Life, works

and writings
of rizal
MODULE 6
rizal's life: exile and execution and Political thoughts of
rizal

objectives

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Analyze the factors which led to Rizal'execution,

2. Analyze the effects of Rizal‘ execution.
.3. Discuss the content of the different essay of
Rizal;
4. Explain the impact of the essay to the rise of the
Philippine Nationalism

Preliminary activity
Compare and Contrast the
government system during the
Spanish colonization and the present.
Use a Vvenn diagram for this task.
 Lesson 1 : Rizal in dapitan
On July 17, 1892, together with his guard Captain Ricardo Carnicero, Rizal arrived
in Dapitan. In his first night, he viewed Dapitan as a place full of darkness and it ended his
career. The first problem which he encountered in Dapitan was the place where he would stay.
He was not allowed to stay in the Jesuit house because according to Fr. Pastells, he needed to
retract all the things that he wrote against the church and because he did not want to retract
his writings he chose to live in the house of Capitan Ricardo Carnicero.

Capitan Ricardo, Jose Rizal and the other guard decided to bet on a lottery and
luckily they won 20,000 pesos. They divided the money among themselves and Jose Rizal used
the money that he received to purchase a land which was one kilometer away from Dapitan, the
place of Talisay. His guard allowed him to put up a house in Talisay on the condition that he
would report to Capitan Ricardo three times a day. And because he earned the trust of Captain
Ricardo he was able to live in Talisay in his exile in Dapitan.

Lesson 2: life in talisay

Away from his busy life in big cities in Europe, he was conferred to adjust in a
simple life in Dapitan which was very different from the busy places that he had been to in
Europe. But instead of being bored, he spent his time doing things that would make Dapitan
productive.
He used his money to build an octagonal house made up of bamboo and nipa in
Talisay. One portion of the house is allotted for the school for the young boys in Talisay, the
other part was used for his eye clinic which was known in the country and also in Hong Kong.
He also built a house for the ladies in his family who were free to visit him in Dapitan. He
earned a lot of money because some of his customers came from Hong Kong and from wealthy
families in the other provinces of the country. He used the money as capital for his lumber
business in Dapitan and as he wrote to his friend Blumentrit, he earned money in Dapitan
which made him wealthy.

Lesson 3: contributions to dapitan

1. He opened an eye clinic for the poor, some of his patients came from the different parts of
the country and from Hongkong.
2. He developed waterways so that the people in Talisay, Dapitan could have a clean water.
3. He developed a system for the lighting and cleaning of the areas to avoid mosquitos.

1
4. He established a school that catered to education of the young people for free.
5. He taught the more advance system of farming.
6. He initiated the founding of a cooperative for the fishermen in Talisay.
7. THe developed studies about the different species that could be found in Dapitan
8. He invented "sulpukan" lighter and the machinery in making bricks.
9. He initiated the foundation of the cooperative for the farmers.
10. He worked for the development of the sugar, abaca and lumber trading.

In Dapitan, he also wrote a letter to Fr. Pastells to defend himself against the
accusation of the priest.

Lesson 4: the lovelife of rizal in dapitan

His busy life in Dapitan did not become a hindrance for Rizal to have an
affair. On this far island came his dulce estrangera, Josephine Bracken. She went to
Dapitan with Mr. George Tauffer, a blind man who adopted Josephine. Because Rizal was
known as an eye specialist in Hong Kong, Mr. Tauffer decided to go to Dapitan to consult
his condition with Jose Rizal. While staying in Dapitan, Josephine fell in love with Jose
Jose Rizal) while Rizal was also attracted to the charming face and kind behavior of
Josephine. Rizal's mother objected to their relationship because Josephine had mysterious
origin. She had a modest education and worked in a restaurant in Hong Kong. But Jose
Rizal asked his parents and sisters to accept Josephine because according to Rizal,
Josephine tried her best to make him happy. And this was evident on the letter written
by Rizal to his mother.

Dapitan, 15 January 1896

My very dear mother,

I received your affectionate letter and I'm very sorry about the troubles you
had had.
I'm very much surprised that you have given 40 pesos to my brother Paciano
because it seems to me he doesn't need them. I gave him the balance that cost me 18
pesos and for you and my father the 44 pesos as a Christmas gift. If my brother took it
because of necessity, it is all right. I place at his disposal all that I have, though I don't
have much. I know he will devote it to a useful purpose.

What you write me about the telegram petitioning for my freedom that Maneng saw can
be true; but I'm already so disappointed with all the hopes they have given me that in
truth I just smile. I have so many enemies! And my very compatriots and friends who are
at Madrid are working so that I may not get out of here!
 They tell me that those who prevented my transfer to Vigan were my
"friends" at Malolos. I don't know who they are, but may God reward them.

I bought here a piece of land beside a river that has great resemblance to
the Calamba River, with the only difference that this here is wider and its stream is
more abundant and crystalline. How it has reminded me of Calamba! My land has 6,000
abaca plants. If you want to come here, I will build a house where we can all live
together until we die. I am gong to persuade my father to come and beside me, I
hope he will always be gay. My land is beautiful; it is in the inter ior, far from the
sea, about a half-hour's walk; it is in a very picturesque place. The land is very fertile.
In addition to the abaca plantation there is land for planting two cavanes (1) of corn.
Little by little we can buy the remaining lands near mine. There are plenty of dalag
(mudfish), pakó (ferns), and little round stones. Hydraulic machines can be installed.

I have employed the energies of my youth serving my country, though my

compatriots do not want to acknowledge it. However, it cannot be denied that we have
succeeded that in Spain they pay attention to the Philippines, for this was what was
lacking. God and Spain will do the rest; so I hope. My services are now useless and all
I wish is to serve you and my father and help my sisters. If you come and they grant
me freedom to establish myself there, we are going to revive our old town, without
friars or civil guards, without bandits. It is true that this river and my land have no
memories for me as Calamba has; but we cannot have everything nor can we obtain
everything that we wish. I would like to be God and I am not even a sacristan, which,
according to some, is the first step to be near God.

I don't want you to give me the bicycle as a gift, but I want to buy it
with my own money. At Ullmann's they sell new and good ones for 175 pesos, but I
want one that is less expensive, sturdy, second-hand, for use in these very rough
places so harmful to metal objects.

If they let me live on my land (2) I intend to plant coconut trees. Trining
and Pangoy want to come with some nephews. I say that they consult you. You will
receive a small quantity of salted fish prepared by the person who lives at my home.
She is good, obedient, and meek. All that we lack is to be married; but, as you
yourself say, "It is better to be in the grace of God than married in mortal sin." Until
now we have not quarreled and when I lecture to her, she does not answer back. If you
come and live with her, I hope you will get along with her. Moreover, she has nobody
else in the world but me. I'm all her kindred.

With nothing more, my dear mother, I hope we meet soon.

Your son who adores you,

José Rizal
 Lesson 5: literary works in dapitan
Hymn to Talisay
Hail, Talisay, in a fix we shall know how to
firm and faithful, fight.
ever forward
march elate! We ransack the sand in our
You, victorious, frolic;
the elements through the caves and the
—land, sea and air— thickets we ramble;
shall dominate! our houses are built upon rocks;
our arms reach far and wide.
The sandy beach of Dapitan No darkness, and no dark night,
and the rocks of its lofty that we fear, no savage
mountain tempest;
are your throne. O sacred if the devil himself comes
asylum forward,
where I passed my childhood we shall catch him, dead or
days! alive!
In your valley covered with
flowers Talisayon, the people call us:
and shaded by fruitful orchards, a great soul in a little body;
our minds received their in Dapitan and all its region
formation, Talisay has no match!
both body and soul, by your Our reservoir is unequalled;
grace. our precipice is a deep chasm;
and when we go rowing, our
We are children, children born bancas
late, no banca in the world can catch!
but our spirits are fresh and
healthy; We study the problems of
strong men shall we be science
tomorrow and the history of the nation.
that can guard a family right. We speak some three or four
We are children that nothing languages;
frightens, faith and reason we span.
not the waves, nor the storm, Our hands can wield at the
nor the thunder; same time
the arm ready, the young face
tranquil,
ithe knife, the pen and the spade, In the struggles that await the grown
the picket, the rifle, the sword— man,
companions of a brave man. subject to pain and sorrow,
your memory shall be his amulet;
Long live luxuriant Talisay! and your name, in the tomb, his peace.
Our voices exalt you in chorus,
clear star, dear treasure of childhood,
a childhood you guide and please.

Lesson 6: Imprisonment and trial in fort

santiago
Rizal's deportation to Dapitan only lasted four years (1892–1896). He asked
Governor General Blanco if he could serve as a doctor under the Spanish flag in Cuba. The
governor general granted his request, however, because of the influential people who
wanted to execute him, Governor General Blanco was pressured to follow the order. On July
31, 1896, his exile to Dapitan ended. On August 6, 1896, he rode a ship named Castilla and
waited for the start of his trip going to Spain and then from Spain to Cuba. On August 19,
1896, the secret society of Katipunan was revealed to the Spanish government and they
accused Rizal as the founder of the Katipunan. On August 26, 1896, the uprising against
the Spaniards started and on August 30, 1896, Governor General Blanco declared the state
of war against the eight provinces in the Philippines. On September 2, 1896, Rizal's trip
going to Spain started and he was not aware that he was being accused as the leader of
the said uprising, On September 1896, Rizal was able to know the plan of Blanco against
him. On October 3, 1896, Rizal reached Barcelona but he was not allowed to go down the
ship and he was under the watch of General Eulogio Despujol the same person who sie
deportation to Dapitan four years ago. On November 3, 1896, he reached Manila and was
imprisoned in Fort Santiago.

Lesson 7: the trial

Upon his return in Manila, he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago while the
Spanish authorities were investigating his case. On November 20, 1986, the Spanish
authorities discussed the nature of his case. They used the different poets, novels and
letters of Rizal against him, Among the writings which were against him were the Hymn
for Talisay, Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo, has speeches and letters to his friends
which according to them was used by Rizal to encourage rebellion against the church
and government. He was accused as the leader of the uprising and the founder of KKK
since some of the founder of KKK were present in the establishment of La Liga Filipinas.
They also found the photograph of Rizal in the headquarters of KKK and his name was
also used as the password of KKK.
 On December 8,1896, Rizal chose from among the names given to him, the
person who could be his legal counsel. And he chose Luis Taviel de Andrade, the brother of
his former guard.
On December 15, 1896, Rizal presented the letter to his countrymen stating that
the leaders of the uprising only used his name to collect funds and he was not connected to
the uprising.
On December 16, 1896, the trial against Rizal started. And to defend himself he
wrote the following statements:

1. Starting in July 1892, he had no political affiliation or any participation in any political
acts. And when the Katipuneros asked Pio Valenzuela to talk to him about the plan, he tried
to
convince him that they should go back on the side of the government and cooperate.

2. It was not true that he had conversation or correspondence to the rebels and there was no
letter that could prove his communications to the leader of KKK

3. His decision to become a volunteer doctor to Cuba was the evidence that he wanted to
reconcile with the Spanish government. And if he had intention to escape, he could have
done it while he was in Singapore.

4. In Dapitan, he had a small boat or kayak which he could use if he really had intention to
escape or join the rebel group.

5 he was the leader of the uprising, he should know all the plans and the other members
should constantly ask for his advice.

6 The truth was that he only established the La Liga Filipina, a civic society which aimed
for the reform of the government,

7 The aims of La Liga Filipina was not realized because of his deportation to Dapitan 8 He
was not aware of the continuous establishment of La Liga Filipina after his deportation to
Dapitan.

9. The La Liga Filipina had no connection to the KKK since their aims were in contrast.

10. The time when he wrote his novel should be considered because the injustices that he
discussed in his works were based on the injustices that his family had experienced.

11. In his four years of deportation in Dapitan, he followed all the rules and this could be
attested by his guards and other missionaries who had contact with him during his
deportation,

12 All the things that the authorities accused him of were baseless and there was no one
who could testify to his direct involvement to the uprising.
 Lesson 8: the decision
Governor General Despujol reviewed all the things related to the case of Rizal
and the friars were not happy with the way Despujol was handling the case of Rizal so using
their influence, they replaced Despujol and appointed Governor General Camilio Polavieja. On
December 26, 1896, the trial was held and all of the evidence were presented to Governor
General Camilo Polavieja. Then Polavieja presented the documents to Lt. Col. Togores Arjona.
On December 29, 1896, the Governor General signed the decision that Jose Rizal would be
executed at 7:00 AM in Bagumbayan On December 29, 1896, Rizal was informed about the
decision and he was not surprised. On his remaining time, he wrote letters to his family and
friends.

To my family,

I ask you for forgiveness for the pain I cause you, but some day I shall have to
die and it is better that I die now in the plenitude of my conscience,
Dear parents and brothers: give thanks to God that I may preserve my
tranquility before my death. I die resigned, hoping that with my death you will be left in
peace. Ah! It is better to die than to live suffering. Console yourselves. I enjoin you to
forgive one another the little meanness of life and try to live united in peace and good
harmony. Treat your old parents as you would like to be treated by your children later. Love
them very much in my memory. Bury me in the ground. Place a stone and a cross over it. My
name, the date of my birth and of my death. Nothing more. If later you wish to surround my
grave with a fence, you can do it. No anniversaries. I prefer Paang Bundok.
Have pity on poor Josephine.

Jose Rizal

The Last Farewell (Mi Ultimo Adios)

Farewell, my adored Land, region of the On the fields of battle, in the fury of
sun caressed, fight,
Pearl of the Orient Sea, our Eden lost, Others give you their lives without
With gladness I give you my life, sad pain or hesitancy,
and repressed; The place does not matter: cypress,
And were it more brilliant, more fresh laurel, lily white;
and at its best, Scaffold, open field, conflict or
I would still give it to you for your martyrdom's site,
welfare at most. It is the same if asked by the home
and country.
I die as I see tints on the sky b'gin Let the moon with soft, gentle light
to show me descry,
And at last announce the day, after a Let the dawn send forth its fleeting,
gloomy night; brilliant light,
If you need a hue to dye your
matutinal glow, In murmurs grave allow the wind to
Pour my blood and at the right sigh,
moment spread it so, And should a bird descend on my
And gild it with a reflection of your cross and alight,
nascent light Let the bird intone a song of peace
o'er my site.
My dreams, when scarcely a lad
adolescent, Let the burning sun the raindrops
My dreams when already a youth, full vaporize
of vigor to attain, And with my clamor behind return
Were to see you, Gem of the Sea of pure to the sky;
the Orient, Let a friend shed tears over my early
Your dark eyes dry, smooth brow held demise;
to a high plane, And on quiet afternoons when one
Without frown, without wrinkles and prays for me on high,
of shame without stain. Pray too, oh, my Motherland, that in
God may rest I.
My life's fancy, my ardent,
passionate desire, Pray thee for all the hapless who
Hail! Cries out the soul to you, that have died,
will soon part from thee; For all those who unequalled
Hail! How sweet 'tis to fall that torments have undergone;
fullness you may acquire; For our poor mothers who in
To die to give you life, 'neath your bitterness have cried;
skies to expire, For orphans, widows and captives to
And in thy mystic land to sleep tortures were shied,
through eternity! And pray too that you may see your
own redemption.
If over my tomb some day, you would
see blow, And when the dark night wraps the
A simple humble flow'r amidst thick cemet'ry
grasses, And only the dead to vigil there are
Bring it up to your lips and kiss my left alone,
soul so, Don't disturb their repose, disturb not
And under the cold tomb, I may feel the mystery:
on my brow, If thou hear the sounds of cithern or
Warmth of your breath, a whiff of thy psaltery,
tenderness. It is I, dear Country, who, a song
t'you intone.
And when my grave by all is no more Then it doesn't matter that you should
remembered, forget me:
With neither cross nor stone to mark its Your atmosphere, your skies, your vales I'll
place, sweep;
Let it be plowed by man, with spade let it Vibrant and clear note to your ears I shall
be scattered be:
And my ashes ere to nothingness are Aroma, light, hues, murmur, song,
restored, moanings deep,
Let them turn to dust to cover thy earthly Constantly repeating the essence of the
space. faith I keep.

Lesson 9: the execution

On December 30, 1896, at 6:30 AM. Jose Rizal. Taviel de Andrade, and Fr. Villaclara
left Fort Santiago to face the execution of Rizal. According to the physician who examined
Rizal, his heartbeat was normal at the time of the execution. Before he was shot, he asked the
guards to spare his head and if he could face the firing squad during the execution. But the
second request was not granted since he was considered as a traitor. At 7:03 in the morning
he was executed in Bagumbayan.
Lesson 10: The political thoughts of Jose
Rizal in his essays
The Indolence of the Filipino People is the longest essay of Jose P. Rizal
published in La Solidaridad on July 15, 1890, to defend the Filipinos against the accusation
of Mr. Sanciano that the Filipinos are indolent. This is due to the observation of Sanciano
to a Filipino farmer who was having a siesta at nine o'clock in the morning because he was
already done on his work.

Main Points of the Essay

1. Indolence is not only laziness but little love for work and lack of energy.

2. Man is not a brute nor a machine so indolence is natural the cause of backwardness but
backwardness

3. Indolence is not the cause of backwardness but backwardness is the result of indolence.

4. The causes of indolence are climate, Spanish colonization, and Filipinos' own fault.

5. The indolence of the Filipinos is the result of the following reasons:

 a. Spanish policies like forced labor and taxation without representation.
b. Religion
C. No motivation for work.
d. Gambling
6. The solution to indolence are proper training and sense of nationalism.

Lesson 11: the philippines a century hence

This contains the predictions of Jose Rizal about the Philippines 100 years
before its publication. He published the essay on September 30, 1889 under the La
Solidaridad.

Main Points of the Essay

1. Using the past to understand the present thus predicting the future.
2. Filipinos have lost confidence in their past,lost faith in the present, and lost their hope
in the future.
3. The Filipinos will still be under Spain if they will implement the freedom of the press
and the Filipinos has representation in the Spanish Cortez.
4. If the reforms are not implemented then a spirit of a nation rises ans thus , a revolution
is highly positive.

Lesson 12: letter to the young women of malolos

The Letter to the Young Women of Malolos was written by Dr. Jose P. Rizal as
fulfillment ot the request of Marcelo H. del Pilar to commend the young women of Malolos
who fought for their rights for education.
On December 12, 1888, the committee of 20 young women of Malolos expressed
their desire to acquire educastion. They wrote a letter of request to Governor Valeriano
Weyter and petition to establish a night school. The young ladies were:
The young ladies were:

1. Cecilia Tiongson 8. Anastacia Tiongson 16. Juana Reyes

2. Merced Tiongson 9. Emilia Tiongson 17. Elisea Reyes
3. Aleja Tiongson 10. Basilia Tiongson 18. Alberta UJi-Tangloy
4. Agapita Tiongson 11. Teresa Tantoco 19. Eugenia M.
5. Filomena 12. Maria Tantoco Tanchangco
Tiongson 13. Rufina Reyes 20. Aurea M. Tanchangco.
6. Paz Tiongson 14. Leonisa Reyes
7. Feliciana 15. Olimpia Reyes
Tiongson
 main points of the essay
1. The problem of the Filipina
a. Blind obedience
b. Wrong understanding religion
c. At fault of the continuing slavery of the Filipinos.
2. The Filipino women should do the following:
a. Fight for their rights of education.
b. Teach their children to love their country more than they love
themselves like the Spartan mother.
c. Fulfill their duty as mothers and wives.
3. All men are equal and have the ability to think.
4. The teaching of the friars about religion is not the same as God's teaching.
5. Saintliness is not equal to rituals.

the political conditions of the philippines during the time of

spanish colonization
1. The Dominance of the Friars over the Decentralized Colonial Government
The Spanish government was deeply indebted to the Catholic in the process of
colonization and pacification of the Filipinos. And because of the great role played by the
church in the colonization, they were given rights to intervene in government affairs.
The colonial government in the Philippines was composed of the governor general as head of
the archipelago, following the concept of decentralization of administration; the country was
divided into provinces with the alcalde mayor as the chief executive. Each of the provinces
was divided into town headed by the gobernadorcillo, and to govern the barangays were the
cabezas.
The governor general was given wide powers, but the exercise of these powers
was limited and controlled by ecclesiastical hierarchy which formed a part of the Board of
Authorities. This board was composed of the captain-general, the attorney-general, the
military governor, the commander of the naval forces, the secretary of the general
government, the president of the audiencia, the director-general of the civil administration,
the treasurer and the archbishop and bishops. The Board of Authorities investigated the
important and urgent matter for the country and in times of crisis to advise the governor
general.
From the huge influence as being part of the Board of Authorities, the Friars also
regarded themselves as the Guardian of National Security.
2. The Dominance of the Principalia in the Colonial Government
The Spanish Colonial government set a qualification for the natives to be part of
the election of the Gobernadorcillo of each town such as follows:
a. Male
b. 23 years old and above
C. In the mentioned qualifications, those who were qualified to vote and be elected were
those who belonged to the higher class of the society and the native who belonged to the
Indios did not have a right to participate in the election.

3. The Appointment of the Under qualified Officials in the Colonial Government in the
Philippines
Due to the distance that the Spaniards needed to travel, the qualified officials
for the colonial government did not want to be assigned in the Philippines. And most of the
officials who were assigned in the country were corrupted and used the funds of the colonial
government to their own advantage.

The Reforms Needed by the Philippines according to Rizal as

Stated
1. Representation of the Country in the Cortez
Some governors have realized this truth and impelled by their patriotism, have
been trying to introduce needed reforms in order to forestall events. But notwithstanding all
that have been ordered up to the present time, they have produced scanty results, for the
government as well as for the country. Even those that promised only a happy issue have at
times caused injury, for the simple reason that they have been used upon unstable grounds."
(The Philippines, A Century Hence)
The governors assigned in the Philippines tried to implement reforms using the
law created by the Spanish Cortez but according to Rizal those reforms implemented were not
suitable to the Philippines because the body who framed the laws belonged to the different
culture and the only way in order to have a law suitable for the Filipinos was to have a
Filipino representative in the Spanish Cortez.
"We are not sure that we serve the true interests of our country by asking for
representatives. We know that the lack of enlightenment, the indolence, the egotism, of our
fellow countrymen, and the boldness, the cunning and the powerful methods of those who
wish their obscurantism, may convert reform into a harmful instrument. But we wish to be
loyal to the government and we are pointing out to it the road that appears best to us so
that its effort may not come to grief, so that discontent may disappear. If after so just, as
well as necessary, a measure falls upon them, let them suffer all the consequences. Every
country gets the fate it deserves and the government can say that it has done its duty. (The
Philippines, A Century Hence)
 The knowledge of the Spanish government in Spain about the situation of
the Philippines was limited to the reports of the Spanish officials and friars which
according to Rizal was not a true picture of the Philippine society during those times
and as he stated in his essay, that it's hard to govern a country very far from its
government so for efficient administration it should have a representative which came
from the natives of the country. The racial discrimination was one of the reasons why
the Spaniards did not.

2. Secularization of the Parishes

In all writings of Jose Rizal, he stressed the secularization of the parishes or

the designation of the secular priest in the parishes. The policy of the Spanish regular
clergy that became the hindrance for the appointment of the Filipino priest in the
parishes was rooted to ethnocentrism of the regular priest. As Fray Gaspar de San Agustin
believed that the indio was good only as a slave and they should not be allowed to
become a priest for it would upset his mind. Aside from the said reasons, the economic
and political issues were also part of the factors why the regular priests did not want to
give the secular priest position in the parishes. In most writings of Jose P. Rizal, he wrote
about the different abuses that the regular priest did to the people under their parish and
to the secular priest who wished to contradict their action and in the most instances the
power of the Regular priest succeeded. The secular priest like the other priest should be
given the chance to lead the parish because like the regular priest, they also underwent
training and will be a help to the evangelization of the Filipinos since they knew the
natives well than the regular priest. However, Rizal did not propose the rapid eradication
of the regular priest in the country but the gradual assignment of the secular priest in the
parishes and to widen their influence in the church.

3. The Abolition of the Power of the Friars Over State

The union of Church and State because of the great help extended by the
church in the establishment of the Spanish colonial government in the Philippines
brought a huge power to the curate to intercede with the government policies and
decisions. And because of their influence on the government, the abuse of the friars
became rampant. Although Rizal recognized the contribution of the Jesuit and Dominican
friars in the founding of universities and the construction of buildings and roads, he still
stated that the intercession of the church over the government became the hindrance in
the implementation of the needed reforms in the country.
4. The Reform in the Administration and in all Branches
a. .Corruption in the Government
"They are annulled in the lower circles, thanks to the vices of all, thanks, for
instance, to the eager desire to get rich in a short time, and to the ignorance of the
people, who consent to everything. A royal decree does not correct abuses when there is
no zealous authority to watch over its execution, while freedom of speech against the
insolence of petty tyrants is not conceded. Plans will remain plans abases will still be
abuses and the satisfied ministry twill sleep in peace in spite of everything (Noli Me
Tangere, pp. 195-196)
His Excellency also remembers that to secure the appointment lee had to
streut much and suffer more that he holds it for only three years, that he is getting old
and that it is necessary to think, not to total, bet of the future: u modest mansion in
Madrid, a co house in the country, and a good income in order to live in luxury at the
capital - these are that he must look for in the Philippines. VNoli Me Tangere, pp. 195-196)
Since 1822, the governor-general assigned to the Philippines was part of the
military who exercised the executive, judiciary and legislative power. And the only way
to check his administration was through the residencia and the visitador which ceased to
function after the short period of its existence. The term of eight years of the governor
general in the Philippines was reduced to three years. but their power was still in great
extent. However, their decisions would be in line with the friars for instance the
resignation of Governor Generals Despujol and Blanco were attributed to the friars. One
of the governor generals who experienced the disapproval of the friars was Governor
Fernardo M. de Bustamante y Bustillo who was sent in the country by the king in 1717. He
was honest and determined to clean the colonial government who had conflict with the
other officials in the government who malversed the funds and the friars. His enemies
conspired against him which led to his assassination

The head of the provincial government who succeeded the encomiendero was
known as the alcalde mayor for the specified provinces. This leader received a small
salary but had the right to engage into business known as the indulto de comercio. This
right made the alcalde mayor gain so much advantage in trading and was a source of
their corruption and abuse.
b. The Needed Reforms
The basic freedom and bill of rights of the Filipinos should be granted by the
government and according to Rizal, liberty and freedom were not necessarily the same with
independence. The natives should be informed about those rights so that they could guard
themselves against the abuses.//

The Filipinos had no protection against the abuse of the Spanish officials and
were often punished without the due process of law, The administration of justice was slow
and expensive. As he stated in his essay, The Philippines, A Century Hence.

“True it is that the Penal code has come like a drop of balm to such bitterness.
But of what use are all the codes in the world, if by means of confidential reports, if for
trifling reasons, if through anonymous traitors any honest citizens may be exiled or
banished without hearing, without trial? Of what use is that Penal code, of what use is life,
if there is no security in the home, no faith in justice and confidence in tranquility of
conscience? Of what use is all that array of terms, all that collection of articles, when the
cowardly accusation of a traitor has more influence in the timorous ears of the supreme
autocrat than all the cries for justice?/？
c. The Equal Participation of the Filipino and Spanish in the Government in the Philippines.
The involvement of the Filipino in the government is limited to the
gobernadorcillo and the cabeza de barangay.

d. The Elevation of the Moral Standard of the Administration

5. Reform in the Educational System

The defects of the educational system in the Philippines according to Rizal were: first,
there were too much emphasis on the religious subjects in all areas of educational system
and there was no academic freedom. The two reasons resulted to the backwardness of the
system and the teacher-centered curriculum where the friars used the education to lower
the self-esteem of the youth to avoid the rebellions against them. Rizal was against the
church-centered education because he was in favor of the development of science and
practical education. In fact, in his stay in Dapitan, he advocated those systems when he
taught the children in Dapitan about the dignity of manual labor, industrial arts and
practical agriculture. The basic foundation of democracy according to Rizal was the
attainment of education. In order to reform the education, he opposed the corporal
punishment, the use of Spanish language, the construction of school buildings instead of
using the rood under. The reform of the educational system and the public education for
all were the means that Jose Rizal thought that will enlighten the community and will
empower them to ask for reforms and eventually would lead them to their self-
government.

6. Freedom of Press
"A government that rules a country from a great distance is the one that has
the most need for a free press more so even than the government of the home country, if
it wishes to rule rightly and fitly. The government that governs in the country may even
dispense with the press because it is on the ground, because it has ears and eyes, and
because it directly observes what it rules and administers. But the government that
governs from afar absolutely requires that the truth and the facts reached its knowledge
by every possible channel so that it may weigh and estimate them better, and this need
increases when a country like the Philippines is concerned, where the inhabitants speak
and complain in a language unknown to the authorities." (The Philippines A Century Hence)

Rizal, as he stated on his essay, The Philippines A Century Hence, that since
the Philippines was far from Spain, it was necessary to have a freedom of the press so that
this freedom would protect the people against the abuse of the officials and the friars.
The knowledge of the king about the Philippines was limited to the reports of the
officials and the friars and because of that the cruelties and the corruption of the officials
in the colonial government was beyond the knowledge of the king. The freedom of press
would elevate the consciousness of the natives regarding their true conditions and their
rights. However, the fear of rebellion because of the freedom of press is contrary to the
ideas of Rizal because according to him the freedom was not necessarily the same with
independence and if the Spanish government would grant the Philippines the necessary
reform.
 Post aCTIVITY

Group assessment

Create a MEME on our Facebook Page about a certain issue:

Group 1: Indolence of the Filipino People

Group 2: Women then and now
Group 3: Political Conditions of the Philippines in Rizal’s time that is still
present today
Group 4: Reforms Needed by the Philippines according to Rizal that is applicable
at present
Group 5: Reform needed in Educational System at present.

Every group members must give their comment that discuss the meme they have
posted.

SCORING RUBRIVC:
MEME- 50 POINTS
Individual Score (Includes content of explanation and sentence construction)-
40 POINTS
Collaboration- 10 POINTS
-----------------------------------
Total: 100 POINTS