Reported by:

Haivy Duerme
Jaybee Crystel Saguid
THE PHILIPPINES A CENTURY
HENCE “The Philippines a Century
Hence” is an essay written by
Philippine national hero Jose Rizal
to forecast the future of the country
within a hundred years. Rizal felt
that it was time to remind Spain
that the circumstances that ushered
in the French Revolution could
have a telling effect for her in the
Philippines.
I. Causes of the miseries suffered by
the Filipino people:
 Spain’s implementation of her
military policies
Because of such laws, the
Philippine population decreased
dramatically. Poverty became more
rampant than ever, and farmlands
were left to wither. The family as a unit
of society was neglected, and overall,
every aspect of the life of the Filipino
was retarded.
 Deterioration and disappearance of
Filipino indigenous culture
when Spain came with the sword and
the cross, it began the gradual
destruction of the native Philippine
culture. Because of this, the Filipinos
started losing confidence in their past
and their heritage, became doubtful of
their present lifestyle, and eventually lost
hope in the future and the preservation of
their race.
 Passivity and submissiveness to the
Spanish colonizers
` – one of the most powerful forces
that influenced a culture of silence
among the natives were the Spanish
friars. Because of the use of force, the
Filipinos learned to submit themselves
to the will of the foreigners.
II. Realization of the oppression of the
colonizers
 natives realized that such oppression
in their society by foreign colonizers
must no longer be tolerated.
 Will the Philippine Islands continue to
be a Spanish colony, and if so, what
kind of colony?
 Will they become a province of Spain,
with or without autonomy? And to reach
this stage, what sacrifices will have to
be made?
 Will they be separated from the mother
country to live independently, to fall
into the hands of other nations, or to
ally themselves with neighboring
powers?
 One question Rizal raises in this
essay is whether or not Spain can
indeed prevent the progress of the
Philippines:
Spain, therefore, had no means to
stop the progress of the country. What
she needs to do is to change her colonial
policies so that they are in keeping with
the needs of the Philippine society and
to the rising nationalism of the people.
What will become of the Philippines
within a Century? Will they continue to
be a Spanish Colony?
 A. For those who have strong spirit over
the liberty of the country,
independence was assured.
 B. But for those who are discouraged
and disillusioned by sad experiences
shall be a Prison of the colony forever
 Now then, are the Philippines in the
same condition they were three years
ago?
 A. For the Liberal Spaniards: The ethical
condition of the people remained the
same
 B. For the Friars and their followers:
They have progressed
 C. For many Filipino ethics: They have
retrograded
 The Spanish were able to take hold of the
Philippines for three centuries because
the Filipinos remained faithful, giving up
their liberty and their independence, in
exchange of all the promises given to
them.
 Filipinos sees Spaniards as protectors but
sooner they realizes that they are
exploiters and executers.
 Enlightenment is spreading and the
persecution it suffers quickens it.
 If this state of affair continues , what
will become in the Philippines within a
century?
People start to awaken and if the
government doesn’t change it’s acts, a
revolution will occur.
What do people like?
 A Filipino representative for the
Cortes and an authorized to cry out
against all kinds of abuses.
 To practice their human rights.
 Possible Outcomes:
1. The Philippines will remain under
Spanish colonization, but with more law
and greater liberty
2. They will declare themselves
independent.
 The following situations explains that
Rizal just wanted liberty from Spaniards
not total separation. In his essay we see
his urge to put freedom in our land
through peaceful negotiations with the
Spanish Government in Spain.
If the Philippine will remain under the
control of Spain:
 Transformation in a political sense will
eventually happen
In this case, some governors have
been trying to introduce needed
reforms. But it produced scanty result for
the government as well as to the country.
 With this, our country is most
likely reminded to Sancho Panza in
Barataria Island where he took his
seat on appointed table covered with
fruits and variety of food but when
Pedro Rezio interposed Sancho was
as hungry as ever. That he should not
eat except according to the usage
and custom of other island.
 Sancho Panza = Philippines Dishes
= Reforms Pedro Rezio= many person
interested in not having the food
touched.
The result is the long suffering of
Sancho (Philippines) misses his liberty
and ends up rebelling. In this manner as
long as the Philippines have no liberty
of press, all the efforts of the colonial
ministers will meet the fate like the
dishes in Barataria Island.
 Reforms
1. Freedom of the press
Free press is needed in order to
voice out their complains and
suggestions towards the reformation of
the country.
It will also keep the government in
touch with public opinion.
2. Filipino representatives
a. Prove to be unruly
b. Become political trimmers
c. Act properly
The injustice reasons of the Spanish
government were also wouldn’t risk
putting a Filipino representative in the
Spanish Cortes.
 Certainly the Spanish people does not
spare its blood were patriotism is
concern but would not a struggle of
principles in parliament be
preferable to the exchange of lands.
 Because the Spanish parliament
especially abounds in oratorical
paladins invisible in debate. So we
see no serious reason why Philippines
may not have representatives.
 When the laws and the acts of officials are
kept under surveillance the word justice
may cease to be a colonial jest.
 We could add other minor reforms
touching commerce, agriculture, security
of individual and of property education
and others. To recapitulate: The
Philippines will remains Spanish if they
enter upon the life of law and civilization,
if the rights of their inhabitants are
respected, if the other rights due them are
granted, if the liberal policy of the
government is carried out without false
interpretation.
 Mutual sacrifices and benefits have
engendered affection.
 If violence first silences us (Filipinos)
we have to misfortune to fall then we do
not know what course will be taken that
will rush in to occupy the places that
we leave vacant.
 so instead of closing our eyes we will
face what the future may bring.
 “THE EXISTENCE OF A FOREIGN
BODY WITHIN ANOTHER ENDOWED
WITH STRENGTH AND ACTIVITY IS
CONTRARY TO ALL NATURAL AND
ETHICAL LAWS. SCIENCE TEACHES US
THAT IT EITHER ASSIMILATED,
DESTROYS THE ORGANISM, IS
ELIMINATED OR BECOMES
ENCYSTED.”
 Keeping the people uneducated and
ignorant had failed. National
consciousness had still awakened, and
great Filipino minds still emerged from
the rubble. Eventually, the natives
realized that such oppression in their
society by foreign colonizers must no
longer be tolerated.
 Keeping the people impoverished also
came to no avail. On the contrary, living
a life of eternal destitution had allowed
the Filipinos to act on the desire for a
change in their way of life. They began
to explore other horizons through
which they could move towards
progress.
 Exterminating the people as an
alternative to hindering progress did
not work either. The Filipino race was
able to survive amidst wars and famine,
and became even more numerous after
such catastrophes. To wipe out the
nation altogether would require the
sacrifice of thousands of Spanish
soldiers, and this is something Spain
would not allow.
 “We have said and statistics prove that it
is impossible to exterminate the Filipino
people”
If the Philippines maybe able to secure
their independence after heroic and
stubborn conflicts, they can be rest
assured that no Western countries will
dare to take up what Spain is unable to
hold.
 The Philippines is in danger in falling
into other hands again. Who are the
possible colonizers?
 ENGLAND
 GERMANY
 FRANCE
 HOLLAND
 JAPAN
 US
 Africa will be taking the attention of
European countries, and with the
American Republic whose interest lies
in the Pacific and would like to have a
foreign possession may most likely be
the next conquerors of the “Pearl of the
Orient Sea”.
“Spain, must we some day tell Filipinas
that thou hast no ear for her woes and
that of she wishes to be saved, she must
redeem herself”.
 What Rizal had envisioned in his essay
came true. In 1898, the Americans
wrestled with Spain to win the Philippines,
and eventually took over the country.
Theirs was a reign of democracy and
liberty. Five decades after Rizal’s death,
the Philippines gained her long-awaited
independence. This was in fulfillment of
what he had written in his essay: “History
does not record in its annals any lasting
domination by one people over another,
of different races, of diverse usages and
customs, of opposite and divergent ideas.
One of the two had to yield and succumb.”