UNIVERSITY OF SAINT LOUIS

Tuguegarao City

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, ARTS and SCIENCES

Short Term
A.Y. 2020-2021

CORRESPONDENCE LEARNING MODULE

RZAL 1013 (Life and Works of Rizal)

Prepared by:

HAYDEN GONZALES
RACHEL ANN SURLA
ALVIC B. TORRES
Course Instructor

Reviewed by:

SEVERO L. WASHINGTON, MARS

Department of Philosophy and Religious Instruction Head

Recommended by:

VENUS I. GUYOS, Ph.D.

Academic Dean

Approved by:

EMMANUEL JAMES P. PATTAGUAN, Ph.D.

Vice President for Academics

RIZAL 1013- Life and Works of Rizal Module 5| 1

 UNIVERSITY PRAYER

O God, wellspring of goodness and blessings, we give you thanks and praise as one
Louisian community. The graces You incessantly grant upon us and Your divine
providence have sustained our beloved University throughout the years of mission and
excellence.
Having been founded by the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we pray
that You keep us committed and dedicated to our mission and identity to serve the
Church and the society as we become living witnesses to the Gospel values proclaimed
by Jesus. For if we are steadfast in our good and beautiful mission, our works will bring
success not only to ourselves but also to those whom we are bound to love and serve.
Inspired by St. Louis our Patron Saint, who was filled with a noble spirit that stirred him
to love You above all things, may we also live believing that we are born for a greater
purpose and mission as we dwell in Your presence all the days of our life.
Grant all these supplications through the intercession of
Mother Mary and through Christ our Lord. Amen.

RIZAL 1013- Life and Works of Rizal Module 5| 2

 CORRESPONDENCE LEARNING MODULE
RZAL 1013: Life and Works of Rizal

AY 2020-2021
Week 5
Topic: Rizal’s Changing View on Spanish Rule and El Filibusterismo

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

1. Elaborate pressing issues that happened during the Spanish
Learning Outcomes: regime;
2. Compare Colonial rule to this current time; and
3. Discuss the content and context of El Filibusterismo.

Date Topics Activities

July 19-23 Rizal’s Changing View on Spanish Read Lesson
July 24 Rule and El Filibusterismo Answering the Assessment

LEARNING CONTENT

What were Rizal’s sources of inspiration in writing El Filibusterismo?

Do you think Rizal has personal encounters of Spanish oppression?
Who were the characters of El Filibusterismo and who/what do they symbolize?

“You must shatter the vase to spread its perfume and smite the rock to get the spark!”
-Jose Rizal (El Filibusterismo)

T
he Spanish colonialism in Philippines has created uncertainties for many Filipinos. In their
lives, many Filipinos suffered, some were mistreated, discrimination was rampant, and
inequality prevailed. Born during the Spanish period, Jose Rizal died at the hands of
Spanish colonial oppression. He was able to create writings that represented the colonial rule of
the Spaniards from his encounters within and outside the Philippines. One of his popular novels,
El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed), a sequel to Noli me Tangere, was one of these.
Published in 1891, it continues the Noli's criticisms of the abuses and corruption perpetrated by
the Spanish government. This module addresses the pressing problems facing the Spanish
regime and how Rizal used them in writing El Filibusterismo as inspiration.

RIZAL 1013- Life and Works of Rizal Module 5| 3

Some Pressing Issues during Spanish regime: (Halili, 2004)

1. Racial Discrimination- The Filipino natives were commonly regarded by the Spaniards
as belonging to the lower race and haughtily called them Indios. The preconceived
notion of the Spanish colonizers that the natives could not rise beyond their limited
intelligence prompted the enlightened Filipinos to fight for equality. Jose Rizal's
annotation of Antonio de Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas denounced the Spanish
allegation that the Filipinos were savages and had no culture prior to the arrival of
Western colonizers.

2. Secularization Controversy- There were two kinds of priests in the Philippines serving
the Catholic Church. These were the regulars and the seculars. There were regular
priests belonging to religious orders. Spreading Christianity was their primary task.
Secular priests were of no religious order whatsoever. They were trained to run the
parishes specifically and were under the bishops' supervision.

When the bishops insisted on visiting the parishes that were run by regular priests,
conflict began. It was their duty to check the administration of these parishes, they
argued. But these visits were refused by the regular priests, saying that they were not
under the jurisdiction of the bishop. If the Bishops continued, they threatened to leave
their parishes.

In 1774, Archbishop Basilio Santa Justa decided to uphold the authority of the diocese
over the parishes and accepted the regular priests' resignations. His assignment was to
secular priests. The Archbishop hastened the ordination of Philippine seculars since the
seculars are not sufficient to fill the vacancy. On 9 November 1774, a Royal Decree
was also issued, providing for the secularization or transferal of any parish from regular
friars to secular priests.

As they found the Filipinos unfit for the priesthood, the regulars resented the change.
They cited the Filipinos' brown skin, lack of schooling, and poor knowledge, among
other factors. When the Jesuits returned to the Philippines, the controversy became
more serious. Due to some policies of the Order that the
Spanish authorities did not like, they were expelled from
the land.

Soon, the topic took on a racist slant. Clearly, the

Spaniards preferred their own regular priests over Filipino
priests. The Church's ecclesiastical governor, Monsignor
Pedro Pelaez, sided with the Filipinos. Sadly, he died in an
earthquake which ruined the Cathedral of Manila in 1863.
After his death, other priests took his place in the struggle
for the movement to secularize. Fathers Mariano Gomez,
Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora were, among others.

RIZAL 1013- Life and Works of Rizal Module 5| 4

 3. Cavite Mutiny- Cavite Mutiny (January
20, 1872), a brief rebellion of 200
Filipino soldiers and Cavite arsenal
workers, which became a pretext for the
Spanish suppression of the Filipino
nationalist revolution. Ironically, the
harsh response of the Spanish
authorities helped to support the
nationalist cause.
The mutiny was soon suppressed, but
the Spanish administration, under
Governor-General Rafael de Izquierdo,
magnified the event and used it as an
excuse to crack down on any Filipinos
who were calling for government reform. Several Filipino academics have been
captured and convicted of collusion with the mutineers. After a short hearing, three
priests—José Burgos, Jacinto Zamora, and Mariano Gómez—were publicly executed.
Subsequently, the three became martyrs for the cause of the liberation of the
Philippines.

These three issues gave inspiration to Rizal in writing El Filibusterismo. In fact, Rizal dedicated
his second novel to Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora (GomBurZa). Rizal was just 10 years old
when GomBurZa were executed. Their deaths awakened the fire that has been burning inside
the native Filipino people (Indios) for over 300 years of abuse and slavery. El Filibusterismo was
written in dedication to the three martyred priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos, and Jacinto
Zamora, whose deaths left an indelible mark in his mind. Like Noli Me Tangere, El Fili aims at
enlightening the society and bringing the Filipinos closer to the truth.

The Making of El Filibusterismo

Rizal started writing the manuscript of his second book, El Filibusterismo, during his stay in
Calamba in October 1887 while practicing medicine. In 1888, he continued to compose it in
London wherein he made some changes in the plot and corrected some chapters already
written. He wrote further chapters in Paris, Madrid and Biarritz, where he finished the whole
manuscript on March 29, 1891. It took him three years to complete the book. When in Belgium,
he moved to Ghent, where the cost of living was lower. He moved to a low-cost boarding house
where he cooked his own meal. He and his boardmate, Jose Alejandrino, operated on biscuits
that had been rationed for thirty days, but ultimately lasted just fifteen days. (Zaide, 1999)

Rizal discovered a suitable printing press at No. 66

Viaandern Street named F. Meyer-Van Loo Press. It was
able to print his small-payment book on installment basis.
To print his book, Rizal pawned all his jewels. The proceeds
of the annotated Sucesos amounting to ₱200 and some
money from Basa were also available. On August 6,
publishing had to be postponed because funds were not
forthcoming. Rizal was basically broken, and Rizal was
When it appeared to be hopeless, El Filibusterismo, as in
Noli Me Tangere, had a savior. Valentin Ventura, his
neighbor, learned of his difficulties and sent the requisite
sum to complete the book printing.

RIZAL 1013- Life and Works of Rizal Module 5| 5

El Filibusterismo was officially published on September 18, 1891. Two
copies were sent to Hong Kong by Rizal, one to Basa and the other to
Sixto Lopez. He gratefully handed the original manuscript and a written
copy with his autograph to Valentin Ventura. This manuscript was later
bought from Valentin Ventura for ten thousand pesos by the Philippine
government and is now housed in the vault of the Filipiniana Division of
the National Library in Manila.

Rizal also sent free copies to Blumentritt, Ponce, Lopez Jaena, T.H.
Pardo de Tavera, Antonio and Juan Luna, Marcelo H. del Pilar and other
friends. The reformist community in Barcelona praised the novel saying
that it is comparable to the works of Alexander Dumas such as The
Count of Monte Cristo from which the novel received inspiration. The
Spanish newspaper El Nuevo Regimen serialized the novel during
October 1891. (de Viana, 2014)

We should note that to reach Manila, Noli was smuggled. The remaining
copies of El Filibusterismo were collected and sent to Manila to be
smuggled to Hong Kong. Almost all the crates were seized by the
authorities, relative to the Noli Me Tangere, and were destroyed. It was
much rarer than that of Noli, and there were a few copies sold for as
much as 400 pesetas.

The novel was devoted to the memory of GomBurZa, the three martyred
secular priests. Rizal said in the dedication that the involvement of the
priests in the Cavite mutiny was in question and hoped that their
identities would be explained sometime by Spain. Rizal perpetrated
factual inaccuracies, much as in Noli Me Tangere. On February 17,
1872, not February 28, the execution of the three priests took place. And
Father Gomez's age was 73 years, not 85; Fr. Burgos was 35, not 30
years old, and Father Zamora was 37, not 35 years old. A foreword and
a warning were absent in the printed novel to save on the printing cost.
The preface spoke of Filibusterism and that it was used by the Spanish
government to intimidate people into silence.

Rizal's Dedication of the El Fili to GomBurZa

To the memory of the priests, Don Mariano Gomez (85 years old), Don Jose Burgos (30 years old), and
Don Jacinto Zamora (35 years old). Executed in Bagumbayan Field on the 28th of February 1872.

The Church, by refusing to degrade you, has placed in doubt the crime that has been imputed to you; the
Government, by surrounding your trials with mystery and shadows, causes the belief that there was some
error, committed in fatal moments; and all the Philippines, by worshiping your memory and calling you
martyrs, in no sense recognizes your culpability. In so far, therefore, as your complicity in the Cavite
mutiny is not clearly proved, as you may or may not have been patriots, and as you may or may not have
cherished sentiments for justice and for liberty, I have the right to dedicate my work to you as victims of
the evil which I undertake to combat. And while we wait expectantly upon Spain someday to restore your
good name and cease to be answerable for your death, let these pages serve as a tardy wreath of dried
leaves over your unknown tombs, and let it be understood that everyone who without clear proofs attacks
your memory stains his hands in your blood!

RIZAL 1013- Life and Works of Rizal Module 5| 6

Summary of El Filibusterismo

This book is Noli's sequel. It is less humorous,

less idealistic, and less romantic than Noli Me
Tangere. More revolutionary than the first book, it
is more tragic. (Zaide & Zaide, 1999)

A jeweler named Simoun is the protagonist of El

Filibusterismo.It is the new identity of Crisostomo
Ibarra, who fled from the pursuit of soldiers in the
prequel Noli. Crisostomo, it is revealed, dug up his
hidden treasure and fled to Cuba, becoming
wealthier and welcoming to Spanish authorities.
The freshly fashioned Simoun returns to the
Philippines after several years, where he can travel
about easily. Not only because of his money, he is an
influential figure, but also because he is a close friend and counselor of the governor general.

Simoun is outwardly a supporter of Spain, but secretly plans a horrific vengeance against the
Spanish authorities. His two obsessions are to save Maria Clara, his paramour, from the
convent of Santa Clara and to promote a revolution in the Philippines against Spain.

The El Filibusterismo tale begins on board a steamer ship sailing from Manila to Laguna de Bay
on the Pasig River. Among the passengers are Simoun; Doña Victorina, a pro-Spanish native
woman who is going to Laguna in search of her henpecked husband, Tiburcio de Espadaña,
who has deserted her; Paulita Gomez, her beautiful niece; Ben-Zayb (anagram of Ibañez), a
Spanish journalist who writes silly articles about the Filipinos; Padre Sibyla, vice-rector of the
University of Santo Tomas; Padre Camorra, the parish priest of the town of Tiani; Don
Custodio, a pro-Spanish Filipino holding a position in the government; Padre Salvi, thin
Franciscan friar and former cura of San Diego; Padre Irene, a kind friar who was a friend of the
Filipino students; Padre Florentino, a retired scholarly and patriotic Filipino priest; Isagani, a
poet-nephew of Padre Florentino and a lover of Paulita; and Basilio, son of Sisa and promising
medical student, whose medical education is financed by his patron, Capitan Tiago.

Simoun, a man of riches and intrigue, is a very close associate of the Spanish Governor
General and a confidante. He was dubbed the "Brown Cardinal" or the "Black Eminence" due to
his great influence in Malacañang. He encourages government corruption by using his riches
and political power, promotes the injustice of the masses, and accelerates the spiritual decay of
the world so that the people can become desperate and fight. With the aid of a rich Chinese
merchant, Quiroga, who aspires to be the Chinese Consul of Manila, he smuggles weapons into
the country. His first effort to launch the armed revolution did not materialize because he heard
the tragic news at the last hour that Maria Clara died in the nunnery. He did not send the signal
for an eruption of hostilities in his agonizing moment of bereavement.

Simoun is perfecting his plot to topple the government after a long period of sickness brought on
by the bitter loss of Maria Clara. He gave them a lovely lamp on the day of the wedding of
Paulita Gomez and Juanito Pelaez. Just he and his confidential allies, Basilio (the son of Sisa
who supported his revolutionary cause), realize that when the wick of his lamp burns down the
nitroglycerine concealed in his underground compartment, it will explode, burning the house

RIZAL 1013- Life and Works of Rizal Module 5| 7

where the wedding feast is going to take place, killing all the visitors, including the governor
general, the friars, and the officials of the administration. Around the same time, all the
government buildings in Manila are going to be blown up by Simoun's supporters.

The poet Isagani, who was rejected by Paulita because of his liberal ideas, is standing outside
the house as the wedding feast begins, sorrowfully watching the merriment inside. He is warned
by Basilio, his friend, to go away because the lightened lamp will soon explode.

Isagani realizes, upon hearing the horrible secret of the lamp, that his beloved Paulita is in
grave danger. He rushes into the house to save her life, seizes the lightened lamp, and hurls it
into the river, where it explodes. It is thus discovered the revolutionary plot. The soldiers
cornered Simoun, but he escapes. Mortally injured, holding his treasure chest, he finds shelter
by the sea in Padre Florentino's house. However, the Spanish authorities have been informed of
his involvement in the house of Padre Florentino. By letter, Lieutenant Perez of the Guardia Civil
told the priest that he would come to arrest Simoun at eight o'clock that night.

Simoun, by taking poison, eludes capture. He confesses to Padre Florentino as he is dying,

exposing his real identity, his grim intention to use his fortune to avenge himself, and his sinister
goal of killing his friends and rivals.

The confession of the dying Simoun is excruciating and prolonged. It is already night when,
brushing the sweat from his wrinkled forehead, Padre Florentino rises and starts to meditate. He
comforts the dying man and says, "Señor Simoun, God will forgive you.He is conscious that
we're fallible. He has seen that you have failed, and we can see His divine grace in ordaining
that the penalty for your faults should come as death from the same ones you have instigated to
violence. One by one the best conceived, first by the death of Maria Clara, then by a lack of
planning, then in some strange way, has frustrated your plans. Let us bow to His will and be
grateful to Him!‖

Padre Florentino sinks to his knees and prays for the dead jeweler, watching Simoun die happily
with a clean conscience and at peace with God. Then the priest takes the chest of treasures
and drops it into the water.

Allusions of El Filibusterismo to Real Life

Like Noli Me Tangere, El Filibusterismo is a fictional work. Like

the Noli, she had references to real life characters. The main
character of Simoun was Rizal. The friars who were criminals in
his novels were Dominicans this time around. These were
exemplified by Father Sibyla, who was Vice-Rector of the
University of Santo Tomas. In real life, Father Sibyla alludes to
Father Bernardino Nozaleda, who was the Vice-Rector of the
University when he was a student there. Later he would become
archbishop of Manila and ask for his arrest in 1896. The
oppressive professor of physics was not only a friar, but a layman
named Jose Franco, who tried to fail Rizal's entire class when he

RIZAL 1013- Life and Works of Rizal Module 5| 8

was a student. The real professor of physics at Rizal was Father Jenaro Buitrago de la Rosa.
He did not attempt to fail the entire class or sexually harass students like he did in the book. (de
Viana, 2014)

Father Fernandez was Father Evaristo Fernandez Arias, the only friar in the less unfavourable
light that Rizal painted. In the book, he had a moderating effect on Filipino students and was
viewed as fatherly and kind. The real Father Fernandez was a professor at the University of
Santo Tomas and was known to most alumni during Rizal's time. During the Philippine
Revolution he wrote a letter to General Emilio Aguinaldo on July 7, 1898 urging him "to abandon
the violence of war. He said that rebellion against legitimate authority was illicit." He said that
Spanish rule was "not tyrannical but constructive and benevolent." He reminded Aguinaldo that
he was affiliated to secret societies condemned by the Church under the penalty of
excommunication and that the Church condemns those that lay violent hands on the ministers
of God. He said that the revolutionists were depriving the priests of their freedom because they
were his prisoners.

The other friars were Fr. Camorra and Fr. Irene, who seemed to be shrewd, strong, and
unethical frailocracy figures. It was understandable for Rizal to have cast the Dominicans as
part of the villains because his family had been removed from their lands in the Dominican
estate of Calamba when he wrote the book.

Rizal's commentary on how it was being operated at the time was the state of the colonial
government. Because of the assistance of patrons, the governor general was incompetent and
secured his roles. Appointments to high offices can be obtained by a bribe network. As in the
case of Graciano Lopez Jaena and Marcelo H, the friars were so powerful that they should have
imprisoned a man. Del Pilar, who were told to be imprisoned because of their writing after they
angered the friars.

Fr. Florentino symbolized the secular priests of the Filipinos. Rizal offered him a solution in his
book, but only in a distant region facing the Pacific Ocean. A cross-section of colonial society at
the time was reflected by students at the University of Santo Tomas. They were influenced by
the young women of Malolos, who defied the local curate there when they advocated for a
Spanish language academy in the book. They embodied a cross-section of colonial society at
the period, belonging to diverse backgrounds. The characters of Rizal were also portrayed by
them. Isagani, the student who cast himself as a poet, represents Rizal's idealistic personality;
Pecson exposes Rizal's playful and cynical side of Rizal, while his serious side is Placido
Penitente.

Rizal painted the University scene as a conglomeration of students of diverse backgrounds.

There were Spanish students hobnobbing with indios and mestizos, and there were Spaniards
who were sympathetic to the needs of the Filipinos, even studying Spanish. Rich students as
well as bad ones were there.

The Cabesang Tales family symbolized the poor peasant farmers and the Calamba estate
tenants. Both the law and the lawless became prisoners of them. Estate managers come to
collect ever-increasing rentals while bandits enter to extort currency. The presence of bandits

RIZAL 1013- Life and Works of Rizal Module 5| 9

showed that during that time there was lawlessness, and Laong, who terrorized the Filipino and
Chinese shop owners' farms in the province of Manila, was the most infamous of them. Later,
Laong fought in 1896 with the Katipunan. Laong was depicted in the role of Matang Lawin.

The killing of Tandang Selo by a group of civil guards, including Tano, was evidently inspired by
a story in the Marianas in the 1870s in which a group of escaping prisoners were pursued by
civil guards. He was shot as he waved a spear. The soldier who shot him was Carolino, who
was Tano, the grandson of Tandang Selo. He must have been given his current name when he
was assigned to the Carolina Islands in the Pacific.

The involvement of Americans such as Mr. Leeds showed the impression of Rizal regarding
these foreigners who came to the Philippines to dazzle the people with pointless distraction,
such as the talking head display, then left with the hard-earned money of the inhabitants.

In his book, Rizal borrowed ideas from history as well. The blow-up of the house of Juanito
Pelaez was influenced in the 17th century by the Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Plot in England.
Fawkes wanted Catholic rule in England to be reinstated. By mining it with gunpowder, he
attempted to blow up Westminster Palace in 1605. He was deceived by hanging and sentenced
to death. Before his executioners could hang him, he killed himself by falling off the execution
table. Likewise, Simoun drank poison before the authorities could apprehend him.

Some incidents in Rizal's student life at the University of

Santo Tomas were expressed in El Filibusterismo. It was
stated in the novel that there was a fund-raising effort for
Fr. Baltasar to erect a statue. Archbishop Miguel de
Benavides, the founder of the university, was Fr. Baltasar
in real life. In the fund-raising effort, Rizal should have
donated some cash. However, the monument was not
erected while Rizal was a university student. After
collecting just P4,000 of the P-30,000 needed, the fund-
raising campaign was called off. The monument was
erected in Paris and erected in 1891 on the campus of
Intramuros. Before being moved to its present location on
the Sampaloc campus, the monument endured the
Philippine Revolution, the transfer of the Islands to
American rule and the Second World War.

The Fr. Baltasar in the novel is also not entirely fictional. It

was derived from Fr. Baltasar Fort, the executor of the last
will of Archbishop Benavides' led to the founding of the
University on April 28, 1611.

As a novelist, Rizal demonstrated not just the Philippines, but other countries' knowledge and
depth of culture. In his fictional work, his historical experience added an aspect of both fact and
colour and showed his comprehension of cultural and historical changes. (de Viana, 2014).

RIZAL 1013- Life and Works of Rizal Module 5| 10

 Summary of the Allusion

Character/Event Allusion/Symbolism
Simoun Jose Rizal
Friars Dominicans
Fr. Sybila Fr. Bernardino Nozaleda
Oppressive professor in Physics Jose Franco
Fr. Fernandez Fr. Evaristo Fernandez Arias
Fr. Camorra and Irene Immoral members of frailocracy
Fr. Florentino Filipino secular priests
Students in UST Cross-section of the society at the time
Isagani Idealistic side of Rizal
Pecson Playful and Sarcastic side of Rizal
Placido Peniente Serious side of Rizal
Cabesang Tales Poor peasant farmers
Matang Lawin Laong
Blowing up of Juanito Pelaez house Guy Fawke’s Gunpowder Plot in England
Fr. Baltazar Archbishop Miguel de Benavidez

References
de Viana, A. V. (2014). Jose Rizal in Our Times: A Guide for the Better Understanding of the
Philippines Foremost National Hero. Mandaluyong City: Books ATBP. Publishing Corp.

Halili, M. (2004). Philippine History. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore.

Zaide, G. F., & Zaide, S. M. (1999). Rizal: Life, Works, and Writings of a Genius, Writer,
Scientist, and National Hero. Quezon City: All-Nations Publishing.

RIZAL 1013- Life and Works of Rizal Module 5| 11

 CORRESPONDENCE LEARNING MODULE
RZAL 1013: Life and Works of Rizal
AY 2020-2021
Week 5

Topic: Indolence and Spanish Colonial rule

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

Learning Outcomes: 1. Discuss Rizal’s stand about the cause of solution to indolence; and
2. Analyze the causes which Rizal enumerated in the essay.

DATE TOPICS ACTIVITIES

July 19-23 Read Lesson
Indolence and Spanish Colonial rule
July 24 Answering Learning Task

LEARNING CONTENT

What were Rizal’s views about Indolence?

In your own observation, what are common reasons of indolence?

"In the Philippines one's own and another's faults, the shortcomings of one, the misdeeds of
another, are attributed to indolence."
-Jose Rizal (The Indolence of the Filipinos)

socio-political and exploratory essay published in La Solidaridad in Madrid in 1890 was

A titled The Indolence of the Filipino (Sobre La Indolencia de los Filipinos in Spanish).
Indolence is the state of showing no real interest or effort (Cambridge Dictionary, 2020).
The purpose of writing is to explain the alleged idleness of his people during the Spanish
colonization. Simply put, this essay enumerates several reasons or causes of Filipinos’
Indolence. It was written as a response to the accusation of Indian or Malay indolence by José
Rizal. He acknowledges the existence of indolence among Filipinos, but for several rea sons it
could be attributed. The Indolence of the Filipinos is an analysis of the reasons why, as was
said, people did not work hard during the Spanish regime. Rizal pointed out that long before the

RIZAL 1013- Life and Works of Rizal Module 5| 12

arrival of the Spanish, the Filipinos were hard-working. The Spanish government has led to a
decline in economic activity due to several causes. This essay shows the keen observation of
Rizal to Philippines as a colonial society.

he Indolence of the Filipinos is an examination of the

T reasons why, as was said, people did not work hard during
the Spanish regime. Rizal insisted that the Filipinos were
not inherently indolent. Furthermore, to the extent that
there was indolence, this was not to be a cause of
backwardness. Rather it was the exploitative conditions of
colonial society that resulted in indolence. In pre-colonial times,
the Filipinos were hardworking and diligent, controlling trade
routes, tilling the land, mining ore and manufacturing. Their
indolence developed when their destiny was taken away from
them. Things were different in the pre-colonial period: "[The
Filipinos] worked more and they had more industries when there
were no encomenderos, that is, when they were heathens, as de
Morga himself asserts" the Indios, seeing that they were vexed
and exploited by their encomenderos on account of the products of their industry, and not
considering themselves beasts of burden or the like, began to break their looms, abandon the
mines, the fields, etc., believing that their rulers would leave them alone on seeing them poor,
wretched and unexploitable. Thus, they degenerated and the industries and agriculture so
flourishing before the coming of the Spaniards were lost." (Alatas, 2011)

In Chapter 1 of the essay, Rizal acknowledges the prior work of Gregorio Del Pilar and admits
that indolence does exist among the Filipinos, but it cannot be attributed to the troubles and
backwardness of the country; rather it is the effect of the backwardness and troubles
experienced by the country. Past writings on indolence revolve only on either denying or
affirming, and never studying its causes in depth. One must study the causes of indolence, Rizal
says, before curing it. He therefore enumerates the causes of indolence and elaborates on the
circumstances that have led to it. The hot climate, he points out, is a reasonable predisposition
for indolence. Filipinos cannot be compared to Europeans, who live in cold countries and who
must exert much more effort at work. An hour's work under the Philippine sun, he says, is
equivalent to a day's work in temperate regions. The approach of Rizal to the issue is what is
important to remember here. In tropics, the speed of life was slower because of the climatic and
even the European people wanted to slow down. He made a distinction between being
"indolent" as a response to environment for example and lack of love to work or avoiding it.
Rizal's other concept of indolence, "little love for work", should not reflect the physiological
response to heat. The change to working patterns in the tropical environment cannot be
understood because of exhaustion or little love for work.

RIZAL 1013- Life and Works of Rizal Module 5| 13

All prior relations of the Philippines with other
countries in Asia and the Middle East were cut off
by creating the Galleon Trade. Galleon trade or
the Manila-Acapulco trade was a government
monopoly focusing on the trade of products
between two countries. Consequently, business
with Spain was only done via Mexico. The small
businesses and craft industries that flourished
during the pre-Spanish period eventually vanished
because of this.

Because of the introduction of slave labor, Spain

also extinguished the enjoyment of work of the
native people. During Spanish times, all male
Filipinos from 16 to 60 years old were forced to
work for the government for a few weeks a year.
This forced labor was called polo. The Filipinos
were forced to work in shipyards, bridges, and
other public works, abandoning agriculture,
manufacturing, and trade due to the wars between
Spain and other countries in Europe, as well as
the Muslims in Mindanao.

Against foreign invaders and pirates, Spain did not secure the population. With no weapons to
protect themselves, they slaughtered the indigenous people, burnt their villages, and ravaged
their territories. As a result, the Filipinos were forced to become nomads i.e., a member of a
group of people who move from one place to another rather than living in one place all the time
(Cambridge Dictionary, 2020), lost faith in farming their lands or restoring the closed-down
factories and were merely submissive to God's mercy.

Whether it was to be called an education, there was a crooked system of education. Repetitive
prayers and other things that the students did not use to bring the country to success is what
was being learned in the classrooms. There were no courses in agriculture, industry, etc., which
during those periods were desperately needed by the Philippines.

A poor case of despising manual labor was the Spanish kings. At noon, the officials returned to
work and left early, all the time doing little in accordance with their obligations. Servants who
clothed them and fanned them, personal items they should have done for themselves, were
always trailing the women.

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During those days, gambling was set up and
widely propagated. There were cockfights (sabong)
nearly every day and on feast days, government
officials and friars were the first to participate in all
forms of betting and gambling. It was considered
as one of the favorite pastimes of the Philippines
during the Spanish Colonial period.

A crooked structure of faith was in existence. Naive

Filipinos were told by the friars that it was better for
a poor man to reach heaven, so they chose not to
work and stay poor, so that after they die, they
could quickly enter heaven.

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.‖

According to Alatas (2011), the theme of indolence, or the lazy native, in colonial scholarship
formed a vital component of the ideology of colonial capitalism. Rizal was probably the first to
deal with it systematically and sociologically.

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.

The absence of solidarity among the Filipino people is another factor we might add that
triggered this indolence. The people did not have the strength to combat the violent assaults of
the government and the other powers of society in the absence of peace and oneness. There
would also be no voice, no chief, to seed and nurture development, so that it could be harvested
in due time. The Philippines remained a nation in such a state that was lifeless, dying, merely
being, and not alive. As Rizal stated in conclusion, ―a man in the Philippines is an individual; he
is not merely a citizen of a country.‖

It can be clearly deduced from the writing that Spain is the cause of the indolence attributed to
our race: when the Filipinos decided to study and learn, there were no classes, and if there were
any, they lacked adequate funding and did not present more valuable knowledge; when the

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Filipinos wanted to set up their businesses, there was inadequate government capital or
protection; 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.

Depending on the criterion on which such a label is based, it is not only the Philippines, but also
other nations, that can be considered indolent. Man cannot work without resting, and if he is
called idle, then we might conclude that all men are indolent. One cannot fault a nation that has
been stripped of its independence for losing its will to continue building its base on the backs of
its citizens, particularly when the fruits of its labor do not meet their lips. When we spend all our
lives worshiping such a barbaric and unjust civilization, imposed upon us by invaders who do
not even know our motherland, we are destined to tire after a while. We are not idiots, we are
not puppets who merely do as we are told to do – we are human beings who are guided by our
will to achieve our goals and who are committed to the protection of our race. When this basic
part of our life is denied to us who can fault us if we transform idly?

SUMMARY

Causes of Indolence of the Filipinos:

 Hot Climate
 Galleon Trade
 Forced Labor
 Lack of protection against invaders
 Crooked Education
 Gambling
 Crooked Religion
 High Tax

References
Cambridge Dictionary. (2020, December 2). INDOLENCE | definition in the Cambridge English
Dictionary. Retrieved December 5, 2020, from Cambridge.org website:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/indolence

de Viana, A. V. (2014). Jose Rizal in Our Times: A Guide for the Better Understanding of the Philippines
Foremost National Hero. Mandaluyong City: Books ATBP. Publishing Corp.

On Eurocentrism and Laziness: The Thought of Jose Rizal > Articles |. (2011). Retrieved December 5,
2020, from Globalasia.org website: https://www.globalasia.org/v6no1/book/on-eurocentrism-and-
laziness-the-thought-of-jose-rizal_syed-farid-alatas

The Indolence of the Filipinos: Summary and Analysis. (2011). Retrieved December 5, 2020, from
Blogspot.com website: http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2011/08/indolence-of-filipinos-
summary-and.html

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 SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, ARTS and SCIENCES
Short Term, A.Y. 2020-2021
RIZAL 1013: Life and Works of Rizal
WEEK 5 - CORRESPONDENCE LEARNING WORKSHEET

Name: Scores:
Course and Contact
Year: No.:
Instructor Code:

I. INDOLENCE BEFORE AND TODAY

Instructions: Rizal enumerated causes of Indolence of Filipinos during the Spanish regime. Among the causes
from the essay, which do you think influenced the people most to become indolent during the Spanish
regime? Write your answer in the first row of the table below. On the second row of the table, in modern days,
what do you think is the main cause why people become indolent? On the second column, provide 5-6
sentences explanation for each cause. You will be graded based on this rubric:
Criteria Points
Content 10
Organization of ideas 7
Grammar 3
Total 20

DURING SPANISH REGIME

IN MODERN DAYS

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II. SHORT-RESPONSE ESSAY
Instruction: Choose one of the pressing issues during Spanish regime that gave inspiration to Rizal in writing El
Filibusterismo then explain its effect to the people and to the novel. Explain briefly but substantially. You will be
graded based on this rubric:
Criteria Points
Content 7
Organization of ideas and 3
Grammar
Total 10

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE
Instruction: Read each the following questions then choose the correct answer.
1. In El Filibusterismo, what character alludes to the idealistic side of Jose Rizal?
a. Isagani
b. Pecson
c. Placido Peniente
d. Matang Lawin
2. In El Filibusterismo, what character alludes to the Playful and Sarcastic side of Rizal?
a. Isagani
b. Pecson
c. Placido Peniente
d. Matang Lawin
3. In El Filibusterismo, what character alludes to the Poor peasant farmers?
a. Cabesang Tales
b. Matang Lawin
c. Pecson
d. Simoun
4. On August 6, 1891, why was the publication of El Fili postponed?
a. because funds were not forthcoming

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 b. because he was arrested in Ghent, Belgium
c. because he was appointed to be the honorary president of La Solidaridad
d. because there no available printing press at that time
5. Why was Simoun dubbed as ―Brown Cardinal‖ or ―Black Eminence"?
a. because he was a confidant of the Spanish King
b. because he was a spy inside the office of the friars
c. because he was plotting to topple the government
d. due to his great influence in Malacañang
6. Who warned Isagani to go away from the house because he lightened lamp was about
to explode?
a. Basilio
b. Maria Clara
c. Paulita
d. Simoun
7. On what country does El Filibusterismo published?
a. Ghent
b. Belgium
c. Berlin
d. Germany
8. This policy during Spanish regime mandated the 16 to 60 years old Filipinos to work
forcibly for weeks a year.
a. Galleon trade
b. Labor Force
c. Polo Y Servicio
d. Tributo
9. The essay Sobre La Indolencia de los Filipinos was published in _________ in 1890.
a. Diariong Tagalog
b. Kartilla
c. La Solidaridad
d. Tribune
10. It was a brief rebellion of 200 Filipino soldiers which became a pretext for the Spanish
suppression of the Filipino nationalist revolution.
a. Cavite Mutiny
b. GomBuZa execution
c. Indio Mutiny
d. Secularization Munity

II. IDENTIFICATION
Instruction: Identify what is being asked in the following questions. (5 points)
ANSWER QUESTION
Regulars and 1. What are the two kinds of priests in the Philippines serving the
Seculars Catholic Church during Spanish regime?
Ventura 2. What was the surname of the person considered as the savior of
El Fili?

Jose Burgos/ 3. Among the GomBurZa priests, who was the youngest?
Don Jose

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Burgos/
Burgos
Isagani 4. In the novel El Fili, who was rejected by Paulita?

Miguel de 5. Who was the founder of the University of Sto. Tomas?

Benavides

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