The Philippines A Century Hence
By Mark Ruzzel Quezada
The Philippines A Century Hence
- originally entitled as "Filipinas dentro de cien anos"
- First published in La Solidaridad in Madrid at
September 30,1889 - February 1, 1890
- It was translated in English by Charles E.
Derbyshire
- an essay written by Jose Rizal to forecast the
Country's state after 100 years.
- It was triggered by Rizal's cause and effect
mindset, that is, the actions and events that
happened in the French Revolution has surely
impacted the Philippines
-The piece resembles the act of recognizing what
spain has done and failed to accomplish and how
we responded in this "spanish attack" as a nation
=What triggered the awakening of Filipinos'
minds and hearts regarding their plight?=
- TIME
- Eventually, the Filipinos have realized their
plight and decided that Spaniard's horrific actions
must not be further tolerated.
=Filipinos sufferings in the hands of the
Spaniards=
- Spain's Implementation of her military
policies- Governing Laws in effect increase the
mortality rate which resulted to an abrupt decrease
in population. The standard of Living worsened.
The family, basic unit of a society, was neglected.
- Passivity and Submissiveness to the Spanish
Colonizers- Friars and their imposing power
silenced the Filipino natives, in result, they were
forced to do even the actions that were against
their wills.
- Detorioration and Disapperance of Filipino
Indegenous Culture - Prior to Spain's arrival,
Philippines was known to have its own culture.
However, due to the captivating words of the
spaniards and their power, the Filipinos started
losing confidence on their heritage and past.
Doubt in Filipino native's present lifestyle arisen
and preservation of own culture was in argument
if it is to be continued. These further lead s in the
decline of our culture.
=Can Spain inhibit Philippine's Progress?
- Ignorance of the Native People regarding their
plight is Spain's Plan. However, intelect and
curiousity can't be contained, powerful minds still
arisen despite their action plan.
- Spain also thought of decreasing the populaton
as a tactic that may inhibit the nation's progress. A
war can acccomplish mass killing. However, this
possibility includes the sacrifice of their own
people and this is something they cannot afford to
do. Moreover, Filipinos have survived amidst
wars and famine, and became even more
numerous after such calamities.
- The state of living has also fueled the Filipinos
to take action despite the continous serving of
needs of the spaniards. Discontentment and the
goal of betterness was considered by the natives.
In Conclusion...
Spain has failed in its aim to inhibit Philippine's
progress. In the rise of people nationalism, fueled
by their state of living and mind growth, spain
employing actions to "satisfy" the needs of the
natives would not be enough. Spain can modify
their approach but it would all be a matter of time,
the finish line would be the awakening of the
Filipinos.
=Will the Philippine Islands continue to be a
Spanish colony, and if so, what kind of colony?
=
What are the insights of the people regarding
Philppiine's condition?
A. For the Liberal Spaniards: The ethical
condition of the people remained the same
B. For the Friars and their followers: They have
progressed
C. For many Filipino ethics: They have
retrograded
- For those who have strong spirit over the liberty
of the country, independence was assured.
- But for those who are discouraged and
disillusioned by sad experiences shall be a Prison
of the colony forever
- The Spanish were able to take hold of the
Philippines for three centuries because the
Filipinos remained faithful during three centuries,
giving up their liberty and their independence,
 sometimes dazzled by the hope of the Paradise
Promised, some times cajoled by the friendship
offered them by a noble and generous people like leans more on liberty and not for independence. He
Spanish urges to pursue freedom via negotiation with the
Spanish Government in Spain.
- Filipinos see them as protectors but sooner they
realizes that they are exploiters and executers.
Enlightment is spreading and the persecution it
suffers quickens it.
=Given the awakening of the Native Filipino
towards their situation, if the Spaniards don't alter
their approach and methods, a revolution is
expected to occur. =
To calm down the natives, the Spaniards are
forced to hear their needs.
- A Filipino representative for the Cortes and an
authority that would settle any issues of abuses to
be reported.
- Human rights to be given utmost importance.
If the desired needs were not given...
- The Philippines will still be Spain's colony, but
with the assurance of more laws and greater
liberty made for the Filipino natives.
- Declaration of Philippines as an independent
nation
If the Philippines will remain as a colony of
Spain...
- Transformation would surely occur and affect
the people. Given this scenario, the Generals
would present their respective reforms.
*** Sancho Panza in Barataria Island where he
took his seat in a table full of variety of dishes but
Padre Rezio interposed him making him as hungry
as ever
- With Sancho Plaza still under the governance of
Rezio, Sancho is limited to the dishes he would intake
due to the agreed usage and customs of Spain.
-Presenting this scenerio explains that as long as
the Philippines has no liberty of press, the nation can't
act its desires and needs that may lead to rebellion,
which happened to Sancho.
In this essay, Rizal highlighted his side that
Will they be separated from the mother
country to live independently, to fall into the
hands of other nations, or to ally themselves
with neighboring powers?
“HISTORY DOES NOT RECORD IN ITS
ANNALS ANY LASTING DOMINATION
EXERCISED BY ONE PEOPLE OVER THE
ANOTHER, OF DIFFERENT RACES, OF
DIVERSE USAGES AND CUSTOMS, OF
OPPOSITE AND DIVERGENT IDEALS. ONE
OF THE TWO HAS TO YIELD AND
SUCCUMB.”
“THE EXISTENCE OF A FOREIGN BODY
WITHIN ANOTHER ENDOWED WITH
STRENGTH AND ACTIVITY IS CONTRARY
TO ALL NATURAL AND ETHICAL LAWS.
SCIENCE TEACHES US THAT IT EITHER
ASSIMILATED, DESTROYS THE ORGANISM,
IS ELIMINATED OR BECOMES ENCYSTED.”
Philippines will declare its independece if...
- their population will not assimilate to the
Spanish nation
- the dominators do not enter into the spirit of
their inhabitants
- equitable laws and free liberal reforms do not
make each forget that they belong to different
races
- both peoples be not amalgamated to constitute
one mass, socially and politically, homogeneous ,
that is, not harassed by opposing tendencies and
antagonistic ideas and interests
Possible Colonizers
- In the end of his essay, Rizal predicted a
possibility of a political intervention of European
Countries and US.
- England, Germany, France, Holland, Japan,
United States of America
REFERENCES
- http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2011/0
8/philippines-century-hence-summary-and.html
- The Jose Rizal Life works and writing of a genius,
writer, scientist, and Nationl Hero – Gregorio F. Zaide
& Sona M. Zaide
- http://rizalcontraryessays.blogspot.com/2005/03/p
hilippines-century-hence.html