Spanish Colonization of the Philippines

Foreign Observations of Filipino Indolence

• Italian traveler Gemelli Careri observed that Filipinos were lazy, citing examples of not removing thorns from their path.
• Friar Gaspar de San Agustin described Filipino laziness as a persistent trait, resulting in carelessness and neglect.
• German scholar Feodor Jagor wrote about Filipinos sleeping on a heap of coconuts and not bothering to retrieve them when they washed away.

Rizal's Counterargument

• José Rizal's essay "Sobre la Indolencia de Los Filipinos" (On the Indolence of the Filipinos) aimed to correct the misconception of Filipino indolence.
• Rizal argued that indolence was not an inherent trait, but rather a result of external conditions imposed on Filipinos.
• He cited Gregorio Sancianco's El Progreso de las Filipinas, which attributed Filipino lethargy to bad economic situations.

Rizal's Perspective on Indolence

• Rizal acknowledged that indolence existed among Filipinos, but claimed it was exacerbated by warm climates and economic conditions.
• He believed that the evil was not in the presence of indolence, but in how it was perpetuated and grew over time.
• Rizal argued that Filipinos were not always lazy, citing examples of precolonial industry, agriculture, and commerce.

Historical Context

• Early Spanish accounts described Filipinos as industrious and engaged in various activities, such as mining and trade.
• However, the constant wars, Moro skirmishes, and Spanish abuses during colonization led to a decline in Filipino industry and a predisposition to laziness.