The Philippines a Century Hence
Features
This famous essay of Rizal entitled “Filipinas de cien años” was first published in La Solidaridad, Madrid, between September 30, 1889, and February 1, 1890. by José Rizal.
Translated by Charles E. Derbyshire
PART ONE: In order to read the destiny of a people, it is necessary to open the book of its past. Scarcely had [the Philippines] been attached to the Spanish crown than they had sustained with their blood and the efforts of their sons the wars and ambitions, and conquest of the Spanish people, and in these struggles, in that terrible crisis when a people changes its form of government, its laws, usages, customs, religion and beliefs; the Philippines was depopulated, impoverished and retarded — caught in their metamorphosis without confidence in their past, without faith in their present and with no fond home of the years to come. They gradually lost their ancient traditions, their recollections; they forgot their writings, their songs, their poetry, and their laws in order to learn by heart other doctrines, which they did not understand, other ethics, other tastes, different from those inspired in their race by their climate and their way of thinking. Then there was a falling-off, they were lowered in their own eyes, they became ashamed of what was distinctively their own, in order to admire and praise that was foreign and incomprehensible; their spirit was broken and they acquiesced. When the ethical abasement of the inhabitants had reached this stage, when they had become disheartened and disgusted with themselves, an effort was made to add the final stroke for reducing so many dormant wills and intellects to nothingness, in order to make of the individual a sort of toiler, a brute, a beast of burden and to develop a race without mind or heart…
PART TWO: What will become of the Philippines within a century? Will they continue to be a Spanish colony? If the system, prolific in results of alienating the goodwill of the natives, is to continue, pricking his apathetic mind with insults and charges of ingratitude, we can assert that in a few years the present state of affairs will have been modified completely — and inevitably. There now exists a factor which was formerly lacking — the spirit of the nation has been aroused and a common misfortune, a common debasement has united all the inhabitants of the Islands. In spite of the dark horde of friars…[and a]…whole elaborate system perfected and tenaciously operated by those who wish to keep the Islands in holy ignorance; there exist writers, freethinkers, historians, philosophers, chemists, physicians, artists, and jurists. Enlightenment is spreading and the persecution it suffers quickens it. No, the divine flame of thought is inextinguishable in the Filipino people and somehow or other it will shine forth and compel recognition. It is impossible to brutalize the inhabitants of the Philippines! May poverty arrest their development? Perhaps, but it is a very dangerous means…Wealth brings with it refinement, the spirit of conservation, while poverty inspires adventurous ideas, the desire to change things and has little care for life… The Islands cannot remain in the condition they are without requiring from the sovereign country more liberty…For new men, a new social order. The Philippines, then, will remain under Spanish domination, but with more law and greater liberty, or they will declare themselves independent after steeping themselves and the mother country in blood.
April 1st, 2009 at 02:36 AM
I tackled this article during our class report too. Since the other group was lazy and irresponsible of their work, our group decided to discuss this under my duration on class discussion.
About this, article, it simply tells that we are a race who become ABSOLUTELY SUBMISSIVE with the WEST! In addition to the quote “A race without mind or heart”, not only those are lacking with us but also our entire being as a Filipino. Perhaps Rizal is right because of of his fear that another colony will dominate us and follow them.
This is a mere reflection that we are completely submissive to the superior ones wherein we slowly eradicate our identity and pattern it to the Americans that’s why we need COUNTERCONSCIOUSNESS and COUNTER AWARENESS from the dictated environment.
April 1st, 2009 at 05:33 PM
The Filipino a century hence has become their own tyrants. What a tragedy, indeed. But there is always hope for national redemption. It’s up to us now to act on that hope and redefine the new Filipino. And it starts with a national introspection. The Brownraise is one instrument for this. We may not like what we see in the mirror for now, but we can build the conviction to bring out who we truly are at our core.
April 4th, 2009 at 09:19 AM
i’m not nationalistic, but this article explains ‘most everything about what is happening
April 6th, 2009 at 12:32 AM
“…If the Filipino, then, is sufficiently intelligent to pay taxes, he must also be able to choose and retain the one who looks after him and his interests, with the product whereof he serves the government of his nation. To reason otherwise is to reason stupidly.”
Exercise your right to vote. Get in that government young blood, filled with idealism, nationalism, hope, vision. May lack the experience, but compensated by new ideas to reform the government. New, not the same old rhetorics, and bold but refreshing.
“To reason otherwise, is to reason stupidly.” Just look at what we have now.
September 9th, 2009 at 09:43 PM
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
September 12th, 2009 at 10:46 AM
hoping to scribble a word or two…but i remain in awe! NICE
November 25th, 2009 at 01:27 PM
nothing is impossible! Instead of keep depending on west why don’t we give our country a second chance…and it’s in the hand of every Filipino…We have to patronize our country, Philippines not just because it is our responsibility but because we are “Filipinos” and if anybody denies it then you better call yourselves “alien”.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:45 AM
Let’s just hope that nationalism will arose in every heart of our fellow men…Hope is important for us to reign again….the problem is we do not know if they have the hope to carry on.
March 5th, 2010 at 03:59 PM
if Rizal did just wrote tpach, we act act on it for we are on the century he had written. and like Rizal, we can also write another Philippines a century hence. our present will become tomorrow’s past.
March 5th, 2010 at 04:02 PM
i would also like to recommend Historical Events of the Philippine Islands by Antonio de Morga
March 18th, 2010 at 08:10 AM
yes!! i also believe that we still have the spirit of nationalism and that we have to keep it up. but as a native filipino i can say that our love for the country is slowly deteriorating basing it from the obvervations that we dont even show a little sense of ownership. we are always saying “im proud to be a filipino” but look we dont love philippines. look what we are doing now, slowly killing philippines. sometimes i think that we just dont have a choice of being a filipino. im just being realistic…..
March 24th, 2010 at 12:40 AM
all i can say is that the country is sick… and thus it is our responsibility to put everything back in shape…. uhm… if japan was able to heal its wound after the bombings, why cant we? we could still rebuild/renew the fate of the country..