Lesson 3 : The Rebirth of Freedom
A. Historical Background
After 300 years of passivity under Spanish rule, the Filipino spirit reawakened when the 3 priests Gomez, Burgos and Zamora were guillotined without sufficient evidence of guilt. This occurred on the 17 th of February. This was buttressed with the spirit of liberalism when the Philippines opened its doors to world trade and with the coming of a liberal leader in the person of Governor Carlos Maria de la Torre. The Spaniards were unable to suppress the tide of rebellion among the Filipinos.
The once religious spirit transformed itself into one of nationalism and the Filipinos demanded changes in the government and in the church. A. The Propaganda Movement (1872-1896) This movement was spearheaded mostly by the intellectual middle-class like Jose Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar; Graciano Lopez Jaena, Antonio Luna, Mariano Ponce, Jose Ma. Panganiban, and Pedro Paterno. The objectives of this movement were to seek reforms and changes like the following:
1. To get equal treatment for the Filipinos and the Spaniards under the law.
2. To make the Philippines a colony of Spain.
3. To restore Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes.
4. To Filipinize the parishes. 5. To give the Filipinos freedom of speech, of the press, assembly and for redress of grievances.
B. Highlights of the Propaganda Movement
There were three principal leaders of the Propaganda movement. They were Jose P. Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena. Here are highlights about them and what they have done for our country.
2. EL FILIBUSTERISMO. This is a sequel to the NOLI. While the NOLI exposed the evils in society, the FILI exposed those in the government and in the church. However, the NOLI has been dubbed the novel of society while that of FILI is that of politics.
3. MI ULTIMO ADIOS (My Last Farewell). This was a poem by Rizal while he was incarcerated at Fort Santiago and is one that can compare favorably with the best in the world. It was only after his death when his name was affixed to the poem.
4. SOBRE LA INDOLENCIA DE LOS FILIPINOS (On the Indolence of the Filipinos). An essay on the so-called Filipino indolence and an evaluation of the reasons for such allegations.
5. FILIPINAS DENTRO DE CIEN AÑOS (The Philippines within a Century). An essay predicting the increasing influence of the US in the Philippines and the decreasing interest of Europe here. Rizal predicted that if there is any other colonizer of the Philippines in the future, it would be the US.
6. A LA JUVENTUD FILIPINA (To the Filipino Youth). A poem Rizal dedicated to the Filipino youth studying at UST.
7. EL CONSEJO DE LES DIOSES (The Council of the Gods). An allegorical play manifesting admiration for Cervantes.
8. JUNTO AL PASIG (Beside the Pasig River). Written by Rizal when he was 14 years of age.
9. ME PIDEN VERSOS (You asked Me for Verses); 1882 and A LAS FLORES DE HEIDELBERG (To the Flowers of Heidelberg). Two poems manifesting Rizal’s unusual depth of emotion.
10. NOTAS A LA OBRA SUCESOS DE LAS FILIPINAS FOR EL DR. ANTONIO DE MORGA (Notes on Philippine Events by Dr. Antonio de Morga): 1889
11. P. JACINTO: MEMORIAS DE UN ESTUDIANTE DE MANILA (P. Jacinto: Memoirs of a Student of Manila) 1882 12. DIARIO DE VIAJE DE NORTE AMERICA (Diary of a Voyage to North America)
His parents were Julian H. del Pilar, noted Filipino writer and Biasa Gatmaita. His brother was the priest Fr. Toribio del Pilar who was banished to Marianas in 1872. Because there were many children in the family, Marcelo gave up his share of his inheritance for his other brothers and sisters. Marcelo started schooling at the school of Mr. Flores and then transferred to that of San Jose before UST. His last year in law school was interrupted for 8 years after he had quarrel with the parish priest during a baptism at San Miguel, Manila in 1880.
He established the Diariong Tagalog in 1883 where he exposed the evils of the Spanish government in the Philippines and in order to avoid the false accusations hurried at him by the priests. To avoid banishment, he was forced to travel to Spain in 1888. He was assisted by Fr. Serrano Laktaw in publishing a different Cathecism and Passion Book wherein they made fun of the priests. They also made the DASALAN AT TOCSOHAN and KAIINGAT KAYO taken from the word IGAT, a kind of snake fish caught in politics.
Upon his arrival in Spain, he replaced Graciano Lopez Jaena as editor of LA SOLIDARIDAD, a paper which became the vehicle thru which reforms in the government could be worked out. This did not last long for he got sick and even to reach Hong Kong from where he could arouse his countrymen. He died of tuberculosis in Spain but before he died, he asked his companions to tell his wife and children that he was sorry he wasn’t able to bid them goodbye; to tell others about the fate of our countrymen and to continue helping the country.
Plaridel has truly earned a niche in the history of our nation. Even today, countless streets have been named after him. The former Kingwa has been named Plaridel, the Malolos High School is now Marcelo H. del Pilar High School and above all, his patriotism and bravery will remain alive in our memories. Writings of Marcelo H. del Pilar :
1. PAGIBIG SA TINUBUANG LUPA (Love of Country). Translated from the Spanish AMOR PATRIA of Rizal, published on August 20, 1882, in Diariong Tagalog.
2. KAIINGAT KAYO (Be Careful). A humorous and sarcastic dig in answer to Fr. Jose Rodriquez in the novel NOLI of Rizal, published in Barcelona in 1888. He used Dolores Manapat as pen-name here.
3. DASALAN AT TOCSOHAN (Prayers and Jokes). Similar to a cathecism but sarcastically done agains the parish priests, published in Barcelona in 1888. Because of this, del Pilar was called “filibuster.” Done in admirable tone of supplication and excellent use of Tagalog.
4. ANG CADAQUILAAN NG DIOS (God’s Goodness). Published in Barcelona, it was also like a cathecism sarcastically aimed against the parish priests but also contains a philosophy of the power and intelligence of God and an appreciation for and love for nature.
5. SAGOT SA ESPANYA SA HIBIK NG PILIPINAS (Answer to Spain on the Plea of the Filipinos). A poem pleading for change from Spain but that Spain is already old and weak to grant any aid to the Philippines. This poem is in answer to that of Hermenigildo Flores’ Hibik sa Pilipinas (A Plea from the Philippines).
6. DUPLUHAN…DALIT…MGA BUGTONG (A poetical contest in narrative sequence, psalms, riddles). A compilation of poems on the oppression by the priests in the Philippines.
7. LA SOBERANIA EN PILIPINAS (Sovereignty in the Philippines). This shows the injustices of the friars to the Pilipinos.
8. POR TELEFONO (By Telephone)
9. PASIONG DAPAT IPAG-ALAB NG PUSO NG TAONG BABASA (Passion that should arouse the hearts of the readers)
1. ANG FRAY BOTOD (Friar Botod). One of his works written in Jaro, Iloilo in 1876, six years after the Cavite Revolt attacking the friars in the Philippines. He exposed how some of the friars were greedy, ambitious and immoral.
2. LA HIJA DEL FRAILE (The Child of the Friar) and EVERYTING IS HAMBUG (Everything is mere show). Here Jaena explains the tragedy of marrying a Spaniard.
3. SA MGA PILIPINO...1891… A speech which aimed to improve the condition of the Filipinos to become free and progressive.
4. TALUMPATING PAGUNITA KAY KOLUMBUS (An Oration to Commemorate Columbus). A speech he delivered in Madrid on the 39 th anniversary of the discovery of American
5. EN HONOR DEL PRESIDENTE MORAYTA DE LA ASSOCIACION HISPANO FILIPINO 1884. Here he praised Gen. Morayta for his equal treatment of the Filipinos.
6. EN HONOR DE LOS ARTISTAS LUNA Y RESURRECCION HIDALGO. A sincere expression of praise for the paintings of Hidalgo on the condition of the Filipinos under the Spaniards.
7. AMOR A ESPAÑA O A LAS JOVENES DE MALOLOS (Love for Spain or To the Youth of Malolos). The theme is about how girls were taught Spanish in schools and whose teachers were the governors-general of the place. 8. EL BANDOLERISMO EN PILIPINAS (Banditry in the Philippines). Jaena refuted the existence of banditry in the Philippines and of how there should be laws on robbery and other reforms.
9. HONOR EN PILIPINAS (Honor in the Philippines). The triumphant exposition of Luna, Resurrecion and Pardo de Tavera of the thesis that intellect or knowledge gives honor to the Philippines.
10. PAG-ALIS SA BUWIS SA PILIPINAS (Abolition of Taxes in the Philippines)
11. INSTITUCION NG PILIPINAS (Sufferings of the Philippines). Jaena refers here to the wrong management of education in the Philippines 1887.
B. OTHER PROPAGANDISTS
2. SE DEVIERTEN (How They Diverted Themselves). A dig at a dance of the Spaniards where the people were very crowded.
3. LA TERTULIA FILIPINA (A Filipino Conference or Feast). Depicts a Filipino custom which he believed was much better than the Spanish.
4. POR MADRID (For Madrid). A denouncement of Spaniards who claim that the Philippines is a colony of Spain but who think of Filipinos as foreigners when it comes to collecting taxes for stamps.
5. LA CASA DE HUEPEDES (The Landlady’s House). Depicts a landlady who looks for boarders not for money but in order to get a husband for her child.
1. MGA ALAMAT NG BULACAN (Legend of Bulacan). Contains legends, and folklores of his native town.
2. PAGPUGOT KAY LONGINOS (The Beheading of Longinos). A play shown at the plaza of Malolos, Bulacan.
3. SOBRE FILIPINOS (About the Filipinos)
4. ANG MGA PILIPINO SA INDO-TSINA (The Filipinos in Indo-China)
2. A MI MADRE (To My Mother). Shows the importance of a mother especially in the home.
3. SAMPAGUITA Y POESIAS VARIAS (Sampaguitas and Varied Poems). A collection of his poems.
2. ANG AKING BUHAY (My Life)
3. SU PLANO DE ESTUDIO (Your Study Plan)
4. EL PENSAMIENTO (The Thinking)
After 300 years of passivity under Spanish rule, the Filipino spirit reawakened when the 3 priests Gomez, Burgos and Zamora were guillotined without sufficient evidence of guilt. This occurred on the 17 th of February. This was buttressed with the spirit of liberalism when the Philippines opened its doors to world trade and with the coming of a liberal leader in the person of Governor Carlos Maria de la Torre. The Spaniards were unable to suppress the tide of rebellion among the Filipinos.
The once religious spirit transformed itself into one of nationalism and the Filipinos demanded changes in the government and in the church. A. The Propaganda Movement (1872-1896) This movement was spearheaded mostly by the intellectual middle-class like Jose Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar; Graciano Lopez Jaena, Antonio Luna, Mariano Ponce, Jose Ma. Panganiban, and Pedro Paterno. The objectives of this movement were to seek reforms and changes like the following:
1. To get equal treatment for the Filipinos and the Spaniards under the law.
2. To make the Philippines a colony of Spain.
3. To restore Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes.
4. To Filipinize the parishes. 5. To give the Filipinos freedom of speech, of the press, assembly and for redress of grievances.
B. Highlights of the Propaganda Movement
There were three principal leaders of the Propaganda movement. They were Jose P. Rizal, Marcelo H. del Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena. Here are highlights about them and what they have done for our country.
- DR. JOSE P. RIZAL Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Alonzo y Realonda was born on June 19, 1861 at Calamba, Laguna. His first teacher was his mother Teodora Alonozo. He studied at the Ateneo de Manila, started medicine at UST and finished at the Universidad Central of Madrid. He also studied at the University of Berlin, Leipzig and Heidelberg. He died by musketry in the hands of the Spaniards on December 30, 1896 on charges of sedition and rebellion against the Spaniards. His pen-name was Laong Laan and Dimasalang. His books and writings:
2. EL FILIBUSTERISMO. This is a sequel to the NOLI. While the NOLI exposed the evils in society, the FILI exposed those in the government and in the church. However, the NOLI has been dubbed the novel of society while that of FILI is that of politics.
3. MI ULTIMO ADIOS (My Last Farewell). This was a poem by Rizal while he was incarcerated at Fort Santiago and is one that can compare favorably with the best in the world. It was only after his death when his name was affixed to the poem.
4. SOBRE LA INDOLENCIA DE LOS FILIPINOS (On the Indolence of the Filipinos). An essay on the so-called Filipino indolence and an evaluation of the reasons for such allegations.
5. FILIPINAS DENTRO DE CIEN AÑOS (The Philippines within a Century). An essay predicting the increasing influence of the US in the Philippines and the decreasing interest of Europe here. Rizal predicted that if there is any other colonizer of the Philippines in the future, it would be the US.
6. A LA JUVENTUD FILIPINA (To the Filipino Youth). A poem Rizal dedicated to the Filipino youth studying at UST.
7. EL CONSEJO DE LES DIOSES (The Council of the Gods). An allegorical play manifesting admiration for Cervantes.
8. JUNTO AL PASIG (Beside the Pasig River). Written by Rizal when he was 14 years of age.
9. ME PIDEN VERSOS (You asked Me for Verses); 1882 and A LAS FLORES DE HEIDELBERG (To the Flowers of Heidelberg). Two poems manifesting Rizal’s unusual depth of emotion.
10. NOTAS A LA OBRA SUCESOS DE LAS FILIPINAS FOR EL DR. ANTONIO DE MORGA (Notes on Philippine Events by Dr. Antonio de Morga): 1889
11. P. JACINTO: MEMORIAS DE UN ESTUDIANTE DE MANILA (P. Jacinto: Memoirs of a Student of Manila) 1882 12. DIARIO DE VIAJE DE NORTE AMERICA (Diary of a Voyage to North America)
- MARCELO H. DEL PILAR Marcelo H. del Pilar is popularly known for his pen name of Plaridel, Pupdoh, Piping Dilat and Dolores Manapat. He was born at Cupang, San Nicolas, Bulacan on August 30, 1850.
His parents were Julian H. del Pilar, noted Filipino writer and Biasa Gatmaita. His brother was the priest Fr. Toribio del Pilar who was banished to Marianas in 1872. Because there were many children in the family, Marcelo gave up his share of his inheritance for his other brothers and sisters. Marcelo started schooling at the school of Mr. Flores and then transferred to that of San Jose before UST. His last year in law school was interrupted for 8 years after he had quarrel with the parish priest during a baptism at San Miguel, Manila in 1880.
He established the Diariong Tagalog in 1883 where he exposed the evils of the Spanish government in the Philippines and in order to avoid the false accusations hurried at him by the priests. To avoid banishment, he was forced to travel to Spain in 1888. He was assisted by Fr. Serrano Laktaw in publishing a different Cathecism and Passion Book wherein they made fun of the priests. They also made the DASALAN AT TOCSOHAN and KAIINGAT KAYO taken from the word IGAT, a kind of snake fish caught in politics.
Upon his arrival in Spain, he replaced Graciano Lopez Jaena as editor of LA SOLIDARIDAD, a paper which became the vehicle thru which reforms in the government could be worked out. This did not last long for he got sick and even to reach Hong Kong from where he could arouse his countrymen. He died of tuberculosis in Spain but before he died, he asked his companions to tell his wife and children that he was sorry he wasn’t able to bid them goodbye; to tell others about the fate of our countrymen and to continue helping the country.
Plaridel has truly earned a niche in the history of our nation. Even today, countless streets have been named after him. The former Kingwa has been named Plaridel, the Malolos High School is now Marcelo H. del Pilar High School and above all, his patriotism and bravery will remain alive in our memories. Writings of Marcelo H. del Pilar :
1. PAGIBIG SA TINUBUANG LUPA (Love of Country). Translated from the Spanish AMOR PATRIA of Rizal, published on August 20, 1882, in Diariong Tagalog.
2. KAIINGAT KAYO (Be Careful). A humorous and sarcastic dig in answer to Fr. Jose Rodriquez in the novel NOLI of Rizal, published in Barcelona in 1888. He used Dolores Manapat as pen-name here.
3. DASALAN AT TOCSOHAN (Prayers and Jokes). Similar to a cathecism but sarcastically done agains the parish priests, published in Barcelona in 1888. Because of this, del Pilar was called “filibuster.” Done in admirable tone of supplication and excellent use of Tagalog.
4. ANG CADAQUILAAN NG DIOS (God’s Goodness). Published in Barcelona, it was also like a cathecism sarcastically aimed against the parish priests but also contains a philosophy of the power and intelligence of God and an appreciation for and love for nature.
5. SAGOT SA ESPANYA SA HIBIK NG PILIPINAS (Answer to Spain on the Plea of the Filipinos). A poem pleading for change from Spain but that Spain is already old and weak to grant any aid to the Philippines. This poem is in answer to that of Hermenigildo Flores’ Hibik sa Pilipinas (A Plea from the Philippines).
6. DUPLUHAN…DALIT…MGA BUGTONG (A poetical contest in narrative sequence, psalms, riddles). A compilation of poems on the oppression by the priests in the Philippines.
7. LA SOBERANIA EN PILIPINAS (Sovereignty in the Philippines). This shows the injustices of the friars to the Pilipinos.
8. POR TELEFONO (By Telephone)
9. PASIONG DAPAT IPAG-ALAB NG PUSO NG TAONG BABASA (Passion that should arouse the hearts of the readers)
- GRACIANO LOPEZ JAENA (1856-1896) A most notable hero and genius of the Philippines, Graciano Lopez Jaena was born on December 18, 1856 and died on January 20, 1896. He is pride of Jaro, Iloilo, he won the admiration of the Spaniards and Europeans. He is a known writer and orator in the Philippines. He wrote 100 speeches which were published by Remigio Garcia, former bookstore owner in Manila Filatica and which are still read up to no by modern Filipinos. Lopez Jaena left the Philippines in 1887 with the help of Don Claudio Lopez, a rich uncle, in order to escape punishment form his enemies and arrived at Valencia, the center of the Republican movement of the Spaniards. He gained the acquaintance of the high officials like Piy Margall, Morayta, Moret, Castelar, and Salmeron. From Valencia, he moved to Barcelona where he established the first magazine LA SOLIDARIDAD. This later became the official voice of the Association Hispano de Filipinas (a Filipino-Spanish Association) composed of Filipinos and Spaniards who worked for reforms in the Philippines. Because of this, Jaena successfully showed the Spaniards and the people of the world how a newspaperman can introduce changes in law and reforms towards a better life and progress. Jaena, although he didn’t become a professor, was also a teacher in a sense to his friends and relatives in the Philippines. Like Antonio Maria Regidor, Tomas G. del Rosario and Felipe Calderon, he stood for the separation of church and state for free education, better government and schools, freedom of worship and for an independent and free university. He sided with Rizal in the controversy between Rizal and del Pilar over who should head the Association Hispano de Filipinas in Madrid. He returned to the Philippines to ask for donations to continue a new government called El Latigo Nacional or Pambansang Latigo. He sold the rights of La Solidaridad ot del Pilar who had become a lawyer and had brought in money from his sojourn in Spain.Graciano Lopez Jaena died in a charity hospital in Barcelona on January 20, 1896, eleven months before his best friend Rizal was shot at the Luneta on December 30, 1896.The Works of Graciano Lopez Jaena :
1. ANG FRAY BOTOD (Friar Botod). One of his works written in Jaro, Iloilo in 1876, six years after the Cavite Revolt attacking the friars in the Philippines. He exposed how some of the friars were greedy, ambitious and immoral.
2. LA HIJA DEL FRAILE (The Child of the Friar) and EVERYTING IS HAMBUG (Everything is mere show). Here Jaena explains the tragedy of marrying a Spaniard.
3. SA MGA PILIPINO...1891… A speech which aimed to improve the condition of the Filipinos to become free and progressive.
4. TALUMPATING PAGUNITA KAY KOLUMBUS (An Oration to Commemorate Columbus). A speech he delivered in Madrid on the 39 th anniversary of the discovery of American
5. EN HONOR DEL PRESIDENTE MORAYTA DE LA ASSOCIACION HISPANO FILIPINO 1884. Here he praised Gen. Morayta for his equal treatment of the Filipinos.
6. EN HONOR DE LOS ARTISTAS LUNA Y RESURRECCION HIDALGO. A sincere expression of praise for the paintings of Hidalgo on the condition of the Filipinos under the Spaniards.
7. AMOR A ESPAÑA O A LAS JOVENES DE MALOLOS (Love for Spain or To the Youth of Malolos). The theme is about how girls were taught Spanish in schools and whose teachers were the governors-general of the place. 8. EL BANDOLERISMO EN PILIPINAS (Banditry in the Philippines). Jaena refuted the existence of banditry in the Philippines and of how there should be laws on robbery and other reforms.
9. HONOR EN PILIPINAS (Honor in the Philippines). The triumphant exposition of Luna, Resurrecion and Pardo de Tavera of the thesis that intellect or knowledge gives honor to the Philippines.
10. PAG-ALIS SA BUWIS SA PILIPINAS (Abolition of Taxes in the Philippines)
11. INSTITUCION NG PILIPINAS (Sufferings of the Philippines). Jaena refers here to the wrong management of education in the Philippines 1887.
B. OTHER PROPAGANDISTS
- ANTONIO LUNA Antonio Luna was a pharmacist who was banished by the Spaniards to Spain. He joined the Propaganda Movement and contributed his writings to LA SOLIDARIDAD. Most of his works dealt with Filipino customs and others were accusations about how the Spaniards ran the government. His pen name was Tagailog. He died at the age of 33 in June 1899. He was put to death by the soldiers of Aguinaldo because of his instant rise to fame which became a threat to Aguinaldo.
2. SE DEVIERTEN (How They Diverted Themselves). A dig at a dance of the Spaniards where the people were very crowded.
3. LA TERTULIA FILIPINA (A Filipino Conference or Feast). Depicts a Filipino custom which he believed was much better than the Spanish.
4. POR MADRID (For Madrid). A denouncement of Spaniards who claim that the Philippines is a colony of Spain but who think of Filipinos as foreigners when it comes to collecting taxes for stamps.
5. LA CASA DE HUEPEDES (The Landlady’s House). Depicts a landlady who looks for boarders not for money but in order to get a husband for her child.
- MARIANO PONCE Mariano Ponce became an editor-in-chief, biographer and researcher of the Propaganda Movement. He used Tikbalang, Kalipulako, and Naning as pennames. The common themes of his works were the values of education. He also wrote about how the Filipinos were oppressed by the foreigners and of the problems of his countrymen. Among his writings were:
1. MGA ALAMAT NG BULACAN (Legend of Bulacan). Contains legends, and folklores of his native town.
2. PAGPUGOT KAY LONGINOS (The Beheading of Longinos). A play shown at the plaza of Malolos, Bulacan.
3. SOBRE FILIPINOS (About the Filipinos)
4. ANG MGA PILIPINO SA INDO-TSINA (The Filipinos in Indo-China)
- PEDRO PATERNO Pedro Paterno was a scholar, dramatic, researcher and novelist of the Propaganda Movement.He also joined the Confraternity of Masons and the Asociacion Hispano-Pilipino in order to further the aims of the Movement. He was the first Filipino writer who escaped censorship of the press during the last day of the Spanish colonization. The following were a few of his wrtings:
2. A MI MADRE (To My Mother). Shows the importance of a mother especially in the home.
3. SAMPAGUITA Y POESIAS VARIAS (Sampaguitas and Varied Poems). A collection of his poems.
- JOSE MA. PANGANIBAN Jose Ma. Panganiban hid his identity behind his penname JORMAPA. He was also known for having photographic mind. He was a member of a number of movements for the country. Some of his writings were:
2. ANG AKING BUHAY (My Life)
3. SU PLANO DE ESTUDIO (Your Study Plan)
4. EL PENSAMIENTO (The Thinking)