Rizal's Life and Works Lesson 11 PDF

RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS Lesson 11 -Message to the Women of Malolos -The Indolence of the Filipinos Pre-test LEARNI...

RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS Lesson 11 -Message to the Women of Malolos -The Indolence of the Filipinos Pre-test LEARNING Encircle the correct answer. OUTCOMES 1. Who is the man told the news or an essay to Rizal regarding the unfolding events the Women of Malolos?  Assess Rizal’s A. Paciano Rizal C. Maximo Viola writings B. Marcelo H. del Pilar D. Mariano Ponce 2. How many women filed a petition to the governor general?  Appraise the value A. 8 to 10 C. 15 to 18 of understanding the B. 12 to 14 D. 20 and above past 3. Who was the Governor General to were the Women of Malolos requesting their  Frame arguments petition? A. Ramon Blanco C. Camilo de Polavieja based on evidence B. Valeriano Weyler D. Eulogio Despujol Pre-activity Give other Filipino traits that can attest to Filipino’s Indolence as claimed by Rizal and explain each briefly. You may use an example situation or real-life experience to elaborate. Indolence of the Filipinos NATIONAL UNIVERSITY 77 RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS Letter to the Women of Malolos The yellow rose symbolizes Love, Purity, and Peace to the women of Malolos. They also show that education is important to each person and all Filipinos have a hidden talent and ability to raise the living standards. Background “To the Young Women of Malolos” is an essay written by Jose Rizal while he was in London upon the request of Marcelo H. del Pilar. On December 12, 1888, a group of 20 young women of Malolos petitioned to the Governor-General Valeriano Weyler for permission to open a night school so that they might study Spanish under Teodoro Sandiko. Fr. Felipe Garcia objected their plan so, the governor-general turned down the petition. However, the women still continued their petition of the school and they succeeded in obtaining government approval in a condition that Señorita Guadalupe Reyes should be their teacher. Del Pilar(who was in Barcelona) wrote to Rizal (who was in London) on February 17, 1889, requesting to send a letter in Tagalog to the brave women of Malolos. Rizal sent the letter to Del Pilar on february 22, 1889, for transmittal to Malolos. Governor-General Valeriano Weyler NATIONAL UNIVERSITY 78 RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS Summary of Contents Rizal pays homage to 20 women of Malolos who desire to educate themselves. In this way, Rizal sees in these women a ray of hope in restoring the Filipino women’s dignity. He emphasizes the importance of Filipino mothers and refers to different women in society: mothers, daughters, wives and even the unmarried ones. Responsibilities of Filipino mothers to their children “Whatever the mother shows to her children is what the children will also become.” Advise to unmarried men and women  Appearance and looks can be very deceiving.  Three things that young women should look for a man she intends to be her husband: o A noble and honored name o A manly heart o A high spirit incapable of being satisfied with engendering slaves Studio portrait of two young Filipina sisters, late 19th Century, Manila - Philippines NATIONAL UNIVERSITY 79 RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS Analysis “To the Women of Malolos” centers around five salient points (Zaide & Zaide, 1999): Faith is not Filipino merely reciting Filipino Filipino mothers prayers and mothers Filipino women should should be glad wearing should teach women should educate and honored, religious their child know how to themselves like spartan pictures. It is about the love protect their aside from mothers to living the real of God, dignity and retaining their offer their sons Christian way country and honor. good racial in defense of with good fellowmen. values. their country. morals and manners. Relevance in Today’s Society  There are often times that mothers forget their roles to their children because of overriding idea of having to earn enough money to help the father sustain the family needs.  Activism of the Feminist groups in the country  Domestic abuse issues of married women  Rape issues and exploitation of women RESOURCES/ REFERENCE:  Rizal, Jose. “The Philippines a Century Hence” can be assessed through: http://www.archive.org/stream/philippinescentu00riza/philippinescentu00riza_djvu.txt  Schumacher, John. 1997. Rizal’s break with del Pilar. In The propaganda movement: 1880– 1895; The creators of a Filipino consciousness, the makers of the revolution, 260–80. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.  Schumacher, John. 1997. Renewed activity in Madrid. In The propaganda movement: 1880– 1895; The creators of a Filipino consciousness, the makers of the revolution, 182–211. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.  Schumacher, John. 1997. The Filipino past and education for the future, 1887–1891 In The propaganda movement: 1880– 1895; The creators of a Filipino consciousness, the makers of the revolution, 235–44. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.  Schumacher, John. 1997. Rizal’s break with del Pilar. In The propaganda movement: 1880– 1895; The creators of a Filipino consciousness, the makers of the revolution, 245–60. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press  https://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2011/04/noli-me-tangere-summary-and-analysis-of_1304.html  https://www.slideshare.net/imsandra21/rizals-letter-to-the-women-of-malolos NATIONAL UNIVERSITY 80 RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS Indolence of the Filipinos La Indolencia de los Filipinos more popularly known in its English version, “The Indolence of the Filipinos” is an exploratory essay written by Dr. Jose Rizal to explain the alleged “Laziness” of the Filipinos during Spanish colonization. Published in 5 installments, from July 15 up to September 15, 1890, in Madrid, Spain (La Solidaridad). Rizal’s Purpose  To serve the country by telling the truth.  To show how we were discriminated.  To illustrate how we inherited some of our negative traits from the Spaniards.  To let us know how we could rise from oppression.  To show us that we have been deceived.  To remind us what we were, are and could be. Chapter 1: Admitting the existence of Indolence Rizal admits that indolence does exist among the Filipinos, but it cannot be attributed to the troubles and backwardness of the country; rather it is the effect of the backwardness and troubles experienced by the country. Past writings on indolence revolve only on either denying or affirming, and never studying its causes in depth. One must study the causes of indolence, Rizal says, before curing it. He therefore enumerates the causes of indolence and elaborates on the circumstances that have led to it. Chapter 2: Indolence of Chronic Illness Rizal says than an illness will worsen if the wrong treatment is given. The same applies to indolence. People, however, should not lose hope in fighting indolence. Even before the Spaniards arrived, Rizal argues, the early Filipinos were already carrying out trade within provinces and with other neighboring countries; they were also engaged in agriculture and mining; some natives even spoke Spanish. All this disproves the notion that Filipinos are by nature indolent. Rizal ends by asking what then would have caused Filipinos to forget their past. NATIONAL UNIVERSITY 81 RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS Chapter 3: Wars, Insurrections, Expeditions and Invasion Rizal enumerates several reasons that may have caused the Filipinos’ cultural and economic decadence. The frequent wars, insurrections, and invasions have brought disorder to the communities. Chaos has been widespread, and destruction rampant. Meanwhile, natives who have had enough of abuse have gone to the mountains. As a result, the farms have been neglected. The so-called indolence of Filipinos has deeply rooted. Chapter 4: Death of Trade in the Philippines Filipino, according to Rizal, are not responsible for their misfortunes, as they are not their own masters. The Spanish government has not encouraged labor and trade, which ceased after the government treated the country’s neighboring trade partners with great suspicion. Trade has declined, furthermore, because of pirate attacks and the many restrictions imposed by the government, which gives no aid for crops and farmers. This and the abuse suffered under Encomenderos have caused many to abandon the fields. Businesses are monopolized by many government officials, red tape and bribery operate on a wide scale, rampant gambling is tolerated by the government. Chapter 5: Limited Training and Education According to Rizal, all the causes of indolence can be reduced to two factors. The first factor is limited training and education Filipino natives receive. Segregated from Spaniards, Filipinos do not receive the same opportunities that are available to the foreigners. They are taught to be inferior. The second factor is the lack of a national sentiment of unity among them. Because Filipinos think they are inferior, they submit to the foreign culture and do everything to imitate it. The solution, according to Rizal would be education and liberty. NATIONAL UNIVERSITY 82 RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS SUMMARY The indolence of the Filipino is a study of the causes why the people did not, as was said, work hard during the Spanish regime. Rizal pointed out that long before the coming of the Spaniards, the Filipinos were industrious and hardworking. Spain also extinguished the nativess love of work because of the implementation of forced labor. Because of the wars between spain and other countries in Europe as well as the Muslims in Mindanao, the Filipinos were compelled to work in shipyards, roads, and other public works, abandoning agriculture, industry and commerce. Spain did not protect the people against foreign invaders and pirates. With no arms to defend themselves, the natives were killed, their houses burned, and their lands destroyed. As a result of this, the Filipinos were forced to become nomads, lost interest in cultivating their lands or in rebuilding the industries that were shut down, and simply became submissive to the mercy of God. There was a crooked system of education, if it was to be considered an education. What was being taught in the schools were repetitive prayers and other things that could not be used by the students to lead the country to progress. There were no courses in agriculture, industry, et. Which were badly needed by the Philippines during those times. NATIONAL UNIVERSITY 83 RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS The Spanish rulers were a bad example to despise manual labor. The officals reported to work at noon and left early, all the while doing nothing in line with their duties. The women were seen constantly followed by servants who dressed them and fanned hem – personal things which they ought to have done for themselves. Gambling was established and widely propagated during those times almost everyday theere were cockfights, and during feast days, the government officials and friars were to first engage in all sorts of bets and gambles. There was a crooked system of religion. The friars taught the naïve Filipinos that it was easier for a poor man to enter heaven, and so they preferred not to work and remain poor so that they could easily enter heaven after they died. The taxes were extremely high, so much so that a huge portion of what they earned went to the government or to the friars. When the object of their labor was removed and they were explouted, they were reduced to inaction. Rizal admitted that the Filipinos did not work so hard because they were wise enough to adjhust themselves to the warm, tropical climate. “An hour’s work under that burning sun, in the midst of pernicious influences spring from nature in activity, is equal to a day’s labor in a temperate climate.” NATIONAL UNIVERSITY 84 RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS The Spanish Jesuit priest Pedro Murillo Velarde was probably the most intellectually powerful person in the Philippines throughout the obscure 18th century. He made the 1734 Pedro Murillo Velarde’s map of the Philippines, a true jewel of world cartography. What did Pedro Murillo Velarde say about Filipinos, having spent more than 20 years in the archipelago, from 1723 to 1748? Here is an excerpt: “There are in the Philippines as many dumb people as in any other place of the planet, but they don’t lack skillful and clever people, so even some of them have made some progress studying Latin, philosophy and theology. They are absolutely outstanding when it comes to material things. They are extremely skillful imitating anything they see. There are many tailors and barbers, and they learn the job really fast. There are in the Philippines excellent embroiderers, Pedro Murillo Velarde painters, silversmiths and blacksmiths, whose craftsmanship find no equal in the whole Indies and it could look exquisite in Paris, in Rome or in Augsburg. I have seen maps, drawings and paintings more beautiful and with a better finishing touch than the ones from Paris. They are good at crafting wood, at gilding marble and at carpentry. They build the ships of these islands: galleys of any size, boats and even the huge galleons that navigate until Acapulco (Mexico). They are good architects and they do the houses, the churches and stone buildings. They are good artillerymen and notable sailors, and for that, they are famous in the whole East. They are the pilots of these seas and they understand very well the ship’s compass, even better than the Chinese, as in painting or doing sculptures.” A few lines later, Murillo Velarde quotes a typical saying “The Spaniards are like fire, and Filipinos are like water. And at the end, water always defeats fire.” Murillo Velarde predates Rizal’s Indolence and Spanish tyrannical impressions of a Filipino. RESOURCES/ REFERENCE:  Rizal, Jose. “The Philippines a Century Hence” Can be assessed through: http://www.archive.org/stream/philippinescentu00riza/philippinescentu00riza_djvu.txt  Schumacher, John. 1997. Rizal’s break with del Pilar. In The propaganda movement: 1880– 1895; The creators of a Filipino consciousness, the makers of the revolution, 260–80. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.  Schumacher, John. 1997. Renewed activity in Madrid. In The propaganda movement: 1880– 1895; The creators of a Filipino consciousness, the makers of the revolution, 182–211. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.  Schumacher, John. 1997. The Filipino past and education for the future, 1887–1891 In The propaganda movement: 1880– 1895; The creators of a Filipino consciousness, the makers of the revolution, 235–44. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.  Schumacher, John. 1997. Rizal’s break with del Pilar. In The propaganda movement: 1880– 1895; The creators of a Filipino consciousness, the makers of the revolution, 245–60. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press NATIONAL UNIVERSITY 85 RIZAL’S LIFE AND WORKS ASSESSMENT TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING Encircle the letter of the correct answer. 1. This political essay was published between July 15 to September 15, 1890 in ___ installments at the La Solidaridad? A. three C. seven B. five D. nine 2. As a physician Rizal is surgically analyzed economic and political context of the Filipinos in the 19th century. What was his aim? A. to let us know how we could rise from oppression B. to show us that we have been deceived C. to remind us what we were, are, and could be D. all of the above 3. What is indolence means in the 19th century? A. backwardness C. laziness B. relax D. sloth Post-test In a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions. 1. What were the importance of knowing the culture and society of the past as stated by Rizal in his two essays? 2. What makes the education for women important during the 19th century to compare at present? 3. How significant was the message of Rizal to the Women of Malolos? To the Filipinos who were allegedly lazy? Was it still applicable today? NATIONAL UNIVERSITY 86