Module 8: Propaganda Movement and La Solidaridad (SY 2024-2025) PDF

**MODULE 8** **Propaganda Movement and La Solidaridad** I. **INTRODUCTION** II. **OBJECTIVES:** 1. analyze the different works of Rizal as a propagandist and their significance to the development of Rizal\'s nationalist consciousness; 2. explain the principle of assimilation advocate...

**MODULE 8** **Propaganda Movement and La Solidaridad** I. **INTRODUCTION** II. **OBJECTIVES:** 1. analyze the different works of Rizal as a propagandist and their significance to the development of Rizal\'s nationalist consciousness; 2. explain the principle of assimilation advocated by the Propaganda Movement; and 3. assess Rizal\'s involvement in the Propaganda Movement. III. **PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY:** **Answer:** Who among the personality shown other than Rizal was known to you? Why? IV. **LESSON DISCUSSION:** **Member of the Propaganda Movement** - Previous to the arrival of Rizal in Spain, many Filipino students were already studying there like Pedro Paterno and Gregorio Sancianco who were both active Filipino nationalists. - When Rizal arrived in Spain in 1882, there was an atmosphere of activism led mostly by students. Around this time, Spain\'s government was in disarray because the newly adopted 1876 constitution created a power vacuum. As political parties tried to consolidate their power and politicians tried to secure their personal agendas, shifting from one political bloc to another became common. Corruption was prevalent in the Spanish government. - Moreover, a series of government and cabinet reorganizations followed shortly after every change of party alignment. - Many people in Spain were illiterate because of the lack of primary and secondary schools. Most significantly, the Church was still a difficult force in almost every aspect of the Spanish society. - This was the situation in Spain that Rizal witnessed when he arrived. He was also welcomed in an atmosphere of liberalism which exposed him to ideas formerly foreign to him. This was when he became aware of the [concept of assimilation] wherein the Philippines can be [considered as a province] of Spain and not just a tributary colony. For Rizal, this meant that [Filipinos could be equal with the Spaniards]. - After arriving in Barcelona, Rizal started contributing to the short-lived bilingual newspaper, Diariong Tagalog, together with Marcelo H. del Pilar. Most of Rizal\'s contributions were focused on the idea of national regeneration through education. - Earliest attempt to unite Filipinos studying in Spain was the formation of the Circulo Hispano-Filipino, an organization the leadership of a Creole, Juan Atayde. It had the support of Spaniards who were sympathetic towards the Filipinos. - The Circulo published a bi-weekly newspaper titled Revista del Circulo Hispano-Filipino in 1882, but the newspaper and the organization itself were short-lived and lasted only until 1883. - In the face of the demise of the Revista del Circulo HispanoFilipino, the Filipinos in Spain continued to write and engage in journalism. - In 1883, a periodical called Los Dos Mundos, publications led by Graciano Lopez Jaena came out with the intention of demanding for the overseas Hispanic colonies equality of rights and equal opportunities for progress. Jaena was the first to lead a series of protests in writing against the injustices of the Spaniards in the Philippines. - Although it could not be determined whether the newspaper was a Filipino project, Filipinos such as Graciano Lopez Jaena and Pedro Govantes y Azcarraga were involved as staff members. Other Filipinos including Rizal and Eduardo de Lete also contributed articles concerned with socio-political and economic reforms in the Philippines. Later on, Rizal found himself writing side-by-side with Jaena\'s criticisms against the Spanish colonial regime. - In 1884, Jaena and Rizal delivered speeches at the Exposicion de Bellas Artes in Madrid where two Filipino painters were given recognition. Juan Luna received an award for his Spoliarium and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo for his Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho. In their speeches, Jaena, condemned the abuses of the friars and the Spanish colonial government in the Philippines, whereas Rizal encouraged the Filipino youth to follow in the footsteps of Luna and Hidalgo. - In the time Rizal\'s first novel, Noli me Tangere out in 1887, another newspaper titled Espaha en Filipinas began its publication through the support of Filipinos, creoles and mestizos in Madrid. The newspaper was short-lived as well because of glaring differences and internal feuding among its staff. The end of the newspaper emerged a stronger Filipino community united in its purpose to continue working for Filipino rights. - In 1888, Rizal joined an organization composed of Filipino liberals exiled in Spain, the La Solidaridad. The organization aimed to raise the awareness of Spain on the needs of its colony, the Philippines. Galicano Apacible, Rizal\'s cousin, issued a newspaper of the same name. It was published in Barcelona. - By January 1889, the Filipino in Barcelona began preparations for the publication of a new periodical. Among the early supporters who helped with finances were Mariano Ponce and Pablo Rianzares. Graciano Lopez Jaena offered his services as editor. Marcelo H. del Pilar, having arrived from Manila at this time, also joined the efforts. - Jaena and later on, del Pilar edited the newspaper while Rizal was an active and significant contributor. It served as the principal organ of the reform movement. Most of the articles featured in La Solidaridad talked about the possibility of the Philippines becoming a province of Spain with equal rights before the law, and recognition of the freedom of speech and assembly. - The newspaper, La Solidaridad, released its first on February IS, 1889. In its first article, the staff defined program as, \"to combat all reaction, to impede all retrogression to applaud and accept every liberal idea, to defend all progress." Among the reforms the newspaper sought were: 1) Philippine representation in the Cortes, 2) freedom of the press, and 3) the end of the practice of exiling residents without due process. The periodical placed particular emphasis on affairs dealing with the Philippines because of all Spain\'s overseas provinces, it was the only one that lacked parliamentary representation. - One of Rizal\'s most important contributions was the Letter to the Young Women of Malolos published on February 22, 1889. It recognized the efforts and bravery of 20 women from Malolos who wrote a petition letter to Governor General Valeriano Weyler to allow them to put up a night school where they could study the Spanish language under the instruction of Teodoro Sandiko. Though the petition was initially denied because of the pressures and influence of the friars, the perseverance of the women of Malolos prevailed. - Jose Rizal also made a fearless forecast on the future of the Philippines within a hundred years in his work, The Philippines a Century Hence. It analyzes the various causes of the miseries suffered by the Filipino people under the Spanish colonizers. In connection to this, Rizal wrote another essay published in La Solidaridad in Madrid in 1890 titled The Indolence of the Filipino, as a response to the accusations of the Spaniards that the Filipinos were indolent. Rizal argued that several factors can be identified for such and most can be rooted in the abuses committed by the Spaniards directed to the Filipinos. Jose Rizal\'s outstanding talent and passion for writing, as evidenced by his numerous works, greatly antagonized the friars who were the usual target of his criticisms. - La Solidaridad often ran articles, dealing with Spanish politics, attacks on friars, and reforms for the Philippines. Sections were also assigned to accommodate and print letters from foreign correspondents, all speaking of situations on the ground. Aside from the political and economic content, the periodical gave space for the publication of literary works as well. - The support for the newspaper gradually increased and its roster of writers grew. Among those who eventually contributed articles were José Rizal, Dominador Gomez, Jose Maria Panganiban, Antonio Luna, and renowned Filipinist scholar Ferdinand Blumentritt. Other Filipinos who contributed articles did so using assumed names. - In time, Del Pilar gradually took on the active role of running the paper. Lopez Jaena, although editor in name, spent most of his days in cafes and was known to be incapable of sustained work. By the time del Pilar decided to move to Madrid, the paper went with him. The first issue printed in Madrid came out on November 15, 1889. A month later, the periodical announced its change of editorship with del Pilar. - In 1890, two of the most prominent members of the Filipino community in Spain began to increasingly show differences in stance with regard to Philippine affairs. Rizal always held the opinion that to serve the country better, one had to bring the issues closer to home. One had to speak to the Filipinos, rather than the Spaniards. Del Pilar, on the other hand, was a skillful politician who felt that efforts at persuading the Spanish leaders and officials needed to be continued and that this was the best way to achieve the reforms Filipinos were seeking. - At a New Year\'s Eve banquet in 1891, the Filipinos in Madrid proposed that they elect a leader to unite their community. Rizal agreed with the proposal while del pilar expressed initial misgivings. Nevertheless, the voting took place resulting in three inconclusive ballots on the first day and two more inconclusive ballots the next day. Rizal did eventually win the position as Filipino leader but only through the manipulations of Mariano Ponce. In the end, Rizal felt his triumph was shallow and left Madrid a few weeks later. From this point onwards, Rizal stopped from contributing articles to La Solidaridad and focused instead on the writing of his novels. - The periodical continued to publish only until 1895. Because of lack of funds and internal feuding, the newspaper released its final issue on November 15, 1895. In its final issue, its editor, del Pilar, had written, \"We are persuaded that no sacrifices are too little to win the rights and the liberty of a nation that is oppressed by slavery.\" 1. What are the aims of the newspaper, La Solidaridad? 2. ­­­­­­­Who are the officers and members of organization La Solidaridad? 3. How the propagandists' view of progress? V. **ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: For further understanding** Retrieved from Retrieved from Retrieved from Retrieved from Retrieved from Retrieved from Retrieved from VI. **ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY:** A. Student's Journal: Reflect on the concept of reform and revolution. Rizal proved in his writings that education is a revolutionary act. How can a student like you revolutionize the society? B. Modern Propaganda Movement: Instruction: Using any meme generator app or website, create your own meme about any political, social, environment, or cultural issue. You may use Livememe, Quikmeme, Memem Generator, auto Motivator, etc. C. Responding to the "Letter to the Young Women of Malolos" Research on Rizal's "Letter to the Young Women of Malolos" and situating yourself back in time, imagine you are one of the 21 women Rizal dedicated his letter to and write a response letter addressed to him. D. Quiz VII. **REFERENCES:** - Rizal, J. (2011). Rizal\'s toast to Luna and Hidalgo. Presidential Museum and Library, Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved from http:// malacanang.gov.ph/4071-jose-rizalshomage-to-1una-and-hidalgo - Schumacher, J. (1997). The propaganda movement: 1880---1895; The creators of a Filipino consciousness, the makers of the revolution. Quezon City, Philippines: Ateneo de Manila University Press. - Guerrero, Milagros C. and John N. Schumacher. 1998. Kasaysayan Series Vol. S: Reform and revolution. Hong Kong: Asia Publishing Company Limited. - Schumacher, John N. 1991. The making of nation: Essays on nineteenth-century Filipino nationalism. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press. - Schumacher, John N. 1997. The Propaganda movement, 1880--- 1895: The creation of a Filipino consciousness, the making of the revolution. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press. - Thomas, Megan C. 2016. Orientalists, propagandists, and ilustrados: Filipino scholarship and the end of Spanish colonialism. Pasig City: Anvil Publishing, Inc. Coates, A. (1969). Rizal: Filipino nationalist and martyr. Hong Kong: Oxford University Press.