The Philippines a Century Hence:

Summary and Analysis

“The Philippines a Century Hence” is an essay written by Philippine national hero Jose Rizal to
forecast the future of the country within a hundred years. Rizal felt that it was time to remind
Spain that the circumstances that ushered in the French Revolution could have a telling effect
for her in the Philippines.

This essay, published in La Solidaridad starts by analyzing the various causes of the miseries
suffered by the Filipino people:
1. Spain’s implementation of her military policies – because of such laws, the
Philippine population decreased dramatically. Poverty became more rampant than
ever, and farmlands were left to wither. The family as a unit of society was neglected,
and overall, every aspect of the life of the Filipino was retarded.
2. Deterioration and disappearance of Filipino indigenous culture – when Spain
came with the sword and the cross, it began the gradual destruction of the native
Philippine culture. Because of this, the Filipinos started losing confidence in their past
and their heritage, became doubtful of their present lifestyle, and eventually lost hope in
the future and the preservation of their race.
3. Passivity and submissiveness to the Spanish colonizers – one of the most
powerful forces that influenced a culture of silence among the natives were the Spanish
friars. Because of the use of force, the Filipinos learned to submit themselves to the will
of the foreigners.

The question then arises as to what had awakened the hearts and opened the minds of the
Filipino people with regards to their plight. Eventually, the natives realized that such
oppression in their society by foreign colonizers must no longer be tolerated.

One question Rizal raises in this essay is whether or not Spain can indeed prevent the progress
of the Philippines:
1. Keeping the people uneducated and ignorant had failed. National consciousness
had still awakened, and great Filipino minds still emerged from the rubble.
2. Keeping he people impoverished also came to no avail. On the contrary, living a
life of eternal destitution had allowed the Filipinos to act on the desire for a change in
their way of life. They began to explore other horizons through which they could move
towards progress.
3. Exterminating the people as an alternative to hindering progress did not work
either. The Filipino race was able to survive amidst wars and famine, and became even
more numerous after such catastrophes. To wipe out the nation altogether would
require the sacrifice of thousands of Spanish soldiers, and this is something Spain would
not allow.

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 THE PHILIPPINES A CENTURY HENCE

Spain, therefore, had no means to stop the progress of the country. What she needs to do is to
change her colonial policies so that they are in keeping with the needs of the Philippine society
and to the rising nationalism of the people.

What Rizal had envisioned in his essay came true. In 1898, the Americans wrestled with Spain
to win the Philippines, and eventually took over the country. Theirs was a reign of democracy
and liberty. Five decades after Rizal’s death, the Philippines gained her long-awaited
independence. This was in fulfillment of what he had written in his essay: “History does not
record in its annals any lasting domination by one people over another, of different races, of
diverse usages and customs, of opposite and divergent ideas. One of the two had to yield and
succumb.”

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To the Young Women of Malolos:
Summary and Analysis

Jose Rizal’s legacy to Filipino women is embodied in his famous essay entitled, “To the Young
Women of Malolos,” where he addresses all kinds of women – mothers, wives, the unmarried,
etc. and expresses everything that he wishes them to keep in mind.

SUMMARY

“To the 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:
1. The rejection of the spiritual authority of the friars – not all of the priests in the country
that time embodied the true spirit of Christ and His Church. Most of them were
corrupted by worldly desires and used worldly methods to effect change and force
discipline among the people.
2. The defense of private judgment
3. Qualities Filipino mothers need to possess – as evidenced by this portion of his letter,
Rizal is greatly concerned of the welfare of the Filipino children and the homes they
grow up in.
4. Duties and responsibilities of Filipino mothers to their children
5. Duties and responsibilities of a wife to her husband – Filipino women are known to be
submissive, tender, and loving. Rizal states in this portion of his letter how Filipino
women ought to be as wives, in order to preserve the identity of the race.
6. Counsel to young women on their choice of a lifetime partner

RIZAL’S MESSAGE TO FILIPINO WOMEN

Jose Rizal was greatly impressed by the fighting spirit that the young women of Malolos had
shown. In his letter, he expresses 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. During those days
young girls were not sent to school because of the universal notion that they would soon only
be taken as wives and stay at home with the children. Rizal, however, emphasizes on freedom
of thought and the right to education, which must be granted to both boys and girls alike.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF FILIPINO MOTHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN

Rizal stipulates a number of important points in this portion of his letter to the young women
of Malolos. The central idea here, however, is that whatever a mother shows to her children is
what the children will become also. If the mother is always kissing the hand of the friars in
submission, then her children will grow up to be sycophants and mindless fools who do
nothing but do as they are told, even if the very nature of the task would violate their rights as
individuals.

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 TO THE YOUNG WOMEN OF MALOLOS

QUALITIES MOTHERS HAVE TO POSSESS

Rizal enumerates the qualities Filipino mothers have to possess:
1. Be a noble wife.
2. Rear her children in the service of the state – here Rizal gives reference to the women of
Sparta who embody this quality
3. Set standards of behavior for men around her.

RIZAL’S ADVICE TO UNMARRIED MEN AND WOMEN

Jose Rizal points out to unmarried women that they should not be easily taken by appearances
and looks, because these can be very 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 for 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.

ANALYSIS

“To the Women of Malolos” centers around five salient points (Zaide &Zaide, 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 pictures. It is living the real
Christian way with good morals and manners.
In recent times, it seems that these qualities are gradually lost in the way Filipino women
conduct themselves. There are oftentimes moments where mothers forget their roles in
rearing their children because of the overriding idea of having to earn for the family to
supplement their husband’s income. Although there is nothing negative about working hard
for the welfare of the family, there must always be balance in the way people go through
life. Failure in the home cannot be compensated for by any amount of wealth or fame.

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The Indolence of the Filipinos:
Summary and Analysis

La Indolencia de los Filipinos, more popularly known in its English version, "The Indolence of
the Filipinos," is a exploratory essay written by Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, to explain
the alleged idleness of his people during the Spanish colonization.
SUMMARY
The Indolence of the Filipinos 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. The Spanish reign brought about a
decline in economic activities because of certain causes:
First, the establishment of the Galleon Trade cut off all previous associations of
the Philippines with other countries in Asia and the Middle East. As a result, business was only
conducted with Spain through Mexico. Because of this, the small businesses and handicraft
industries that flourished during the pre-Spanish period gradually disappeared.
Second, Spain also extinguished the natives’ 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.
Third, 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.
Fourth, 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, etc., which were badly needed by the Philippines during those times.
Fifth, the Spanish rulers were a bad example to despise manual labor. The officials
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 them – personal
things which they ought to have done for themselves.
Sixth, gambling was established and widely propagated during those times. Almost
everyday there were cockfights, and during feast days, the government officials and friars were
the first to engange in all sorts of bets and gambles.

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 THE INDOLENCE OF THE FILIPINOS

Seventh, 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.
Lastly, 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
exploited, they were reduced to inaction. Rizal admitted that the Filipinos did not work so hard
because they were wise enough to adjust themselves to the warm, tropical climate. “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.”

ANALYSIS
It is important to note that indolence in the Philippines is a chronic malady, but not a hereditary
one. Truth is, before the Spaniards arrived on these lands, the natives were industriously
conducting business with China, Japan, Arabia, Malaysia, and other countries in the Middle
East. The reasons for this said indolence were clearly stated in the essay, and were not based
only on presumptions, but were grounded on fact taken from history.
Another thing that we might add that had caused this indolence, is the lack of unity among the
Filipino people. In the absence of unity and oneness, the people did not have the power to fight
the hostile attacks of the government and of the other forces of society. There would also be no
voice, no leader, to sow progress and to cultivate it, so that it may be reaped in due time. In such
a condition, the Philippines remained a country that was lifeless, dead, simply existing and not
living. As Rizal stated in conclusion, “a man in the Philippines is an individual; he is not merely
a citizen of a country.”
It can clearly be deduced from the writing that the cause of the indolence attributed to our race
is Spain: When the Filipinos wanted to study and learn, there were no schools, and if there were
any, they lacked sufficient resources and did not present more useful knowledge; when the
Filipinos wanted to establish their businesses, there wasn’t enough capital nor protection from
the government; when the Filipinos tried to cultivate their lands and establish various industries,
they were made to pay enormous taxes and were exploited by the foreign rulers.
It is not only the Philippines, but also other countries, that may be called indolent, depending on
the criteria upon which such a label is based. Man cannot work without resting, and if in doing
so he is considered lazy, they we could say that all men are indolent. One cannot blame a country
that was deprived of its dignity, to have lost its will to continue building its foundation upon the
backs of its people, especially when the fruits of their labor do not so much as reach their
lips. When we spend our entire lives worshipping such a cruel and inhumane society, forced
upon us by aliens who do not even know our motherland, we are destined to tire after a while. We
are not fools, we are not puppets who simply do as we are commanded – we are human beings,
who are motivated by our will towards the accomplishment of our objectives, and who strive for
the preservation of our race. When this fundamental aspect of our existence is denied of us, who
can blame us if we turn idle?

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