To the Young Women of Malolos: Summary and Analysis

Jose Rizals legacy to Filipino women is embodied in his famous essay

entitled, To the Young Women of Malolos, where he addresses all kinds of
women mothers, wives, the unmarried, etc. and expresses everything that
he wishes them to keep in mind.
SUMMARY
To the Women of Malolos was originally written in Tagalog. Rizal penned
this writing when he was in London, in response to the request of Marcelo H.
del Pilar. The salient points contained in this letter are as follows:
1.
The rejection of the spiritual authority of the friars not all of the
priests in the country that time embodied the true spirit of Christ and His
Church. Most of them were corrupted by worldly desires and used worldly
methods to effect change and force discipline among the people.
2.
The defense of private judgment
3.
Qualities Filipino mothers need to possess as evidenced by this
portion of his letter, Rizal is greatly concerned of the welfare of the Filipino
children and the homes they grow up in.
4.
Duties and responsibilities of Filipino mothers to their children
5.
Duties and responsibilities of a wife to her husband Filipino women
are known to be submissive, tender, and loving. Rizal states in this portion
of his letter how Filipino women ought to be as wives, in order to preserve
the identity of the race.
6.
Counsel to young women on their choice of a lifetime partner
RIZALS MESSAGE TO FILIPINO WOMEN
Jose Rizal was greatly impressed by the fighting spirit that the young women
of Malolos had shown. In his letter, he expresses great joy and satisfaction
over the battle they had fought. In this portion of Rizals letter, it is obvious
that his ultimate desire was for women to be offered the same opportunities
as those received by men in terms of education. During those days young
girls were not sent to school because of the universal notion that they would
soon only be taken as wives and stay at home with the children. Rizal,
however, emphasizes on freedom of thought and the right to education,
which must be granted to both boys and girls alike.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF FILIPINO MOTHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN
Rizal stipulates a number of important points in this portion of his letter to
the young women of Malolos. The central idea here, however, is that

whatever a mother shows to her children is what the children will become
also. If the mother is always kissing the hand of the friars in submission,
then her children will grow up to be sycophants and mindless fools who do
nothing but do as they are told, even if the very nature of the task would
violate their rights as individuals.
QUALITIES MOTHERS HAVE TO POSSESS
Rizal enumerates the qualities Filipino mothers have to possess:
1.
Be a noble wife.
2.
Rear her children in the service of the state here Rizal gives reference
to the women of Sparta who embody this quality
3.
Set standards of behavior for men around her.
RIZALS ADVICE TO UNMARRIED MEN AND WOMEN
Jose Rizal points out to unmarried women that they should not be easily
taken by appearances and looks, because these can be very deceiving.
Instead, they should take heed of mens firmness of character and lofty
ideas. Rizal further adds that there are three things that a young woman
must look for a man she intends to be her husband:
1.
A noble and honored name
2.
A manly heart
3.
A high spirit incapable of being satisfied with engendering slaves.
ANALYSIS
To the Women of Malolos centers around five salient points (Zaide &Zaide,
1999):
1.
Filipino mothers should teach their children love of God, country and
fellowmen.
2.
Filipino mothers should be glad and honored, like Spartan mothers, to
offer their sons in defense of their country.
3.
Filipino women should know how to protect their dignity and honor.
4.
Filipino women should educate themselves aside from retaining their
good racial values.
5.
Faith is not merely reciting prayers and wearing religious pictures. It is
living the real Christian way with good morals and manners.
6.
In recent times, it seems that these qualities are gradually lost in the way
Filipino women conduct themselves. There are oftentimes moments where
mothers forget their roles in rearing their children because of the overriding
idea of having to earn for the family to supplement their husbands income.
Although there is nothing negative about working hard for the welfare of the

family, there must always be balance in the way people go through life.
Failure in the home cannot be compensated for by any amount of wealth or
fame.
To the Young Women of Malolos - Rizal's Main Idea
Jose Rizal's main idea in his letter to the young women of Malolos is
that since mothers are the first teachers of their children, he wants the
women to be well educated so that they can be efficient in teaching their
children.
It is obvious that Rizal's ultimate desire was for women to be offered the
same opportunities as those received by men in terms of education. During
those days, young girls were not sent to school because of
the universal notion that they would soon only be taken as wives and stay at
home with children. But if the mothers are the first teachers of their children,
how can they be efficient teachers if they were not as educated as men? The
idea is that whatever the mother shows to her children is what the children
will also become. If the mother is always kissing the hand of the friars in
submission, then her children will grow up to be mindless fools who do
nothing but do as they are told, even if the very nature of the task would
violate their rights as individuals. A mother must teach her children to prefer
death with honor to life with dishonor, which Rizal stated with reference to
the Sparta women.
Going back to education of women, Rizal said that education is the
fundamental source of liberation. If the mothers have the right education,
they can teach their children the following values: love for honor; sincere and
firm character; clear mind; clear conduct; noble action; love for ones
fellowmen; and respect for God. Moreover, Rizal warned that the country will
never be free and flourishing as long as the children and the women remain
ignorant. Rizal directly states that he strongly believes that WOMEN can
exert great influence towards the liberation of their country.
An Extrinsic Approach Analysis on Jose Rizals To The Young Women
of Malolos
Introduction
Dr. Jose Rizal is famous for his classic writings which has been moving
and inspiring the Filipinos from the Spanish era until the present time. This
marked him as a worthy Philippine National Hero. As a biographical account,
his letters, to different people were compiled. As a nature of letter, it reflects
the addressors experiences, situations, thoughts and or messages which he
or she wants to share or say to his or her addressee. As a notable person

during the Spanish colonization times, Rizals letters also articulate an

important part of the Philippine history, which on the same time scrutinize
important social issues wherein some still exist nowadays.
One of these preserved letters of the hero is To The Young Women of
Malolos written on February 22, 1889. It is a very rich resource text which
can be analyzed using the extrinsic approach. For biographical analysis the
subtopics are A Letter to the Young Women of Malolos, The Infancy Ideals,
and Filibustero; for historical are Frailocracy, and Polo Y Serviciousz; and
lastly for sociological are Confined Women, Uneducated Filipinas, The Weak
Females of Philippines, Role of the Mothers, Blind Obedience, Official
Corruption, and Racial Discrimination.
A Letter To The Young Women of Malolos
The whole literary text itself is a biographical material of the author
articulating, Let us, therefore, reflect and consider our situation and see how
we stand. May these poorly written lines aid you in your good purpose and
help you to pursue the plan you have initiated. May your profit be greater
than the capital investment, and I shall gladly accept the usual reward of all
who dare the people the truth. May your desire to educate yourself be
crowned with success; may you in the garden of learning gather not bitter,
but choice fruit, looking well before you eat because on the surface of the
globe all is deceit, and the enemy sows weeds in your seedling plot.
According to the book about Jose Rizal by Gregorio F. Zaide and Sonia M.
Zaide, this famous letter was written by Jose Rizal in Tagalog, while he was
residing in London, upon the request of M. H. del Pilar. The story behind this
letter is that on December 12, 1888, a group of twenty young women of
Malolos petitioned governor-general Weyler for permission to open a night
school so that they might study Spanish under Teodoro Sandiko. The
Spanish parish priest, Fr. Felipe Garcia, objected so that the governor-general
turned down the petition. However, the young women, in defiance of the
friars wrath, bravely continued their agitation of the school, a thing unheard
of in the Philippines in those times. They finally succeeded in obtaining
government approval to their project on condition that Seorita Guadalupe
Reyes should be their teacher. The incident caused a great stir in the
Philippines and in far-away Spain. Del Pilar, writing in Barcelona on February
17, 1889, requested Rizal to send a letter in Tagalog to the brave women of
Malolos. Accordingly, Rizal, although busy in London annotating Morgans
book, penned this famous letter and sent it to Del Pilar on February 22, 1889
for transmittal to Malolos.[1]

Furthermore, deciphering the lines, However, when the news of what

happened at Malolos reached us, I saw my error, and great was my rejoicing.
After all, who is to blame me? I did not know Malolos nor its young women,
except one called Emilia, and her I knew by name only, the author is not
merely addressing this letter to the women of Malolos but also to all the
Filipinas. According to Nicanor D. Tiongsons book entitled, The Women of
Malolos page 141, Emilia Tiongson met Jose Rizal whom he dance in
Tanchangco house when he visited Malolos in 1888.[2]

The Infancy Ideals

It could be assert in the opening lines, When I wrote Noli Me
Tangere, I asked myself whether bravery was a common thing in the young
women of our people. I brought back to my recollection and reviewed those I
had known since my childhood, but there were only few who seem to come
up to my ideal, that Rizals recollection and review since his childhood is
what he had written on his memoirs;
Without 1872 there would not be now either a Plaridel or Jaena, or
Sanciangco, nor would there exist brave and generous Filipino colonies in
Europe; without 1872 Rizal would be a Jesuit now and, instead of writing Noli
Me Tangere, would have written the opposite. At the sight of those injustices
and cruelties while still a child my imagination was awakened and I swore to
devote myself to avenge one day so many victims and with this idea in mind
I have been studying, and this can be read in all my works and writings. God
will someday give me an opportunity to carry out my promise.[3]
Thus, it only means that since his childhood, Jose Rizal after he had seen the
scenario of his countrymen in the hands of its Spaniard colonizers longed and
prepared for the vengeance of his oppressed people. The National Heros
writings, including his letter to the young women of Malolos are the
realization of his ardor aim for the future of the Philippines.
Frailocracy
Owing the Spanish political philosophy of union of Church and State, there
arose the a unique form of government in Hispanic Philippines called,
frailocracy so named because it was a government by friars with religion as
their front.[4]

This historical point is also shown and discussed in the letter articulating,
The official or friar can no longer assert that they alone are responsible for
their unjust orders, because God gave, each individual reason and a will of
his or her own to distinguish the just from the unjust; all were born without
shackles and free, and nobody has a right to subjugate the will and the spirit
of another. And, why should you submit to another your thoughts, seeing
that thought is noble and free? History discloses that since the days of the
Spanish conquests, the Augustinian, Dominican and Franciscan friars
controlled the religious and educational life of the Philippines and later in the
19th century they came to acquire tremendous political power, influence and
reaches. The friars practically ruled the Philippines through a faade of civil
government. The colonial authorities, from the governor general down to the
alcaldes mayores, were under the control of the friars. Almost every town in
the archipelago, except in unpacified Islamic Mindanao and Sulu and in the
pagan hinterlands, was ruled by a friar curate. Aside from his priestly duties,
the friar was the supervisor of the local elections, the inspector of schools
and taxes, the arbiter of morals, the censor of books and comedians of a
play, the superintendent of the public works, and the guardian of peace and
order.[5] With this drowning power that a friar was possessing breadth of
power, the Philippines during those time was in the tight, suffocating, greed
hands of Catholicism.
Filibustero
So great was the political influence of the friars that their
recommendationswere heeded by the governor and the provincial officials.
They could send a patriotic Filipino to jail or denounced him as a Filibustero
or traitor to be exiled to a distant place or to be executed as an enemy of
Spain and God.[6] This supports the excerpt from the text, It is more
presumptuous for a man to constitute himself into an idol and pretend to be
in communication of thought with God; and it is more than presumptuous
and even blasphemous for a person to attribute every movement of his lips
to God, to represent every whim of his as the will of God, and to brand his
own enemy as an enemy of God. Of course, we should not consult our own
judgment alone, but hear the opinion of others before doing what may seem
most reasonable to us. This reflects the event in Jose Rizals life wherein he
was arrested, exiled and executed because of his writings exposing the
Spaniard friars stench corruption. That is, the friars who likened themselves
as God had gone against with him and declared the author as an enemy of
God.

It is in Rizal's alliance with freemasons and freemasonry which was then

growing by leaps and bounds in the Philippines influenced his future course
of action. In a radical move, he wrote the By-Laws of La Liga Flilpina while in
Hongkong. He patterned its structure after masonic lodges. lts aim was to
organize Filipinos as one, viz, to unite the whole archipelago into a compact
body, vigorous and homogeneous. He returned to the Philippines and among
his first acts was to formally organize the Liga Filipina at a house in Tondo on
July 3, l892. Rizal appeared to have metamorphosed from a theorist to action
man. Governor-General Despujol saw the danger sign and ordered Rizal's
arrest on July
6, 1892, or three days after he inaugurated Liga Filipina.
Several untenable grounds were used to justify his arrest. Essentially, he was
arrested for smuggling anti-clerical leaflets which were allegedly discovered
at his hotel in Binondo. Rizal was whisked to Fort Santiago and held
incommunicado for eight days.[7]
Polo Y Servicious
Known as Polo, it was the compulsory of labor imposed by the
Spanish colonial authorities on adult Filipino males in the construction of
churches, schools, hospitals; building and repair of roads and bridges;
building of ships in shipyards and other public works. This evident legal
slavery is vividly expressed in the text, The mother who can only teach her
child how to kneel and kiss hands must not expect sons with blood other
than that of vile slaves it is because of this that she has been hoodwinked,
and tied, and rendered pusillanimous; and now her enslavers rest at ease,
because so long as they can keep the Filipina mother a slave, so long will
they be able to make slaves of her children
Marking the history, the Royal Decree of July 12, 1883 was
implemented by the New Regulations promulgated by the Council of State
February 03, 1885 stated that both male Filipinos and Spaniards with the age
of 18 to 60 will render forced labor. However this law was only actually
implemented to Filipinos for a very obvious reason. This true incident of the
hardship suffered by the Filipinos from this was related by Rizal, as follows;
In the town of Los Baos a hospital was built by laborers snatched from all
the towns of the province. Each laborer forced by the authorities was paid
eigth curators (five centavos)daily, the ordinary daily wage being two
pasetas or four peales Fuertes. In addition, sales and charity bazaars were
held to defray the cost of the buildings. The architect was a Franciscan
brother. The hospital was erected, a palace of the captain general was

constructed, agriculture and the towns suffered for their construction. Why
are the people who pay their taxes compelled to work gratis? Why do they
pay taxes if they are not going to be allowed to live with their families? Do
they pay taxes so that they will be enslaved? Will the money of taxpayers be
used to hire petty tyrants and not to attend to the demands of society?
What? Is the Spanish flag perchance the flag of the slave trade?[8]
This provision is an apparent act of the Spaniard on making the colonized
people of the Philippines slaves on their own country. A stage in Filipinos lives
wherein they were once subordinated to the tyrant governance of the
Spaniard colonizers in its Hispanic age. It is a part of our countrys history
which can never be denied and the whole world recognizes.
Confined Women
On the timeline of the Philippine, males and females have different
roles in the society which were not written but socially constructed. The
author of the letter defines it, There was, it is true, an abundance of girls
with agreeable manners, beautiful ways, and modest demeanor, but there
was in all an admixture of servitude and deference to the words or whims of
their so-called "spiritual fathers" (as if the spirit or soul had any father other
than God), due to excessive kindness, modesty, or perhaps, ignorance. They
seemed faded plants sown and reared in darkness, having flowers without
perfume and fruits without sap. This line is an explicit discourse of equality
of the two sexes. It was then expected that the women during those time
have limited things to do, dictated by what they were expected to behave in
the community. This was what the Hispanic Filipinas scenario, a confined lady
of a large society.
Unlike in many Oriental countries and in some Christian countries in Europe,
Filipinas were never considered as mere chattels and were never used as
beasts of burden laboring the fields and on the roads. If still unmarried, they
were strictly chaperoned when they attended dances and other social
parties. They had no freedom to study in the universities, to engage in the
professions (law, medicine, engineering, etc.), and to mix freely with men.
They were, however, permitted by custom and law to engage in business.The
young women were kept in seclusion in home or in school. They were given
education in the colegios (colleges) which were exclusive schools for girls
and were operated by the nuns. At the colegios they were trained to observe
the rigid rules of good mothers. Those young women who had no intention of
marrying or who were unfortunate in their romances unusually entered the

nunnery and consecrated their lives in the service of God.[9] This is

magnified by the authors lines, Now that you have responded to our first
appeal in the interest of the welfare of the people; now that you have set an
example to those who, like you, long to have their eyes opened and be
delivered from servitude, new hopes are awakened in us and we now even
dare to face adversity, because we have you for our allies and are confident
of victory. No longer does the Filipina stand with her head bowed nor does
she spend her time on her knees, because she is quickened by hope in the
future; no longer will the mother contribute to keeping her daughter in
darkness and bring her up in contempt and moral annihilation. And no longer
will the science of all sciences consist in blind submission to any unjust
order, or in extreme complacency, nor will a courteous smile be deemed the
only weapon against insult or humble tears the ineffable panacea for all
tribulations. Hence, during those times inequality between male and female
already exist. On this present time, this social issue that women are only
meant for means of household and family is still observed in some part of the
country especially in the not so civilized part of the country.
Uneducated Filipinas
The restricted freedom of the Filipinas had suppressed them the
education they wanted for themselves. They remained thirsty in longing to
be heard of their mute voices because they were belittled, We know that
you lack instructive books; we know that nothing is added to your intellect,
day by day, save that which is intended to dim its natural brightness; all this
we know, hence our desire to bring you the light that illuminates your equals
here in Europe. If that which I tell you does not provoke your anger, and if
you will pay but a little attention to it, then, however dense the mist may be
that befogs our people, I will make the outmost effort to have it dissipated by
the bright rays of the sun, which will give light, though they may be dimmed.
We shall not feel any fatigue if you will help us: God, too, will help to scatter
the mist, because He is the God of truth; He will restore to its pristine
condition the fame of the Filipina, in whom we now miss only a criterion of
her own, because good qualities she has enough and to spare. This is our
dream; this is the desire we cherish in our hearts; to restore the honor of
woman, who is half of our heart, our companion in the joys and tribulations
of life. If she is a maiden, the young man should love her not only because of
her beauty and her amiable character, but also on account of her fortitude of
mind and loftiness of purpose, which quicken and elevate the feeble and
timid and ward off all vain thoughts. Let the maiden be the pride of her
country and command respect, because it is a common practice on the part

of Spaniards and friars here who have returned from the Islands to speak of
the Filipina as complaisant and ignorant, as if all should be thrown into the
same class because of the missteps of a few, and as if women of weak
character did not exist in other lands. As to purity, what could the Filipina not
hold up to others! In the letter of Rizal, the young women of Malolos were
pursuing their education. However, they were being hindered. This is the
issue of the women which they fought. The thought that sciences, arts and
books were only for the other gender is invalid. Unraveling of wisdom doesnt
choose the gender of its students but it is a privilege to all regardless of in
what sex you are in.
The Weak Females of the Philippines
...No longer will the mother contribute to keeping her daughter in
darkness and bring her up in contempt and moral annihilation. And no longer
will the science of all sciences consist in blind submission to any unjust
order, or in extreme complacency, nor will a courteous smile be deemed the
only weapon against insult or humble tears the ineffable panacea for all
tribulations Let the maiden be the pride of her country and command
respect, because it is a common practice on the part of Spaniards and friars
here who have returned from the Islands to speak of the Filipina as
complaisant and ignorant, as if all should be thrown into the same class
because of the missteps of a few, and as if women of weak character did not
exist in other lands. As to purity, what could the Filipina not hold up to
others! This part of the letter emphasizes that the women of the Philippines
were weak during that era. Their option was but to cry and be submissive to
their husbands and the foreigner colonizers. Filipinas being confined and
uneducated made them pun and helpless compared to the other sex. It could
be noted that women since the Spanish regime were abused. Still, in this
millennium countless news and reports show how the other sex take
advantage of the weakness of the women.
Role of the Mothers
Rizal, seeing the disadvantages of the situation of Filipinas during the
Spanish time tackles in his letter the issue of a real mothers role. The family
as the basic unit of the society is considered to have a crucial and of very
important role. In a more specific sense, it is the mother who is responsible
to the becoming of her children. The deeds of her sons and daughters are
always become her account articulating, What offspring will be that of a
woman whose kindness of character is expressed by mumbled prayers; who

knows nothing by heart but awits, novenas, and the alleged miracles; whose
amusement consists in playing panguingue or in the frequent confession of
the same sins? What sons will she have but acolytes, priest's servants, or
cockfighters? It is the mothers who are responsible for the present servitude
of our compatriots, owing to the unlimited trustfulness of their loving hearts,
to their ardent desire to elevate their sons. Maturity is the fruit of infancy and
the infant is formed on the lap of its mother. The mother who can only teach
her child how to kneel and kiss hands must not expect sons with blood other
than that of vile slaves. A tree that grows in the mud is insubstantial and
good only for firewood. If her son should have a bold mind, his boldness will
be deceitful and will be like the bat that can not show itself until the ringing
of vespers. Thus, a mother should not be only knowledgeable of household
chores or religious activities, but also on how she can contribute on her
childrens ideals about life. It further discussed the importance of the role of
the mother in the society on how crafty she is on upbringing her children: the
formations of their behaviors and visions in life which made them a man.
Whenever a child has done something bad or achieved a victorious award or
recognition, isnt it that his or her parents especially his or her mother were
always been included as a reason why he or she got it? A tree of Mango will
not bear a Santol fruit, says a Filipino adage meaning that a child inherits
his attributes to his parents.
Therefore in a larger society, a mother is
whether to blame or be accountable because of her children, using the
reason that they are the ones who first influence their children.
Blind Obedience
The Spaniard frailocracy lasted for 333 years in the Philippine. According to
the author, blind obedience is the reason for this long period of time of
Filipinos submission to the Spaniards. This line, As to the mites and gifts to
God, is there anything in the world that does not belong to God? What would
you say of a servant making his master a present of a cloth borrowed from
that very master? Who is so vain, so insane that he will give alms to God and
believe that the miserable thing he has given will serve to clothe the Creator
of all things? Blessed be they who succor their fellow men, aid the poor and
feed the hungry; but cursed be they who turn a deaf ear to supplications of
the poor, who only give to him who has plenty and spend their money
lavishly on silver altar hangings for the church, or give it to the friar, who
lives in abundance, in the shape of fees for masses of thanksgiving, or in
serenades and fireworks. The money ground out of the poor is bequeathed to
the master so that he can provide for chains to subjugate, and hire thugs and
executioners. Oh, what blindness, what lack of understanding! articulates

that the friars used the name of God to get what they want. It became their
front to manipulate and control the whole Philippines. Who would not be
threatened if you would be considered and labeled as an enemy of God? This
method conquered not only the land of the Indios but also their mindset and
heart. This is the issue, the wrong indoctrination of Gods Words to the
Filipinos which Rizal wanted the Filipinos to examine and realize. The
Spaniard brain washed the Filipinos by considering all their acts and orders
as a saintly concern and religious decision. This was shown in the authors
statement, Consider well what kind of religion they are teaching you. See
whether it is the will of God or according to the teachings of Christ that the
poor be succored and those who suffer alleviated. Consider what they are
preaching to you, the object of the sermon, what is behind the masses,
novenas, rosaries, scapularies, images, miracles, candles, belts, etc., etc.,
which they daily keep before your minds, ears and eyes, jostling, shouting,
and coaxing; investigate whence they came and whither they go and then
compare that religion with the pure religion of Christ and see whether that
pretended observance of the life of Christ does not remind you of the fat milk
cow or the fattened pig, which is encouraged to grow fat not through love of
the animal, but for grossly mercenary motives.
This issue can be also addressed to the new generation of Filipinos. Carefree
decisions and lack of broad and further analysis of a concept and event must
be dropped from the attitude of Filipinos. There were numerous chances that
a Filipino was deceived which brought to courts and even in the higher
justice court. The attribute of the Filipinos which is easy to make believe or
tricked is an issue which should be reflected on
Official Corruption
It is not recently that corruption is known by Filipinos, but it was rooted even
in the previous time, The official or friar can no longer assert their unjust
orders.Why, then, do the friars now refuse to stir a foot unless paid in
advance? And, as if they were starving, they sell scapularies, rosaries, belts,
and other things which are nothing but schemes for making money and a
detriment to the soul Thus, also, through cupidity and love of money, they
will, for a price, revoke the numerous prohibitions, such as those against
eating meat, marrying close relatives, etc. You can do almost anything if you
but grease their palms. Why that? Can God be bribed and bought off, and
blinded by money, nothing more nor less than a friar? The brigand who has
obtained a bull of compromise can live calmly on the proceeds of his
robbery, because he will be forgiven. God, then, will sit at a table where theft

provides the viands? Has the Omnipotent become a pauper that He must
assume the role of the excise man or gendarme? If that is the God whom the
friar adores, then I turn my back upon that God. This line strongly exposed
and questioned the stench of corruption in Spanish era. It did mention of
bribery, activities of greasing their palms or ways of making money in not a
legal way and more. It was one of the reasons why Filipinos revolted against
the friars administration. They were fooling the Indios whom they thought
would remain deceived forever.
Making money out of abuse of power is a long issue that all administration of
the Philippines tried to solve. However, how could it be resolved if they
themselves do it?[10] The Philippines is remarkable for fighting against with
it proved by the People Power Revolution. However, even many nongovernment groups and organization are making ways how to totally
eradicate this long time social issue; it still remains in each Filipinos nose.
The cases of Hello Garci wire tapping, the ZTE deal, the fertilizer scam, and
many more graft and corruptions of government officials are but markers of
the dishonesty of Philippines administration.
Racial Discrimination
"In a book published by D. Sinibaldo de Mas and in other friar sketches sins
are related of which women accused themselves in the confessional and of
which the friars made no secret in talking to their Spanish visitors seasoning
them, at the best, with idiotic and shameless tales not worthy of credence. I
cannot repeat here the shameless stories that a friar told Mas and to which
Mas attributed no value whatever. Everytime we hear or read anything of this
kind, we ask each other: Are the Spanish women all cut after the pattern of
the Holy Virgin Mary and the Filipinas all reprobates? I believe that if we were
to balance accounts in this delicate question, perhaps.. This is a vivid
declaration how Filipinos were ridiculed by the Spaniards because of their
race. They addressed them as Indios or Indolent while they passed a decree
of Polo instructing those indolent to work from 18 to 60 years old. The great
difference on how the Filipinos and Spaniards were treated is a strong
evidence that racial discrimination existed. The author himself and his family
were accused of crimes which they didnt do and suffered from them with the
unreasonable basis: they are Filipinos and not Spaniards.
This is not a new social issue for the Philippines. It is just recently that Filipino
workers in a hospital in California were prohibited to speak the language
different from that country even how they articulate their words; hence it is

another proof of discrimination. Another event showing how Filipinos are

discriminated is the case where one HongKong personality wrote that he
punished and hurt his maid because that helper is a Filipino.
Conclusion
The letter of Jose Rizal entitled To The Young Women of Malolos is a
text which could be analyzed best using the extrinsic approach as its
framework. Served as a personal account of a person, a letter can not be
used as a way of communication but can also served as a discourse about
the historical reflection of a society on which certain social issues were
arisen.
Outside factors of a literary piece, such as the biographical, historical and
sociological accounts are useful tools in literary criticism. Biographical
analysis of the author is also helpful on decoding the meaning of the letter or
the literary text. Sometimes, the writer links or connects his own experiences
and influences his work of art as he skillfully put words together. In the text
that I used, Rizal included his personal letter to address his point of view
about the action of the young women of Malolos and at the same time to all
the Filipinas. Moreover, his infancy ideals is an explanation why he viewed
certain events in his life that way. And his unjustly becoming of a Filibustero
is a controlling force of development of ideas and points.
Few events which can be found on the letter were vividly accounted in
history such as Frailocracy and Polo Y Servicious. In here Rizal strongly
attacked the friars on their maltreatment towards the Filipinos in frailocracy.
Morever, this historical event is supported by their approved decree on the
forced labor of the male Filipinos or Polo Y Servicious. The timeline of the
author marked his period and his writings. At the same time, this influence
him or her on what certain features, themes, genre and manner should he or
she used.
Lastly, using the sociological analysis is a helpful method to dismantle the
discourse behind the lines of an author. This could be an influence to the
writer to share and discuss something addressing to a particular group
through his art and style of combining of words. Rizal discussed about
Confined Women, Uneducated Filipinas, The Weak Females of Philippines,
Role of the Mothers, Blind Obedience, Official Corruption, and Racial
Discrimination. These social issues have connection from one another. The
women of the Philippines during the Spanish colonization were confined.
Their actions and attainment were dictated and constructed by the society.

They were organized in the context wherein their purpose is for the family,
church and household chores. With this, they were limited in attaining the
knowledge they wanted which made them uneducated. Consequently, Rizal
pointed out that mothers of Filipinos must get out from this situation because
if the mothers, who first influenced their children will remain as slaves so as
to the next generation of this country. Philippines would remain as a blind
obeying rules even these were killing her. Believing that friars unjust orders
are Gods although the act is already a vivid corruption of the officials. Lastly,
these were all the reasons why the foreigners look down on us Filipinos and
discriminate our race. These social issues presented and exposed by the
National Hero during his time are also observed in the present time. Thus,
the Filipinos must know how to actively decode or decipher the discourse
behind the literary text of any author.