Annotation and Sucesos in Spanish Literature

10 Questions

What was the main reason Jose Rizal copied the whole 351 pages of Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas by hand?

To thoroughly research the history of the Philippines.

Why did Rizal choose Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas over other historical accounts?

Rizal considered Morga more reliable due to his objectivity.

What misconception about the Filipinos is NOT mentioned as one of the three kinds of Spanish delusions about the Philippines?

Filipinos had a history of violent uprisings against the Spanish.

What led Rizal to spend several months in London in 1889-1890?

To conduct historical research on pre-colonial Philippines and enhance his English language skills.

What aspect of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines did Rizal believe contributed to the decline of Filipino culture and traditions?

The conquest and exploitation by the Spaniards.

What was Jose Rizal's main motivation behind his historical research on pre-colonial Philippines?

To highlight the decline of Filipino culture caused by the Spanish conquest

What distinguishes Morga's 'Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas' from other historical accounts according to Rizal?

It is considered more 'objective'

Why did Rizal find Morga's 'Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas' to be a valuable source for his research?

The book was rare and not widely available

What misconception about Filipinos did Rizal debunk as one of the three kinds of Spanish delusions?

Filipinos being an inferior race

What distinguished Morga as a historian according to Rizal's considerations for choosing 'Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas'?

His objectivity compared to religious writers

Study Notes

Antonio de Morga and Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas

Antonio de Morga Sánchez Garay was a Spanish soldier, lawyer, and high-ranking colonial official who served in the Philippines, New Spain, and Peru for 43 years.
He was a historian and published the book Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas in 1609, considered one of the most important works on the early history of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines.

Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas

Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas is a historical account describing the scenarios in the Philippines from 1493 to 1603 under the Spaniards.
It is based on Morga's experience and observation during his time in the Philippines.
The book is considered the first to tackle Philippine History.

Jose Rizal and Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas

Rizal found the book in the British Museum's reading room in London and hand-copied the whole 351 pages, annotating every chapter.
Rizal was an earnest seeker of truth and wanted to know the exact conditions of the Philippines during the Spanish colonization.
He believed that the country was economically self-sufficient and prosperous before the Spanish conquest, which led to the decline of the Philippines' rich tradition and culture.

Rizal's Theory and Annotations

Rizal believed that the conquest of the Spaniards contributed to the decline of the Philippines' own culture and rich traditions.
In his annotations, he included the colonial history of the Philippines, focusing on the prolonged periods of suffering that many people endured.
Rizal's annotations suggest that Filipinos were decimated, demoralized, exploited, and ruined by the Spanish colonization.

Chapters of Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas

CHAPTER 1: Magellan and Legazpi's seminal expeditions.
CHAPTER 2-7: Chronological report on government administration under Governor-General.
CHAPTER 8: Philippine Islands, the natives there, their antiquity, custom, and government.

Historical Significance

Modern historians, including Rizal, note that Morga has a definite bias and would often distort facts or rely on invention to fit his defense of the Spanish conquest.
Rizal's annotations provide valuable insights into the early history of the Philippines during the Spanish colonization.