s of Fil Filip ipin ino o moth mothe! e!s s to the thei! i! child!en 7% 6uti 6uties es and and !esp !espon onsi sibi bililiti ties es of a wife wife to he! he! husb husban and d# Filipino women a!e "nown to be submissi$e, tende!, and lo$ing% Rizal states states in this po!tion of his lette! how Filipino women ought to be as wi$es, in o!de! to p!ese!$e the identity of the !ace% 8% 1oun 1ounse sell to to you young ng women women on thei thei!! cho choic ice e of of a life lifeti time me pa!tne! RIZAL’S RIZAL’S MESSAGE TO FILIPINO WOMEN
Jose Rizal was g!eatly imp!essed by the fighting spi!it that the young women women of Malolos Malolos had shown% shown% 9n his lette!, lette!, he e&p!esses g!eat 0oy and satisfaction o$e! the battle they had fought% 9n this po!tion of Rizal’s lette!, it is ob$ious that his ultimate desi!e was fo! women to be offe!ed the same oppo!tunities as those !ecei$ed by men in te!ms of education% 6u!ing those those days young young gi!ls we!e we!e not sent sent to school because of the uni$e!sal notion that they would soon only be ta"en as wi$es and stay at home with the child!en% Rizal, howe$e!, emphasizes on f!eedom of thought and the !ight to education, which must be g!anted to both boys and gi!ls ali"e% THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF FILIPINO MOTHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN
Rizal stipulates a numbe! of impo!tant points in this po!tion of his lette! lette! to the young women of Malolos% The cent!al cent!al idea he!e, howe$e!, is that whate$e! a mothe! shows to he! child!en is what the child!en will will become also% also% 9f the mothe! mothe! is always "issing the hand of the f!ia!s in submission, then
5% 6uti 6uties es and and !es !espo pons nsib ibililit itie ies s of Fil Filip ipin ino o moth mothe! e!s s to the thei! i! child!en 7% 6uti 6uties es and and !esp !espon onsi sibi bililiti ties es of a wife wife to he! he! husb husban and d# Filipino women a!e "nown to be submissi$e, tende!, and lo$ing% Rizal states states in this po!tion of his lette! how Filipino women ought to be as wi$es, in o!de! to p!ese!$e the identity of the !ace% 8% 1oun 1ounse sell to to you young ng women women on thei thei!! cho choic ice e of of a life lifeti time me pa!tne! RIZAL’S RIZAL’S MESSAGE TO FILIPINO WOMEN
Jose Rizal was g!eatly imp!essed by the fighting spi!it that the young women women of Malolos Malolos had shown% shown% 9n his lette!, lette!, he e&p!esses g!eat 0oy and satisfaction o$e! the battle they had fought% 9n this po!tion of Rizal’s lette!, it is ob$ious that his ultimate desi!e was fo! women to be offe!ed the same oppo!tunities as those !ecei$ed by men in te!ms of education% 6u!ing those those days young young gi!ls we!e we!e not sent sent to school because of the uni$e!sal notion that they would soon only be ta"en as wi$es and stay at home with the child!en% Rizal, howe$e!, emphasizes on f!eedom of thought and the !ight to education, which must be g!anted to both boys and gi!ls ali"e% THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF FILIPINO MOTHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN
Rizal stipulates a numbe! of impo!tant points in this po!tion of his lette! lette! to the young women of Malolos% The cent!al cent!al idea he!e, howe$e!, is that whate$e! a mothe! shows to he! child!en is what the child!en will will become also% also% 9f the mothe! mothe! is always "issing the hand of the f!ia!s in submission, then
he! child!en will g!ow up to be sycophants and mindless fools who do nothing but do as they a!e told, e$en if the $e!y natu!e of the tas" would $iolate thei! !ights as indi$iduals% QUALITIES MOTHERS HA H AVE TO POSSESS
Rizal enume!ates the +ualities Filipino mothe!s ha$e to possess. /% :e a noble wife% 2% Rea! Rea! he! he! chi child ld!e !en n in in the the se! se!$i $ice ce of the the sta state te # he! he!e e Riz Rizal al gi$es !efe!ence to the women of 'pa!ta who embody this +uality 3% 'et 'et sta stand nda! a!ds ds of beha beha$i $io! o! fo! fo! men men a!ou a!ound nd he! he!% RIZAL’S RIZAL’S ADVICE TO UNMARRIED MEN AND WOMEN
Jose Rizal points out to unma!!ied women that they should not be easily ta"en by appea!ances and loo"s, because these can be $e!y decei$ing% 9nstead, they they should ta"e heed of men’s men’s fi!mness fi!mness of cha!acte! cha!acte! and lofty ideas% Rizal fu!the! adds that the!e a!e th!ee things that a young woman must loo" fo! a man she intends to be he! husband. /% ) noble and ho hono!ed name 2% ) manly hea!t 3% ) high high spi! spi!it it inca incapa pabl ble e of of bei being ng sati satisf sfie ied d wit with h engende!ing sla$es% );)*Y );)*Y'9' “To the Women of Malolos cente!s a!ound fi$e salient points <=aide >=aide, /???@.
/% Fili Filipi pino no mot mothe he!s !s sho shoul uld d teac teach h thei thei!! chil child! d!en en lo$ lo$e e of Aod, Aod, count!y and fellowmen% 2% Fili Filipi pino no moth mothe! e!s s sho shoul uld d be be gla glad d and and hono hono!e !ed, d, li"e li"e 'pa!tan mothe!s, to offe! thei! sons in defense of thei! count!y% 3% Fili Filipi pino no wome women n sho shoul uld d "no "now w how how to p!ot p!otec ectt the thei! i! dig digni nity ty and hono!% 5% Fili Filipi pino no wome women n sho shoul uld d edu educa cate te the thems msel el$e $es s asi aside de f!o f!om m !etaining thei! good !acial $alues% 7% Fait Faith h is is not not me!e me!ely ly !eci !eciti ting ng p!ay p!aye! e!s s and and wea! wea!in ing g !eligious pictu!es% 9t is li$ing the !eal 1h!istian way with good mo!als and manne!s% 9n !ecent times, it seems that these +ualities a!e g!adually lost in the way Filipino women conduct themsel$es% The!e a!e oftentimes moments whe!e mothe!s fo!get thei! !oles in !ea!ing thei! child!en because of the o$e!!iding idea of ha$ing to ea!n fo! the family to supplement thei! husband’s income% )lthough the!e is nothing negati$e about wo!"ing ha!d fo! the welfa!e of the family, the!e must always be balance in the way people go th!ough life% Failu!e in the home cannot be compensated fo! by any amount of wealth o! fame%
To To the Young Young Women Women of Malolos by José Rizal
When I wrote Noli Me Tangere, I asked myself whether braery was a !ommon thing in the young women of our "eo"le# I brought ba!k to my re!olle!tion and reiewed those I had known sin!e my infan!y, but there were only few who seem to !ome u" to my ideal# There was, it is true, an abundan!e of girls with agreeable manners, beautiful ways, and modest demeanor, but there was in all an admi$ture of seritude and deferen!e to the words or whims of their so%!alled &s"iritual fathers& 'as if the s"irit or soul had any father other than (od), due to e$!essie kindness, modesty, or "erha"s ignoran!e# They seemed fa!ed "lants sown and reared in darkness, haing *owers without "erfume and fruits without sa"# +oweer, when the news of what ha""ened at Malolos rea!hed us, I saw my error, and great was my reoi!ing# -fter all, who is to blame me. I did not know Malolos nor its young women, e$!e"t one !alled /mila 0/milia Tiongson, whom Rizal met in 12234, and her I knew by name only# Now that you hae res"onded to our 5rst a""eal in the interest of the welfare of the "eo"le6 now that you hae set an e$am"le to those who, like you, long to hae their eyes o"ened and be deliered from seritude, new ho"es are awakened in us and we now een dare to fa!e adersity, be!ause we hae you for our allies and are !on5dent of i!tory# No longer does the 7ili"ina stand with her head bowed nor does she s"end her time on her knees, be!ause she is 8ui!kened by ho"e in the future6 no longer will the mother !ontribute to kee"ing her daughter in darkness and bring her u" in !ontem"t and moral annihilation# -nd no longer will the s!ien!e of all s!ien!es !onsist in blind submission to any unust order, or in e$treme !om"la!en!y, nor will a !ourteous smile be deemed the only wea"on against insult or humble tears the ine9able "ana!ea for all tribulations# You know that the will of (od is di9erent from that of the "riest6 that religiousness does not !onsist of long "eriods s"ent on your knees, nor in endless "rayers, big rosarios, and grimy s!a"ularies 0religious garment showing deotion4, but in a s"otless !ondu!t, 5rm intention and u"right udgment# You also know that "ruden!e does not !onsist in blindly obeying any whim of the little tin god, but in obeying only that whi!h is reasonable and ust, be!ause blind obedien!e is itself the !ause and origin of those whims, and those guilty of it are really to be blamed# The o:!ial or friar !an no longer assert that they alone are res"onsible for their unust orders, be!ause (od gae ea!h indiidual reason and a will of his or her own to distinguish the ust from the unust6 all were born without sha!kles and free, and nobody has a right to subugate the will and the s"irit of another your thoughts# -nd, why should you submit to another your thoughts, seeing that thought is noble and free. It is !owardi!e and erroneous to beliee that saintliness !onsists in blind obedien!e and that "ruden!e and the habit of thinking are "resum"tuous# Ignoran!e has eer been ignoran!e, and neer "ruden!e and honor# (od, the
"rimal sour!e of all wisdom, does not demand that man, !reated in his image and likeness, allow himself to be de!eied and hoodwinked, but wants us to use and let shine the light of reason with whi!h +e has so mer!ifully endowed us# +e may be !om"ared to the father who gae ea!h of his sons a tor!h to light their way in the darkness bidding them kee" its light bright and take !are of it, and not "ut it out and trust to the light of the others, but to hel" and adise ea!h other to 5ind the right "ath# They would be madman were they to follow the light of another, only to !ome to a fall, and the father !ould unbraid them and say to them; &
f !ourse, we should not !onsult our own udgment alone, but hear the o"inion of others before doing what may seem most reasonable to us# The wild man from the hills, if !lad in a "riest=s robe, remains a hillman and !an only de!eie the weak and ignorant# -nd, to make my argument more !on!lusie, ust buy a "riest=s robe as the 7ran!is!ans wear it and "ut it on a !arabao 0domesti! water bu9alo4, and you will be lu!ky if the !arabao does not be!ome lazy on a!!ount of the robe# ?ut I will leae this sube!t to s"eak of something else# Youth is a *ower%bed that is to bear ri!h fruit and must a!!umulate wealth for its des!endants# What o9s"ring will be that of a woman whose kindness of !hara!ter is e$"ressed by mumbled "rayers6 who knows nothing by heart but awits 0hymns4, noenas, and the alleged mira!les6 whose amusement !onsists in "laying"anguingue 0a !ard game4 or in the fre8uent!onfession of the same sins. What sons will she hae but a!olytes, "riest=s serants, or !o!k5ghters. It is the mothers who are res"onsible for the "resent seritude of our !om"atriots, owing to the unlimited trustfulness of their loing hearts, to their ardent desire to eleate their sons Maturity is the fruit of infan!y and the infant is formed on the la" of its mother# The mother who !an only tea!h her !hild how to kneel and kiss hands must not e$"e!t sons with blood other than that of ile slaes# - tree that grows in the mud is unsubstantial and good only for 5rewood# If her son should hae a bold mind, his boldness will be de!eitful and will be like the bat that !annot show itself until the ringing of es"ers# They say that "ruden!e is san!tity# ?ut, what san!tity hae they shown us. To "ray and kneel a lot, kiss the hand of the "riests, throw money away on !hur!hes, and beliee all the friar sees 5t to tell us6 gossi", !allous rubbing of noses# # # #
-s to the mites and gifts of (od, is there anything in the world that does not belong to (od. What would you say of a serant making his master a "resent of a !loth borrowed from that ery master. Who is so ain, so insane that he will gie alms to (od and beliee that the miserable thing he has gien will sere to !lothe the @reator of all things. ?lessed be they who su!!or their fellow men, aid the "oor and feed the hungry6 but !ursed be they who turn a dead ear to su""li!ations of the "oor, who only gie to him who has "lenty and s"end their money laishly on siler altar hangings for the thanksgiing, or in serenades and 5reworks# The money ground out of the "oor is be8ueathed to the master so that he !an "roide for !hains to subugate, and hire thugs and e$e!utioners# >h, what blindness, what la!k of understanding# Aaintliness !onsists in the 5rst "la!e in obeying the di!tates of reason, ha""en what may# &It is a!ts and not words that I want of you,& said @hrist# &Not eeryone that sayeth unto me, Bord, Bord shall enter into the kingdom of heaen6 but he that doeth the will of my 7ather whi!h is in +eaen#& Aaintliness does not !onsist in abe!tness, nor is the su!!essor of @hrist to be re!ognized by the fa!t that he gies his hand to be kissed# @hrist did not gie the kiss of "ea!e to the Charisees and neer gae his hand to be kissed# +e did not !ater to the ri!h and ain6 +e did not mention s!a"ularies, nor did +e make rosaries, or soli!it o9erings for the sa!ri5!e of the Mass or e$a!t "ayments for +is "rayers# Aaint John did not demand a fee on the Rier Jordan, nor did @hrist tea!h for gain# Why, then, do the friars now refuse to stir a foot unless "aid in adan!e. -nd, as if they were staring, they sell s!a"ularies, rosaries, bits, and other things whi!h are nothing but s!hemes for making money and a detriment to the soul6 be!ause een if all the rags on earth were !onerted into s!a"ularies and all the trees in the forest into rosaries, and if the skins of all the beasts were made into belts, and if all the "riests of the earth mumbled "rayers oer all this and s"rinkled o!eans of holy water oer it, this would not "urify a rogue or !ondone sin where there is no re"entan!e# Thus, also, through !u"idity and loe of money, they will, for a "ri!e, reoke the numerous "rohibitions su!h as those against eating meat, marrying !lose relaties, et!# You !an do almost anything if you but grease their "alms# Why that. @an (od be bribed and bought o9, and blinded by money, nothing more nor less than a friar. The brigand who has obtained a bull of !om"romise !an lie !almly on the "ro!eeds of his robbery, be!ause he will be forgien# (od, then, will sit at a table where theft "roides the iands. +as the >mni"otent be!ome a "au"er that +e must assume the role of the e$!ise man or gendarme. If that is the (od whom the friar adores, then I turn my ba!k u"on that (od# Bet us be reasonable and o"en our eyes, es"e!ially you women, be!ause you are the 5rst to in*uen!e the !ons!iousness of man# Remember that a good mother does not resemble the mother that the friar has !reated6 she must
bring u" her !hild to be the image of the true (od, not of a bla!kmailing, a gras"ing (od, but of a (od who is the father of us all, who is ust6 who does not su!k the life%blood of the "oor like a am"ire, nor s!o9s at the agony of the sorely beset, nor makes a !rooked "ath of the "ath of usti!e# -waken and "re"are the will of our !hildren towards all that is honorable, udged by "ro"er standards, to all that is sin!ere and 5rm of "ur"ose, !lear udgment, !lear "ro!edure, honesty in a!t and deed, loe for the fellowman and res"e!t for (od6 this is what you must tea!h your !hildren# -nd, seeing that life is full of thorns and thistles, you must fortify their minds against any stroke of adersity and a!!ustom them to danger# The "eo"le !annot e$"e!t honor nor "ros"erity so long as they will edu!ate their !hildren in a wrong way, so long as the woman who guides the !hild in his ste"s is slaish and ignorant# No good water !omes from a turbid, bitter s"ring6 no saory fruit !omes from a!rid seed# The duties that woman has to "erform in order to delier the "eo"le from su9ering are of no little im"ortan!e, but be they as they may, they will not be beyond the strength and stamina of the 7ili"ino "eo"le# The "ower and good udgment of the women of the Chili""ines are well known, and it is be!ause of this that she has been hoodwinked, and tied, and rendered "usillanimous, and now her enslaers rest at ease, be!ause so long as they !an kee" the 7ili"ina mother a slae, so long will they be able to make slaes of her !hildren# The !ause of the ba!kwardness of -sia lies in the fa!t that there the women are ignorant, are slaes6 while /uro"e and -meri!a are "owerful be!ause there the women are free and well%edu!ated and endowed with lu!id intelle!t and a strong will# We know that you la!k instru!tie books6 we know that nothing is added to your intelle!t, day by day, sae that whi!h is intended to dim its natural brightness6 all this we know, hen!e our desire to bring you the light that illuminates your e8uals here in /uro"e# If that whi!h I tell you does not "rooke your anger, and if you will "ay a little attention to it then, howeer dense the mist may be that befogs our "eo"le, I will make the utmost e9orts to hae it dissi"ated by the bright rays of the sun, whi!h will gie light, thought they be dimmed# We shall not feel any fatigue if you hel" us; (od, too, will hel" to s!atter the mist, be!ause +e is the (od of truth; +e will restore to its "ristine !ondition the fame of the 7ili"ina in whom we now miss only a !riterion of her own, be!ause good 8ualities she has enough and to s"are# This is our dream6 this is the desire we !herish in our hearts6 to restore the honor of woman, who is half of our heart, our !om"anion in the oys and tribulations of life# If she is a maiden, the young man should loe her not only be!ause of her beauty and her amiable !hara!ter, but also on a!!ount of her fortitude of mind and loftiness of "ur"ose, whi!h 8ui!ken and eleate the feeble and timid and ward o9 all ain thoughts# Bet the maiden be the "ride of her !ountry and !ommand res"e!t, be!ause it is a !ommon "ra!ti!e on the "art of A"aniards and friars here who hae returned from the
Islands to s"eak of the 7ili"ina as !om"laisant and ignorant, as if all should be thrown into the same !lass be!ause of the misste"s of a few, and as if women of weak !hara!ter did not e$ist in other lands# -s to "urity what !ould the 7ili"ina not hold u" to othersD Neertheless, the returning A"aniards and friars, talkatie and fond of gossi", !an hardly 5nd time enough to brag and bawl, amidst gu9aws and insulting remarks, that a !ertain woman was thus6 that she behaed thus at the !onent and !ondu!ted herself thus with the A"aniards who on the o!!asion was her guest, and other things that set your teeth on edge when you think of them whi!h, in the maority of !ases, were faults due to !andor, e$!essie kindness, meekness, or "erha"s ignoran!e and were all the work of the defamer himself# There is a A"aniard now in high o:!e, who has set at our table and enoyed our hos"itality in his wanderings through the Chili""ines and who, u"on his return to A"ain, rushed forthwith into "rint and related that on one o!!asion in Cam"anga he demanded hos"itality and ate, and sle"t at a house and the lady of the house !ondu!ted herself in su!h and su!h a manner with him6 this is how he re"aid the lady for her su"reme hos"italityD Aimilar insinuations are made by the friars to the !han!e isitor from A"ain !on!erning their ery obedient!onfesandas, hand%kissers, et!#, a!!om"anied by smiles and ery signi5!ant winkings of the eye# In a book "ublished by <# Ainibaldo de Mas and in other friar sket!hes sins are related of whi!h women a!!used themseles in the !onfessional and of whi!h the friars made no se!ret in talking to their A"anish isitors seasoning them, at the best, with idioti! and shameless tales not worthy of !reden!e# I !annot re"eat here the shameless stories that a friar told Mas and to whi!h Mas attributed no alue whateer# /ery time we hear or read anything of this kind, we ask ea!h other; -re the A"anish women all !ut after the "attern of the +oly Eirgin Mary and the 7ili"inas all re"robates. I beliee that if we are to balan!e a!!ounts in this deli!ate 8uestion, "erha"s, # # # ?ut I must dro" the sube!t be!ause I am neither a !onfessor nor a A"anish traeler and hae no business to take away anybody=s good name# I shall let this go and s"eak of the duties of women instead# - "eo"le that res"e!t women, like the 7ili"ino "eo"le, must know the truth of the situation in order to be able to do what is e$"e!ted of it# It seems an established fa!t that when a young student falls in loe, he throws eerything to the dogs %% knowledge, honor, and money, as if a girl !ould not do anything but sow misfortune# The braest youth be!omes a !oward when he married, and the born !oward be!omes shameless, as if he had been waiting to get married in order to show his !owardi!e# The son, in order to hide his "usillanimity, remembers his mother, swallows his wrath, su9ers his ears to be bo$ed, obeys the most foolish order, and and be!omes an a!!om"li!e to his own dishonor# It should be remembered that where nobody *ees there is no "ursuer6 when there is no little 5sh, there !an not be a big one# Why does the girl not re8uire of her loer a noble and honored
name, a manly heart o9ering "rote!tion to her weakness, and a high s"irit in!a"able of being satis5ed with engendering slaes. Bet her dis!ard all fear, let her behae nobly and not delier her youth to the weak and faint% hearted# When she is married, she must aid her husband, ins"ire him with !ourage, share his "erils, refrain from !ausing him worry and sweeten his moments of a9e!tion, always remembering that there is no grief that a brae heart !an not bear and there is no bitterer inheritan!e than that of infamy and slaery# >"en your !hildren=s eyes so that they may ealously guard their honor, loe their fellowmen and their natie land, and do their duty# -lways im"ress u"on them they must "refer dying with honor to liing in dishonor# The women of A"arta should sere you as an e$am"le should sere you as an e$am"le in this6 I shall gie some of their !hara!teristi!s# When a mother handed the shield to her son as he was mar!hing to battle, she said nothing to him but this; &Return with it, or on it,& whi!h mean, !ome ba!k i!torious or dead, be!ause it was !ustomary with the routed warrior to throw away his shield, while the dead warrior was !arried home on his shield# - mother re!eied word that her son had been killed in battle and the army routed# Ahe did not say a word, but e$"ressed her thankfulness that her son had been saed from disgra!e# +oweer, when her son returned alie, the mother "ut on mourning# >ne of the mothers who went out to meet the warriors returning from battle was told by one that her three sons had fallen# I do not ask you that, said the mother, but whether we hae been i!torious or not# We hae been i!torious %% answered the warrior# If that is so, then let us thank (od, and she went to the tem"le# >n!e u"on a time a king of theirs, who had been defeated, hid in the tem"le, be!ause he feared their "o"ular wrath# The A"artans resoled to shut him u" there and stare him to death# When they were blo!king the door, the mother was the 5rst to bring stones# These things were in a!!ordan!e with the !ustom there, and all (ree!e admired the A"artan woman# >f all women %% a woman said estingly %% only your A"artans hae "ower oer the men# Fuite natural %% they re"lied %% of all women only we gie birth to men# Man, the A"artan women said, was not born to life for himself alone but for his natie land# Ao long as this way of thinking "reailed and they had that kind of women in A"arta, no enemy was able to "ut his foot u"on her soil, nor was there a woman in A"arta who eer saw a hostile army# I do not e$"e!t to be belieed sim"ly be!ause it is I who am saying this6 there are many "eo"le who do not listen to reason, but will listen only to those who wear the !asso!k or hae gray hair or no teeth6 but while it is true that the aged should be enerated, be!ause of their traails and e$"erien!e, yet the life I hae lied, !onse!rated to the ha""iness of the "eo"le, adds some years, though not many of my age# I do not "retend to be looked u"on as an idol or fetish and to be belieed and listened to with the eyes !losed, the head bowed, and the arms !rossed oer the breast6 what I ask of all is to
re*e!t on what I tell him, think it oer and shift it !arefully through the siee of reasons# 7irst of all# That the tyranny of some is "ossible only through !owardi!e and negligen!e on the "art of others# Ae!ond# What makes one !ontem"tible is la!k of dignity and abe!t fear of him who holds one in !ontem"t# Third# Ignoran!e is seritude, be!ause as a man thinks, so he is6 a man who does not think for himself and allowed himself to be guided by the thought of another is like the beast led by a halter# 7ourth# +e who loes his inde"enden!e must 5rst aid his fellowman, be!ause he who refuses "rote!tion to others will 5nd himself without it6 the isolated rib in the buri is easily broken, but not so the broom made of the ribs of the "alm bound together# 7ifth# If the 7ili"ina will not !hange her mode of being, let her rear no more !hildren, let her merely gie birth to them# Ahe must !ease to be the mistress of the home, otherwise she will un!ons!iously betray husband, !hild, natie land, and all# Ai$th# -ll men are born e8ual, naked, without bonds# (od did not !reate man to be a slae6 nor did he endow him with intelligen!e to hae him hoodwinked, or adorn him with reason to hae him de!eied by others# It is not fatuous to refuse to worshi" one=s e8ual, to !ultiate one=s intelle!t, and to make use of reason in all things# 7atuous is he who makes a god of him, who makes brutes of others, and who stries to submit to his whims all that is reasonable and ust# Aeenth# @onsider well what kind of religion they are tea!hing you# Aee whether it is the will of (od or a!!ording to the tea!hings of @hrist that the "oor be su!!ored and those who su9er alleiated# @onsider what they "rea!hing to you, the obe!t of the sermon, what is behind the masses, noenas, rosaries, s!a"ularies, images, mira!les, !andles, belts, et!# et!6 whi!h they daily kee" before your minds6 ears and eyes6 ostling, shouting, and !oa$ing6 inestigate when!e they !ame and whiter they go and then !om"are that religion with the "ure religion of @hrist and see whether the "retended obseran!e of the life of @hrist does not remind you of the fat mil!h !ow or the fattened "ig, whi!h is en!ouraged to grow fat nor through loe of the animal, but for grossly mer!enary moties# Bet us, therefore, re*e!t6 let us !onsider our situation and see how we stand# May these "oorly written lines aid you in your good "ur"ose and hel" you to
"ursue the "lan you hae initiated# &May your "ro5t be greater than the !a"ital inested6& and I shall gladly a!!e"t the usual reward of all who dare tell your "eo"le the truth# May your desire to edu!ate yourself be !rowned with su!!ess6 may you in the garden of learning gather not bitter, but !hoi!e fruit, looking well before you eat be!ause on the surfa!e of the globe all is de!eit, and the enemy sows weeds in your seedling "lot# -ll this is the ardent desire of your !om"atriot# J>AG RIH-B GIRL POWER: THE WOMEN OF MALOLOS By: Quennie Ann J. Palafox
When the Spaniards came into the Philippines, they brought with them their patriarchal values about women which eventually diffused into Philippine culture. The women during the Spanish period were tied to the house and their roles were confined exclusively to houseeeping and child rearing. !n the other hand, there was the chivalrous idea that men should be the provider of the family and protector of the women. Women were also taught to be compliant to elders and always submissive to males. They were oriented to remain incorruptible until marriage and to focus on building sills that would mae them good daughters, housewives, mothers and servants of "od. Women were even barred from participating in political undertaings because it was considered a man#s wor. $ilipinos
were familiari%ed to a religious and patriarchal system of education which emphasi%ed the domestic value that women were the property of men. This infiltration of Spanish culture into Philippine norms and behavior is an evidence of feudal social relations. &n the second half of the nineteenth century, a group of young women in 'alolos, Bulacan participated in a peaceful movement for educational reforms. This remarable event showed the aptitude of these women for political and social reforms. The authorities came up with educational policies that were discriminatory against women who wanted to pursue higher education. The women of 'alolos struggled to disprove the principle that women are destined to be homemaers and demonstrate that women are at par with men in other fields of endeavors. The effort of the Women of 'alolos is recogni%ed as one of the most important events that contributed to the development of feminist movement in the country. This group of young women personally handed their letter of petition addressed to "overnor("eneral )aleriano Weyler to allow them to put up a night school where they
can study the Spanish language under Teodoro Sandio. Their action received diverse reactions from the pro(friar sectors and the reformists because it was viewed as protest against the political power of the friars. The twenty young women, ma*ority of whom were related to each other by blood or affinity, were members of the four ma*or(Sangley clans of 'alolos: the Tiongsons, the Tantocos, the +eyeses, and the Santoses. lthough these women were raised by well(to(do families and en*oyed a life of luxury, they opted to be educated rather than to be contented with what society expected from them. Prior to the education reform of -/0, education was left entirely in the hands of priests or curates of the parish. Since the responsibility of educating the natives belonged to the friars, its thrust was more of religious education. Students were taught to read the alphabet and syllables1 and study sacred songs and music, and basic arithmetic. 2ducation for females was not the same with males. 2ducation was more of a privilege than a right, daughters of well(to(do families were taught reading, writing, arithmetic, religion and needlecraft, a benefit not en*oyed by daughters of &ndios. $ormal training beyond the
primary grades was generally a male privilege. $or the most part of the Spanish period, the ma*ority of secondary and vocational schools as well as colleges were exclusively for males. The +oyal 3ecree of -/0 made primary instruction compulsory to all native and 4hinese children between the ages of seven and twelve. &t ordered that opening of a primary school for boys and another for girls for each town. !ne important aim of the decree was to teach Spanish to the populace. lthough this move was to improve the poor state of education in the country, it failed due to the meddling of the friars in the state affairs. 5ac of school buildings and teachers were also pointed as ma*or hindrances for this program to be successful. There were only few teachers who new Spanish but they received only modest salaries. The Women of 'alolos desired to learn the Spanish language because it was the language of politics and society. They found an ally in the person of Teodoro Sandio who arrived in 'alolos in -. Sandio supported the aspirations of the women and offered to teach them the language but it would be done secretly.
$or the friars prohibited the teaching of Spanish to the natives and to the mesti%os as it would lessen their influence. The government communicated directly with the friars who new both the Spanish and the native language. To the friars, it would be better off the leave the natives and mesti%os ignorant of the Spanish language so that their minds will not be penetrated by the liberal ideas since most boos were written in Spanish. "aining nowledge would mae them crave for freedom and demand to human rights which were deemed a threat to Spanish rule and the power of the 4hurch. Sandio by that time was secretly teaching Spanish language to adults but he wanted to mae it legal. 6e re7uested to the provincial governor of Bulacan sometime to grant the opening of night schools without the expense of the government. 6owever, it was disapproved because $elipe "arcia, the friar curate of 'alolos prepared a report that Sandio#s proposal would pose a threat to the government. lthough their proposal was re*ected, Sandio and the Women of 'alolos remained positive that their desire to put up a night school would be approved anytime soon.
fter learning that the highest official of the land would visit 'alolos on 3ecember -8, -, Sandico prepared a letter in Spanish, and re7uested the women to sign and present the letter to Weyler. Twenty of these women affixed their signatures to the letter. The women went to the church and presented the letter to the governor(general. The re7uest of the women did not get the approval of the governor(general because the parish priest $ray "arcia went up against it. lthough disheartened, the women did not give up. With the support of the reformist 3oroteo 4ortes and the 'aestra "uadalupe +eyes, the women continued to lobby for the school, traveling between 'alolos and 'anila to convince the governor(general to allow their re7uest. 5ucily, these young women triumphed in the end in $ebruary -9 on the conditions that the women would finance their schooling, the teacher would be "uadalupe +eyes, and, the classes held in the daytime, not at night. lthough they did not get everything they ased for, the women proceeded to open their school at the house of one of their group, +ufina
T. +eyes, first cousin of 2lisea and uana. The schooling however, was cut short when Sandico, was accused in late pril -9 by the 4hurch authorities of spreading teachings against morality and of eating meat on days of abstinence during the 6oly Wee of -9. !n 'ay -0, -9, the "obernadorcillo 4astro and the lfere% 4arlos Pe;uelos closed down Sandico#s school of primary and secondary instruction. When Sandico left for Spain, the school where the Women of 'alolos were attending had to close because of the pressure from the authorities. The school operated for only three months. The establishment of a school out of the enduring efforts of the women to be educated in Spanish was commended by several newspapers. "raciano 5ope% aena in the column 2cos de
women and with hopes that this valiant struggle against friar hegemony in the affairs of the $ilipinos will enthuse all compatriots. 6ence, +i%al sent del Pilar on $ebruary 88, -9 the letter written in Tagalog for transmittal to the 8> young women of 'alolos. The message conveyed to the young women of 'alolos centered on salient points such as the denunciation of the abuse of the friars in exercising their spiritual authority bestowed upon them by the church, traits $ilipino mothers must have1 duties and obligations of $ilipino mothers to their children, functions and errands of a wife to her husband, and guidance to young women on their choice of a lifetime partner. +i%al also expressed his philosophy of freedom and independence that he believed was the ey to the emancipation of humanind from slavery, and the necessity for education as the fundamental source of liberation. &n the letter, +i%al enunciated his great desire for $ilipino women to en*oy the privileges in education along with men. 'oreover, he appealed to women to be heedful of their rights and not to be docile towards many in*ustices forced upon them. 'en and women are born e7ual. "od did not create men and women to be
slaves, nor did he embellish them with reason only to be blinded by others. Perhaps having experienced firsthand the warmth of his mother#s love, he defined in his letter the obligations and roles of the $ilipino mothers to their children. $or +i%al, the youth is a flower(bed that is to bear fruit and must accumulate wealth for its descendants. The mother must raise her children according to the image of "od and orient the mind towards pleasant ideas. mother must teach her children to prefer death with honor to life with dishonor. 'others should inculcate the following values to their children: love of honor1 sincere and firm character1 clear mind1 clear conduct1 noble action1 love for one#s fellowmen1 and respect for "od. 2ver patriotic in his views, he warned that the country will never be free and flourishing as long as the children and the women remain ignorant. With this, the education of the children should not be limited to religious activities. 6e stressed obedience and reason as the highest virtues that one must possess. The school of the Women of 'alolos was closed down in 'ay -9 but their aspirations did
not end. These women served their countrymen by supporting the cause of the +evolution against Spain. Some of them became members of the ?ational +ed 4ross, while others became founding members of the 'alolos 4ommittee of the sociacion $eminista de $ilipinas in -9>/, a national women#s organi%ation aimed improving the welfare of women in all classes. &t can be said that the women of 'alolos were the forerunners of the feminist movement in the country for championing the cause of women#s right to education and e7ual rights regardless of gender. Ref er enc e s : Ti ongs on,Ni c anor .TheWomenofMal ol os . Quez onCi t y :At eneodeMani l aUni ber s i t yPr es s , 2004 Women’ sRol ei nPhi l i ppi neHi s t or y :Sel ec t ed Es say sSec ondEdi t i on.Quez onCi t y :Uni v er s i t y Cent erf orWomen’ sSt udi esUni v er s i t yoft he Phi l i ppi nes ,2001
The Indolence of the Filipinos: Summary and Analysis *a 9ndolencia de los Filipinos, mo!e popula!ly "nown in its Bnglish $e!sion, CThe 9ndolence of the Filipinos,C is a e&plo!ato!y essay w!itten by -hilippine national he!o 6!% Jose Rizal, to e&plain the alleged idleness of his people du!ing the 'panish colonization% '(MM)RY The Indolence of the Filipinos is a study of the causes why the people did not, as was said, wo!" ha!d du!ing the 'panish !egime% Rizal pointed out that long befo!e the coming of the 'pania!ds, the Filipinos we!e indust!ious and ha!dwo!"ing% The 'panish !eign b!ought about a decline in economic acti$ities because of ce!tain causes. Fi!st, the establishment of the Aalleon T!ade cut off all p!e$ious associations of the-hilippines with othe! count!ies in )sia and the Middle Bast% )s a !esult, business was only conducted with 'pain th!ough Me&ico% :ecause of this, the small businesses and handic!aft indust!ies that flou!ished du!ing the p!eD'panish pe!iod g!adually disappea!ed% 'econd, 'pain also e&tinguished the nati$es’ lo$e of wo!" because of the implementation of fo!ced labo!% :ecause of the wa!s between 'pain and othe! count!ies in Bu!ope as well as the Muslims in Mindanao, the Filipinos
we!e compelled to wo!" in shipya!ds, !oads, and othe! public wo!"s, abandoning ag!icultu!e, indust!y, and comme!ce% Thi!d, 'pain did not p!otect the people against fo!eign in$ade!s and pi!ates% With no a!ms to defend themsel$es, the nati$es we!e "illed, thei! houses bu!ned, and thei! lands dest!oyed% )s a !esult of this, the Filipinos we!e fo!ced to become nomads, lost inte!est in culti$ating thei! lands o! in !ebuilding the indust!ies that we!e shut down, and simply became submissi$e to the me!cy of Aod% Fou!th, the!e was a c!oo"ed system of education, if it was to be conside!ed aneducation% What was being taught in the schools we!e !epetiti$e p!aye!s and othe! things that could not be used by the students to lead the count!y to p!og!ess% The!e we!e no cou!ses in )g!icultu!e, 9ndust!y, etc%, which we!e badly needed by the -hilippines du!ing those times% Fifth, the 'panish !ule!s we!e a bad e&le to despise manual labo!% The officials !epo!ted to wo!" at noon and left ea!ly, all the while doing nothing in line with thei! duties% The women we!e seen constantly followed by se!$ants who d!essed them and fanned them # pe!sonal things which they ought to ha$e done fo! themsel$es% 'i&th, gambling was established and widely p!opagated du!ing those times% )lmost e$e!yday the!e we!e coc"fights, and du!ing feast days, the go$e!nment officials and f!ia!s we!e the fi!st to engange in all so!ts of bets and gambles% 'e$enth, the!e was a c!oo"ed system of !eligion% The f!ia!s taught the naE$e Filipinos that it was easie! fo! a poo! man to ente! hea$en, and so they p!efe!!ed not to
wo!" and !emain poo! so that they could easily ente! hea$en afte! they died% *astly, the ta&es we!e e&t!emely high, so much so that a huge po!tion of what they ea!ned went to the go$e!nment o! to the f!ia!s% When the ob0ect of thei! labo! was !emo$ed and they we!e e&ploited, they we!e !educed to inaction% Rizal admitted that the Filipinos did not wo!" so ha!d because they we!e wise enough to ad0ust themsel$es to the wa!m, t!opical climate% “)n hou!’s wo!" unde! that bu!ning sun, in the midst of pe!nicious influences sp!inging f!om natu!e in acti$ity, is e+ual to a day’s labo! in a tempe!ate climate% );)*Y'9' 9t is impo!tant to note that indolence in the -hilippines is a ch!onic malady, but not a he!edita!y one% T!uth is, befo!e the 'pania!ds a!!i$ed on these lands, the nati$es we!e indust!iously conducting business with 1hina, Japan, )!abia, Malaysia, and othe! count!ies in the Middle Bast% The !easons fo! this said indolence we!e clea!ly stated in the essay, and we!e not based only on p!esumptions, but we!e g!ounded on fact ta"en f!om histo!y% )nothe! thing that we might add that had caused this indolence, is the lac" of unity among the Filipino people% 9n the absence of unity and oneness, the people did not ha$e the powe! to fight the hostile attac"s of the go$e!nment and of the othe! fo!ces of society% The!e would also be no $oice, no leade!, to sow p!og!ess and to culti$ate it, so that it may be !eaped in due time% 9n such a condition, the -hilippines !emained a count!y that was lifeless, dead, simply e&isting and not li$ing% )s Rizal stated in conclusion,
“a man in the -hilippines is an indi$idual he is not me!ely a citizen of a count!y% 9t can clea!ly be deduced f!om the w!iting that the cause of the indolence att!ibuted to ou! !ace is 'pain. When the Filipinos wanted to study and lea!n, the!e we!e no schools, and if the!e we!e any, they lac"ed sufficient !esou!ces and did not p!esent mo!e useful "nowledge when the Filipinos wanted to establish thei! businesses, the!e wasn’t enough capital no! p!otection f!om the go$e!nment when the Filipinos t!ied to culti$ate thei! lands and establish $a!ious indust!ies, they we!e made to pay eno!mous ta&es and we!e e&ploited by the fo!eign !ule!s% 9t is not only the -hilippines, but also othe! count!ies, that may be called indolent, depending on the c!ite!ia upon which such a label is based% Man cannot wo!" without !esting, and if in doing so he is conside!ed lazy, they we could say that all men a!e indolent% Gne cannot blame a count!y that was dep!i$ed of its dignity, to ha$e lost its will to continue building its foundation upon the bac"s of its people, especially when the f!uits of thei! labo! do not so much as !each thei! lips% When we spend ou! enti!e li$es wo!shipping such a c!uel and inhumane society, fo!ced upon us by aliens who do not e$en "now ou! mothe!land, we a!e destined to ti!e afte! a while% We a!e not fools, we a!e not puppets who simply do as we a!e commanded # we a!e human beings, who a!e moti$ated by ou! will towa!ds the accomplishment of ou! ob0ecti$es, and who st!i$e fo! the p!ese!$ation of ou! !ace% When this fundamental aspect of ou! e&istence is denied of us, who can blame us if we tu!n idleH
INDOLENCE OF THE FILIPINOS By Jose Rizal • Indolence o sa Tagalog ang ibig sabihin ay a!a"a#an$ %alang silbi$ aya% g&"a%a' o sa Ingles na"an ay dislie o( %o#$ laziness) idleness o o# dis*osi!ion !o be idle) !he lac o( inclina!ion !o %o#'
• I!o ay isang sanaysay na sin&la! ni Rizal bilang de*ensa *a#a sa "ga Indio na &ng saan !ina%ag na !a"ad ang "ga Pili*ino ng "ga olonyal na Es*anyol' • I*inai!a di!o ni Rizal ang "ada"ing a!%i#an a! hali"ba%a &*ang ihayag ang sinasabing indolence ay isang e*e!o la"ang ng deh&"anizing condi!ions na &ng saan ang "ga Indio ay sa*ili!ang "ab&hay' • Dinagdagan ni Rizal ang ah&l&gan ng indolence' I!o ay +!he inclina!ion !o li,e o(( !he labo# o( o!he#s-' • Ina"in ni Rizal na !a"ad ang "ga Pili*ino' Pe#o i!o ay dahil sa ini! ng li"a sa a!ing bansa' • L&bhang naa*ag*a*a*a%is a! naa*anghihina ang ini! a! "adalas silang +s&"ilong sa lili"-' • .ng ini! ay naa*ag*a*al&sog sa l&*a) aya ang "ga *anani" ay hindi ailangang lagging alagaan' • Sinabi ni Rizal na hindi "ana o lias ang a!a"a#an sa "ga
Pili*ino noong *anahon ng /as!ila' .ng !o!oo) bago d&"a!ing ang "ga /as!ila) ang "ga Pili*ino ay "ay "asiglang *aii*agalaalan sa "ga Ins!i) Ha*on) .#abe a! 0alay' • Naging lagana* la"ang ang a!a"a#an ng "ga Pili*ino noong *anahon ng "ga /as!ila' • Dahil sa "asasa"ang *alaad ng *a"ahalaan) !i%aling *ag!&!&#o ng #elihiyon a! dahil sa &gali na #in ng "ga /as!ila' • Bago *a "an d&"a!ing sa Pili*inas ang "ga /as!ila ay naii*agalaalan na !ayo sa ibang bansang .syano a! 1i!nang Silangan' Ng&ni! i!o ay na*&!ol ng "ono*olya ng 1alleon T#ade' Sa Es*anya la"ang ,ia 0ehio "aaa#ing "ai*agalaalan ang "ga Pili*ino' Dahil di!o ay na!igil ang "ga "&"&n!ing ind&s!#iya a! "ga ga%aing a"ay' /aya sini#a ng "ga /as!ila ang asi*agan a! *ag&&sa ng "ga Pili*ino' • /ini!il din ng "ga /as!ila ang *ag"a"ahal ng "ga Pili*ino sa *agga%a dahil sa !ina!a%ag na +(o#ced labo#-' Dahil sa *aiidig"a ng Es*anya laban sa ibang bansang E&#o*eo a! sa "ga 0&sli" sa 0indanao) ang "ga Pili*ino ay *ili! na *inaga%a sa *agga%a ng ba#o) *ag*&*&!ol ng "ga ahoy a! *agga%a ng "ga &!a' Sinabi nga ni 0o#ga na nali"&!an ng "ga Pili*ino ang aala"an sa *agsasaa) *ag"a"an&an a! *aghahay&*an a! *ag!a!ani" a! *ag2aalaga ng b&la) gayon din ang *aghabi ng da"i! *aga#aan ng 345 !aon' • /&ng "e#on "ang ed&asyon ay !i%ali ang sis!e"a ni!o' .ng i!in&!&#o noon ay *&#os dasal a! ibang a#&n&ngang hindi "agaga"i! ng nagsisi*ag2a#al' 6alang &#song *ang2 ag#i&l!&#a) *ang2ind&s!#iya a! iba *a) na lalong ailangan noon
ng Pili*inas' • Hindi !a"a ang i*inaii!a ng "ga na"&"&nong /as!ila' Tanghali na &ng *&"aso sa o*isina a! "aaga &ng &"alis) gayong %ala na"ang nagaga%a &ndi "agbasa ng dya#yo a! *&"i#"a ang "ga o*isyal' .ng "ga babae ay sin&s&ndan ng "ga alila a! *a!i ang *agbibihis a! *ag*ay*ay ay ang "ga i!o *a ang g&"aga%a' • Hinayaang l&"agana* ang s&gal' Halos a#a%2a#a% ay "ay sabong a! &ng *is!a) ang "ga *in&nong2bayan a! "ga *#ayle ang nag*a*asi"&no ng &ng an&2anong s&gal' • 0ali ang *ag!&!&#o ng #elihiyon' I!in&#o ng "ga *#ayle sa "ga "ang"ang na Pili*ino na +ang "ga d&ha ay "aa#a#a!ing sa langi!- a! ang "ga "ayaya"an ay "a!&!&ngo sa i"*iye#no' • 0a!aas ang b&%is na i*ina*a!a% sa "ga Pili*ino' Sa *a"ahalaan o sa "ga *#ayle na*&*&n!a ang alahan ng bahagi ng anilang inaani' • .yon ay Rizal) ang a%alan ng di%a ng *agaaisa ay sanhi ng a!a"a#an ng "ga Pili*ino' Dahil &ng %alang *agaaisa ang "ga "a"a"ayan) %ala silang laas na hadlangan ang "a*a"insalang habang ng *a"ahalaan a! iba *ang *&%e#sa ng li*&nan' 6ala #ing *ags&s&"igasig &*ang "aisaga%a ang "ga bagay na "aa*ag*a*a&nlad sa naa#a#a"i' .ng laha! &ng gayon ay hindi iilos) *a#ang isang baying *a!ay' /aya sa onl&syon ay sinabi ni Rizal) +ang !ao sa Pili*inas ay isang indibid%al$ hindi siya "a"a"ayan ng isang bansa'- • /&ng !i!ingnan ay ang "ga /as!ila ang "ay sala sa *agiging
!a"ad ng "ga Pili*ino' • /&ng !&!&&sin ay g&s!ong "ag2a#al ng "ga Pili*ino s&bali! %alang *aa#alan o &ng "ay#oon "an ay &lang sa ga"i! a! !a"ang salalayan ng a#&n&ngan' 1&s!o ding "agnegosyo ng&ni! %alang *e#ang *ang*&h&nan a! a%alan ng *#o!esiyon "&la sa *a"ahalaan' 1&s!o ding "agb&ngal ng l&*a a! "ag!ayo ng ind&s!#iya s&bali! "a!aas na"an ang b&%is a! nagsasa"an!ala *a ang "ga na"&"&no' • 0aaa#ing "agaisa ang "ga Pili*ino s&bali! *inagaisa na i!o ng "ga /as!ila bilang isang olonya a! bilang isang o"&nidad na /#is!iyano' • 1anoon din "ala"ang ay hahadlangan ng "ga /as!ila ang iba *ang &#i ng *agaaisa) *a#a sa iaaayos ng "a"a"ayan' • Sinabi ni Rizal na ang indolen! o ang !a"ad ay ang "ga /as!ila hindi ang "ga Indio dahil ang Penins&la#es ay ninais ang "agandang b&hay ng %alang *aghihi#a* o *ag!#a!#abaho'
Indolence of the Filipinos (“L Indolenci de los Filipinos!" The essay itself originally appeared in the $ilipino forthrightly review, La Solidaridad , of 'adrid, in five installments, running from uly -@ to September -@, -9>. &t was a continuation of +i%alAs campaign of education in which he sought by blunt truths to awaen his countrymen to their own faults at the same time that he was arousing the Spaniards to the defects in SpainAs colonial system that caused and continued such shortcomings. 4raig, -9-0C PART # indolence D misused in the sense of little love for wor and lac of energy indolence does exist among the $ilipinos examine the causes based on facts before proposing a remedy climate D factor for being indolent o “A hot, climate requires of the individual quiet and rest, just as cold incites to labor and action.” o “A man can live in any climate, if he will only adapt himself to its requirements and conditions.”
Woring hours of $ilipinos tenantsC vs. Spanish
!fficial and 5andlords Tendency to indolence is very natural 2ffect of misgovernment PART $ analogy of physician friars, Spanish governmentC , patientPhilippinesC, illness indolenceC indolence as a chronic illness o “Indolence in the hilippines is a chronic malady, but not a hereditary one” Before the arrival of Spaniards, 'alayan $ilipinos raised on an active trade, not only among themselves but also with other neighboring countries !evidence that "ilipinos were not indolent# an illness will worsen if the wrong treatment is given “$ow is it that the "ilipino people, so fond of its customs as to border on routine, has %iven up its ancient habits of wor&, of trade, of navi%ation, etc., even to the e'tent of completely for%ettin% its past(” PART % enumerates several reasons that may have caused the $ilipinos cultural and economic corruption
wars: conflict among Spaniards, natives and 'oros invasion of Pirates
+esults: diminished number of native $ilipinos forced labor : $ilipinos were sent abroad to fight for Spain or shipyards to construct vessels Some $ilipinos hide in the forest and mountains and abandoned their farm lands because of fearC “ Still they stru%%led a lon% time a%ainst indolence, yes) but their enemies were so numerous that at last they %ave up* o
PART & 4ut(off of trading 'onopoly buse of land lords ecnomenderosC o Permission to labor ES' SystemC bsence of encouragement from the government o no aid for poor crops does not see maret for its products o Wrong teaching: o Why worF &f the rich man will not go to heaven. o $alse teaching of church o "ambling D promise of sudden wealth 3iscrimination on education Spaniards insisted to $ilipinos:
o
“+he "ilipino is convinced that to %et happiness it is
necessary for him to lay aside his di%nity as a rational creature, to attend mass, to believe what is told him, to pay what is demanded of him, to pay and forever to pay to wor&, suffer and be silent, without aspirin% to anythin%, without aspirin% to &now or even to understand Spanish,without separatin% himself from his carabao, as the priests shamelessly say, without protestin% a%ainst any injustice, a%ainst any arbitrary action, a%ainst an assault, a%ainst an insult that is, not to have heart, brain or spirit) a creature with arms and a purse full of %old ............ there-s the ideal native*” Get $ilipinos still have inspirations, he thins and strive to rise PART ' causes of indolence can be reduced to two factorsemerged from the peopleC limited training and education of $ilipino native o developed inferiority o lac of a national sentiment of unity among them H man in the Philippines is only an individual1 he is not a member of a nation.I education and liberty is the ey to solve this issue •
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Scent of Appe! :ien$enido ;% 'antos
6hen I a##i,ed in /ala"azoo i! %as Oc!obe# and !he %a# %as s!ill on' 1old and sil,e# s!a#s h&ng on *ennan!s abo,e silen! %indo%s o( %hi!e and b#ic2#ed co!!ages' In a bacya#d an old "an b&#ned lea,es and !%igs %hile a g#ay2hai#ed %o"an sa! on !he *o#ch) he# #ed hands 7&ie! on he# la*) %a!ching !he s"oe #ising abo,e !he el"s) bo!h o( !he" !hining !he sa"e !ho&gh! *e#ha*s) abo&! a !all) g#inning boy %i!h his bl&e eyes and (lying hai#) %ho %en! o&! !o %a#8 %he#e co&ld he be no% !his "on!h %hen lea,es %e#e !&#ning in!o gold and !he (#ag#ance o( ga!he#ed a**les %as in !he %ind9 I! %as a cold nigh! %hen I le(! "y #oo" a! !he ho!el (o# a &s&al s*eaing engage"en!' I %aled b&! a li!!le %ay' . hea,y %ind co"ing &* (#o" Lae 0ichigan %as icy on !he (ace' I( (el! lie %in!e# s!#aying ea#ly in !he no#!he#n %oodlands' :nde# !he la"**os!s !he lea,es shone lie b#onze' .nd !hey #olled on !he *a,e"en!s lie !he ghos! (ee! o( a !ho&sand a&!&"ns long dead) long be(o#e !he boys le(! (o# (a#a%ay lands %i!ho&! g#ea! icy %inds and *#o"ise o( %in!e# ea#ly in !he ai#) lands %i!ho&! a**le !#ees) the singing and the gold! I! %as !he sa"e nigh! I "e! Celes!ino Fabia) ;<&s! a Fili*ino (a#"e#; as he called hi"sel() %ho had a (a#" abo&! !hi#!y "iles eas! o( /ala"azoo' ;=o& ca"e all !ha! %ay on a nigh! lie !his <&s! !o hea# "e !al9; ;I>,e seen no Fili*ino (o# so "any yea#s no%); he ans%e#ed 7&icly' ;So %hen I sa% yo&# na"e in !he *a*e#s %he#e i! says yo& co"e (#o" !he Islands and !ha! yo&>#e going !o !al) I co"e #igh! a%ay'; Ea#lie# !ha! nigh! I had add#essed a college c#o%d) "os!ly %o"en' I! a**ea#ed !hey %an!ed "e !o !al abo&! "y co&n!#y) !hey %an!ed "e !o !ell !he" !hings abo&! i! beca&se "y co&n!#y had beco"e a los! co&n!#y' E,e#y%he#e in !he land !he ene"y s!aled' O,e# i! a g#ea! silence h&ng) and !hei# boys %e#e !he#e) &nhea#d (#o") o# !hey %e#e on !hei# %ay !o so"e li!!le no%n island on !he Paci(ic) yo&ng boys all) ha#dly "en) !hining o( ha#,es! "oons and !he s"ell o( (o#es! (i#e' I! %as no! ha#d !aling abo&! o&# o%n *eo*le' I ne% !he" %ell and I lo,ed !he"' .nd !hey see"ed so (a# a%ay d&#ing !hose !e##ible yea#s !ha! I "&s! ha,e s*oen o( !he" %i!h a li!!le (e#,o#) a li!!le nos!algia'
In !he o*en (o#&" !ha! (ollo%ed) !he a&dience %an!ed !o no% %he!he# !he#e %as "&ch di((e#ence be!%een o&# %o"en and !he ."e#ican %o"en' I !#ied !o ans%e# !he 7&es!ion as bes! I co&ld) saying) a"ong o!he# !hings) !ha! I did no! no% !ha! "&ch abo&! ."e#ican %o"en) e?ce*! !ha! !hey looed (#iendly) b&! di((e#ences o# si"ila#i!ies in inne# 7&ali!ies s&ch as na!&#ally belonged !o !he hea#! o# !o !he "ind) I co&ld only s*ea abo&! %i!h ,ag&eness' 6hile I %as !#ying !o e?*lain a%ay !he (ac! !ha! i! %as no! easy !o "ae co"*a#isons) a "an #ose (#o" !he #ea# o( !he hall) %an!ing !o say so"e!hing' In !he dis!ance) he looed sligh! and old and ,e#y b#o%n' E,en be(o#e he s*oe) I ne% !ha! he %as) lie "e) a Fili*ino' ;I>" a Fili*ino); he began) lo&d and clea#) in a ,oice !ha! see"ed &sed !o %ide o*en s*aces) ;I>" <&s! a Fili*ino (a#"e# o&! in !he co&n!#y'; He %a,ed his hand !o%a#d !he doo#' ;I le(! !he Phili**ines "o#e !han !%en!y yea#s ago and ha,e ne,e# been bac' Ne,e# %ill *e#ha*s' I %an! !o (ind o&!) si#) a#e o&# Fili*ino %o"en !he sa"e lie !hey %e#e !%en!y yea#s ago9; .s he sa! do%n) !he hall (illed %i!h ,oices) h&shed and in!#ig&ed' I %eighed "y ans%e# ca#e(&lly' I did no! %an! !o !ell a lie ye! I did no! %an! !o say any!hing !ha! %o&ld see" *la!i!&dino&s) insince#e' B&! "o#e i"*o#!an! !han !hese conside#a!ions) i! see"ed !o "e !ha! "o"en! as I looed !o%a#ds "y co&n!#y"an) I "&s! gi,e hi" an ans%e# !ha! %o&ld no! "ae hi" so &nha**y' S&#ely) all !hese yea#s) he "&s! ha,e held on !o ce#!ain ideals) ce#!ain belie(s) e,en ill&sions *ec&lia# !o !he e?ile' ;Fi#s!); I said as !he ,oices g#ad&ally died do%n and e,e#y eye see"ed &*on "e) ;Fi#s!) !ell "e %ha! o&# %o"en %e#e lie !%en!y yea#s ago'; The "an s!ood !o ans%e#' ;=es); he said) ;yo&>#e !oo yo&ng ' ' ' T%en!y yea#s ago o&# %o"en %e#e nice) !hey %e#e "odes!) !hey %o#e !hei# hai# long) !hey d#essed *#o*e# and %en! (o# no "oney b&siness' They %e#e na!&#al) !hey %en! !o ch&#ch #eg&la#) and !hey %e#e (ai!h(&l'; He had s*oen slo%ly) and no% in %ha! see"ed lie an a(!e#!ho&gh!) added) ;I!>s !he "en %ho ain>!'; No% I ne% %ha! I %as going !o say' ;6ell); I began) ;i! %ill in!e#es! yo& !o no% !ha! o&# %o"en ha,e changed22b&! de(ini!ely@ The change) ho%e,e#) has been on !he o&!side only' Inside) he#e); *oin!ing !o !he hea#!) ;!hey a#e !he
sa"e as !hey %e#e !%en!y yea#s ago' 1od2(ea#ing) (ai!h(&l) "odes!) andnice.; The "an %as ,isibly "o,ed' ;I>" ,e#y ha**y) si#); he said) in !he "anne# o( one %ho) ha,ing s!aes on !he land) had (o&nd no ca&se !o #eg#e! one>s sen!i"en!al in,es!"en!' .(!e# !his) e,e#y!hing !ha! %as said and done in !ha! hall !ha! nigh! see"ed lie an an!i2cli"a?) and la!e#) as %e %aled o&!side) he ga,e "e his na"e and !old "e o( his (a#" !hi#!y "iles eas! o( !he ci!y' 6e had s!o**ed a! !he "ain en!#ance !o !he ho!el lobby' 6e had no! !aled ,e#y "&ch on !he %ay' .s a "a!!e# o( (ac!) %e %e#e ne,e# alone' /indly ."e#ican (#iends !aled !o &s) ased &s 7&es!ions) said goodnigh!' So no% I ased hi" %he!he# he ca#ed !o s!e* in!o !he lobby %i!h "e and !al' ;No) !han yo&); he said) ;yo& a#e !i#ed' .nd I don>! %an! !o s!ay o&! !oo la!e'; ;=es) yo& li,e ,e#y (a#'; ;I go! a ca#); he said) ;besides ' ' ' ; No% he s"iled) he !#&ly s"iled' .ll nigh! I had been %a!ching his (ace and I %onde#ed %hen he %as going !o s"ile' ;6ill yo& do "e a (a,o#) *lease); he con!in&ed s"iling al"os! s%ee!ly' ;I %an! yo& !o ha,e dinne# %i!h "y (a"ily o&! in !he co&n!#y' I>d call (o# yo& !o"o##o% a(!e#noon) !hen d#i,e yo& bac' 6ill !ha! be al#igh!9; ;O( co&#se); I said' ;I>d lo,e !o "ee! yo&# (a"ily'; I %as lea,ing /ala"azoo (o# 0&ncie) Indiana) in !%o days' The#e %as *len!y o( !i"e' ;=o& %ill "ae "y %i(e ,e#y ha**y); he said' ;=o& (la!!e# "e'; ;Hones!' She>ll be ,e#y ha**y' R&!h is a co&n!#y gi#l and hasn>! "e! "any Fili*inos' I "ean Fili*inos yo&nge# !han I) cleane# looing' 6e>#e <&s! *oo# (a#"e# (ol) yo& no%) and %e don>! ge! !o !o%n ,e#y o(!en' Roge#) !ha!>s "y boy) he goes !o school in !o%n' . b&s !aes hi" ea#ly in !he "o#ning and he>s bac in !he a(!e#noon' He>s nice boy'; ;I be! he is); I ag#eed' ;I>,e seen !he child#en o( so"e o( !he boys by !hei# ."e#ican %i,es and !he boys a#e !all) !alle# !han !hei# (a!he#) and ,e#y good looing'; ;Roge#) he>d be !all' =o&>ll lie hi"';
Then he said goodbye and I %a,ed !o hi" as he disa**ea#ed in !he da#ness' The ne?! day he ca"e) a! abo&! !h#ee in !he a(!e#noon' The#e %as a "ild) ine((ec!&al s&n shining) and i! %as no! !oo cold' He %as %ea#ing an old b#o%n !%eed ! belie,e i!); he e*! #e*ea!ing as he led "e !o his ca#22a nondesc#i*! !hing in (aded blac !ha! had no%n be!!e# days and "any hands' ;I says !o he#) I>" b#inging yo& a (i#s! class Fili*ino) and she says) a%) go a%ay) 7&i! idding) !he#e>s no s&ch !hing as (i#s! class Fili*ino' B&! Roge#) !ha!>s "y boy) he belie,ed "e i""edia!ely' 6ha!>s he lie) daddy) he ass' Oh) yo& %ill see) I says) he>s (i#s! class' Lie yo& daddy9 No) no) I la&gh a! hi") yo&# daddy ain>! (i#s! class' .%) b&! yo& a#e) daddy) he says' So yo& can see %ha! a nice boy he is) so innocen!' Then R&!h s!a#!s g#i*ing abo&! !he ho&se) b&! !he ho&se is a "ess) she says' T#&e i!>s a "ess) i!>s al%ays a "ess) b&! yo& don>! "ind) do yo&9 6e>#e *oo# (ols) yo& no%' The !#i* see"ed in!e#"inable' 6e *assed !h#o&gh na##o% lanes anddisa**ea#ed in!o !hice!s) and ca"e o&! on ba##en land o,e#g#o%n %i!h %eeds in *laces' .ll a#o&nd %e#e dead lea,es and d#y ea#!h' In !he dis!ance %e#e a**le !#ees' ;.#en>! !hose a**le !#ees9; I ased %an!ing !o be s&#e' ;=es) !hose a#e a**le !#ees); he #e*lied' ;Do yo& lie a**les9 I go! lo!s o( >e"' I go! an a**le o#cha#d) I>ll sho% yo&'; .ll !he bea&!y o( !he a(!e#noon see"ed in !he dis!ance) on !he hills) in !he d&ll so(! sy' ;Those !#ees a#e bea&!i(&l on !he hills); I said' ;.&!&"n>s a lo,ely season' The !#ees a#e ge!!ing #eady !o die) and !hey sho% !hei# colo#s) *#o&d2lie'; ;No s&ch !hing in o&# o%n co&n!#y); I said' Tha! #e"a# see"ed &nind) I #ealized la!e#' I! !o&ched hi" o(( on a long dese#!ed !angen!) b&! e,e# !he#e *e#ha*s' Ho% "any !i"es did lonely "ind !ae &n*leasan! de!o&#s a%ay (#o" !he (a"ilia# %inding lanes !o%a#ds ho"e (o# (ea# o( !his) !he #e"e"be#ed h&#!) !he long los! yo&!h) !he g#i" shado%s o( !he yea#s$ ho% "any !i"es indeed)
only !he e?ile no%s' I! %as a #&gged #oad %e %e#e !#a,eling and !he ca# "ade so "&ch noise !ha! I co&ld no! hea# e,e#y!hing he said) b&! I &nde#s!ood hi"' He %as !elling his s!o#y (o# !he (i#s! !i"e in "any yea#s' He %as #e"e"be#ing his o%n yo&!h' He %as !hining o( ho"e' In !hese odd "o"en!s !he#e see"ed no ca&se (o# (ea# no ca&se a! all) no *ain' Tha! %o&ld co"e la!e#' In !he nigh! *e#ha*s' O# lonely on !he (a#" &nde# !he a**le !#ees' In this old Visayan town, the streets are narrow and dirty and strewn with coral shells. You have been there? You could not have missed our house, it was the biggest in town, one of the oldest, ours was a big family. The house stood right on the edge of the street. A door opened heavily and you enter a dar hall leading to the stairs. There is the smell of chicens roosting on the lowtopped walls, there is the familiar sound they mae and you grope your way up a massive staircase, the bannisters smooth upon the trembling hand. "uch nights, they are no better than the days, windows are closed against the sun# they close heavily. $other sits in her corner looing very white and sic. This was her world, her domain. In all these years, I cannot remember the sound of her voice. %ather was different. &e moved about. &e shouted. &e ranted. &e lived in the past and taled of honor as though it were the only thing. I was born in that house. I grew up there into a pampered brat. I was mean. 'ne day I broe their hearts. I saw mother cry wordlessly as father heaped his curses upon me and drove me out of the house, the gate closing heavily after me. And my brothers and sisters too up my father(s hate for me and multiplied it numberless times in their own broen hearts. I was no good. )ut sometimes, you now, I miss that house, the roosting chicens on the lowtopped walls. I miss my brothers and sisters, $other sitting in her chair, looing lie a pale ghost in a corner of the room. I would remember the great live posts, massive tree truns from the forests. *eafy plants grew on the sides, buds pointing downwards, wilted and died before they could become flowers. As they fell on the floor, father bent to pic them and throw them out into the coral streets. &is hands were strong. I have issed these hands . . . many times, many times. Finally %e #o&nded a dee* c&#,e and s&ddenly ca"e &*on a shan!y)
all b&! #eady !o c#&"ble in a hea* on !he g#o&nd) i!s *las!e#ed %alls %e#e #o!!ing a%ay) !he (loo# %as ha#dly a (oo! (#o" !he g#o&nd' I !ho&gh! o( !he co!!ages o( !he *oo# colo#ed (ol in !he so&!h) !he ho,els o( !he *oo# e,e#y%he#e in !he land' This one s!ood all by i!sel( as !ho&gh by co""on consen! all !he (ol !ha! &sed !o li,e he#e had decided !o say a%ay) des*ising i!) asha"ed o( i!' E,en !he lo,ely season co&ld no! colo# i! %i!h bea&!y' . dog ba#ed lo&dly as %e a**#oached' . (a! blonde %o"an s!ood a! !he doo# %i!h a li!!le boy by he# side' Roge# see"ed ne%ly sc#&bbed' He ha#dly !oo his eyes o(( "e' R&!h had a clean a*#on a#o&nd he# sha*eless %ais!' No% as she shoo "y hands in since#e deligh! I no!iced sha"e(acedly A!ha! I sho&ld no!ice ho% #o&gh he# hands %e#e) ho% coa#se and #ed %i!h labo#) ho% &gly@ She %as no longe# yo&ng and he# s"ile %as *a!he!ic' .s %e s!e**ed inside and !he doo# closed behind &s) i""edia!ely I %as a%a#e o( !he (a"ilia# scen! o( a**les' The #oo" %as ba#e e?ce*! (o# a (e% ancien! *ieces o( second2hand (&#ni!&#e' In !he "iddle o( !he #oo" s!ood a s!o,e !o ee* !he (a"ily %a#" in %in!e#' The %alls %e#e ba#e' O,e# !he dining !able h&ng a la"* ye! &nligh!ed' R&!h go! b&sy %i!h !he d#ins' She e*! co"ing in and o&! o( a #ea# #oo" !ha! "&s! ha,e been !he i!chen and soon !he !able %as hea,y %i!h (ood) (#ied chicen legs and #ice) and g#een *eas and co#n on !he ea#' E,en as %e a!e) R&!h e*! s!anding) and going !o !he i!chen (o# "o#e (ood' Roge# a!e lie a li!!le gen!le"an' ;Isn>! he nice looing9; his (a!he# ased' ;=o& a#e a handso"e boy) Roge#); I said' The boy s"iled a! "e' =o& loo lie Daddy); he said' .(!e#%a#ds I no!iced an old *ic!&#e leaning on !he !o* o( a d#esse# and s!ood !o *ic i! &*' I! %as yello% and soiled %i!h "any (inge#ings' The (aded (ig&#e o( a %o"an in Phili**ine d#ess co&ld ye! be dis!ing&ished al!ho&gh !he (ace had beco"e a bl&#' ;=o&# ' ' ' ; I began' ;I don>! no% %ho she is); Fabia has!ened !o say' ;I *iced !ha! *ic!&#e "any yea#s ago in a #oo" on La Salle s!#ee! in Chicago' I ha,e o(!en %onde#ed %ho she is'; ;The (ace %asn>! a bl&# in !he beginning9; ;Oh) no' I! %as a yo&ng (ace and good'; R&!h ca"e %i!h a *la!e (&ll o( a**les'
;.h); I c#ied) *icing o&! a #i*e one' ;I>,e been !hining %he#e all !he scen! o( a**les ca"e (#o"' The #oo" is (&ll o( i!'; ;I>ll sho% yo&); said Fabia' He sho%ed "e a bac#oo") no! ,e#y big' I! %as hal(2(&ll o( a**les' ;E,e#y day); he e?*lained) ;I !ae so"e o( !he" !o !o%n !o sell !o !he g#oce#ies' P#ices ha,e been lo%' I>,e been losing on !he !#i*s'; ;These a**les %ill s*oil); I said' ;6e>ll (eed !he" !o !he *igs'; Then he sho%ed "e a#o&nd !he (a#"' I! %as !%iligh! no% and !he a**le !#ees s!ood ba#e agains! a glo%ing %es!e#n sy' In a**le blosso" !i"e i! "&s! be lo,ely he#e' B&! %ha! abo&! %in!e#!i"e9 One day) acco#ding !o Fabia) a (e% yea#s ago) be(o#e Roge# %as bo#n) he had an a!!ac o( ac&!e a**endici!is' I! %as dee* %in!e#' The sno% lay hea,y e,e#y%he#e' R&!h %as *#egnan! and none !oo %ell he#sel(' .! (i#s! she did no! no% %ha! !o do' She b&ndled hi" in %a#" clo!hing and *&! hi" on a co! nea# !he s!o,e' She sho,eled !he sno% (#o" !hei# (#on! doo# and *#ac!ically ca##ied !he s&((e#ing "an on he# sho&lde#s) d#agging hi" !h#o&gh !he ne%ly "ade *a!h !o%a#ds !he #oad %he#e !hey %ai!ed (o# !he :'S' 0ail ca# !o *ass' 0ean%hile sno%(laes *o&#ed all o,e# !he" and she e*! #&bbing !he "an>s a#"s and legs as she he#sel( nea#ly (#oze !o dea!h' ;1o bac !o !he ho&se) R&!h@; he# h&sband c#ied) ;yo&>ll (#eeze !o dea!h'; B&! she cl&ng !o hi" %o#dlessly' E,en as she "assaged his a#"s and legs) he# !ea#s #olled do%n he# chees' ;I %on>! lea,e yo&); she #e*ea!ed' Finally !he :'S' 0ail ca# a##i,ed' The "ail"an) %ho ne% !he" %ell) hel*ed !he" boa#d !he ca#) and) %i!ho&! s!o**ing on his &s&al #o&!e) !oo !he sic "an and his %i(e di#ec! !o !he nea#es! hos*i!al' R&!h s!ayed in !he hos*i!al %i!h Fabia' She sle*! in a co##ido# o&!side !he *a!ien!s> %a#d and in !he day !i"e hel*ed in sc#&bbing !he (loo# and %ashing !he dishes and cleaning !he "en>s !hings' They didn>! ha,e eno&gh "oney and R&!h %as %illing !o %o# lie a sla,e' ;R&!h>s a nice gi#l); said Fabia) ;lie o&# o%n Fili*ino %o"en'; Be(o#e nigh!(all) he !oo "e bac !o !he ho!el' R&!h and Roge# s!ood a! !he doo# holding hands and s"iling a! "e' F#o" inside !he #oo" o( !he shan!y) a lo% ligh! (lice#ed' I had a las! gli"*se o( !he a**le !#ees in !he o#cha#d &nde# !he da#ened sy as Fabia baced &* !he
