Rizal

1. La Solidaridad and the Propaganda Movement
•La Solidaridad-
•(The Solidarity) was an organization created in
Spain on December 13, 1888.
•The social, cultural, and economic conditions of
the colonial Philippines were published in La
Solidaridad.
•Speeches of the Spanish liberals about the
Philippines were also featured in the newspaper.

2. The Propaganda Movement
•The Propaganda Movement was a set of
communication actions through books,
leaflets and newspaper articles by a group
of Filipinos who called for political reforms.
•Lasting approximately from 1880 to 1898
with the most activity between 1880 and
1895.

3. Reforms Desired by the Propaganda
Movement
• Equality of the Filipinos and Spaniards before the laws
• Assimilation of the Philippines as a regular province of Spain
• Restoration of the Philippine representative in the Spanish
Cortes
• Filipinization of the Philippine parishes and expulsion of the
friars
• Human rights for Filipinos and freedom of speech, freedom
to meet and petition for redress of grievances

4. Programs of the Movement
• The Aims of the Movement
• to combat reaction, to stop all retrogressive steps, to extol and
adopt liberal ideas, to defend progress;
• in a word, to be a propagandist, above all, of democratic ideas in
order to make these supreme in all nations here and across the
seas.
• The aims, therefore, of La Solidaridad are described as to collect, to
gather, libertarian ideas which are manifested daily in the field of
politics, science, art, literature, commerce, agriculture and industry.
• We shall also discuss all problems relating to the general interest of
the nation and seek solutions to those problems in high-level and
democratic manner..

5. Sobre La Indolencia De Los Filipinas
• This logical essay is a proof of the national hero’s historical scholarship.
• The essay rationally countered the accusations by Spaniards that Filipinos were indolent
(lazy) during the Spanish reign.
• It was published in La Solidaridad in five consecutive issues on July (15 and 31), August (1
and 31) and September 1, 1890. Rizal explained the alleged Filipino indolence by pointing
to these factors:
• 1) the Galleon Trade destroyed the previous links of the Philippines with other
countries in Asia and the Middle East, thereby eradicating small local businesses and
handicraft industries;
• 2) the Spanish forced labor compelled the Filipinos to work in shipyards, roads, and
other public works, thus abandoning their agricultural farms and industries;
• 3) many Filipinos became landless and wanderers because Spain did not defend them
against pirates and foreign invaders;

6. • 4) the system of education offered by the colonizers was impractical as it
was mainly about repetitive prayers and had nothing to do with
agricultural and industrial technology;
• 5) the Spaniards were a bad example as negligent officials would come in
late and leave early in their offices and Spanish women were always
followed by servants;
• 6) gambling like cockfights was established, promoted, and explicitly
practiced by Spanish government officials and friars themselves especially
during feast days;
• 7) the crooked system of religion discouraged the natives to work hard by
teaching that it is easier for a poor man to enter heaven; and
• 8) the very high taxes were discouraging as big part of natives’ earnings
would only go to the officials and friars. LAONG LAAN

7. Lopez Jaena & Del Pilar
• The first editor of La Solidaridad was Graciano Lopez Jaena, but it was
totally under Marcelo del Pilar from its earliest inauguration to its
ignominious death.
• It’s because Del Pilar and his Comite de Propaganda in Manila worked for
the entire project and financing (real moving force, the conduit of funds,
and the organizer of the newspaper).
• Lopez Jaena was chosen as editor because he already had reputation as a
fiery political orator and had influential contacts among the anticlerical
republicans and masons of Barcelona, where the newspaper made its
debut, but then he realized that his editorship was only nominal (La
Solidaridad vol. 1, 1996).

8. La Epoca, Anti Filipino Newspaper
• Wenceslao Retana wrote an article in La Epoca which was an anti-Filipino
newspaper in Madrid.
• The article declares that Rizal’s family and friends were ejected in calamba
because they did not pay their rents.
• Rizal, after hearing the insult was enraged and challenged Retana to duel for
only Retana’s blood can be accepted as an apology because of what he had
done to Rizal’s family.
• Retana who knew that he had no chance of winning, published a retraction
and apology in the same paper.
• From that incident, Retana’s pen became silent. Eventually, he developed a
great admiration for Rizal and made the first book-length biography of the
greatest Filipino hero.

9. Rizal and Del Pilar’s Differences
• Rizal & Del Pilar When the year 1890 was about to end, an unwanted
rivalry between Rizal and Del Pilar nonetheless arose.
• By the time, Del Pilar had become the owner of La Solidaridad and
had taken the place of Graciano Lopez Jaena as its editor.
• Del Pilar’s management and editorial policy were occasionally
dissimilar to Rizal’s political vision. The editorial policy of La
Solidaridad under Del Pilar’s management exacerbated the rift
between Rizal and Del Pilar.
• Rizal and his close friends objected to the periodical’s editorial policy
which was occasionally contrary to Rizal’s political views.

10. Rizal Gave Way to Del Pilar
• Ideally to fix differences and solidify the unity among them, about 90
Filipinos in Madrid met on the New Year’s Day of 1891.
• It was agreed upon in the gathering that a leader called Responsable, be
elected to administer the campaigns for reform of the Filipinos.
• The voting happened during the first week of February that year. It was
decided that the ‘Responsable’ must be elected by a two-thirds vote of the
participants.
• The supposedly healthy election for a leader produced divisive unpleasant
split among the Filipinos, the Rizalistas and the Pilaristas, as both camps
zealously campaigned for their respective choice.

11. • Rizal won the election but his votes fell short of the required
two-thirds vote to be declared Responsable.
• He won again on the second day, but then again, the votes
counted for him did not reach the needed fraction.
• On the third day, since Mariano Ponce appealed to some
Pilaristas to surrender their will to what the majority wanted, the
election resulted in Rizal’s becoming the ‘legal’ Responsable.
Rizal, however, courteously declined the position. He knew that
there were ‘Pilaristas’ who did not like either his views or
personality.
• Jose Rizal, a man of delicadeza, thus decided to abdicate his
leadership and leave Madrid, lest his presence results in more
serious faction among Filipinos in Madrid.

12. Del Pilar’s Letter
“If you have any resentment, I beg you to put it aside; if
you consider me at fault, and this fault is pardonable,
forgive me… We would much like that you resume
writing for it; not only would we strengthen La
Solidaridad but we would defeat the friar intrigue in the
Philippines.” – Marcelo H. Del Pilar’s letter to Jose Rizal
(August 7, 1892)

13. Reply of Rizal
• “I am extremely surprised at your letter, telling me about resentments, disagreements, and
reconciliations, etc. I believe it is useless to talk about what does not exist, and if it has existed, it
ought to have evaporated in the past. I think like you do, that there being nothing, one ought not
to waste time talking about it.’
• If I stopped writing for La Solidaridad, it was because of several reasons,
• 1st, I need time to work on my book;
• 2nd, I wanted other Filipinos to work also;
• 3rd, I considered it very important to the party that there be unity in the work;
• and you are already at the top and I also have my own ideas, it is better to leave you alone
to direct the policy such as you understand it and I do not meddle in it.
• This has two advantages: It leaves both of us free, and it increases your prestige, which is very
necessary, inasmuch as men of prestige are needed in our country. This does not mean to say that I
need not work and follow the course of your work. I am like an army corps who, at a needed moment,
you will see me arrive to descend upon the flanks of the enemy before you. Only I ask God to give
me the means to do it… I fight for the nation, the Philippines. – Jose Rizal’s reply to Marcelo del
Pilar’s letter (undated)

14. Rizal’s Words to Del Pilar
• “... We are persuaded that no sacrifices are too little to win
the rights and the liberty of a nation that is oppressed by
slavery. We work within the law and thus will we continue
publishing this newspaper whether here or abroad,
depending on the exigencies of the fight wherein Filipino
reactionaries have come to impress upon all Filipinos that in
its soul there beats some sentiment of dignity and shame.
Whether here or abroad, we will continue developing our
program”

15. Did La Solidaridad Fail? Did the Propaganda
Movement achieve its goal?
• Reasons of failure;
• Confiscation of newspaper issues in the mails
• Lack of fund to support the movement
• Friars were busy collecting money and making themselves rich
• Many members wanted true change but were cautious of their wealth
• The conflicts between Lopez Jaena - del Pilar, and Rizal - del Pilar.
• No strong leader aside from Rizal
• Spanish government did not agree to any of its demands

16. EARLY FILIPINO STUDENTS ACTIVITIES IN
SPAIN (1880-1882)
• Filipino Students to Spain
• After the events of 1872, a sort of lull settled on Filipino nationalist activities
in the Philippines and in Spain.
• Burgos had been executed
• Other Filipino priests who had been prominent in the controversy over the
parishes returned from their exile
• Archbishop Martinez resigned in 1874 and replaced by a Dominican,
Archbishop Pedro Payo on the following year.
• Towards 1880 the tiny trickle of students from Philippines to the universities
of the Peninsula gradually turned into a steady flow.

17. Filipino Students to Spain
• Most of the early students came from well-to-do families (*mostly creoles
and mestizos)
• They were soon followed by young men of Chinese Mestizo or Spanish
Mestizo and those who came from wealthy native families. Creoles-
tended to identify themselves with the peninsular Spaniards 
• Chinese Mestizo- identified himself with the native Filipino or Indio *
• Under this time all those born in the Philippines shared a certain feeling,
not yet clearly defined, of being Filipinos, especially on early periods
because of radical divisions had come to the force.

18. PEDRO PATERNO
• one of the two(2) Filipino nationalists known with certainty to have
been in Spain before 1880 (*the other was Gregorio Sanciano)  he
has come to Spain in 1871 ( studied Philosophy & Theology in
Salamanca)
• Later had gone to Madrid where he obtained doctorate in law in 1880
Son of Maximo Paterno, a wealthy, Manila businessman who was
among deported to Marianas in 1872
• Because of his father he has contact with men as Manuel Regidor and
Manuel Azcarraga (Philippine borns who has left Philippines and then
got involved in political issues.)

19. Gregorio Sanciano’s Book
• Sanciano’s book anticipates most of the principal themes of the later
Filipino nationalist campaign;
• Administrative reform
• Eradication of corruption in the government
• Recognition of Filipino rights as loyal Spaniards
• Extension of Spanish law to the Philippines
• Curtailment of the excessive power of the friars in the life of the
country
• Assertion of the dignity of the Filipino.

20. Rizal’s Impression on the Book of Sanciano
• The book was not the type to have a mass appeal,
and information is lacking on its circulation in the
Philippines.
• Jose Rizal was impressed by the book. (*1882 letter to his
brother, he mentioned the proximate return to the
Philippines of Sanciano “the author of EL Progreso
deFilipinas”) (*Rizal’s nationalist essay “Sobre la indolencia
de los Filipinos” in La Solidaridad in 1890 was based on
Sanciano’s treatment of the subject)

21. The First Filipino Colony
• At the banquet Visayan medical student Graciano Lopez Jaena,
delivered a speech, he eulogized the glorious mission of Spain
personified by Magellan, Legazpi and others who brought civilization
and progress to the Philippines.
• Philippines (* “Proud to call herself daughter of the fatherland of
Calderon and Cervantes”)
• When liberty and the encouragement of the arts shall reign in her,
this Pearl of the Orient will be a source of inexhaustible wealth for
Spain.

22. Graciano Lopez Jaena
• He plays an important role in the Filipino movement.
• born in Jaro, Ilo-ilo in 1856
• First studied in the Jaro seminary and later gone to Manila to study medicine
• Works as apprentice at a hospital due to lack of secondary diploma , then returned to his
native province.
• Had trouble with authorities then later gone to Spain in 1880 to study medicine at the
University of Valencia
• 1881 gave up his study and left for Madrid then began to be active in political and
journalistic circles
• Natural orator and became frequent speaker in meetings of radical groups.
• He would be radicalizing force among Filipinos

23. Circulo-Hispano Filipino
• The banquet led to first organizations of Filipinos in Madrid
• Early 1882 they founded the Circulo-Hispano Filipino under the
leadership of Juan Atayde, a retired Spanish army officer of the
Philippines by birth.
• In its manifesto of 20 April 1882, signed by the acting president, Rear
Admiral Claudio Montero y Gay, its secretary, Juan Atayde, the Circulo
expressed its thanks to Minister Leon y Castillo, to whose “support
and personal mediation it owes its existence”

24. Rizal Arrived in Madrid
• In September 1882, Jose Rizal arrived in Madrid to study medicine
and he endeavoured to give substance to Circulo in faith that it will
unite the Philippines.
• the Circulo founded a bi-weekly news paper called Revista del Circulo
Hispano-Filipino, whose first number appeared on 29 octobr 1882.
(*it doesn’t last long)
• Pardo de Tavera merely says that “Some Spaniards from the
Philippines who wrote in it, quickly stopped doing so when they saw
the anti-Spanish character which it was beginning to take.”

25. The Fall of the Circulo
• In 1883 both Circulo and its paper is dead because of the withdrawal
of the older member’s support and the cessation of the subsidy
which had come from the overseas ministry with the fall of the
government.
• In 1884, Rizal made new attempts to revive the Circulo, but did not
succeed.
El Consejo de los Dioses
• In 1881 the Liceo Artistico-Literario of Manila, sponsored a contest,
open to Peninsulars and Filipinos, to honor Cervantes.
• Jose Rizal still a medical student of nineteen, won the first prize this
time over various peninsular journalists and friar professors of the
university, with an allegory entitled “El Consejo de los Dioses”.

26. “El amor Patrio”,
• Contribution of Rizal to the Diyaryong Tagalog , appeared in the issue of 20 August 1882.
• Rizal said that it is fitting that we too should be grateful to our beloved country; “In the
fashion then the ancient Hebrews, who offered in the temple the first fruits of their love,
we, in the foreign land, will dedicate our first our love to our country, still wrapped in the
clouds and mists of the morning, but always fair and poetic, ever more fervently
worshipped, in proportion to our distance an the length of our absence from her.”
• In this paragraph of Jose Rizal, he sings the praises of love of country. He calls on his
countrymen to love their country, as men in every age have loved and fought and died
for theirs.
• He concludes: “Love her, yes! But not as men loved in other times, practicing fierce
virtues, virtues rejected and reprobated by true morality and by mother nature! Not by
glorying in fanaticism, in destruction, in cruelty, no! A more smiling dawn now appears
on the horizon, of soft and peaceful rays, messenger of life and of peace; the true dawn
of Christianity, an omen of days of happiness and tranquility.
• Our duty will be to follow the arid, but peaceful and productive paths of knowledge,
which lead on to progress; and from there to the union desired and prayed for by Jesus
Christ in the night of His Passion.”

27. Fighting for Equal Treatment
• 1882 Pedro Paterno, Gregorio Sanciano, Jose Rizal – Each on his own
way had begun to articulate growing consciousness among Filipinos
abroad that they were not merely vassals of Spain, but people equal
and distinct, with their own to seek and cherish.