Rizal's letter to the Filipino people.

1. Jasper Gabriel R. Fuentes
Philippines: A Century Hence
November 15, 2022
Life and Works of Rizal

2. Philippines: A Century Hence JG Fuentes
Life and Works of Rizal
State the effects of Spanish domination in the Philippines.
In a span of 333 years of colonization, it would be nearly impossible that Spain had not
made an enormous impact to the Philippines. One of the most remarkable influence that the
Spaniards had brought is Christianity. This basically is the catalyst for the Filipino’s pact to what
they call “modernization”. One thing led to another that were all interconnected to Christianity. It
was the backbone of the society in that timespan. Politics, literature, music—everything had to pay
homage to Christianity and this culture has since been indelible. They were so influential that the
Muslim minority in southern Philippines had to slightly step back since the power that the
Spaniards possess is magnificent.
Undeniably, their influence has had fair share of good and negative effects to the country.
However, one immense downside of their conquest of the Philippines was how the country lost its
own charm. Seemed like it literally lost who it was and was changed into being a puppet of Spain.
Considering that the Philippines were to be made a province of Spain, the Philippines unnecessarily
radiated the epitomical Spain instead of indulging in the Philippines own culture. The authentic
silhouettes of the rich Philippine pre-colonial history were not fossilized, but instead wiped out,
forgotten forever.

3. Philippines: A Century Hence JG Fuentes
Life and Works of Rizal
What will happen to the Philippines within a century?
Within a century, the Philippines has two paths to choose to trod; (1) become a province of
Spain, or (2) be an independent nation.
Either which, human (ethical, social, political, etc.) developments would still continue to
foster inevitably. No matter which path the country chooses to take, human development has never
been stagnant. However, the difference is that the country has a choice whether to grow on its own
or to be a manifestation of how the Spanish empire can take over such far away land.
If the Philippines were to become a province of Spain, it will continue to serve the mother
country, being exploited because of its natural resources. But Rizal deems this more unlikely since
there is a lack of representation of the Filipinos in the Spanish Cortes and despite numerous
clamors about such pressing issue, Spain remained blind and deaf, not hearing the calls of their so-
called province, the Philippines.
If the Philippines were to become an independent nation, there is a lot of work to do.
Declaring independence is not a diminutive work. It takes a lot of planning and would take so much
resources. And considering how young the country was, Rizal finds it honestly how separation from
Spain would cost the Filipinos so much and worst case scenario, the country will forlornly plummet.

4. Philippines: A Century Hence JG Fuentes
Life and Works of Rizal
Under what conditions do the Filipinos find themselves in Rizla’s time?
The Filipinos were undeniably poor during Rizal’s time. Especially with the presence of the
abhorrent caste system, no Filipino native will ever progress in life. The ruling class, which was
composed of Spanish of course, were all that benefitted from the hardships of the Filipinos whilst
those in the middle, and lower classes, despite their efforts, they really had no chance to improve
their way of life.
Another condition is that the native Filipinos, those who were untouched by civilizations,
had lost their natural habitats because of the malevolence of the Spanish forces which forced them
to leave their homes. How malignant the Spaniards are that they did not only govern and control
the whole country but also demanded the departure of the original inhabitants.
The darkest cloud that has ever conquered the Filipino’s sky was during the Spanish
colonial era. At first, the colonization had helped the Filipinos take a huge leap to civilization
however as time passes by, the detriment of the Spanish colonialization were seen more visible.
Until such the overstaying of the Spaniards in the country, more and more evidences of
injustices, maltreatment, and exploitation of the Filipinos.

5. Philippines: A Century Hence JG Fuentes
Life and Works of Rizal
What may happen if no improvements were introduced?
The Philippines will become stagnant. It is detrimental to a society if no development were
visible or at least taking place. With such, the Filipinos may have to let Spain leave since and this
can only be done through rebellion and war.
In the colonialism era, it is really difficult when a country stops developing and instead
regress. In this case, there would be an enormous thing that can impede growth to a certain country
and this would be feasible in our country since Spain controls most of the Philippines.
This dystopian world would be horrendous and its impact will even affect us, modern day
Filipinos, and worse, suffer.
In order to combat this repugnant world, the Philippines would have to revolt against
Spanish colonial forces. Who wouldn’t want an improving world?

6. Philippines: A Century Hence JG Fuentes
Life and Works of Rizal
What are the ways of checking the progress of the country?
There are a lot of aspects to consider in checking the progress of a country—social,
economic, political.
However during Rizal’s time, where nationalistic progress is highly demanded by the
enlightened citizens, the first and simplest way to check whether or not the country is progressing is
through freedom of the press and representation of the Filipinos in the Spanish Cortes.
Freedom of the press is deemed imperative since it is the only way that informs the Filipinos
of what was going on in the country. It is also crucial in shaping the social perception towards the
government. And intelligently, this was also a way on how to open the eyes of the Filipinos—how the
Spanish entirely used the Philippines to assert its dominance to the whole world, and exploit the
country’s natural resources, and melancholically, including us, the people.
Another sought after progress was the Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes. The
governing body of Spain should heed to the calls of its people, including of course, the Philippines.
With it being a province of Spain, Spain is highly responsible for the calls of the people in this
province and such that there should be someone who can be the voice of the people and amplify
their voices, especially when their noises weren’t heard.

7. Philippines: A Century Hence JG Fuentes
Life and Works of Rizal
According to Rizal, what are the conditions under which the Philippines
might remain under Spanish domination?
Political change would be the catalyst for the change in the Philippines. If only the Filipinos
were treated equally as those Spanish natives, and representation and visibility were observed in the
country, the Philippines might still be under the Spanish rule. The only thing was lacking was
equality. Injustices were prevalent in the Philippines. The lower castes never had the chance to
defend their criminal cases. Automatically, the Insulares, Friars and other Spanish people were
obviously above the law in the country.
It is melancholic to consider that the Filipinos were considered as servants, slaves while the
people above gets to be served foods in a silver plate.

8. Philippines: A Century Hence JG Fuentes
Life and Works of Rizal
What would happen if the legitimate aspirations of the people are not
attended to?
The capacity of the humans to rebel is innate. Once their aspirations are not attended to by
the higher ups despite all of the noises they made just to be hears, the only way to find solution to
this is to rebel from those who are controlling.
Bloodlust wars would take place and with this, one side will officially be vanquished. Yes,
peace may be an option but if it isn’t enough to find solutions, then the people would be left with no
choice but to wage a war against those abusers.
We could not blame the people whose aspirations aren’t met since the things they want
would only bring social good. The only thing stopping is the detriment it may afflict to the higher
ups, expectedly losing their power against these people.

9. Philippines: A Century Hence JG Fuentes
Life and Works of Rizal
Did Rizal believe that the Philippines could succeed in a war of separation?
Rizal never advocated for a separatist movement, nor a rebellion against the Spaniards. His
plan was to let time pass and independence will soon be acquired peacefully. The benchmark was
that of Mexico, when Spain gave its independence in the absence of turmoil and combat.
Analytically speaking, he never thought that the Philippines would stand a chance against
the Spaniards when we would challenge them to a war. He would only want the Filipinos to open
their eyes and see the injustice in the Spanish government, but separation was never an option of
his.
He wanted the Philippines to gain independence but not through battles but with a slow yet
peaceful process. He was a reformist. He wanted to change the ways of the government. Which was
an entirely different story from what have been inculcated in our minds when we were young.

10. Philippines: A Century Hence JG Fuentes
Life and Works of Rizal
What form of government would the Filipinos likely establish once
independent?
Given its diversity, the Philippines would most likely govern itself in a federal government. It
is a system that brings together states through a confederation.
The Philippines is home to such diverse cultures and influences. The north and central
Philippines were heavily influenced by the Spaniards while the south has brought their Indo-Malay
influences with them, plus those untouched native and ethnic groups scattered in the country, it is
just rightful for the Philippines to live in a federal government.
Giving these states their own autonomy to legislate and establish laws according to their
culture, norms, folkways, and more, is imperative in preserving their culture. It would have been
such magnificent sight to see when the Philippines, as an independent nation, flaunts its highly rich
cultures.

11. Philippines: A Century Hence JG Fuentes
Life and Works of Rizal
What would happen if the United States controlled the Philippines? Did
Rizal’s prophecies come true?
The Philippines will then again face the horrors of colonizers who exploit the country. There
will be a new blood birthed, and a new system introduced, making the Philippines lose again its
spark of identity.
The Filipinos have suffered enough from the hands of colonizers and if the United States
were to control the Philippines, depending on how they will treat the countrymen, the Philippines
would only yearn again for independence.
Rizal prophesized that the Philippines were to enter another battle again for independence
once another colonial groups were to conquer the country again. Thankfully, this did not happen
and we have had a somewhat good relationship with the United States.

12. Philippines: A Century Hence JG Fuentes
Life and Works of Rizal
Describe Rizal’s concluding paragraph.
The last paragraph was all about Rizal’s message to Spain. It would have been a driving
force to let Spain here the voices of the Filipinos.
Granting the rights and liberties of the Filipinos is such an enormous thing that would have
brought solidarity to both countries. It is imperative since the Filipinos are people too, and if the
Philippines were to become a province of Spain, the Filipinos are basically Spaniard thus it is just
rightful to grant equal rights to all Filipinos as such as the Spanish mainland people have.
The last paragraph is further a message to Spain that heeding to the Filipinos woes are
their last request as they collectively only did what Spain wanted them to. It is at least some sort of
debt of gratitude of the country to the Filipinos and would uplift the way of life of these pitiful
people.

13. Jasper Gabriel R. Fuentes
Philippines: A Century Hence
November 15, 2022
Life and Works of Rizal