CHAPTER 6

ANNOTATION OF ANTONIO MORGA’S

SUCESOS DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1.Analyze Rizal's ideas on how to rewrite Philippine history
2.Compare and contrast Rizal and Marga's different views about Filipinos and
Philippine culture

Introduction

Among Rizal's works that typically shown his nationalistic sentiments, his
annotations of Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas by Antonio Morga was not as popular as
his two novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. We can actually say that his
annotations of Sucesos is as equally-important as all his works. As Ocampo in his article
published in Philippines Studies would say, it shows that there is history of the
Philippines before the time of colonization.

Rizal's Propositions

Rizal agued in three main propositions in his annotations: 1) The inhabitants of the
Philippines has a culture even before Spanish colonization; 2) Filipinos then, were
depressed, oppressed and marginalized by mechanism of colonization and; 3)
Philippines at present was not necessarily more ahead than to its past.

In these arguments, we can see how much in favor is Rizal in the history of his
motherland. He insisted on the importance of knowing the cultural identity Filipinos
have even before colonization. Basing his arguments on the notes of a Spanish
conquistador himself (Morga), He has supported in full conviction the state of the
Philippines and its people under the rule of the colonizers. That, even if the Philippines
was largely Hispanized because of more than 300 years of colonization, Filipinos and
the Philippines itself can equally be proud of the pre-conquest past with its culture
and existence.

Rizal's annotation of the Morga shows his social scientist side, most especially his
side of being a historian. Even if it is a question whether his work (being a mere
annotation of somebody else's work) can be a contribution in Philippine
historiography, we cannot argue for the fact that he was a nationalist in his arguments.
Although in the streams of historical writing, what he had written was somewhat
invaluable because of it being as secondary source. As what Ocampo has written in his
journal article:

Rizal's annotation are largely disregarded today stems basically from the
recent advances in historical, archeological and ethnographic research. Although
many of Rizal's assertions have been validated by recent research, the fact is that
his work is now dated. Moreover Rizal's annotations are secondary, and today's
scholars concentrate more on the primary source, Morga, than on Rizal 's notes.
Few Filipinos today, even the most patriotic, would find the time and energy to
read the small text of Rizal's footnotes, evc11 if penned by the national hero
(Ocampo, 1998).

Rizal 's views on pre-conquest past were valid if and only if we have to look into
his nationalistic ideals. However, there are some notes on Morga which were validated
by today's scholars which are exaggerations on the part of Rizal so as not to deviate in
his major argument. Some examples were actually ment1oned in Ocampo's article.
For the matter. It was however obvious why he made those inconsistencies. Morga,
being a Spanish who actually, according to Rizal made one of the most accurate
accounts of history before and dming Spanish colonization, had still his own biases in
writing. Other writers would even immortalize almost everything because it is their
way of pacifying the Filipino natives. How religious groups (religious missionaries, tlJe
first three before the Jesuits) have made stories just to get convert everyone is
something Rizal, himself recent. His choice of annotating the work of Morga has
somehow show his anti-clergy sentiments and that would also show, ironically his own
bias in how history is portrayed during Spanish colonization. As Ocampo would say:
Rizal maintained mixed feelings for the Morga, depending on its usefulness for his
thesis, that, 'Spanish colonization retarded, rather than brought civilization to, the
Philippines and its inhabitants' (Ocampo, 1998).

Conclusion

Rizal's annotation of Sucesos de/as ls-las Filipinas is a gem in the stream of

Philippine historiography. He did well in his ambitions of giving justice in the pre-
colonial life of the Filipinos. His patriotism was very evident in this piece and he did
not get away in his personality in doing this work. He also has set a good example in
doing making researches (thus having his social scientist side).

Among many Spanish writers who had so much interest in writing about the
Philippines and his People, he chose Morga because he believes he was less biased
than those from the religious orders. Morga had connections to the Spanish
government being a lieutenant but he was not a part of the church. He also chose
Morga because of his wide experience in the different places and cultures in the
Philippines. And as what Rizal has said in his annotations, it is very much evident in the
accounts made by Morga that our country can stand in terms of the richness of culture
even without the influence of the Spaniards.

Rizal has his own biases in writing his annotations, but he was never unaware of his
arguments and he never get away in his love for his country and countrymen. And
more importantly, Rizal began the task of writing the first Philippine history from the
viewpoint of a Filipino. (Ocampo, 1998).


Recommended learning materials and resources for supplementary reading

1. RizaJ's Annotation of Antonio Morga 's Sucesos de tas Islas Fiiipinas-

file:///C:/Users/home/Downloads/37-Rizal_Annotations-to-Sucesos-Prologue-and-Ch8.pdf

2. "A Legacy of the Propaganda: The Tripartite View of Philippine History" by Zeus
Salazar- file:///C:/Users/home/Downloads/54-Salazar_A-Legacy-of-the-Propaganda.pdf

3. Zaide, Gregorio and Zaide, Sonia M.:

Jose Rizal: Life, Works and Writings of a Genius, Writer, Scientist, and National Hero Second Edition. All – Nations
Publishing Co., Inc. Quezon City. 1999.
 4. Purino, Anacoreta P.: Rizal, the Greatest Filipino Hero. Rex Book Store, Manila, Philippines. 2008

5. José Rizal (1997). Prophecies of Jose Rizal about the Philippines: From the Pen of the Visionary National Hero,
Phenomenal Revelations and Coded Messages about Events Past, Present and Future: Destiny of the Philippines ….
Rex Bookstore, Inc.

6. Valdez, Maria Stella S. (2007). Doctor Jose Rizal and the Writing of His Story. Rex Bookstore, Inc.

7. Rizal, José. 1996. Noli me tangere, trans. Ma. Soledad Lacson-Locsin. Makati: Bookmark.

8. Anderson, Benedict. 2008. Why counting counts: A study of forms of consciousness and problems of language in
Noli me tangere and El filibusterismo, pp. 1–37. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.

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