Kent Limmuel B.

Tan
2010 44012

Reaction on Jose P. Rizals The Philippines: A Century Hence

In order to read the destiny of a people, it is necessary to open the book of its past,
this opening phrase on the second paragraph on the first part of Rizals essay presented Rizals
implied vision throughout his essay to clearly highlight the history of his people, the Malayan
Filipino, and relate it with their present situation under the Spanish occupation to visualize a
future. The essay may have contained deep connotations and hidden meanings but Rizal was for
me successful to vividly present and on his words paint a clear picture of the past for the future
generation. For the future Filipino people to understand and possibly feel the hardships of their
forefathers. He presented what he had analyzed for the possible future and wanted to enlighten
the Filipino on his time to open their eyes of their present reality, the oppression and the
injustices of the Spaniards. His passion for the country and his very strong aim of saving the
Philippines from the terror and tyranny of the Spaniards may have prompted him to write this
essay.
For Rizal, Philippines and its people before the arrival of the Western forces especially
Spain were already civilized, with their own traditions, their recollections, their writings, their
songs, their poetry and their laws but unfortunately, they lowered them all and forgot for them to
understand other doctrines by heart, which they did not understand, other ethics, other tastes,
different from those inspired by their race, by their climate and their way of thinking.. Spaniards
may deemed that Philippines before they came was a backward society but for me, it is not and
that they thought that with them the Philippines have progressed and the people have been
redeemed from savagery, it is false. I must agree with Rizal that rather progressing the Filipino
customs, ethics and spirit have decayed and they have been enslaved and that all the good
qualities have also been decayed. With it I agree with Rizals perception that the Spanish
colonization have changed the cultural landscape of the Filipino people and have indoctrinated
them but still like Rizal, I also believe that the Filipino still remains true to his character. The
Filipino loves his country no less, and although he is quieter, more peaceful, and with difficulty

stirred up, when he is once aroused he does not hesitate and for him the struggle means death to
one or the other combatant. He has all the meekness and all the tenacity and ferocity of his
carabao. Climate affects bipeds in the same way that it does quadrupeds.
Rizals essay was also evident of the situation during those times such as Spains
implementation of her military powers and that the population has decreased drastically and that
poverty is more rampant than ever. He also reiterated the lack of freedom of the press and the
lack of representation in the Cortes. In the third part, Rizal then urged that keeping the Filipino
uneducated and ignorant failed. This would then not be tolerated. On this part, I have seen that
even if Rizal is a reformist, he acknowledge that even if reforms will be instituted by the
governors, it will still deliver bad results and be useless if there is no liberty or freedom of the
press. And telling the story of Sancho Panza as like the Philippines will end up rebelling to Spain
and that for Rizal relating to history, History does not record any enduring rule of one people
over another, who belong to different races, with distinct usages and customs, with adverse or
divergent ideals. In here, Rizal could possibly be acknowledging that rebellion is inevitable.
I think that even if Rizals tone in his essay is more on anger and hatred to Spain, he still
acknowledge that Philippines could possibly remain Spanish if only Spain could have respected
and give the Filipino the rights due to them. To recapitulate: The Philippines will remains
Spanish if they enter upon the life of law and civilization, if the rights of their inhabitants are
respected, if the other rights due them are granted, if the liberal policy of the government is
carried out without false interpretation.
On a personal note, the essay even if its lengthy have somewhat instilled that even if
Filipinos may sacrifice everything liberty, ease, welfare, name, for the sake of an aspiration or
a conceit, they will still remain true to his character as a Filipino that just like if I relate it on the
present, even if we seek for better living in other countries, there will still came a time that we
will return.