Department of History, National University of Singapore

Dr. Jose Rizal, Father of Filipino Nationalism

Author(s): Estaban A. de Ocampo
Source: Journal of Southeast Asian History, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Mar., 1962), pp. 44-55
Published by: Cambridge University Press on behalf of Department of History, National University
of Singapore

Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20067366 .

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DR. JOSE RIZAL, FATHER OF FILIPINO

NATIONALISM

For

this International

de Ocampo

A.

Estaban

Conference

of South-East
Asian Historians,
a
on
it is my honour
"Dr. Jose Rizal,
Father of
paper
reasons.
for
several
Dr.
Rizal
himself
Nationalism,"
First,
Filipino
was very much
in the history
interested
of this part of the world.1
this year 1961 has been proclaimed
of the
Second,
by the President
to contribute

as the Rizal
Philippines
Centenary
1861.6
if Rizal were alive
Third,
1.

Year,

for our

today,

he would

hero
have

was

born

been

in

happy

in a letter written
from Brussels,
Jose Rizal,
Belgium
(May 26, 1890) to his
Prof.
said:
"I am now
Ferdinand
with
ardour
friend,
Blumentritt,
dedicating
to all studies
to the Far East.
Here
that refer
I bought
various
about
books
etc...I
have History
Around
histories,
voyages,
of Sumatra
by Marsden;
Voyage
the World
Around
the World
by Pages;
Picturesque
Voyage
by Dumont

Dr.

d'Urville;
Africa
Malabar

Around
the World
to
Voyage
by Bougainville;
Voyage
and Japan)
Indo
Malacca,
China,
China,
by Thumberg;
16 volumes
besides,
of History
of Voyages
by Thompson;
is much
the Philippines
in this work;
about
I also have

Picturesque
Asia
(Java
etc.
Kniitkoff,

and

There
Until
1760.
the Universe
and
China
Malaisie,
by Rienzi;
by Panthier
van
de Kaisaren
Manila:
Rizalino;
Japan."
{Epistolario
1938; Vol. V, Part 2, p 556)
In a subsequent
letter
dated
26,
1890, Dr. Rizal
May
I acquired
the
Blumentritt:
works:
"Recently
following
Voyage
Herder..

Around

the World

.38 volumes."

Beauvoir...I

by

also

p. 564)
he was

(Ibid.,
while

have

the

an
Gesantschappen
Bureau
of Printing,

again
Java
the

informed
by

Complete

Raffles
Works

Prof.
and
of

wrote
to Prof.
Dr.
Rizal
Berlin,
of being
nominated
associate
(or
at the ordinary
of
the Ethnographic
I was
session
present
Society.
member)
an
in the extraordinary
Sometime
of the same and also
ago Dr. Donitz
gave
tombs with
decorated
conference
about
Japanese
pre-historic
interesting
plates
I heard
It was
the best
in the two sessions."
in them.
lecture
found
(Ibid.,
Vol. V, Part
1, p. 68)
Three

years

Blumentritt,

before,
"I have
thus:

the

great

in

honor

wrote
to him,
friend
of Rizal,
Orientalist
London
Dr. Reinhold
From
Rost,
a lot of philological
work.
Would
"I am glad
you are doing
you not
saying:
or to the
to the Asiatic
of Singapore,
of articles
send some contributions
Society
or to the one at
or to the Shanghai
R. Asiatic
here,
Wellington
Society,
Society
in New
Zealand?...
a

are
interest
from
may
you.
They
I supply
all the notices.
The
forth
an
will
about
bring
something
coming
English-Sulu-Malay
vocabulary,
was dated
letter
of Dr. Rost
5, 1894, and was
January
(The
just published."
to Dr. Rizal
northern
sent
in Dapitan,
Mindanao
where
the hero was
exiled
since July,
authorities
1892. Ibid., Vol.
IV, p. 185)
by the Spanish
to establish
a Filipino
Dr. Rizal
in Sandakan,
agricultural
planned
colony
of fact, he visited
Borneo.
As a matter
North
British
Sandakan
in 1892
early
with Mr. W.
B. Pryer.
after making
negotiations
preliminary
"I

Luzac's

enclose

Monthly
number

few

notices

Oriental

of

List,

books

that

for which

44

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RIZAL
to receive

an

our Conference

to attend

invitation

our

because

hero

was

in
the organizer
of Filipinists
Association
of the International
Dr. Rizal
has been
in 1889.3
ranked
Fourth,
by his bn>
Europe
as
one
both
and
intel
of
the
great
foreigners,
graphers,
Filipinos
lectual
Mahatma
India
leaders of Asia,
with
Gandhi
of
together
and Dr. Sun Yat-sen
of China.4
this city
visited
Lastly, Dr. Rizal
no
Singapore
to foreign
travels

of

Dr.
ever

Jose Rizal
lived.
He

less

than

three

times

in

the

course

of his many

lands.5
is the greatest
is far greater

hero and martyr

Filipino
than
the late President

that has
Manuel

President
on December
Carlos
P. Garcia
the Philippines
of
issued
12, 1960
to
'Proclamation
No.
the Philippines
Inc.
International
724 authorizing
Fair,
an International
hold
Fair in the Sunken
Gardens...
City of Manila,
Philippines,
from February
of Rizal's
1 to March
31, 1961, in celebration
Centenary
Birthday
as JOSE RIZAL
in 1961 which
the
has been
declared
YEAR
with
Anniversary
"VISIT
SEE
THE
THE
PHILIPPINES
ORIENT".
slogan
Museum
research
studies
in the British
"Evidently
inspired
by his Philippine
to his
to attract
and
the attention
of Europe's
scholars
impelled
by the urge
an Inter
rich historical
conceived
the idea of establishing
lore, Rizal
country's
in
national
of Filipinologists.
this idea to Blumentritt
He
Association
broached
a letter dated
an inclosed
written
at London,
14, 1889, with
January
prospectus
to this prospectus,
was
"to
the object
of
the association
by him.
According
The
of view.'
and historical
the Philippines
from
the scientific
study
point
Mr. Edmund
Planchut
F. Blumentritt,
officers were Professor
President;
(French),
and Dr. Antonio
Ma. Regidor
Dr. Reinhold
Rost
Vice-President;
(Anglo-German)
the
and
Rizal
Dr.
Counsellors;
Among
Secretary.
Jose
(Filipino),
(Filipino),
were:
to become
of the association
renowned
members
scholars
invited
by Rizal
and
and Feodor
Yule of England,
Drs. A. B. Meyer
Dr. Henry
Jagor of Germany;
F. Zaide,
of Poland."
and Dr. Czepelack
Dr. H. Kern
of Holland;
(Dr. Gregorio
to Prof.
of Rizal
Blumentritt
as Historian;
Rizal
Manila,
1953, pp. 5-6; Letter
Vol.
in Epistolario
at London,
dated
2,
V, Part
14, 1889;
Rizalino,
January
pp.
381-391).
Dr. Austin
Craig,
in The
Tribune

"Many
(Manila),

the World

of
Nations
December

30,

1933,

p,

Paid
14.

Dr.

Jose

Rizal

Tribute,"

on May
these periods:
Dr. Jose Rizal
visited
1882, while
9-11,
during
Singapore
on his return
on his first trip to Europe;
on July 27, 1887, while
trip to Manila;
on his second
to the Philippines;
on November
return
10, 1891, while
voyage
and in October,
on
on his trip to Cuba
via Barcelona;
8, 1896, while
September
the Spanish
to Manila
S.S. Colon.
aboard
back
1896, on his way
warship,
Historical
Associa
of the Philippine
Travel
1882 in Bulletin
Diary,
(Dr. Rizal's
for 1887
2 (December,
100-105; Rizal's
tion, No.
Diary
(unpublished);
1957), pp.
for 1896 in the Bulletin
and Rizal's
for 1891
Rizal's
Diary
Diary
(unpublished);
No.
1 (July,
Historical
of the Philippine
Association,
1957), p. 57.
to his
in
brief
of Rizal's
Portions
1882 Travel
sojourn
Diary
pertaining
see more
"We
houses,
vessels,
highways,
vegetation,
clearly
Singapore, ? follow:
came
later. We
The
all
that an active
stop.
port
pilot
city has.
chimneys
to the boat,
in a
flocked
and Englishmen
of Indians,
A crowd
offering
Malays,
for
can
alone
understand
etc.,
silver,
gold
carriages,
changing
they
language
to La Paz Hotel
to take me
and hire a carriage
etc..
.At last I disembark
(now
the

Hotel-O.).
Adelphi
a patio
the Hotel
room which
overlooks
in my
"I'm
adjoining
I hear English
now
the site).
Court
occupies
building
Supreme
..."
where

Europa
spoken

(the
every

stand at the landing;

but
then, well
"Two
large ones,
large coal warehouses,
of
of Indians
crowds
on
the sides: Chinese-style
houses;
built
streets;
plants
women.
a few Europeans;
and very, very few Chinese
Herculean
Chinese;
figures;
most
and
in English
advertisements
Chinese;
with
lively
everywhere
Shops
We
the Chinese.
the Muslim,
and
the Malabar
pass before
men...We
temple,
saw
the
to
I
Protestant
the
and returning
hotel,
saw the police
headquarters,
in Gothic
church
style..."
45

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RIZAL
L. Quezon,
first President
of the Commonwealth
of the Philippines;
Ramon
also than the late popular
and
President
greater
Magsaysay;
than our
incumbent
Mr.
P.
he is also greater
Carlos
President,
Garcia.

a doctor

was

Rizal

he had saintly
more
versatile
a

only
novelist,

physician

qualities
than either
and an

sculptor,

historian

like Mahatma

or Dr.

Gandhi

and

educator,

besides.0
two noted

At

Sun Yat-sen

Gandhi

ophthalmologist
essayist,
anthropologist,

linguist,
teacher

like Dr.

of medicine

translator,

of

of China
India.

for Rizal
Sun,
but he was also
philologist,
farmer,

and
He was
was not
a poet,
painter,

traveler,

and

I be

this

juncture,
may
permitted
our hero
scholars who
knew
European
Dr.
B.
said.
Director
the
Zoolo
of
intimately
Adolph
Meyer,
Royal
and
in
Museum
admitted
Dresden,
gical
Germany,
Anthropological
was
that "Rizal's many
sidedness
Prof.
Ferdinand
stupendous."7
our
wrote
Austrian
of
thus: "Not
savant,
Blumentritt,
martyr-hero,
man
own
most
is
RIZAL
of
the
his
but the
prominent
only
people,
man
race has
the Malayan
His
will
greatest
memory
produced.
never perish
in his fatherland,
and future generations
of Spaniards
will yet learn to utter his name with
respect and reverence/'8
great
to quote

Dr.

what

Rizal

was

born

into

education

in Manila

that continent

he became

best

6.

a well-to-do
the
family and he obtained
and in several
In
countries
of Europe.
a member
of a number
of scientific
socie

Dr. Frank
C. Laubach,
American
of the
biographer
one records
the wide
book:
"When
range of activities
list is rather
staggering:
race.
"Poet ? perhaps
the foremost
in his
won
"Painter
and
who
gold medals.
sculptor
?
was
"Novelist
the greatest
"Noli Me
Tangere
William
Dean
Howells.

in his
hero, wrote
Filipino
in which
the
Rizal
shone,

novel

in

fifty

years/

said

and
Historian;
"Dramatist;
surgeon;
Sociologist;
Physician,
ophthalmologist,
Educator;
Economist;
Naturalist;
Theologian;
Ethnologist;
Sanitary
Psychologist;
Scientific
farmer;
engineer;
? who
German,
French,
Italian,
Latin,
"Philologist
spoke
Spanish,
English,
Subano
and
Dutch,
Catalan,
Ilocano,
Cebuano,
Tagalog,
Japanese,
Visayan,
and
Chinese.
Could
Translated
Greek,
Hebrew,
Arabic,
Sanscrit,
Malayan.
and Portuguese.
in all."
read Russian,
Swedish,
Twenty-two
languages
(Rizal:
Man
and Martyr;
Manila:
Inc.,
1936, pp. 395-396;
Publishers,
Community
to Retan's
in his "Prologue"
Sr. Javier Gomez
de la Serna,
and Writings
Life,
es digna
wrote:
de Rizal
de profunda
"La figura
humana
Jose Rizal,
of Dr.
a los veintisiete
la vuelta
estudio.
Vivi?
treinta
habia
dado
al
anos;
y cinco
fue medico,
novelista,
mundo;
poeta,
fil?logo,
agricultor,,
politico,
pedagogo,
mas
de diez
escultor,
naturalista,
pintor,
lenguas),
tip?grafo,
poliglota
(hablaba
a espe
su nombre
de celebres
Centros
cient?ficos
miembro
europeos,
que dieron
en las grandes
vivi? y estudio
de Europa
cies nuevas
por el descubiertas;
capitales
no pocas
de
varios
de sus libros y escritos
el indice
ocupa
paginas
y America;
a su muerte
varias
veladas
este volumen.
Dedicaron
y recuerdos
necrol?gicos
de
todo el mundo
Ese
fue el hombre
Sociedades
cientificas,
y la Prensa
que
E. Retana,
del Dr.
Madrid:
Vida
fusilamos."
Jose Rizal;
y Escritos
(Wenceslao
de Victoriano
General
Librer?a
1907, p. VIII).
Suarez,
7.
8.

in his Rizal:
Bureau
Manila:
and Scientist;
Scholar
Quoted
by Dr. Jose P. Bantug
of Printing,
1946, p. 5.
on Race
in Dr. Austin
"Rizal
Prof.
Ferdinand
Blumentritt,
Differences,"
Craig,
Commercial
Oriental
Manila:
Political
Rizal's
1933, p. 56.
Company,
Writings;
46

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RIZAL
and Ethnographical
ties, like the Anthropological
Society of Berlin.9
and scientists
scholars
of
He was a good friend of many
outstanding
Dr.
whom
be
Rudolf
mentioned
Virchow,
among
may
Europe,
Dr. Feodor
writer
"Father
of Cellular
Pathology,";
Jagor, German
Sanskrit
scholar and a great philo
and traveller; Dr. H. Kern, Dutch
Dr. Reinhold
noted anthropologist;
Rost,
logist; Dr. Adolf B. Meyer,
India
Office
in London;
and Librarian
of the
Orientalist,
philologist,
etc.10

In order

to better

became
the Father
of
why Rizal
appreciate
to
recall
it
the
is
conditions
Filipino
important
prevail
of our
the lifetime
the Philippines,
during
including
ing in Asia,
all
hero.
the exception
the
and Thailand,
With
of China,
Japan,
rest of Asia or the Far East were dominated
Powers.
by the Western
The
the basic human
under
rights;
Spain did not enjoy
Filipinos
were
of
of
the
the press, of religion,
denied
freedom
they
speech,
Nationalism,

and of the other blessings

that are the concomitants
association,
'
were
the
the democratic
'hewers of wood
regime.
merely
They
in their own country.
and State were
and drawers of water"
Church
more
united with
the Spanish
power and influence
clergy exercising
all affairs of life.
Fili
than the civil officials over practically
The
were
so
the
administration
that
under
Spanish
pino people
unhappy
no less than a hundred
revolts against
there occurred
their Spanish
master
their rule of more
than three centuries.
during
of

of

aware of the
still very young Rizal
became
keenly
deplor
of his unfortunate
able conditions
and the oppressive
rule
country
our hero
to
of their Spanish masters.
take
up
Originally
planned
a
was
and become
but
the priesthood
when
he
father,
Jesuit
only
execution
eleven years old and heard of the unjust
of three innocent
? Fathers Mariano
native
and
Gomez,
clergymen
Jose A. Burgos,
?
swore
to
Zamora
he
his
and
his
life
mind
dedicate
changed
Jacinto
to avenge one day such victims
and to fight for the legitimate
rights
While

of his down-trodden

This
is what he said:
countrymen.
we
not now have Plaridel
...Without
would
1872
Jaena,
nor would
the valiant
colo
and generous
Sanciano,
Filipino
in Europe
now
nies
be a
would
exist; without
1872, Rizal
he would
have
Jesuit and instead of writing Noli Me Tangere,
can be
and with
this idea I have been studying.
This
victims,
was awakened
and cruelties,
injustices
my
imagination
some
I swore to dedicate
in
avenging
myself
day so many
I
been
and
with
this
idea
ha?e
This can be
victims,
studying.
those

and

9.

10.

"He
to Blumentritt
From
wrote
other
Berlin
Dr. Rizal
among
things:
saying,
tenido
el gran honor
de ser nombrado
socio de la Sociedad
Etnogr?fica."
(Letter
letter
Vol. V, Part
dated
1, p. 68) In another
Rizalino,
Jan. 26, 1887; Epistolario
on
"Ya
informed
Blumentritt:
at Berlin
dated
7, 1887, Rizal
again
February
me
en la Soc. Geogr?fica
me aceptaron
en la Sociedad
propusieron
Antropol?gica;
como
socio..."
p. 73).
(Ibid.,
see "Note No.
Please
3", supra.
47

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RIZAL
and books: God will give me
read in all my works
the chance
? let them
some day
to fulfill my
Good
commit
promise.
?
?
execute
let
them
victims
exile,
abuses,
very well
imprison,

may destiny be fulfilled!

The day in which

us, the day when

they martyrize
to government
of us ? farewell
to

well

our
by

innocent

the friars,

they lay hands on

families

because

and possibly,

fare

the

government!...11
Spanish
Dr. Rizal
occasion
Viola
told his friend Dr. Maximo
on earth.
wrote:
he
of his mission
As
recorded
the
latter,
by
and thinking.
And
"That God
had given him his way of being
to
act
to
constitute
rebellion
these
that
contrary
things would
the
He
he had
studied
said that as a doctor
against His wish.
manner
or alleviating
of preventing,
the physical
diseases
curing,
of man,
and in the same way he was convinced
of his obligation
On

another

to remedy
the moral
his countrymen

he doubted
diseases
of his country.
Besides,
to
of
the
his novel,
would
respond
preachings
set the example
not
in his own
land.
For
if he himself
would
to
not
had
he
he
dared
what
think
that
would
say
they
surely
was safe."12
was in a
where
he
he
because
only
place
pleased
of his time, Dr. Rizal
of his countrymen
the majority
Unlike
that the white
of the Spaniards
the teaching
did not accept
people
races simply because
to the colored
of their fair com
was superior
his student
and high noses.
During
days at the Spanish
plexion
to
in order
and
in
studied
he
Manila,
very hard
university
college
and he was
successful
and mestizo
his white
outshine
classmates,
how

In literary
in his class.
the highest
in obtaining
ratings
competi
to
in order
Rizal
and
the
like
drama,
tions,
poetry
participated
one
contest
In
his
his white
match
his ability with
competitors.
but when
the
those submitted
the best among
entry was adjudged
that
the
first
would
learned
of
the
prize
literary joust
judges
Spanish
our hero
go to an Indio
they awarded
only
competitor,
(Filipino)
second place.13
in
of Santo Tomas
in the University
did not
Rizal
stay long
he was

of the
the medical
course, because
pursuing
and
be
students
the
discrimination
against
Filipino
rampant
in that university.
of instruction
cause of the unpedagogic
methods
to finish his
he set sail for Spain in order
At the age of twenty-one,
the
of
to
of
life
the people
conditions
the
and
observe
there
studies
where

Manila,

racial

in Europe.
Shortly

after

his

arrival

11.

letter
From Dr. Rizal's
in Epistolario
Rizalino,

12.

Dr.

13.

2,
January
Dr. Austin
pany,
Rizal's

in Barcelona,

to Mr. Mariano
Ponce,
Vol.
II, p. 166.

the first
etc.

dated

article

Rizal

at Paris,

April

wrote
18,

1889

in The Manila
with
Times,
Viola,
Jose Rizal,"
"My Travels
1951, p. 3.
Com
Book
National
Own
Life, Manila:
of His
Story
Craig, Rizal's
in Juan
and Tears,"
Collas,.
103; Dr.
1918, p.
"Laughter
Jose Rizal,
Unknown
Manila,
cl953,
p. 99.
Writings;

Maximo

48

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RIZAL
for a Manila

was entitled Love

of Country
periodical
(Amor Patrio)
in which
to love their native
he urged his fellow-countrymen
land,
a well
the Philippines.
Two
he delivered
years later, in Madrid,
in the presence
of
applauded
speech at the Luna-Hidalgo
banquet
men
of
and
leaders.
letters,
artists,
prominent
Spanish
political
he stressed
the necessity
of enhancing
the fraternal
bonds
Though
that bound
and
he
the
yet
Spain
Philippines,
vigorously
expounded
on the urgency
some reforms
of instituting
in the administration
of
the Spaniards
to the mother

in his

country
advocated

Rizal

While

land

native

not

would

so that

the

be

loyalty
.

of his

people

impired14
for the amelioration

of the pitiful
strongly
in his country,
he likewise
insisted
that his people
should
so that
and education
themselves
try to improve
through
industry
the respect
and admiration
deserve
of the foreigners.
they would
he
"I
have
that I am one
wrote,
"My countrymen,"
given
proofs
most
for liberties
anxious
of our country,
and I am still desirous
conditions

But I place as a prior condition

the education
of the peo
our
means
that
instruction
and
of
ple,
by
country may have
industry
an
own
and make
of its
itself worthy
of these liberties.
individuality
of them.

I have

in my writings
the study of the civic virtues,
I have written
is no redemption.
likewise
to
that
must
come
be
reforms,
beneficial,
my words)
come
are
that those which
from below
irregularly

recommended

without

which

there

I repeat
above,
and uncertain."13
gained
Our
hero also worked
(and
from

of

all

the Filipinos
could
effectively

they
told them
to

labor

to forget their personal

and petty rivalries
and
jealousies
common
cause
for
the
of
their
"Union,
country.
only
so much" ? he
and harmony, ? these are what we need

goodwill,
to Graciano
wrote
same

to bring
in order
about
the unity
or
so that
in
residing
studying
Europe
for
the
demand
He
rights of their people.
hard

then

he

also

in March,
1889.
In May
Lopez
Jaena
to Mariano
said in a letter
Ponce
that

of

the

it was

year,
to "preserve
union
all".
in the same year,
above
Also
necessary
to friends
in Barcelona
the need
for har
he again wrote
stressing
am
and
said:
"I
the
He
confident
among
mony
unity
Filipinos.
that we shall go forward, always united, with our hands outstretched
. ."16
an counsel.
to one another mutual
in friendship,
giving
help
men
some
of the Filipino
in
he learned
that
Later, when
young
Spain

practically

neglected
at the
Rizal's

studies

their

because

spent most

they

in Madrid,
238-243.

14.

"Speech"
Jose Rizal,
in Dr. Austin
Craig,

15.

to Some Filipinos"
at his Fort Santiago
written
Rizal's
"Manifesto
prison, Manila,
His
and
Camilo
Rizal:
Times
in Dr.
December
Osias,
15, 1896,
Jose
Life
Educational
Oscol
Inc.,
Publishers,
1938), p. 370.
(Manila:
at Barcelona
at London,
to his Filipino
friends
dated
Rizal's
letter
1889,
early
in Epistolario
Vol.
II, p. 98.
Rizalino,

16.

Luna-Hidalgo
banquet
Political
pp.
Writings,

June

49

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25,

1884,

RIZAL
of

their

Brussels

in gambling
to Marcelo

time
wrote

The
self but

comes
Filipino
to work
for

of his people.
dignity
to leave the
Philippines
as it is.
If we who

a
in having
from
time, Rizal
good
Pilar
that
stating
to
not to gamble
or amuse him
Europe
the
the liberty of his race and to uphold
to gamble,
In order
it is not necessary
for there is too much
there
gambling
are young
our
and are expected
poor
by
and

H.

del

to do something
for them should waste our
people
of being worthy
I fear that instead
less activities,
we would
for slavery.
befit ourselves

time

in use

of

liberty

to the
that they may
I appeal
of all the Filipinos
patriotism
we
one
can rise
nation
that
the Spanish
tangible
give
proof
are
we
not
over our misfortunes,
that
and that our
brutalized,
to sleep by the corruption
cannot
of
be put
noble
sentiments
their

customs.17

as the
has been
justly acclaimed
by his own people
he was
because
the first Filipino
Nationalism''
of Filipino
for his countrymen.
the idea of nationhood
that advocated
leader
the
Youth
To
In his prize-winning
Filipino
poem,
(A La Juventud
that the Philip
in 1879, he emphasized
the notion
written
Filipina),
was the motherland
"This new
not
the
of
Filipinos.
pines,
Spain,
was
to burn
in his soul all his life," observed
which
inspiration,
he wrote
in whatever
Dr. Rafael
"was reflected
Palma,
subsequently.
Rizal

Dr.

"Father

The

a motherland
of his own was
it from others."18
did not receive

of

idea

reflection

?he

the

result

of

his

El Filibusterismo
second
novel,
1891), Rizal
(Ghent,
to
mouth
of
Simoun
the
again
spoke of
talking
Basilio)
(through
a
"You
for
ask
thus:
of
the formation
nation,
equal rights
Filipino
?
and
of
the
the
customs,
your
Hispanization
O.),
Spaniards
(with
the destruc
for is suicide,
see that what you are begging
you don't
the
of your
the annihilation
tion of your nationality,
fatherland,
A peo
will you be in the future?
What
of tyranny!
consecration
?
a nation
without
character,
you
liberty
everything
ple without
. .19
even your very defects!.
be borrowed,
have will
the Spanish
with
that you be assimilated
"Are they unwilling
then
Good
by revealing
yourselves
Distinguish
enough!
people?
of the
in your own character,
try to lay the foundations
yourselves
to
a
the
Rev.
Vicente
in
letter
And
fatherland!"20
Philippine
once more
the
an old
Rizal
Garcia,
expressed
theologian,
Filipino
his

In

17.

at Brussels,
dated
to Sr. Marcelo
H. del Pilar
28,
letter
Dr. Rizal's
May
39-40.
Vol.
in Epistolario
Ill, pp.
Rizalino,
Inc.,
Prentice-Hall,
Race
Pride
The
Rafael
Palma,
of the Malay
(New York:
1949), p. 35.
Education
The Reign
Company,
1927),
Philippine
of Greed
(Manila:
Jose Rizal,
of his second novel, El Filibusterismo
translation
is the English
book
p. 60. This
1891).
Belgium,
(Ghent,
From

1890,

18.
19.

20.

Ibid.,

p.

62.
50

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RIZAL
same

"Ours
task. We
is a tremendous
young
thought:
Filipinos
are trying to make
over a nation
not halt in our onward
and must
but from time to time turn our gaze upon our elders."21
march,
was convinced
Dr. Rizal
that the best weapon
he could wield
in combatting
and in upholding
the enemies
of his people
the
was
of
the
For
he
of
the
this
reason,
pen.
thought
rights
Filipinos
a novel
manner
in
the
of
Harriet
Stowe's
Uncle
Beecher
writing
in which
Tom's
he would
the abuses
and atrocities
Cabin
portray
and religious
in the Philip
officials
to
also
the
wanted
expose
pines.
ignorance,
and vices of his people
in the same work.
The
result
superstitions,
in Berlin,
of his labors along
this line was the publication
1887, of
his novel
entitled Noli Me Tangere
When
this
(Touch Me Not).
was
book
read by his friends
in Europe
and in the Philippines,
they
at once hailed
the author as a courageous
and intelligent
leader for
the social cancer
that afflicted
his country.
exposing
committed

At

by the Spanish
the same time

civil

he

If I were

to pick out a
a
asked
writer
single work
by
Filipino
to
the
more
from
1896
1882
than
which,
during
period
any other
to
contributed
the
formation
of
writing,
tremendously
Filipino
I shall have no hesitation
in choosing
Rizal's Noli Me
nationality,
It is true that Pedro A. Paterno
his novel
Tangere.
published
in
Madrid
in 1885; Marcelo
H. del Pilar, his La Soberan?a
Ninay
Monacal

in Barcelona,
1889; Graciano
(Monastic
Sovereignty)
his
Discursos
Art?culos
Various
and
Lopez
y
Jaena,
(Speeches
Various
in
also
and
Antonio
his
1891;
Barcelona,
Luna,
Articles)
in
none
but
of
these
books
Madrid,
1893,
Impresiones
(Impressions)
had evoked
such favorable
and unfavorable
comments
from friends
and foes alike as did Rizal's Noli.
of the encomiums
that the hero received
for his novel
Typical
wTere those he received
from Antonio
Maria
and Prof.
Regidor
a
Ferdinand
Blumentritt.
exile
of
in
1872
Regidor,
Filipino
said that "the book was
and
that
"if
Don
London,
superior"
Quijote
has made
its author
immortal
because
to the world
he exposed
the
of
Me
Noli
will
your
sufferings
you equal
Spain,
Tangere
bring
. ."22 Blumentritt,
after reading Rizal's Noli,
wrote
and con
glory.
its
other
as
"Your
author,
work,
gratulated
saying among
things:
. .
we Germans
has
been
written
with
the blood
of the heart.
say,
Your work has exceeded
and I consider myself
fortunate
my hopes
to have been honored with your
and happy
Not
friendship.
only I,
but also your country, may
feel happy
for having
in you a patriotic
and loyal son.
If you continue
one
so, you will be to your people
21.

22.

From

Rizal's

letter

Rizalino,
Epistolario
p. 244.
Writings,
From Antonio
Ma.
1887, in Epistolario

to Rev.
Vicente
Vol.
Ill,
pp.
Regidor's
Rizalino,

Garcia
136-137;

at Madrid,
dated
Dr. Austin
Craig,

letter
to Dr. Jose
Vol.
II, p. 5).

Rizal

dated

7, 1891, in
Jan.
Rizal's
Political

at London,

51

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May

3,

RIZAL
a determinative
influence
will
who
exercise
great men
the progress
of their spiritual
life."23
and admirers
the
If Rizal's
friends
praised with
justifiable
pride
were
in
and its author,
loud and bitter
Noli
his enemies
equally
or
no
and condemning
other work
the same.
attacking
Perhaps
as
to
of
another
author
this
has,
up
day, aroused
writing
Filipino
our people
not only
also
but
much
acrimonious
debate
among
as the Noli
In the
the reactionary
of Rizal.
among
foreigners
a
was
hero's
novel
condemned
attacked
the
and
by
Philippines
a Manila
Permanent
of
and
the
Committee
by
University
Faculty
of

those

over

in 1887.
said that it
The
Committee
of Censorship
to
and scandalous
the religious
found
the book "heretical,
impious,
to
to public
libelous
and subversive
and unpatriotic
order,
order,
to its political
in these
of Spain
and
the Government
policies
"that
the importa
recommended
while
the Commission
Islands",

Commission

and circulation
tion, reproduction,
be absolutely
Islands
prohibited.24
discussions
the Congressional
during

in the
book
this pernicious
our
to
down
time,
Coming
on the Rizal
and hearings
(or
and opponents
of the measure

of

bill in 1956, the proponents

Noli-Fili)
and long-drawn-out
that
in a bitter
debate
themselves
also engaged
a
now
enactment
in the
of
known
resulted
bill,
compromise
finally
as Republic
Act No.
1425.25
in the
first novel were not only confined
attacks on Rizal's
The
in the Spanish
but were
also staged
There,
capital.
Philippines
M.
Premier
de
Luis
and
Senator
Fernando
Pando,
Vida,
Deputy
lambasted
those who unjustly
Mateo
Pr?xedes
among
Sagasta were
in the two chambers
of the Spanish
and his Noli
and criticized
Rizal
to learn, however,
that
It is comforting
in 1888 and 1889.26
Cortes
about

thirteen

later,
an

years
delivered

Wisconsin

Congressman
Henry
and
of Rizal
eulogy

Allen
even

Cooper
recited

of
the

on the floor of
Pensamiento
Ultimo
(My Last Farewell)
martyr's
to prove
in
order
the
House
States
of Representatives
the United
in
He
for self-government.
said
of the Filipinos
part: "It
capacity
had done nothing
else
institutions
said that, if American
has been
of George
to the world
the character
than furnish
Washington,
entitle
them to the respect of mankind.
that alone would
So, Sir,
as
the Filipinos
denounce
I say to all those who
indiscriminately
a civilized
of
that
and savages, without
barbarians
future,
possibility
23.

Letter

of

Prof.
March,

24.
25.

26.

Ferdinand

Hungary,
Dr. Austin
Craig,
Pride
of the Malay

27,

1887;

Rizal's
Race,

to Rizal
written
258-259.

Blumentritt
Ibid., Vol.

at

Leitmeritz,

Austria

I, pp.

Political
Writings,
93-95.
pp.

pp.

281-305;

Rafael

Palma,

The

to include
on June
"An Act
Act No.
12, 1956, is entitled
1425, approved
Republic
and
universities
and
of all public
schools,
in the curricula
colleges
private
his novels
of Jose Rizal,
on the Life, Works
and Writings
Courses
particularly
and distri
the printing
and El Filibusterismo,
Noli
Me
authorizing
Tangere
for other
and
bution
thereof,
purposes".
131-133.
del Dr.
Vida y Escritos
E. Retana,
Wenceslao
Jose Rizal,
pp.
52

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RIZAL
race proved
to their respect
this despised
itself entitled
and to the
to
of
mankind
when
it
furnished
the
the
character
world
respect
of Jose Rizal."27
result
of
The
this appeal
of Representative
was the
as the
of what
is popularly
known
Cooper
approval
Philip
a
Bill
of
the Filipinos
1902 which
of
gave
pine
larger measure
home-rule.

Rizal's

unselfish

and

sacrifices

constant

to form
the
campaign
his
and
friends,
Filipino
appreciated
deeply
by
they
hailed
him as the most
for freedom.
outstanding
fighter
Filipino
to the Great Malayan
from Barcelona
on March
10, 1889,
Writing
H. del Pilar
a morir:
Marcelo
said: "Rizal no tiene aun derecho
su nombre
la mas pura e inmaculada
bandera
de aspira
constituye
son
no
otra
mas
cosa
Plaridel
los
unos
volun
ciones,
y
y
suyos
que
esa
tarios que militan
Don
bandera."28
Fernando
Acevedo,
bajo
called Rizal
who
his "distinguido
y
amigo,
compa?ero
paisano",
wrote
the latter from Zaragoza,
25, 1889: "I see
Spain, on October
was

nation

in

the model
to study and your
you
your
Filipino;
application
a
on
talents have placed
revere
I
which
and admire."29
you
height
Dr. Tomas
wrote
Bicolano
The
in
Rizal
Madrid,
Arejola
February
over as is
"Your moral
influence
9, 1891, saying:
indisputable."30
wrote
And Guillermo
Puatu
of Bulacan
to Rizal,
this tribute
say
a
se
con raz?n, cabeza
le
titular
de
ing: "Vd.
puede
quien
(llamar)
la
los filipinos,
aunque
parezca
comparaci?n
algo ridicula,
porque
la virtud
de atraer consigo
enconadas
las
voluntades,
posee
zanjar
discordias
no

y enemistades
verse

querian

en

ni

reunir

rencorosas,
la

en fiestas

a hombres

que

. ."31

calle.

as the
the foreigners
who
Rizal
Fili
Among
recognized
leading
were
of
his
time
M.
Dr.
Rein
Blumentritt,
Kheil,
pino
Napoleon
hold Rost,
and Vicente
Barrantes.
Prof.
Blumentritt
told Dr.
Maximo
in May,
Viola
the greatest
1887, that "Rizal was
product
of the Philippines
and that his coming
to the world
was
like the
a
rare
rare
of
whose
brilliance
comet,
appearance
appears
only
other
M.
Kheil
of
Austria,
every
century".32
Napoleon
Prague,
wrote
to Rizal
en Vd. a un noble
and said: "admiro
representante
la Espa?a
colonial".33
Dr. Rost, distinguished
and
Malayologist
Librarian
the
of
India Office
in London,
called Rizal
"una perla de

de

27.

Osias,

28.

Epistolario
Ibid., Vol.

29.
30.
31.

Ibid.,
From

op.

Vol.

32.

Viola,

Napoleon
3, 1894;
Ibid.,

op.

444.

p.

Vol.

Rizalino,
II, p.
III,

Guillermo
1890; Ibid., Vol.

33.
34.

cit.,

p.

145.

159.
Puatu's
Ill,

p.

letter

to Rizal

1951,

p.
to Rizal
Vol.
Rizalino,

Epistolario
Vol.
IV, p. 275.

dated

at Pontevedra,

Spain,

November

120.

4,
January
Kheil's
letter

cit.,
M.

p.

II,

233.

3.
dated
IV,

p.

at Prague,
217.

Austria-Hungary,

53

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November

2,

RIZAL
to admit
had
that Rizal
Don Vicente
Barrantes
while
hombre",34
was "the first among
the Filipinos".35
in the formation
and his contemporaries
the labors of Rizal
That
was amply
had been
of a Filipino
shown by the
nation
successful
in the
in
national
"This
1896.
event,"
against
Spain
uprising
at
that
H. Fernandez,
demonstrated
words
of Dr. Leandro
"clearly
that

time

already
out more

nationality
Filipino
was
this sentiment
brought
war
troublous
of
against
days

existed.

The

existence

of

the
during
emphatically
States."
fur
Elaborating
wrote:
". . .in spite of its
Fernandez
historian
ther on this point,
of 1898 was;
about
the middle
the Revolution
Tagalog
beginning,
. .
more
in
its aims.
in
national
its
still,
scope and,
important
truly
a sectional
a single
of
for
the
establishment
Not
govern
thought
or Mabini.
ever crossed
ment
of Aguinaldo
the mind
They were
or for
or for Batangas
not fighting
of Cavit?
for the emancipation
was
It
but for the whole
natural,
therefore,
Luzon,
Philippines.
as of
as well
Government
of the Revolutionary
that the activities
the United

so it came about
that
And
should be truly national.
the Republic
was not established
or a
a Tagalog
Luzon
of
Republic
Republic
did not draw up an Ilocano
but a Philippine
They
Republic.
a
for
but
Constitution
the whole
Constitution,
they
Philippines;
a
but
did not create a Pampangan
flag symbolizing
flag,
Filipino
not only Luzon,
and Mindanao;
but also the Bisayas
and the hymn
was
one
of the Revolution
of the bards
that was
composed
by
not to any portion
of the Archipelago,
but
and addressed
written
to the whole
Adored
one hundred
The

Fatherland."26

years since the birth of Dr. Jose Rizal witness

of the
in the life of the peoples
fundamental
ed many
changes
vortex
and
of
in
world
the
The
earth.
politics
caught
Philippines,
to
masters
American
from
their
Spanish
power
changed
struggle,
the foremost
Rizal
became
at the turn of the present
century.
movement
the last
in their nationalist
leader of his people
during
and
ideals
and
the
two decades
of the nineteenth
century,
principles
and
in
mind
the
heart
became
he espoused
which
engrained
deeply
a sense of dignity
and a
He gave his people
of his countrymen.
and
them on the road of progress
that propelled
spirit of unity
in the conscience
not dead: he lives immortal
Rizal
is
prosperity.
in their
to serve as their guide
and inspiration
of his countrymen
march
towards Destiny.
to
and
hard
worked
The
long
by Rizal,
inspired
Filipinos,
to win
free
in 1946, the first in Asia
their independence
achieve
the
bloodshed.
control without
from external
dom
Subsequently,
35.

Ibid.,

36.

Leandro

Vol.

Quirino
Commercial

II, p.
H.
and

285.

Fernandez,
Vicente
Company,

Formation

"The
F.

Hilario,

1924),

pp.

Thinking
212-214.

of

Nationality,"
Filipino
for Ourselves
(Manila:

54

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

in Eliseo
Oriental

RIZAL
the Pakistans,
the Indonesians,
Hindus,
and
other Asian
also realized
peoples
to the
thanks
nations,
independent

the Ceylonese,
of becoming
of Rizal's
beloved
example
re
his lifetime,
Rizal was
looked upon
During
by the Spanish
as the greatest
actionaries
and traitor of Spain and they did
enemy
on December
not stop persecuting
him until
he was executed
30,
as the greatest
is generally
acclaimed
hero and
1896; now, Rizal

martyr
It was
prominent

the Burmese,
their dream

of his

and the "Father

of Filipino
Nationalism".
country,
Blumentritt
who
said: "Not only
is Rizal
the most
man
man
of his own
but
the
the
greatest
people,
race has
never
His
will
in
his
memory
produced.
perish

Prof.

Malayan
of Spaniards
and future
fatherland,
generations
utter
and reverence.
his name with
respect
"An enemy of Spain he has never been."37

37.

Blumentritt,

op.

cit.,

p.

will

yet

56.

55

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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

learn

to