Republic of the Philippines

Laguna State Polytechnic University

Province of Laguna

Course Code: P1 100

Course Title: Life and Works of Rizal

Topic: THE PHILIPPINES IN THE 19th CENTURY AS RIZAL’S CONTEXT

Professor: Mrs. Daisy Camilon

Reporter: Charles Janssen S. Fines

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THE PHILIPPINES IN THE 19th CENTURY AS RIZAL’S CONTEXT

To the Young Women of Malolos by Jose Rizal

“To the Young Women of Malolos” was originally written in Tagalog. Rizal penned this
writing when he was in London, in response to the request of Marcelo H. Del Pilar. The salient
points contained in this letter are as follows:

 The rejection of the spiritual authority of the friars- not all the priests that time
embodied the true spirit of Christ and His Church.
 Qualities Filipino mothers need to possess
 Duties and responsibilities of a wife to her husband

Rizal’s Message to Filipino Women

Rizal was greatly impressed by the fighting spirit that the young women of Malolos had
shown. In his letter, he expressed great joy and satisfaction over the battle they had fought. In
this portion of Rizal’s letter, it is obvious that his ultimate desire was for women to be offered the
same opportunities as those received by men in terms of education.

Rizal’s advice to unmarried Man and Women

Jose Rizal points out to unmarried women that they should not be easily taken by
appearances and looks, because these can be deceiving. Instead, they should take heed of men’s
firmness of character and lofty ideas.

Rizal further adds that there are three things that a young woman must look a man she intends
to be her husband:

1. A noble and honored name

2. A manly heart
3. A high spirit incapable of being satisfied with engendering slaves.

“To the Women of Malolos” centers around five salient points (Zaida & Zaida, 1999):

1. Filipino mothers should teach their children love of God, country and fellowmen.
2. Filipino mothers should be glad and honored, like Spartan mothers, to offer their sons in
defense of their country.
3. Filipino women should know how to protect their dignity and honor.
4. Filipino women should educate themselves aside from retaining their good racial values.
5. Faith is not merely reciting prayers and wearing religious picture. It is living the real Christian
way with good morals and manners.
The Indolence of the Filipinos “La Indolencia de los Filipinos” by Jose Rizal

La Indolencia de los Filipinos is exploratory essay written to explain the alleged idleness of
his people during the Spanish colonization. Rizal pointed out that long before the coming of the
Spaniards, the Filipinos were industrious and hardworking. The Spanish reign brought about a
decline in economic activities because of certain issues:

1. The establishment of the Galleon Trade cut off all previous associations of the
Philippines with other countries in Asia and Middle East. As a result, businesses were
only conducted with Spain through Mexico.
2. Spain also extinguished the natives’ love of work because of the implementation of
forced labor.
3. 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 land
destroyed.
4. There was a crooked system of education, if it was to consider 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.
5. Spanish rulers were a bad example to despise manual labor.
6. Gambling was established and widely propagated during those times.
7. There was a crooked system of religion.
8. Taxes were extremely high.

“An hour’s work under that burning sun, in the midst of pernicious influences springing from
nature in activity, is equal to a day’s labor in a temperate climate.” – Jose Rizal

THE GLOBAL CONTEXT: THE THREE GREAT REVOLUTIONS

1. Industrial Revolution
Industrial revolution is an economic revolution which started with the invention of
the steam engine and resulted in the use of machinery in the manufacturing sector in
the cities of Europe. It has changed the economy of Europe from Feudalism-an economic
system which relied on land or agriculture—to capitalism which relied on machinery and
wage labor.
The industrial revolution that started in Europe had repercussions to the
Philippine economy. A radical transformation of the economy took place between the
middle of 18th century and the middle of the 19th century; something that might also
be called an agricultural revolution, with concomitant development of agricultural
industries and domestic as well as foreign trade (De la Costa, 1965).
Lastly, safer, faster, and more comfortable means of transportation such as
railways and steamships were constructed. The construction of the steel bridges and the
opening of Suez Canal opened shorter routes to commerce.
2. The French Revolution
This revolution is a period of political and social upheaval and radical change in
the history of France during which the French governmental structure was transformed
from absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the rich and clergy to a more
democratic government from based on the principles of citizenship and inalienable
rights.

3. American Revolution

Finally, the American Revolution, though directly affecting the local economy
and politics of the Philippines in the 19th century had significant repercussions to
democratic aspirations of the Filipino reformist led by Rizal during this period. The
American revolution refers to the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th
century in which the 13 colonics of the North America overthrew the rule of the British
Empire and rejected the British Monarchy to make the United States of America a
sovereign nation. This revolution had given the world in 19th century the idea colonized
people can gain their independence from their colonizers.