CHAPTER I

INDOLENCE HAS BEEN GREATLY MISUSED IN THE SENSE OF LITTLE LOVE FOR WORK AND LACK
OF ENERGY. DR. SANCIANO, IN HIS PROGRESO DE FILIPINAS, HAS TAKEN UP THE QUESTION ON
THE INDOLENCE OF THE FILIPINOS. THERE IS A NEED TO STUDY THIS QUESTION THOROUGHLY
WITHOUT SENSITIVENESS, PREJUDICE, AND PESSIMISM HOWEVER BITTER IT IS, AS WE CAN
ONLY SERVE OUR COUNTRY BY TELLING THE TRUTH WITHOUT IMPARTIALITY. IN EXAMINING
THE LIFE OF OUR COUNTRY, INDOLENCE DOES EXIST. IT IS OUR PREDISPOSITION, HOWEVER, IT
IS NOT THE CAUSE BUT RATHER THE EFFECT OF THE TROUBLES AND BACKWARDNESS OF THE
COUNTRY.

NATURE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH INDOLENCE. A HOT CLIMATE REQUIRES QUIET AND
REST, JUST AS COLD INCITES TO LABOR AND ACTION. AN HOUR'S WORK UNDER THE BURNING
SUN IS EQUAL TO A DAY'S WORK IN A TEMPERATE CLIMATE. THE EUROPEANS WHO LIVE IN THE
COLONIES WERE SURROUNDED BY NUMEROUS SERVANTS, RIDE IN CARRIAGE, AND THEY LIVE
AND EAT BETTER. THEY WORK FOR THEMSELVES TO GET RICH, WITH THE HOPE OF THE
FUTURE, FREE AND RESPECTED, WHILE THE POOR COLONISTS ARE BADLY NOURISHED, HAVE
NO HOPES, TOIL FOR OTHERS, AND WORK UNDER FORCE AND COMPULSION. PERHAPS THEIR
(EUROPEANS) REPLY TO THIS WILL BE THAT WHITE MEN ARE NOT MADE TO STAND THE
SEVERITY OF TROPICAL CLIMATE. A MISTAKE! A MAN CAN LIVE IN ANY CLIMATE, IF HE WILL
ONLY ADAPT HIMSELF TO ITS REQUIREMENT AND CONDITION. WHAT KILLS THEM IN HOT
COUNTRIES IS THE ABUSE OF LIQUORS AND THE ATTEMPT TO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE
NATURE OF THEIR OWN COUNTRY. WE INHABITANTS OF HOT COUNTRIES LIVE WELL IN
NORTHERN EUROPE. EUROPEANS CAN ALSO STAND THE TORRID ZONE, IF ONLY THEY WOULD
GET RID OF THEIR PREJUDICES.

CHAPTER 2

INDOLENCE IN THE PHILIPPINES IS A CHRONIC MALADY, BUT NOT A HEREDITARY ONE. BEFORE
THE ARRIVAL OF THE EUROPEANS, THE MALAYAN FILIPINOS CARRIED ON AN ACTIVE TRADE,
NOT ONLY AMONG THEMSELVES BUT ALSO WITH ALL THE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. THEY
MAINTAINED RELATIONS AS FAR AS SIAM (THAILAND). CHINA’S COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH
THE ISLANDS WERE KNOWN FOR HONESTY AS THEIR PRODUCTS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THE
PEOPLE IN THE ISLANDS THAT THEY COULDN’T REMEMBER BUT WERE PAID UPON THEIR
RETURN. PIGAFFETA, THE CHRONICLER OF MAGELLAN IN 1521, ALSO NOTICED IN SAMAR THE
COURTESY AND KINDNESS OF THE INHABITANTS WHO CARRIED THEIR COMMERCE IN THEIR
BOATS. LEGAZPI’S EXPEDITION (1565) MET IN BUTUAN VARIOUS TRADERS IN LUZON LADEN
WITH MANY PRODUCTS AND PROVISIONS FOR THE SOUTHERN ISLANDS (GASPAR DE SAN
AGUSTIN). THE ISLAND OF CEBU WAS VERY POPULOUS WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE WITH A PORT FREQUENTED BY MANY SHIPS THAT CAME FROM THE ISLANDS AND
KINGDOMS NEAR INDIA (ANTONIO DE MORGA). EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PEACEFULLY
RECEIVED, DISCORD SOON AROSE (COLIN). THE CITY WAS TAKEN BY FORCE AND BURNED.
FOOD SUPPLIES WERE DESTROYED AND FAMINE BROKE OUT BUT THE NEIGHBORING ISLANDS
QUICKLY RELIEVED THE NEED. IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY THING THAT FIFTY YEARS BEFORE THE
ARRIVAL OF THE SPANIARDS IN LUZON, THERE WERE ALREADY NATIVES THERE WHO
UNDERSTOOD CASTILLIAN.

THE NATIVES HAVE FORGOTTEN MUCH ABOUT FARMING, RAISING POULTRY, STOCK AND
COTTON, AND WEAVING CLOTH AFTER THE COUNTRY WAS CONQUERED (MORGA). NOT ONLY
MORGA, CHIRINO, COLIN, ARGENSOLA, DE SAN AGUSTIN AND OTHERS AGREE IN THIS MATTER,
BUT MODERN TRAVELERS ASSERT THE SAME THING.

CHAPTER III

MAN WORKS FOR AN OBJECT. REMOVE THE OBJECT AND REDUCE HIM TO INACTION. THE
WARS, INTERNAL DISORDERS, PIRACY, FORCE LABOR GREATLY REDUCED THE NUMBER OF
FILIPINOS. THOSE NATIVES WHO JOINED THE INSURRECTIONS FACED THEIR DEATHS EITHER
DURING THE SKIRMISHES OR AS RESULT OF THEIR PUNISHMENTS. THE INVASIONS OF
LIMAHONG AND THE DUTCH, AND THE CONTINUAL WARS OF SPAIN TO EXTEND HER COLONIES
IN BORNEO, MOLUCCAS, AND INDO-CHINA PLUNGED THE INHABITANTS TO A WARTHEY ARE
NOT A PART OF. THE PIRATES FROM MINDANAO DID GREAT DAMAGE FOR THEIR ATROCITIES
AND MURDERS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT TO PRESERVE THEIR INDEPENDENCE IT WAS
NECESSARY TO WEAKEN THE SPANIARDS BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF HIS SUBJECTS, OR
BECAUSE OF HATRED AGAINST THE CRISTIAN FILIPINOS WHO, BEING THEIR OWN RACE, SERVED
THE STRANGER IN ORDER TO DEPRIVE THEM OF THEIR PRECIOUS LIBERTY. SOME
ENCOMENDEROS ALSO SOLD THE NATIVES TO SLAVERY TO PAY THE TAXES LEVIED UPON THEM.
THE FILIPINOS WERE ALSO ASKED TO WORK IN THE SHIPYARDS EITHER AS SHIPBUILDERS,
TIMBER CUTTER, OR ROWERS LEAVING THEIR FAMILIES AND FARMS UNATTENDED WITHOUT
RECEIVING PA. ASIDE FROM CAUSING DEPOPULATION, THOSE WHO JOINED THE WAR OF SPAIN
AND THOSE WHO WORK IN THE POLO ALSO ABANDONED THEIR INDUSTRY, AGRICULTURE AND
COMMERCE.
CHAPTER IV
WE DESERVE OUR FATE. THE FILIPINOS DO NOT ACT FREELY AND ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR
THEIR OWN ACTIONS NEITHER THEIR MISFORTUNES NOR WOES. BUT THEY HAVE ALSO A
LARGE PART IN THE CONTINUATION OF SUCH A DISORDER. WHY WORK? ASKED MANY
NATIVES. THE CURATE SAYS THAT THE RICH MAN WILL NOT GO TO HEAVEN AND IS LIABLE TO
ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE LIKE APPOINTMENT TO GOVERNMENT POSITIONS AND ALL ACTIONS
ARE BEING WATCHED BY THE OFFICERS OF JUSTICE. IT IS STRANGE THAT THE PHILIPPINES
REMAIN POOR IN SPITE OF ITS FERTILE SOIL. THE COUNTRIES MOST FLOURISHING NOW DATE
THEIR DEVELOPMENT FROM THE DAY OF THEIR LIBERTY. THE MOST COMMERCIAL AND MOST
INDUSTRIOUS COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN THE FREEST COUNTRIES LIKE FRANCE, ENGLAND, AND
THE UNITED STATES. HONGKONG HAS MORE COMMERCIAL MOVEMENT THAN THE
PHILIPPINES BECAUSE IT IS FREE AND IS WELL GOVERNED.

THE GOVERNMENT TREATED THE MERCHANTS FROM BORNEO, SIAM, CAMBODIA, AND JAPAN
WITH GREAT MISTRUST AND SEVERITY UNTIL THEY FINALLY CEASED TO COME TO THE
COUNTRY. THE ONLY COUNTRIES WITH WHICH THE PHILIPPINES CONTINUED TO HAVE
RELATIONS WERE CHINA AND MEXICO (NUEVA ESPANYA). FROM THESE TRADES, ONLY CHINA
AND A FEW PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS IN MANILA GOT ANY BENEFIT. THE COASTWISE TRADE THAT
WAS ACTIVE BEFORE ALSO DIED OUT DUE TO THE PIRATICAL ATTACKS OF THE MALAYS OF THE
SOUTH. THE INTERNAL TRADE ALMOST ENTIRELY DISAPPEARED DUE TO THE RESTRICTIONS,
PASSPORTS, AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT.

WITH THE FEAR OF UPRISINGS AND CONSPIRACIES FROM THE NATIVES, THE GOVERNMENT
RESTRICTED THE MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE AND ARMS. FARMERS CANNOT GO TO THEIR FARMS
WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE AUTHORITIES (MORGA). THE MORO PIRATES DISAPPEARED BUT
OUTLAWS INFESTED THE FIELDS AND HELD RANSOM TO THE FARMERS WHO WERE
DEFENSELESS DUE TO THE BANNING OF ARMS. THUS, THE FARMERS ABANDONED THEIR
FARMS AND THEIR WORKS AND TOOK GAMBLING AS THE BEST MEANS OF SECURING A
LIVELIHOOD. THE PASSION FOR GAMBLING IS INNATE AMONG THE MALAYS. PIGAFFETA
WRITES THAT COCK-FIGHTING IS HELD IN THE ISLAND OF PARAGUA. IT WAS NOT INTRODUCED
BY THE SPANIARDS BUT THEY HAVE FOSTERED AND PERFECTED IT AND PRODUCED VICE
AMONG THE NATIVES WHICH BREEDS DISLIKE FOR STEADY AND DIFFICULT TOIL BY ITS
PROMISE OF SUDDEN WEALTH.

THE LACK OF MATERIAL INDUCEMENT AND THE APATHY OF THE GOVERNMENT TOWARD
COMMERCE AND AGRICULTURE FORMS UNPRODUCTIVE PEOPLE. THE MONOPOLY OF TRADE
OF THE GOVERNOR HINDERED THE NATIVES TO ENGAGE IN TRADE. THE GOVERNOR DEVOTED
HIMSELF ALMOST WHOLLY TO TRADE AND MONOPOLIZES ALL THE BUSINESS AND THINKS
ONLY OF DESTROYING ALL COMPETITION THAT MAY TROUBLE HIM OR THOSE WHO ATTEMPT
TO PARTICIPATE IN HIS PROFITS (SAN AGUSTIN). THOSE FILIPINOS WHO TRIED TO ENGAGE IN
TRADE ENCOUNTERED DIFFICULTIES TO SECURE FROM THE GOVERNMENT A PERMIT WITH THE
MANY DOCUMENTS THEY HAVE TO SECURE. THEY HAVE TO RELY UPON THE GOODWILL OR THE
INFLUENCE OF THE AUTHORITIES ON A GOOD BRIBE IN ORDER FOR THEIR APPLICATION NOT TO
BE PIGEON-HOLD. THERE IS NO ENCOURAGEMENT AT ALL FOR THE MANUFACTURER OR
FARMER, NO AID WHEN POOR CROP COMES, WHEN LOCUSTS OR CYCLONE DESTROY THE
FIELDS. IT DOES NOT SEEK A MARKET FOR THE PRODUCTS BURDENED WITH TAXES AND HAS NO
FREE ENTRY IN THE PORTS OF THE MOTHER COUNTRY (SPAIN). NOTHING FROM THE
PHILIPPINES IS KNOWN NEITHER ITS SUGAR, COFFE, HEMP, FINE CLOTHS, NOR ITS ILOCANO
BLANKETS. THE BEST PLANTATIONS AND BEST TRACTS OF LAND ARE IN THE HANDS OF THE
RELIGIOUS CORPORATIONS AND IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY MAY TOWNS DO NOT
PROGRESS IN SPITE OF THE EFFORTS OF THE INHABITANTS.

ALONG WITH THE PRODIGALITY AND HOSPITALITY OF THE FILIPINOS THAT CAUSED THEM
MISFORTUNES ARE RELIGIOUS FUNCTIONS, THE GREAT NUMBER OF FIESTAS, THE LONG
MASSES AND NOVENAS, AND THE NIGHTS FOR THE PROCESSIONS AND ROSARIES THAT
CONSUMED MUCH OF THEIR TIME AND MONEY. THE NATIVES SPENT THEIR LIVES IN GIVING
THEIR GOLD TO THE CHURCH IN THE HOPE OF MIRACLES AND OTHER WONDERFUL THINGS.
THE LACK OF CAPITALAND ABSENCE OF MEANS PARALYZE ALL MOVEMENTS. THE NATIVES
WERE PERFORCE TO BE INDOLENT FOR IF ANY MONEY REMAINED TO HIM FROM THE TRIALS,
IMPOSTS, AND EXACTIONS, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GIVE THEM TO THE CURATE FOR BULLS,
SCAPULARIES, CANDLES, NOVENARIES, ETC. THE DOCTRINE OF RELIGION DEPRIVED THEM OF
ALL ENERGY AND JUST ENTRUSTED GREATLY IN GOD TO DO THINGS FOR THEM. WE HAVE
NOTICED THAT THE COUNTRIES WHICH BELIEVED MOST IN MIRACLES ARE THE LAZIEST, JUST AS
SPOILED CHILDREN ARE THE MOST ILL-MANNERED.

THE ABSENCE OF MORAL STIMULUS INDUCED INDOLENCE. THOSE WHO PERSEVERED TO PASS
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS AND WHO OCCUPIED CERTAIN POSITIONS IN THE GOVERNMENT
WERE LATER DISPLACED OR THEIR OFFICES ARE ABOLISHED WITHOUT APPARENT REASONS.
WHEN A PENINSULAR STUDENT WON IN COMPETITIONS, ALL THE NEWSPAPERS EXTOL HIM
WHILE NOT ONE WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE GOVERNMENT, OR FROM ANYBODY
WHEN A NATIVE WHO HAS CULTIVATED THE LANGUAGE AND LETTERS OF THE MOTHER
COUNTRY WINS.

THE PRINCIPAL AND MOST TERRIBLE REASON OF THE MISFORTUNES OF THE FILIPINOS IS
EDUCATION. THEIR TRAINING IS BRUTALIZED, DEPRESSIVE, AND ANTI-HUMAN. THE SCHOOLS
FOUNDED IN THE COUNTRY ARE NOT ENOUGH, AMOUNTING TO FIVE TO TEN YEARS, AND
THEIR EFFECTS ARE NEUTRALIZED. THE PRIESTS BOLDLY PROCLAIM THAT IT IS EVIL FOR THE
NATIVES TO KNOW CASTILLAN, THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE SEPARATED FROM THEIR
CARABAOS, NOT TO VALUE ANY ASPIRATIONS, AND SO ON. THEY PLACED THE NATIVES ON A
LEVEL WITH THE BEAST, DEPRIVING THEM OF THEIR DIGNITY AND SELF-ESTEEM.

CHAPTER V
PEOPLES AND GOVERNMENTS ARE CORRELATED AND COMPLEMENTARY. LIKE PEOPLE, LIKE
GOVERNMENT. THE DEFECTS OF TRAINING DUE TO LIMITED, TYRANNICAL AND STERILE
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM RESULTED TO STAGNATION. INDOLENCE IS A COROLLARY DERIVED
FROM THE LACK OF STIMULUS AND OF VITALITY. THE MODESTY INFUSED TO THE NATIVES
INSINUATED INFERIORITY. THE REITERARION THAT THEY SHOULDN'T KNOW MORE BECAUSE
THEY BELONGED TO AN INFERIOR RACE WAS ENGRAVED IN THEIR MINDS AND THENCE MOULD
AND PREVADE ALL THEIR ACTIONS. A CHILD WHO TRIES TO BE ANYTHING ELSE IS BLAMED WITH
VANITY AND PRESUMPTION AND THE CURATE RIDICULES HIM WITH CRUEL SARCASM. THIS
RESULTED TO THE LACK OF ALLOWING EXPANSION TO HIS ADVENTURESOME SPIRIT AND
BEAUTIFUL PROSPECTS OF THE FUTURE. IN ORDER THAT HE MAY PROGRESS, IT IS NECESSARY
THAT A REVOLUTIONARY SPIRIT SHOULD BOIL IN HIS VEINS SINCE PROGRESS NECESSARILY
REQUIRES CHANGE.

THE LACK OF NATIONAL SENTIMENT BRINGS ANOTHER EVIL, WHICH IS THE ABSENCE OF
OPPOSITIONS TO MEASURES PREJUDICIAL TO THE PEOPLE AND THE ABSENCE OF ANY GOOD
INITIATIVE. NO ONE PROTESTS UNTIL LATER THE EVILS ARE FELT. A MAN IN THE PHILIPPINES IS
ONLY AN INDIVIDUAL; HE IS NOT A MEMBER OF A NATION. HE IS FORBIDDEN AND DENIED THE
RIGHT OF ASSOCIATION, AND IS THEREFORE, WEAK AND SLUGGISH.

WE HAVE HEARD MANY COMPLAINTS, AND EVERY DAY WE READ IN THE PAPERS ABOUT THE
EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO COMBAT INDOLENCE. SOME PROPOSED INCREASING THE
NATIVES' NEEDS AND RAISING THE TAXES BUT RESULTED TO HIGHER CRIME RATES. WITHOUT
EDUCATION AND LIBERTY, NO REFORM IS POSSIBLE; NO MEASURE CAN GIVE THE RESULT
DESIRED. OBSTACLES SHOULD BE REMOVED SUCH AS THE FEAR THAT AN INTELLIGENT PEOPLE
DESIRE SEPARATION FROM A COLONIZING NATION.

WE DESIRE A POLICY THAT IS SINCERE AND CONSISTENT, HIGHLY CIVILIZING, AND FOR THE
SAKE OF THE GOOD SUCH AS LEAVING THE GOVERNMENT TO NATIVE RULERS, BUILDING
ROADS, FREEDOM OF TRADE, FOSTER INDUSTRY BY PUTTING INTELLIGENT EMPLOYEES, JUST
JUDGES, ALL WELL PAID, AND LAY ASIDE RELIGIOUS PRETEXTS. THIS POLICY HAS THE
ADVANTAGE IN THAT WHILE IT MAY LULL THE INSTINCTS OF LIBERTY WHOLLY TO SLEEP, YET
THE DAY WHEN THE MOTHER COUNTRY LOSES HER COLONIES SHE WILL AT LEAST HAVE THE
GOLD AMASSED AND NOT THE REGRET OF HAVING REARED UNGRATEFUL CHILDREN.