GROUP THOUGHT PAPER #2

RZL10 / E04 / 4Q 18-19 CANDELARIA, ELAGO, FALCIS, MANDARIO, VENTURA

Rizal’s annotations on the book of Dr. Morga provide a heuristic approach on the cultural and
societal landscape of the Philippines in primeval times. The implied intent of Rizal was to saturate the
initial findings of Morga about the Philippines and contextualize its binding contents in his current era.
The annotations of which he wrote provided remarkable facts and conjectures that elucidated some of
Morga’s inadequate inquiries. The plethora of Rizal’s annotations constitutes the need to come up with
an empirical method to expound his claims, thus a thorough classification scheme for his annotations has
been established to further support Rizal’s role in his contribution to the accounts of our country’s history.

The established classification scheme conforms to the main intent of identifying the pre-existing
conditions of the Philippines and contrasting it to the present-day. The merits of having this scheme are
two-fold, the first of which is that it ensures that all of the expressed sentiments are organized and
properly contextualized, and second is that it adds depth to the topic being presented. Upon reading the
assigned material, we have initially counted the given categories and descriptions reaching as much as up
to 30 different classifications. Due to the sheer amount of the listed categories, it would most likely run
the risk of overlapping data. To address that, we have provided a much more concise scheme of shortlisted
categories that provide convenient way-finding of the topic while still serving its original purpose. From
the previous 30 categories, it has been cut to 6 main categories.

Shown below is the shortlist of categories for the annotations, as well as its accompanying examples.

Category 1: Filipino Cultural Practices and Beliefs

Example: “Though this work is not very hard, for the pestle is light, it is now done generally by
men, leaving to women the cleaning of rice “. (page 246)

Context of the annotation: It refers to the domestic duties and obligations of women in preparing
rice for their meals. This was a norm dating back to the pre-Hispanic era of the country.

Category 2: The Syntax and Writing of the Ancient Philippines

Example: “It is not greater than the difference that there is between Spanish and Portuguese, or
Italian”. (page 272)

“The same thing can’t be said today, the government in print and in words tries to educate the
Filipinos, but indeed and at bottom, it foments ignorance, placing education in the hands of the
friars.” (page 272)

Context of the annotations: Rizal pointed out that are no disparities between the languages
spoken in Luzon and Visayas. The second annotation differentiates how the freedom to write was
taken away by the Spaniards and was limited only to the clerical sector and the elite.
 Category 3: Primeval Economics and Sources of Livelihood in the Philippines

Example: “This was forbidden later”. (page 261)

Context of the annotation: Rizal was referring to Morga’s observation wherein the Igorots had a
comprehensive knowledge in mining and metallurgy, specifically gold. The practices of the Igorots
burying their mined gold was banned and exploited by the Spaniards for trade.

Category 4: Geography, Taxonomy, and Natural Feats of the Philippines

Example: “Morga takes the rainy season as winter and the rest of the year summer. However,
this is not quite exact, because in Manila by December, January, February the thermometer goes
down more than in the months of August and September and therefore with regard to the seasons
it resembles Spain as all the rest of the North Hemisphere.” (page 242)

Context of the annotation: Rizal addresses Morga’s misconception of the Philippine’s seasons.
Rizal pointed out that Winter is non-existent in the country and that Morga had a false assumption
that all countries have similar months of altering climates.

Category 5: Societal Matrix of the early Philippines

Example: “Namamahay from bahay or house, one who lives in his house. This kind of slaves, if
the they can be called slaves, still exist and are called kasama.” (page 279)

Context of the annotation: It refers to the obligatory framework of the helpers of a household and
how it passes on to their descendants under the Kasama system of the Spaniards.

Category 6: The Judicial and Politico-Legal Environment of the Philippines

Example: “This agreement of the laws at bottom and this general uniformity prove that the
relations if the Islands among themselves were very strong and the bonds of friendship were more
common than wars and differences.” (page 278)

Context of the annotation: This refers to Morga’s observation that the Philippine Islands were a
united front in terms of upholding the integrity of their moral values as well as their ancestor’s system of
law. Regardless of their geography, their intent to be inarbitrary transcends that drawback.

Based on Rizal’s annotations, his views could be generally classified as sociopolitical. While he was writing
these, it can be deduced that it was deeply rooted from his passion to advocate for the education of his
countrymen and tackle the social ills of his time. He was galvanized to prove something to the Spanish
tyrants. He wasn’t lenient nor did he held back in bringing to light the juxtaposition of how the Philippines
could’ve been one of Asia’s strong and independent countries, had it not been conquered and colonized
by Spain. Furthermore, the historical nature of his annotations was utilized as propaganda in a desperate
attempt to oppose the Spanish government. Consequently, it earned him the ire of the clerical sector and
those who were in power.

Rizal wanted to impart the fact that Filipinos have already existed before it was even occupied by the
Spaniards. His views on the precolonial conditions of the Philippines suggest that our ancestors have
already been living in advanced society that fosters cultural diversity and bustling livelihoods. He argued
that the Philippines was better left on its own to grow. He dismissed the remark of Spaniards that Filipinos
are incapable of doing anything.

His views validate the fact the Philippines underwent a series of unfortunate circumstances that led to its
gradual breakdown; his own experiences, his family’s and those of his countrymen under the friars and
the Spanish government. The implications of these annotations provide countless opportunities in
broadening the scope of knowledge of many concerned fields such as that of Economics, Politics, and
History. Rizal’s work was able to build avenues that are crucial in nation building, that of which rises from
the rubble of the tragedies of yesteryears.

In conclusion, we find it in a propagandist view that Rizal wanted to create a sense of national
identity in the midst of the Spanish rule in his time. While he received backlash for his unorthodox
endeavors, his message was nevertheless relayed to the public. Through his work, he was able to set the
tone for embracing our Pre-Hispanic past and acknowledging our unique heritage.