The Life and Works of Rizal

It is of great importance that students understand the rationale behind having to take up a Rizal course in college.  For high school students, the Noli Me Tangere and the El Filibusterismo are injected into the Filipino subject as part of the overall curriculum.  In tertiary education, however, Rizal is a subject required of any course, in any college or university in the Philippines.  Usually, during the first day of the course, the professor asks the well-overused questions: Why study Rizal? What is the importance of studying Rizal? Why is Rizal one of the minor subjects taken up in college? Why is Rizal included in the course outline? What relevance does Rizal have in college education? The answer to such questions can be summed up in two points: First and foremost, because it is mandated by law. Secondly, because of the lessons contained within the course itself.   Let us discuss those reasons one by one: WHY STUDY RIZAL:  BECAUSE IT I...

Jose Rizal’s 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.  Related pages: To the Young Women of Malolos Full Text To the Young Women of Malolos Short Version 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: 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. The defense of private judgment Qualities Filipino mothers need to possess – as evide...

La Indolencia de los Filipinos, more popularly known in its English version, "The Indolence of the Filipinos," is a exploratory essay written by Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, to explain the alleged idleness of his people during the Spanish colonization. Related pages: The Indolence of the Filipino Full Text The Indolence of the Filipino Short Version The Indolence of the Filipino Editor's Explanation The Indolence of the Filipino Highlights and Quotable Quotes Summary             The Indolence of the Filipinos is a study of the causes why the people did not, as was said, work hard during the Spanish regime.  Rizal pointed out that long before the coming of the Spaniards, the Filipinos were industrious and hardworking.  The Spanish reign brought about a decline in economic activities because of certain causes:             First, the establishment of the Galleon Trade cut off all previ...

“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. Related pages: The Philippines a Century Hence Full Text The Philippines a Century Hence Short Version This essay, published in La Solidaridad starts by analyzing the various 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 ...

Summary: Simoun, wounded and exhausted, goes to the house of Padre Florentino to hide from the civil guards who are sent to arrest him and take him into custody.   Simoun drinks a poison, then reveals his true identity to Padre Florentino – that he, Simoun the jeweler, is in fact Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, the fugitive believed to have died in the river years ago.   He admits that everything is his futile attempt to corrupt the government and the society so that he could start a revolution to free the country from the bonds of Spain.   Padre Florentino corrects Simoun, telling him that freedom cannot be won by violence and the shedding of innocent blood but by proper education, hard work, and long-suffering. Points of Note: Both the last chapter of the Noli and the last chapter of the El Fili are untitled. The sun is about to set when Simoun reveals his true identity and life story to Padre Florentino. Frequently Asked Questions: Question: Why did Simoun go to Padre Fl...

Summary: The soldiers escort a group of prisoners.   Suddenly, they are ambushed.   Carolino, one of the civil guards, is the long-lost son of Cabesang Tales.   He fights the bandits bravely and fiercely, finishing off the leader of the thieves with a spear, and killing an old man who is part of the group.   He surveys the dead, and realizes that the old man he had killed is in fact Tandang Selo, his grandfather. Points of Note: Siberia in Russia had long been the place where convicted felons were thrown out and punished.   According to Rizal, the cold Russian climate is an even more effective punishment than what is given to those captured by the civil guards – walking around the searing hot ground chained and without footwear, enduring the mockery thrown at them by passers-by. In this chapter Rizal describes not only the dimwittedness of the civil guards, but also their cruelty towards their fellowmen. The civil guards, apart from their leaders, are mere ...

Summary: Isagani, Sensia, Capitana Loleng, Capitan Toringoy, and Chichoy discuss the events of the previous night.   Chichoy says that Simoun the jeweler is the mastermind behind all that had transpired, and that he was responsible for plotting to kill all the guests at the wedding feast.   Chichoy also adds that the lamp was supposed to start the fire, ignite the gunpowder, and set off the explosion. Frequently Asked Questions: Question: Why did Isagani’s friends put him into hiding? Answer: There were rumors going around that Isagani was responsible for putting the gunpowder in Capitan Tiago’s house to get back at Juanito for taking Paulita away.   This, however, was not true.   Eventually it was proven that Simoun was the person behind it all. Question: Why couldn’t the trouble at the house of Don Timoteo and Simoun’s connection to it be kept a secret from the people? Answer: There were workers, government officials, and witnesses on the night of the feast. ...

Summary: From Capitan Tiago’s house, Ben Zayb runs to his abode to write about the shocking events that have transpired.   In his writing, he makes the governor-general, Padre Irene, Don Custodio, and Padre Salvi look like heroes.   He also wishes the governor-general a safe journey.   Meanwhile, the governor-general prohibits anyone from talking about the events that have taken place at the wedding celebration of Paulita and Juanito Pelaez.   According to rumors, a band of thieves had attacked a friar’s house.   The robbers who are caught describe to the authorities the man who supposedly ordered them to attack the town after the signal is given.   Their description indisputably leads to Simoun. Points of Note: In this chapter Rizal gives light to the false and biased method of delivering news during those days. This is the first time that Simoun’s disguise is compromised.   This is the first time that he is suspected.   All the clues lead to...

Summary: Simoun discreetly yet nonchalantly places the lamp at the center of the house where the guests are gathered.   Basilio watches him from a distance.   As the youth is about to leave the place, he sees Isagani and tries to convince his friend to leave.   Basilio tells him to get as far away from the house as possible, and explains that there is about to be an explosion any minute that would kill all the guests and everyone within a considerable distance.   Isagani, in a rare act of love and loyalty to his beloved Paulita, quickly rushes to the house and throws the lamp into the river below, stopping the explosion. Frequently Asked Questions: Question: What does “Mane Thacel Phares” mean? Answer: Just like the title, “Noli Me Tangere,”   this is taken from the Bible (Daniel 5:25-28).   In these verses, King Belshazzar of Babylon holds a vulgar feast.   While the guests indulge themselves in indecent and salacious activities, a hand then write...

In his solitary retreat on the shore of the sea, whose mobile surface was visible through the open, windows, extending outward until it mingled with the horizon, Padre Florentino was relieving the monotony by playing on his harmonium sad and melancholy tunes, to which the sonorous roar of the surf and the sighing of the treetops of the neighboring wood served as accompaniments. Notes long, full, mournful as a prayer, yet still vigorous, escaped from the old instrument. Padre Florentino, who was an accomplished musician, was improvising, and, as he was alone, gave free rein to the sadness in his heart. For the truth was that the old man was very sad. His good friend, Don Tiburcio de Espadaña, had just left him, fleeing from the persecution of his wife. That morning he had received a note from the lieutenant of the Civil Guard, which ran thus: MY DEAR CHAPLAIN,—I have just received from the commandant a telegram that says, “Spaniard hidden house Padre Florentino capture forward alive ...

Matanglawin was the terror of Luzon. His band had as lief appear in one province where it was least expected as make a descent upon another that was preparing to resist it. It burned a sugar-mill in Batangas and destroyed the crops, on the following day it murdered the Justice of the Peace of Tiani, and on the next took possession of the town of Cavite, carrying off the arms from the town hall. The central provinces, from Tayabas to Pangasinan, suffered from his depredations, and his bloody name extended from Albay in the south to Kagayan in the north. The towns, disarmed through mistrust on the part of a weak government, fell easy prey into his hands—at his approach the fields were abandoned by the farmers, the herds were scattered, while a trail of blood and fire marked his passage. Matanglawin laughed at the severe measures ordered by the government against the tulisanes, since from them only the people in the outlying villages suffered, being captured and maltreated if they re...

Todo se sabe Notwithstanding so many precautions, rumors reached the public, even though quite changed and mutilated. On the following night they were the theme of comment in the house of Orenda, a rich jewel merchant in the industrious district of Santa Cruz, and the numerous friends of the family gave attention to nothing else. They were not indulging in cards, or playing the piano, while little Tinay, the youngest of the girls, became bored playing chongka by herself, without being able to understand the interest awakened by assaults, conspiracies, and sacks of powder, when there were in the seven holes so many beautiful cowries that seemed to be winking at her in unison and smiled with their tiny mouths half-opened, begging to be carried up to the home . Even Isagani, who, when he came, always used to play with her and allow himself to be beautifully cheated, did not come at her call, for Isagani was gloomily and silently listening to something Chichoy the silversmith was relat...