Rizal’s Letter to the Women of Malolos

"To the Young Women of Malolos" is an essay written by Jose Rizal while he was in London upon the
request of Marcelo H. Del Pilar.

On February 22. 1889, national hero Dr. Jose Rizal wrote a letter to a group of young women of Malolos
supporting their plan of putting up a night school. The so-called Women of Malolos comprised of 20
women from prominent Chinese-Filipino families in Malolos, Bulacan who signed and presented a letter
to Governor- General Valeriano Weyler on December 12, 1888, requesting permission to open a night
school where they could be taught the Spanish language under Teodoro Sandiko.

The Spanish parish priest, Fr. Felipe Garcia, objected so that the Governor-General turned down the
petition. However, the young women, in defiance of the friar's wrath, bravely continued their agitation
for establishment of the school, a thing unheard of in the Philippines in those times.

They finally succeeded in obtaining government approval for their project on condition that Señorita
Guadalupe Reyes should be their teacher, and that the classes be held in the daytime and not at night.
The incident caused a great stir in the Philippines and in far-away Spain. Marcelo H.

Del Pilar, writing in Barcelona on February 17, 1889, requested Dr. Rizal to send a letter in Tagalog to
the brave women of Malolos.

Although busy in London annotating Morga's book, penned his famous very long letter and sent it to Del
Pilar on February 22, 1889 for transmittal to Malolos.

• Elisea T. Reyes (1873-1969)

• Juana T. Reyes (1874-1900)

• Anastacia M. Tiongson (1874-1940'

• Basilia R. Tiongson (ca. 1860-ca. 1900)

• Leoncia S. Reyes (1864-1948)

• Olympia S.A. Reyes (1876-1910)

• Rufina T. Reyes (1869-1909)

• Eugenia M. Tanchangco (1871-1969)

• Aurea M. Tanchangco (1872-1958)

• Basilia V. Tantoco (1865-1925)

• Teresa T. Tantoco (1867-1942)

• Paz R. Tiongson (ca. 1862-1889)

• Aleja R. Tiongson (ca. 1865-ca.1900)

• Mercedes R. Tiongson (1869-1928)

• Agapita R. Tiongson (1870-1937)

• Filomena O. Tiongson (ca. 1865-1930)

• Cecilia O. Tiongson (ca. 1867-1934)

• Feliciana O. Tiongson (1869-1938)

• Alberta S. Uitangcoy (1865-1953)

Responsibilities of Filipino mothers to their children

-There are many points mentioned in this portion of Rizal's letter, but the central idea is:

Whatever the mother shows to her children is what the children will also become

Rizal's advice to unmarried men and women:

o Appearance and looks can be very deceiving

- A noble and honored name

- A manly heart

- A high spirit incapable of being satisfied with engendering slaves.

Assignment on the topic "LETTER TO THE YOUNG WOMEN OF MALOLOS"

1. Explain the life of the Filipina women during the Spanish times and discuss why did Rizal write
a letter addressed to the Women of Malolos?

● Filipino Women had the power to decide for themselves, they controlled how they lived.
They enjoyed equal status with men, were known for their wisdom and knowledge, and enjoyed
the privileges of human rights. The glorious years of the women were destroyed when the
Spanish arrived during the 16th century. When the Spaniards came into the Philippines, they
 brought with them their patriarchal values about women which eventually diffused into
Philippine culture. The women during the Spanish period were tied to the house and their roles
were confined exclusively to housekeeping and child rearing. On the other hand, there was the
chivalrous idea that men should be the provider of the family and protector of the women.
Women were also taught to be compliant to elders and always submissive to males. They were
oriented to remain incorruptible until marriage and to focus on building skills that would make
them good daughters, housewives, mothers and servants of God. Women were even barred from
participating in political undertakings because it was considered a man's work. Filipinos were
familiarized with a religious and patriarchal system of education which emphasized the domestic
value that women were the property of men. This infiltration of Spanish culture into Philippine
norms and behavior is evidence of feudal social relations.

● Rizal wrote a letter addressed to the women of Malolos because of an article of Lopez Jaena was
published in La Solidaridad, Marcelo H. del Pilar wrote from Barcelona to Jose Rizal in Madrid,
on February 17, 1889, requesting Rizal to write them a letter in Tagalog commending the
bravery of the women and with hopes that this valiant struggle against friar hegemony in the
affairs of the Filipinos will enthuse all compatriots. Hence, Rizal sent del Pilar on February 22,
1889 the letter written in Tagalog for transmittal to the 20 young women of Malolos.

2. In the letter to the Young Women Of Malolos discuss the advises that Rizal gave as;

a. as a young woman

● A Filipino young woman should know how to preserve her dignity and honor.
● A Filipino young woman should educate herself, aside from retaining her good racial virtues.
● A Filipino young woman should have freedom of thought and the right to education, which
must be granted to both boys and girls alike.
● A Filipino young woman should not be easily taken by appearances and looks, because these
can be very deceiving. Instead, they should take heed ot men's firmness of character and lofty
ideas

b. as a wife

● A Filipino wife should be noble.

c. as a mother

● A Filipino mother should teach her children love of God, fatherland and mankind.
● A Filipino wife must rear her children in the service of the state - here Rizal
gives reference to the women of Sparta who embody this quality
d. On Young Man

● A Filipino young man should not allow himself to be deceived and hoodwinked
● A Filipino young man should take care his own dignity and conscience to
avoid following the steps of Spaniards or cruel government.

3. Explain Rizal's idea about

a. True religion
- Rizal’s idea about true religion is that “religions may vary, but they all lead to the light”

b. Freedom

-Rizal's idea about freedom is that "all people were born free, so nobody has a right to subjugate the will
and the spirit of another thoughts”.

c. Ignorance

Rizal's idea about Ignorance is that "Ignorance has ever been ignorance, and never prudence and honor".

d. Religiousness

-Rizal's idea about Religiousness is that "religiousness does not consist of long periods
spent on your knees, nor in endless prayers, big rosarios, and grimy scapularies (religious garment
showing devotion), but in spotless conduct, firm intention and upright judgment".

Analysis

o "To the Women of Malolos" centers around five salient points (Zaide & Zaide, 1999):

1. Filipino mothers should teach their children about the 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.

Women are often portrayed as fragile, timid, and submissive. Its influence in society is merely ignored
and constrained as a result of various cultural norms that exclude them from different opportunities. The
young women of Malolos are encouraged by Rizal's letter to rise up and become aware of what it means
to be a real woman in society. The letter has a significant cant impact on women's power and role in
building a great nation. Words can never fully express what it means to be a woman because they have an
eternal essence that they alone possess which a nation needs for it to succeed. In his letter, Rizal went
into detail on the aspects that will enable women to alter their perspectives. He then urged women to
cease
their obedient submission to the friars' spiritual leadership and become awakened. They are unable to
realize their own rights and power in society because religious fear is the primary manipulative force. The
system that the friars created imprisoned women for a variety of opportunities and gave them a restricted
environment when, in reality, they ought to have been fully aware of their significance in society.

The letter contains a powerful message that every woman must hear during Spanish colonialism. In the
first section, he urged women to reject being servile to the friars. For him, saintliness does not include
adhering to the rules set forth by the friars. It entails abiding by what is just and moral. Rizal had
educated the women about what God really wanted for the people and it’s not like how the friars had
shaped their perception . Back then, women were subjected to abuse and enslavement due to the impact
of religious terror. Following the church, dogma has only given women external holiness and hasn't
molded them into a real epitome of how a woman should be in a patriarchal society. Rizal is aiming to
imply that having faith is about living according to what God actually tells us to do with high morals and
values, not only by reciting prayers or how frequently you attend church. Then. as he said. "let us be
reasonable and open our eyes, especially you women, because you are the first to influence the
consciousness of man," Rizal inspired the women to be sensible and influential mothers. Women are
expected to foster a child's

intellect, raise them with courage, be completely aware of their rights, and know how to love and defend
their country. Because raising a child entails raising a great nation, this special trait ought to be ingrained
in them. No fruit will grow in a withering tree, and no woman could raise a good child if she herself was
not a good mother, according to Rizal. That a mother's actions and beliefs will always be reflected in her
children. And if they remain slaves with no fortitudes, this signifies that their children will just follow
them and adhere to the friars as well.

Since friars are adept at manipulating women, they are frequently the objects of deceit and oppression.
They are frequently abused and considered to be ignorant by the foreign nations because of their
excessive benevolence, vulnerability, and docility. However, Rizal subsequently advised them to
maintain their composure and be honorable women. The strong foundation of a man's resilient character
should be women. She must be able to inspire her husband to be fearless and combat injustices so that
their country might have a brighter future. In a gloomy country where friar abuse and pretense are
pervasive. they should be the source of light for their children. They should have a strong moral
foundation so that they can teach their children that they have obligations to their country. their fellow
citizens, and not just themselves. They should grow up knowing that dying and fighting with honor
means much more than dying because of slavery and despotism.

Rizal has provided an illustration of how Spartan women embody the qualities he desires for Filipino
women. The word of triumphs in battle means more to Spartan mothers than the fact that their child, who
fought for those triumphs, is still alive. It is more honorable for them even though his son was killed in a
war because it shows that she gave birth to and raised a real man Rizal also aspires for Filipino women to
have the same bravery, determination, and capacity for making great citizens. They should have been
empowered so that their children would inherit strong character traits from them. Additionally, women
should take restraint, be vigilant and inquisitive, and oppose any demands made by friars.
 Rizal's letter to the young women of Malolos was a very effective approach to make them aware of how
the friar's system was using and abusing them. Rizal provided an excellent illustration of the significance
of women in society. Developing women's interest and involvement in battling colonial injustices and
biases can be very beneficial to the nation. Due to the phenomenal characteristics of women, they should
not be understated. Women have immense influence and great men were created by great mothers, their
constant rectification and guidance offer a man a powerful place in the society they live in. Women should
therefore be

broad-minded, has the ability to assert their rights, carry out their duties as excellent role models for their
community, and most significantly, as builders of competent citizens. Strong women establish strong
minds and a powerful nation, and that is how a woman can shape the world.

Relevance in today's society:

o There are often times that mothers forget their roles to their children because of the overriding idea
of having to earn enough money to help the father sustain the family's needs

o Activism of the Feminist groups in our country (e.g. Gabriella)