Rizals Letter to the Young Women of Malolos

To the Young Women of Malolos was a letter written by Dr. Jose Rizal
on the 17th day of February of the year 1889 while he was still staying in
Europe. He wrote the letter in compliance to Marcelo H. Del Pilars request
while he was busy annotating Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas authored by
Antonio Morga. The letter was addressed to the twenty courageous young
women of Malolos for their perseverance to pursue the establishment of a
night school where they can study Spanish.
Based on accounts, the young women from Malolos, led by Doa
Alberta Santos-Uitangcoy, gave a petition to Governor-General Weyler for
the establishment of a night school to study the Spanish language under
Teodoro Sandiko, who was a professor of Latin. However, Fr. Felipe Garcia
did not like the petition so he prompted the governor-general to dismiss the
petition. Despite the dismissal of their petition, they continued with their
clamor and eventually received permission to open their school with certain
conditions to be followed. First, they should fund the school by themselves.
Second, Guadalupe Reyes would be the one teaching them instead of
Teodoro Sandiko, who was not in good terms with the friars in Malolos.
Third, the classes will take place during the day, probably because of the
association that gatherings with subversive meetings happen during the
night. The school was open for three months, but it was closed down on May
10, 1889.
The letter started with sharing his thoughts about the women in the
Philippines. He stated that he only knew few women of our country who
stands for the country but when he heard that women in Malolos made an
attempt to counter the standards set by the government he was delighted

that his ideals of a young woman were met by them. He also had a notion
that the country can still be restored for the benefit of all people, including
the government ruled by Spaniards. He also pointed out in the letter that
people were given free will so that they may be able to distinguish what is
rightful and reasonable to do rather than following all the orders of the
friars, who they call themselves as disciples of the Lord. He gave special
mention to women and mothers because he believed that they are the ones
who first nurtures the mind of their child. He also told that the women in
Asia are ignorant and oppressed while those who are in Europe and America
are quite powerful because they are educated that makes them free and
possess a strong character. Women must choose wisely who they choose to
be with since they should not only be desired and appreciated by the beauty
they possess but with their character also. It was indicated in the letter that
Filipino women should imitate what the women on Sparta where they have
the ideology that men who are going to war are not born for themselves but
for their country. Hence, they should provide right guidance to their children
by being an example to them that is rightful to fight for the betterment of
the country rather than sulk and follow someones orders.