THE PHILIPPINES: A Century

Hence other possible topics

letter to the women of
Malolos/The Indolence of the
Filipinos
 “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
circumtances that ushered in the French Revolution could have a telling
effect for her in the Philippines.

This essay, published in La Solidaridad starts by analyzing the various

causes of the miseries suffered by the Filipino people:

1. Spain’s implementation of her military policies-because of such laws,

the Philippines population decreased dramatically.Poverty became more
rampant than ever, and famlands were left wither. The family as a unit of
society was neglected, and overall, every aspect of the life of the Filipino
was retarded.
 2.Deterioration and disappearance of Filipino indigenious 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 or their present
lifestyle , and eventually lost hope in the future and the preservation of their
race.
3.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 offorce, the Filipinos learned to submit
themselves to the will of the foreigners.

The question the arises as to what had awakened the hearts and opened the
minds of the Filipino people with regards to their plight . Eventually, the
natives realized that such oppression in their society by foreign colonizers
must no longer be tolerated.
One question Rizal raises in this essay is whether or not Spain can indeed
prevent the progress of the Philippines.
1.Keeping the people uneducated and ignorant had failed.National
consciousness had still awakened, and great Filipino minds still emerged
from the rubbled.
2.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.
3.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.
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 Philippines society and to the rising
nationalism of the people.

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 to another,of
different races,of diverse usages and customs,of opposite and divergent
ideas.One of the two had to yield and succumb.”
RIZAL’S LETTER TO THE WOMEN OF MALOLOS
SUMMARY

• Rizal pays homage to 20 women of Malolos who desire to educate

themselves

• In this way, Rizal sees in these women a ray of hope in restoring the
Filipino women’s dignity and worth

• Rizal emphasizes the importance of Filipino mothers

• Rizal refers to different women in society: mothers, daugthers, wives

and even the unmarried ones

• Fr. Felipe Garcia objected their plan so, the governor-general turned
down the petition
• However, the women still continued their petition of the school and they
suceeded in obtaining government approval in a condition that Seńorita
Guadalupe Reyes should be their teacher

• Del Pilar ( who was in Barcelona) wrote to Rizal (who was in London) on
Feb. 17 1889, requesting to send a letter in Tagalog to the brave women
of Malolos

• Rizal sent the letter to Del Pilar on Feb. 22 1889 for transmittal to
Malolos
 WOMEN OF MALOLOS
Elisea T. Reyes (1873-1969)
Juana T. Reyes (1874-1900)
Leoncia S. Reyes (1864-1948)
Olympia S.A. Reyes (1876-1910)
Rufina T. Reyes (1869-19090
Eugenia M. Tanchangco (1871-1969)
Aurea M. Tanchangco (1872-1958)
Basilia V. Tantoco (1865-1925)
Teresa T. Tantoco (1867-1942)
Maria T. Tantoco (1869-1912)
Anastacia M. Tiongson (1874-1940)
Basilia R. Tiongson (ca. 1860-ca 1900)
Paz R. TIongson (ca. 1862-1889)
Aleja R. Tiongson (ca.1865-ca.1900)
Mercedes R. Tiongson (1869-1928)
Agapita R. Tiongson (1870-19370)
Filomena O. Tiongson (ca. 1865-1930)
Cecilia O. Tiongson (ca. 1867-1934)
Feliciana O. Tiongson (1869-1938)
Alberta S. Uitangcoy (1865-1953)
SYMBOL

YELLOW ROSES
symbolist a love, purity, and peace to the women of Malolos.
They also show that education is important to each person ... And all
Filipinos have a hidden talent and ability to raise the living.