Tomoc, Emmanuel C.

2MA-1

1. Why did Rizal decide to return to his homeland in 1887, despite the disapproval of his
family?
Due to the publication of his Novels it caused many uproars and alerted new enemies especially
the Spanish Government and the Friars. He was warned by his brother Paciano, Silvester Ubaldo his
brother in law, Chenggoy and other close friends. But the Reasons on why he did return is because:

 To operate on his mother’s eyes

 To serve for the people of his country who has been long oppressed by Spanish Tyranny
 To know the how the Filipino Masses and Authorities perspective and how his novels
affected them
 To inquire why Leonor Rivera ghosted Rizal

2. What did Rizal do during his brief stay in Calamba?  Discuss.

Rizal returned in Calamba on August 8, 1887, wherein He established a medical clinic and upon
fulfillment of his reason his first patient is his mother who was almost blind. He was called “Dr. Uliman”
for the reason he came from Germany and due to his expertise in the medicinal field he and achieved a
lucrative a medical practice. Rizal also opened a gymnasium for young folks wherein He introduced
European sports. But apart from his goals, He failed to see Leonor Rivera. But his happy days in Calamba
was barred with many unfortunate events such event is when his older sister (Olimpia) died and constant
accusations of being a German spy.

3. Discuss the uproar created by Noli Me Tangere.

Due to the issues tackled by the Novel of Rizal He was called to Malacanang by Governor
General Emilio Terrero and was even given a bodyguard namely Don Jose Taviel de Andrada who was a
young spanish lieutenant. Msgr. Pedro Payo who was a Dominican sent a copy of Noli to Father Rector
Gregorio Echavarria of the University of Sto. Tomas for examination by a committee of the faculty. Upon
evaluation of the Noli it was branded as “heretical, impious, and scandalous in the religious order and
anti-patriotic, subversive of public order, injurious to the government of Spain and its function in the
Philippine Islands in the political order”. A lot of friars became very angry at the novel and deemed that
the novel shouldn’t be distributed to the masses. Friars such as Fr. Jose Rodriguez publish a series of
pamphlets under the general heading Cuestiones de Sumo Interes (Questions of Supreme Interest) to blast
the Noli and other anti-Spanish writings. But not all friars are against the novel for Rev. Vicente Garcia
who was a Filipino Catholic writing under the penname Justo Desiderio Magalang wrote a pamphlet
defending the writing of Noli. As many criticism takes place Rizal took upon the action of defending his
novel by writing a letter against Vicente Barrantes who wrote an article criticizing the Noli and was
published in La Espana Moderna.
 4. What was the Calamba agrarian unrest all about?  How come Rizal
was involved?
Calambian Agrarian Unrest was an issue raised by the tenants wherein they lose money because
of the unjust increase of taxes of the Dominicans by raising their rent. The Dominicans admitted that they
not only controlled the hacienda in Calamba but also towns in Binan, San Pedro and Santa Rosa. Due to
this problem Rizal took upon his own hands against the orders Governor General Emilio Terrero,
Investigated the agrarian conflict and upon his investigation he submitted his findings to Malacanang
which then enabled the governor general to take action. With such actions comes with consequences
because with Rizal involvement it enraged the friars further because he was already considered a
filibuster because of his novel.

5. Why did Rizal leave the Philippines for the 2nd time?

There were two primary reasons why Rizal leave Calamba and Philippines these are:

 His presence in Calamba was jeopardizing the safety and happiness of his family
and friends
 He could fight better his enemies and serve his country’s cause with greater
efficacy by writing in foreign countries

6. What significant thing happened to Rizal while in Hong Kong? In

Japan?
During His Stay in Hong Kong he befriended many Filipino Iustrados and luminaries including
the editor of the Hong Kong Telegraph wherein he continued to advocate for Filipino rights but he was
also spied by a Spaniard named Jose Sainz de Varanda. He also visited Macao for a short while. After
Hong Kong he visited Japan wherein he studied their habits, customs, language, theater and commerce.
He was also invited to Spanish legation wherein he humbly accepted for the reasons that he could
minimize his expenses and has nothing to hide from spanish authorities. He wrote a letter to Bluementritt
showing his affection towards the country but also was disgusted by the use of the mandrawn jinrikisha.
He was also able to befriend Tetcho Suehiro who was considered a journalist and champion on human
rights. Lastly, He was able to write a letter to his family saying that diplomatic relations should be
strengthened with the Japanese.

7. Why did Rizal write the poem “Hymn to Labor”?  What is the

message of the poem?
Rizal wrote Himno Al Trabajo (Hymn to Labor) wherein it is a poem dedicated industrious
countrymen in Lipa. The poem focuses on the four different society in the Philippines wherein each of the
class is described every stanza. The first group to be talked about is the men wherein their labor will
sustain the Phil. and they must have stood firm and overcome all adversities such as the hot weather in
order to continue with their work. The woman’s stanza talks about one supporting and fortifying the
works of men. The maiden’s chorus stanza that the love of the youth is strengthened by hardships and
labor. The finals stanza is about the children wherein they state that they should have the necessity to be
taught by older people in order to be the helping hand in finishing work. All in all, the poem was created
in order to revitalize the social and ethical values of the Filipino Society.
 8. What happened to the system of land ownership during the colonial
era?
One of the major initial policies implemented was to recognized all the land of the Philippines as
part of the public domain hence huge tracts of land was at the disposal of the crown and was considered
as a reward to loyal civilians and military. Thus communal ownership of land was never the option
because Private ownership was more profitable because it enabled the citizens was given a chance for
cultivation. But such large tracts of land were never cultivated thus this lands were used by the crown to
be distributed only to loyal Spaniards hence this was called Encomienda system. Much in place, the
spanish authorities grouped together a couple of barangays into administrations wherein they called this
as pueblos that are governed by gobernadorcillo. Together cabezas and gobernadorcillo made up a landed
class known as cacique. As time passes by these political leaders become so influential that they were
given the power to tax people. As the cacique system grew, it also became oppressive which led to many
agrarian conflicts. Then the Royal Decree of 1894 was established in order to retain their landholding but
many filipino peasants due to lack of knowledge were slow to secure their lands thus the spanish
authorities and landowners took advantage of this which then resulted that the Filipino peasants became
tenants to their own land. Thus mortgage system were used wherein peasants were to be loaned money in
exchange for their service in their own land.

9. In what way did the Catholic Church become a landowner?  What is

your stand about the friars owning vast track of lands?
Due to the influence of the friars in the spanish government they were given the respect and
authority over many people and also officials for religion was considered an epitome of respect towards
the crown. Thus, many governor generals were obliged to give lands to the friars as a sign of respect and
loyalty towards the catholic faith. Through this lands many friars were able to establish ministries and
holds a high authority over certain encomiendas. My own stand against these notion is that this should not
be done because friars should have the courtesy to have less but preach more in order to sustain the
catholic faith amongst people. But during those days having large tracts of lands means having the
authority and having that privilege leads to abusive actions to those who repress their ideals.