The Life and Works of Jose Rizal

Metacognitive Reading Report # 5

1. Three (3) Things that I significantly learned from the readings

Upon reading the given instructional materials, I have learned that every individual
has its own identical perspective and ideas on a specific topic given. Rizal was not content
only on with writing about political and economic aspect, mobilizing fight for rights. He
uses classical literature, works of former travellers and earlier Spanish government officials
in order to relate and achieve his objectives as a writer. Rizal’s writings reflected on the
connotations of the Philippine history during the colonialization of the Spaniards. The ideas
that the hero contextualized is the mirror of his conception on the history. Rizal has
discussed that creating such annotation happened because of his inspiration while working
on his novel. He clearly implied the actual situation of the Philippines during the Spanish
colonization.

The novels of Rizal, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, uses his criticisms on
the important events happened in the colonial ruling, while his ideas on the Morga clearly
shown on the nobility of the Filipino people. However, his annotation to the Morga is
considered to be a minor writing because it has been ignored by many. This has been
banned to the Philippines during the late 19th century because of the obscurity of the
censorship during the Spanish era. The release of this writing wasn’t attained popularity,
and didn’t aroused attention. It is reported that the small edition was soon out of print and
copies were later sold at twice the original selling price.

On this writing unravels the significant facts lies on the Philippine history, for a
viewpoint of a Filipino indio and ilustrado. He certainly divided his composition into two
parts including his straight-forward annotations about the history for clarifications and
corrections and his own bias perspective, which is historically-based facts. Rizal’s
interpretation on Philippine history expresses mostly on the outline on the different vital
important events and periodization happened during the different ages. He devoid on his
annotations about Deus ex machina interpretation of historical events. His own
understanding on the historical antecedents have been interpreted in both ways. He showed
some of the remarkable negative and positive experiences during the colonization. Some
of his annotations focused on the friar chroniclers who go against their vow of poverty
because of corruption, and the oppression he had during the colonized Philippines. Through
his own annotations, the objective of releasing such historical information is to express its
historiography and create sense of nationalism and patriotism towards the country.

2. Three (3) things that are still unclear to me

The ideas and concepts presented in the reading materials given on this chapter is
evidently clear to me especially the importance of the annotation of Rizal’s Morga and the
views of the Philippine historical background.
3. I used to think that….

Rizal’s annotations on The Morga focuses only on the allegations and problems on
the different point of view during the colonization of Spaniards. His writings would mainly
depicts the assimilation of the Spanish colony to the Filipinos, and how it affects the living
back then. Yet, upon analyzing and understanding thoroughly the readings, I found out that
that his annotations didn’t only focused on the negative connotations on what really
happens during that time but also how does the colonialism takes impact the society on
does times, and how it change the practices, beliefs and mindsets of the people regarding
the history. The book was an eyewitness on what happened to the Philippine society,
focusing on the good and bad points about the colonialism exposed.

4. Three (3) questions that I want to ask about the readings

Understanding thoroughly the given readings, I have no inquiries regarding the

information on the Rizal’s Morga and the views of the Philippine History because every
details ans perspective were explained efficiently and effectively in the text.

5. Personal Insights

Knowing historical background of your motherland is one of the most vital

responsibilities that a person must have to embrace his/her culture. Studying and
understanding history is important to allow us to impart about what happened in the past,
and learning from it to apply for the present and the future. This would provide us insights
about the culture and practices we had back then, to increase our awareness on what really
happens years have passed. With this, we can express independently about what on our
mind and our own perspective on issues happened before.

Jose Rizal in particular, used pen and paper, which symbolized, for him as a way
of showing patriotism and nationalism towards the country. His exceptional talents enable
him to show awareness and concern for the people about freedom of independence. In what
Rizal have done about annotating The Morga, he clearly expressed his own critical
understanding about the colonialization took place in the Philippines during the Spanish
colony. He shows his sense of empowerment on expressing the true colors of the colony,
and Filipino’s grievance during the colonial period. His goals for all his writings are to
convey his ideals for the people to know how the Philippines controlled the political,
economical and social attributes of the Spaniards.

History had been and forever be part of our life. Our country has rich in history and
escapades that reveals visionary thinking and mindsets for the people. Mentioning it, it
evidently manifested how history interrelated by Rizal. He uses the historical happenings
in expressing his thoughts and opinions on it. Remembering one of his quotations “Ang
hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan hindi makararating sa pinaroroonan,” the
writings he had annotated clearly shown on how he applied his own mindset. By learning,
and processing the history as a nation, we obtain "national pride and identity" from it.
History is an instrument of understanding of past, conquering the present and shaping the
society’s future.