 essay

published in La Solidaridad
Madrid, Spain (July 15, 1890 –
September 15, 1890)

Why did Rizal write this essay?

Rizal wrote this essay to defend
the Filipinos from the charge
that they were born indolent.
 Idle
 Lazy
 littlelove for work
 lack of activity
1. Wars
the inhabitants of the Philippines were
dragged to maintain the honor of Spain
(thousands and thousands of Filipinos
were sent but nothing was said if they
ever returned to their homes.)

great diminution of the natives because

the governors got them as crews for the
vessels they send out.
2. Piratical Attacks
 devastation of the terrible pirates
 Reduced more and more the number of
inhabitants of the Philippines
 burned down the towns, captured and
enslaved men
 disarmed and subjected to tributes so that
they were left without the means to
defend themselves
3. Attitude of the Friars
 At that time, the friars advised their
poor parishioners:
 to stop work in the mines,

 to abandon their industries,

 to destroy their looms and pointing them

that heaven is their sole hope

 Thefriars told them that it is easier for a

poor man to enter heaven than for a rich
man