Rizals Concept of Independence and Nation Building for the Philippines

Did Dr. Jose Rizal truly want independence of his mother land, the Philippines? Jose Rizal, our national hero was one of the Filipinos who asked for reforms during the Spanish era. This was one of his best contributions in building our nation. These reforms will grant the ultimate dream of the reformists; assimilation. Filipinos will be given the rights that they deserve. Rizal choose to seek for reforms than to start a revolution because he knew that Philippines was not yet ready to stand on its own (during his time). Rizal used his liberal ideas in asking for reforms.1 Some of his affiliations that seize the above thought are that of his socio-civic organization that he founded, La Liga Filipina, and the La Solidaridad which focus on reforms and the relationship of Spanish regimen and Philippines.On

"Simply put, he felt that independence could be attained only after Spain grants the Filipinos, first, their basic political freedoms, and second, autonomy. Although Rizal's early ideas on nationhood remain open to speculation, he later withdrew and refused to give any consideration to the alternative of assimilation with Spain as favored by other Ilustrados.

One may agree or disagree with his views and approach, but there is no doubt that he wanted independence: He never desired the Philippines to remain a province of Spain forever. It is to be noted that for many years, he avoided uttering any remark that could be taken as pro-Spanish. This was evident during his last stay in Europe, his short residence in Hong Kong, and his last four years in Dapitan.

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1. http://www.scribd.com/doc/29603377/Discussion-and-Position-Paper-Rizal

"The first and last time that he broke his self-imposed silence was in his Defense, and only to affirm that he wanted independence after a lapse of years. He saw self-rule at the end of an unalterable historical development, like the natural process of growth in living organisms. Once this point is understood and accepted, it is easy to explain pro-Spanish sounding statements found in the document." The foundation of Rizals political views on independence is that of he believed that it will be attained gradually. He denounced those who chose to equate his desire to have freedoms with intent to have independence, accusing them of either lying or misunderstanding him. He explicitly affirmed, I have believed that autonomy was bound to come little by little and independence after a lapse of years. In his socio-civic organization, La Liga Filipina, that he founded

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1. http://www.scribd.com/doc/29603377/Discussion-and-Position-Paper-Rizal

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1. http://www.scribd.com/doc/29603377/Discussion-and-Position-Paper-Rizal