“Inability, not Idle”

The Indolence of the Filipinos

Jose P. Rizal

The Filipinos, who can measure up with the most dynamic people groups on the

planet, will certainly not disavow this affirmation, for the facts confirm that there one works and

battles against the atmosphere, against nature and against men. 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. In Rizal’s “Indolence of the Filipinos”, he clearly stated that

indolence in the Spanish colonization existed in Filipinos, but he explains that it is not hereditary

thus it is caused by the Spaniards.

“Man is not a brute, he is not a, machine; his object is not merely to produce.” This

description of Rizal in to all man justifies the statement that men are all man with his limits. We

tire, we rest, we meditate, and we seek leisure. Man cannot work without resting, and if in doing

so he is considered lazy, they we could say that all men are indolent. One cannot blame a country

that was deprived by its dignity, to have lost will to continue building its foundation upon the

backs if its people, especially when the fruits of their labor do not so much as their lips. We are

human being, who are motivated by our will towards achievement of our goals, and who fight

for the betterment of our society.

 “Instead of physician, read government, that is, friars, employees, etc. Instead of patient,

Philippines; instead of malady, indolence.” There we can see how brilliant Rizal is as he used

analogy in his work. And just as the same, happens in actual cases that the patient gets worse,

everybody loses their minds, and each loses will to stand and fight and waits for others to take

initiative to do the responsibility vested in them.

“The rain will wipe out the furrows, the floods will drown the seeds, plants and bushes

will grow up everywhere, and on seeing so much useless labor the hand will drop the hoe, the

laborer will desert his plow.” (part 3) Spain also extinguished the natives’ love of work because

of the implementation of forced labor. Because of the wars between Spain and other countries

in Europe as well as the Muslims in Mindanao, the Filipinos were compelled to work in shipyards,

roads, and other public works, abandoning agriculture, industry, and commerce. Just as said in

this part of the writing, people back then lost interest, for the love of their job. As they experience

the inequity and unjustifiable deeds of the Spaniards. They became bland like a dish without any

spices, without flavor.

“A man in the Philippines in an individual; he is not merely a citizen of a country.” As Rizal

clearly stated in conclusion that another thing we might add had caused indolence to Filipinos, is

the lack of unity and the absence of oneness. The people were not able to have the power to

fight the hostile attacks of the government and of the other forces of society. There would be

mouths, but no voices, there would be hands, but no people did anything, there would be

conscience, but no one stood for their right. The right to have voices, the will to fight for their

rights. No leader, to sow progress and to cultivate it so that it may be reaped in due time. In such

condition, our country, the Philippines remained a country that was lifeless, simply existing and
not living by its original purpose. It can also be deduced from the writing that the cause of

indolence attribute to our race is Spanish, there were no schools and if there were any, they lack

sufficient resources and did not present more useful knowledge the time when Filipino wanted

to study and learn. There was a crooked system of education, if it was to be considered an

education. What was being taught in the schools were repetitive prayers and other things that

could not be used by the students to lead the country to progress. There were no courses in

Agriculture, Industry, etc., which were badly needed by the Philippines during those times.

People back then were eaten by their own fears. That they didn’t have their will to fight, thinking

that someone, someone will be brave enough to fight for their freedom. Back then Filipinos have

the same mentality.

Maybe as of today, the indolence and hopeless mentality stays toward the masses. Many

corrupt officials, unsettled reforms, poverty, misdistribution of taxes and money, poor tenancy,

slow progress etc. are still there. History really repeats itself. It is from the past we can see the

significance of education. If these traits and system continue, then as history says, we will suffer

again and again.

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