LIT 1/GEC 322: Philippine Literature/Panitikan

WEEK 5

Learning Outcomes/Objectives:

a. Know the historical background of the Enlightenment Period.

b. Identify the highlights of Propaganda Movement and Active Revolution
c. Demonstrate the literary compositions in this period.
d. Create their own legends.

Discussion:

CHAPTER 4: THE PERIOD OF ENLIGHTENMENT (1872-1898)

Historical Background
After 300 years of passivity under Spanish rule, the Filipino spirit reawakened when the 3 priests
Gomez, Burgos and Zamora were guillotined without sufficient evidence of guilt. This occurred on the 17th of
February. This was buttressed with the spirit of liberalism when the Philippines opened its doors to world trade
and with the coming of a liberal leader in the person of Governor Carlos Maria de la Torre. The Spaniards were
unable to suppress the tide of rebellion among the Filipinos. The once religious spirit transformed itself into one
of nationalism and the Filipinos demanded changes in the government and in the church.

A.The Propaganda Movement (1872-1896)

This movement was spearheaded mostly by the intellectual middle-class like Jose Rizal, Marcelo del Pilar;
Graciano Lopez Jaena, Antonio Luna, Mariano Ponce, Jose Ma. Panganiban, and Pedro Paterno. The objectives
of this movement were to seek reforms and changes like the following:

1. To get equal treatment for the Filipinos and the Spaniards under the law.
2. To make the Philippines a colony of Spain.
3. To restore Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes.
4. To Filipinize the parishes.
5. To give the Filipinos freedom of speech, of the press, assembly and for redress of grievances.

B.Highlights of the Propaganda Movement

There were three principal leaders of the Propaganda movement. They were Jose P. Rizal, Marcelo H. del
Pilar and Graciano Lopez Jaena. Here are highlights about them and what they have done for our country.

DR. JOSE P. RIZAL

Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Alonzo y Realonda was born on June 19, 1861 at Calamba, Laguna. His
first teacher was his mother Teodora Alonozo. He studied at the Ateneo de Manila, started medicine at UST and
finished at the Universidad Central of Madrid. He also studied at the University of Berlin, Leipzig and
Heidelberg. He died by musketry in the hands of the Spaniards on December 30, 1896 on charges of sedition
and rebellion against the Spaniards. His pen-name was Laong Laan and Dimasalang.

His books and writings:

1. NOLI ME TANGERE. This was the novel that gave spirit to the propaganda movement and paved the
way to the revolution against Spain.
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In this book, he courageously exposed the evils in the Spanish-run government in the Philippines. The
Spaniards prohibited the reading of this novel but a lot of translations were able to enter stealthily in the country
even if it means death to those caught in possession of them.

The NOLI gave Philippine literature the immortal characters Maria Clara, Juan Crisostomo Ibarra, Elias,
Sisa, Pilosofong Tasio, Doña Victorina, Kapitana Maria, Basilio and Crispin, Rizal had a powerful pen in the
delineation of these characters.

2. EL FILIBUSTERISMO. This is a sequel to the NOLI. While the NOLI exposed the evils in society,
the FILI exposed those in the government and in the church. However, the NOLI has been dubbed the
novel of society while that of FILI is that of politics.

3. MI ULTIMO ADIOS (My Last Farewell). This was a poem by Rizal while he was incarcerated at Fort
Santiago and is one that can compare favorably with the best in the world. It was only after his death
when his name was affixed to the poem.

4. SOBRE LA INDOLENCIA DE LOS FILIPINOS (On the Indolence of the Filipinos). An essay on
the so-called Filipino indolence and an evaluation of the rea sons for such allegations.

5. FILIPINAS DENTRO DE CIEN AÑOS (The Philippines within a Century). An essay predicting
the increasing influence of the US in the Philippines and the decreasing interest of Europe here. Rizal
predicted that if there is any other colonizer of the Philippines in the future, it would be the US.

6. A LA JUVENTUD FILIPINA (To the Filipino Youth). A poem Rizal dedicated to the Filipino youth
studying at UST.

7. EL CONSEJO DE LES DIOSES (The Council of the Gods). An allegorical play manifesting
admiration for Cervantes.

8. JUNTO AL PASIG (Beside the Pasig River). Written by Rizal when he was 14 years of age.

9. ME PIDEN VERSOS (You asked Me for Verses); 1882 and A LAS FLORES DE HEIDELBERG (To
the Flowers of Heidelberg). Two poems manifesting Rizal’s unusual depth of emotion.

10. NOTAS A LA OBRA SUCESOS DE LAS FILIPINAS FOR EL DR. ANTONIO DE MORGA
(Notes on Philippine Events by Dr. Antonio de Morga): 1889

11. P. JACINTO: MEMORIAS DE UN ESTUDIANTE DE MANILA (P. Jacinto: Memoirs of a Student

of Manila) 1882

12. DIARIO DE VIAJE DE NORTE AMERICA (Diary of a Voyage to North America)

MARCELO H. DEL PILAR

Marcelo H. del Pilar is popularly known for his pen name of Plaridel, Pupdoh, Piping Dilat and Dolores
Manapat. He was born at Cupang, San Nicolas, Bulacan on August 30, 1850.

His parents were Julian H. del Pilar, noted Filipino writer and Biasa Gatmaita. His brother was the priest
Fr. Toribio del Pilar who was banished to Marianas in 1872. Because there were many children in the family,
Marcelo gave up his share of his inheritance for his other brothers and sisters.

Marcelo started schooling at the school of Mr. Flores and then transferred to that of San Jose before
UST. His last year in law school was interrupted for 8 years after he had quarrel with the parish priest during a
baptism at San Miguel, Manila in 1880.
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He established the Diariong Tagalog in 1883 where he exposed the evils of the Spanish government in
the Philippines and in order to avoid the false accusations hurried at him by the priests. To avoid banishment, he
was forced to travel to Spain in 1888.

He was assisted by Fr. Serrano Laktaw in publishing a different Cathecism and Passion Book wherein
they made fun of the priests. They also made the DASALAN AT TOCSOHAN and KAIINGAT KAYO taken
from the word IGAT, a kind of snake fish caught in politics.

Upon his arrival in Spain, he replaced Graciano Lopez Jaena as editor of LA SOLIDARIDAD, a paper
which became the vehicle thru which reforms in the government could be worked out. This did not last long for
he got sick and even to reach Hong Kong from where he could arouse his countrymen. He died of tuberculosis
in Spain but before he died, he asked his companions to tell his wife and children that he was sorry he wasn’t
able to bid them goodbye; to tell others about the fate of our countrymen and to continue helping the country.

Plaridel has truly earned a niche in the history of our nation. Even today, countless streets have been
named after him. The former Kingwa has been named Plaridel, the Malolos High School is now Marcelo H. del
Pilar High School and above all, his patriotism and bravery will remain alive in our memories.

Writings of Marcelo H. del Pilar

1. PAGIBIG SA TINUBUANG LUPA (Love of Country). Translated from the Spanish AMOR
PATRIA of Rizal, published on August 20, 1882, in Diariong Tagalog.

2. KAIINGAT KAYO (Be Careful). A humorous and sarcastic dig in answer to Fr. Jose Rodriquez in the
novel NOLI of Rizal, published in Barcelona in 1888. He used Dolores Manapat as pen-name here.

3. DASALAN AT TOCSOHAN (Prayers and Jokes). Similar to a cathecism but sarcastically done
agains the parish priests, published in Barcelona in 1888. Because of this, del Pilar was called
“filibuster.” Done in admirable tone of supplication and excellent use of Tagalog.

4. ANG CADAQUILAAN NG DIOS (God’s Goodness). Published in Barcelona, it was also like a
cathecism sarcastically aimed against the parish priests but also contains a philosophy of the power and
intelligence of God and an appreciation for and love for nature.

5. SAGOT SA ESPANYA SA HIBIK NG PILIPINAS (Answer to Spain on the Plea of the Filipinos).
A poem pleading for change from Spain but that Spain is already old and weak to grant any aid to the
Philippines. This poem is in answer to that of Hermenigildo Flores’ Hibik sa Pilipinas (A Plea from the
Philippines).

6. DUPLUHAN…DALIT…MGA BUGTONG (A poetical contest in narrative sequence, psalms,

riddles). A compilation of poems on the oppression by the priests in the Philippines.

7. LA SOBERANIA EN PILIPINAS (Sovereignty in the Philippines). This shows the injustices of the
friars to the Pilipinos.

8. POR TELEFONO (By Telephone)

9. PASIONG DAPAT IPAG-ALAB NG PUSO NG TAONG BABASA (Passion that should arouse the
hearts of the readers)

GRACIANO LOPEZ JAENA (1856-1896)

A most notable hero and genius of the Philippines, Graciano Lopez Jaena was born on December 18,
1856 and died on January 20, 1896.
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The pride of Jaro, Iloilo, he won the admiration of the Spaniards and Europeans. He is a known writer
and orator in the Philippines. He wrote 100 speeches which were published by Remigio Garcia, former
bookstore owner in Manila Filatica and which are still read up to no by modern Filipinos.

Lopez Jaena left the Philippines in 1887 with the help of Don Claudio Lopez, a rich uncle, in order to
escape punishment form his enemies and arrived at Valencia, the center of the Republican movement of the
Spaniards. He gained the acquaintance of the high officials like Piy Margall, Morayta, Moret, Castelar, and
Salmeron.

From Valencia, he moved to Barcelona where he established the first magazine LA SOLIDARIDAD.
This later became the official voice of the Association Hispano de Filipinas (a Filipino-Spanish Association)
composed of Filipinos and Spaniards who worked for reforms in the Philippines. Because of this, Jaena
successfully showed the Spaniards and the people of the world how a newspaperman can introduce changes in
law and reforms towards a better life and progress.

Jaena, although he didn’t become a professor, was also a teacher in a sense to his friends and relatives in
the Philippines.

Like Antonio Maria Regidor, Tomas G. del Rosario and Felipe Calderon, he stood for the separation of
church and state for free education, better government and schools, freedom of worship and for an independent
and free university.

He sided with Rizal in the controversy between Rizal and del Pilar over who should head the
Association Hispano de Filipinas in Madrid. He returned to the Philippines to ask for donations to continue a
new government called El Latigo Nacional or Pambansang Latigo. He sold the rights of La Solidaridad ot del
Pilar who had become a lawyer and had brought in money from his sojourn in Spain.

Graciano Lopez Jaena died in a charity hospital in Barcelona on January 20, 1896, eleven months before
his best friend Rizal was shot at the Luneta on December 30, 1896.

A.The Works of Graciano Lopez Jaena

1. ANG FRAY BOTOD (Friar Botod). One of his works written in Jaro, Iloilo in 1876, six years after
the Cavite Revolt attacking the friars in the Philippines. He exposed how some of the friars were greedy,
ambitious and immoral.

2. LA HIJA DEL FRAILE (The Child of the Friar) and EVERYTING IS HAMBUG (Everything is
mere show). Here Jaena explains the tragedy of marrying a Spaniard.

3. SA MGA PILIPINO...1891… A speech which aimed to improve the condition of the Filipinos to
become free and progressive.

4. TALUMPATING PAGUNITA KAY KOLUMBUS (An Oration to Commemorate Columbus). A

speech he delivered in Madrid on the 39th anniversary of the discovery of America

5. EN HONOR DEL PRESIDENTE MORAYTA DE LA ASSOCIACION HISPANO FILIPINO

1884. Here he praised Gen. Morayta for his equal treatment of the Filipinos.

6. EN HONOR DE LOS ARTISTAS LUNA Y RESURRECCION HIDALGO. A sincere expression of

praise for the paintings of Hidalgo on the condition of the Filipinos under the Spaniards.

7. AMOR A ESPAÑA O A LAS JOVENES DE MALOLOS (Love for Spain or To the Youth of
Malolos). The theme is about how girls were taught Spanish in schools and whose teachers were the
governors-general of the place.
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8. EL BANDOLERISMO EN PILIPINAS (Banditry in the Philippines). Jaena refuted the existence of
banditry in the Philippines and of how there should be laws on robbery and other reforms.

9. HONOR EN PILIPINAS (Honor in the Philippines). The triumphant exposition of Luna, Resurrecion
and Pardo de Tavera of the thesis that intellect or knowledge gives honor to the Philippines.

10. PAG-ALIS SA BUWIS SA PILIPINAS (Abolition of Taxes in the Philippines)

11. INSTITUCION NG PILIPINAS (Sufferings of the Philippines). Jaena refers here to the wrong
management of education in the Philippines 1887.

B. OTHER PROPAGANDISTS
ANTONIO LUNA

Antonio Luna was a pharmacist who was banished by the Spaniards to Spain. He joined the Propaganda
Movement and contributed his writings to LA SOLIDARIDAD. Most of his works dealt with Filipino customs
and others were accusations about how the Spaniards ran the government. His pen name was Tagailog. He died
at the age of 33 in June 1899. He was put to death by the soldiers of Aguinaldo because of his instant rise to
fame w hich became a threat to Aguinaldo.

Some of his works are:

1. NOCHE BUENA (Christmas Eve). It pictured true Filipino life.

2. SE DEVIERTEN (How They Diverted Themselves). A dig at a dance of the Spaniards where the
people were very crowded.

3. LA TERTULIA FILIPINA (A Filipino Conference or Feast). Depicts a Filipino custom w hich he

believed was much better than the Spanish.

4. POR MADRID (For Madrid). A denouncement of Spaniards who claim that the Philippines is a
colony of Spain but who think of Filipinos as foreigners when it comes to collecting taxes for stamps.

5. LA CASA DE HUEPEDES (The Landlady’s House). Depicts a landlady who looks for boarders not
for money but in order to get a husband for her child.

MARIANO PONCE

Mariano Ponce became an editor-in-chief, biographer and researcher of the Propaganda Movement. He used
Tikbalang, Kalipulako, and Naning as pennames. The common themes of his works were the values of
education. He also wrote about how the Filipinos were oppressed by the foreigners and of the problems of his
countrymen. Among his writings were:

1. MGA ALAMAT NG BULACAN (Legend of Bulacan). Contains legends, and folklores of his native
town.

2. PAGPUGOT KAY LONGINOS (The Beheading of Longinos). A play shown at the plaza of
Malolos, Bulacan.

3. SOBRE FILIPINOS (About the Filipinos)

4. ANG MGA PILIPINO SA INDO-TSINA (The Filipinos in Indo-China)

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PEDRO PATERNO

Pedro Paterno was a scholar, dramatic, researcher and novelist of the Propaganda Movement.

He also joined the Confraternity of Masons and the Asociacion Hispano-Pilipino in order to further the aims
of the Movement. He was the first Filipino writer who escaped censorship of the press during the last day of the
Spanish colonization.

The following were a few of his writings:

1. NINAY. The first social novel in Spanish by a Filipino.

2. A MI MADRE (To My Mother). Shows the importance of a mother especially in the home.

3. SAMPAGUITA Y POESIAS VARIAS (Sampaguitas and Varied Poems). A collection of his poems.

JOSE MA. PANGANIBAN

Jose Ma. Panganiban hid his identity behind his penname JORMAPA. He was also known for having
photographic mind. He was a member of a number of movements for the country. Some of his writings were:

1. ANG LUPANG TINUBUAN (My Native Land)

2. ANG AKING BUHAY (My Life)

3. SU PLANO DE ESTUDIO (Your Study Plan)

4. EL PENSAMIENTO (The Thinking)

C.Period of Active Revolution (1896-1898)

Historical Background
The Filipinos did not get the reforms demanded by the propagandists. The government turned deaf ears to
these petitions; oppression continued and the church and the government became even more oppressive to the
Filipinos. The good intentions of Spain were reversed by the friars who were lording it over in the Philippines.

Because of this, not a few of the Filipinos affiliated with the La Liga Filipina (a civic organization suspected
of being revolutionary and which triggered Rizal’s banishment to Dapitan). Like Andres Bonifacio, Emilio
Jacinto, Apolinario Mabini, Jose Palma, and Pio Valenzuela decided that there was no other way except to
revolt.

The gist of literature contained mostly accusations against the government and was meant to arouse the
people to unite and to prepare for independence.

D.Highlights of the Active Revolution

The noted leaders of this period were Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto and Apolinario Mabini. These are
their contributions to our country.

ANDRES BONIFACIO

Andres Bonifacio is best known as the Father of Filipino Democracy, but more than others, as the Father of
the Katipunan because he led in establishing the Kataas-taasan, Kagalanggalanga Katipunan ng mga Anak ng
Bayan (KKK).
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Andres Bonifacio came from a poor family and it is said that what he learned he got from the school of
experience.

He was a voracious reader and among those he loved to read which aroused his revolutionary spirit were the
NOLI and the FILI of Rizal. He joined the La Liga Filipina founded by Rizal in 1892. He established the
Katipunan which triggered the spirit of freedom especially when Rizal was banished to Dapitan, Mindanao.

Bonifacio is better known as the great Revolutionary rather than a writer but he also wrote things which
paved the way for the revolution and which also became part of our literature. Among his works were:

1. ANG DAPAT MABATID NG MGA TAGALOG (What the Tagalogs Should Know)

2. KATUNGKULANG GAGAWIN NG MGA ANA NG BAYAN (Obligations of Our Countrymen).

This is an outline of obligations just like the 10 commandments of God.

3. PAG-IBIG SA TINUBUAN LUPA (Love of One’s Native Land). A poem with a title similar to that
of Marcelo H. del Pilar.

4. HULING PAALAM (Last Farewell). A translation of Mi Ultimo Adios of Rizal in Tagalog.

APOLINARIO MABINI

Apolinario Mabini is known in literature and history as the Sublime Paralytic and the Brains of the
Revolution.

EMILIO JACINTO

Emilio Jacinto was the intelligent assistant of Andres Bonifacio in the establishment of the Katipuna. He is
called the Brains of the Katipunan. He edited Kalayaan (Freedom) a Katipunan newspaper. Bonifacio withdrew
his writing of the Kartilya in deference to Jacinto’s work as secretary of the Katipunan. His Kartilya was the one
followed by the members of the organization. Here are few of his writings:

1. KARTILYA NG KATIPUNAN (A primer book on the Katipunan)

2. LIWANAG AT DILIM (Light and Darkness). A collection of essays on different subjects like
freedom, work, faith, government, love of country.

3. A MI MADRE (To My Mother). A touching ode to his mother.

4. A LA PATRIA (To My Country). His masterpiece.

He was born in Talaga, Tanauan, Batangas on July 22, 1864. Because he was born of a poor family he had
to work in order to study. He became known to his professors and classmates at Letran and the UST because of
his sharp memory and the simple clothes he used to wear throughout his schooling.

He became the right-hand of Emilio Aguinaldo when the latter founded his Republic in Malolos. His
contributions to literature were writing on government society, philosophy and politics. Here are some of his
works:

1. EL VERDADERO DECALOGO (The True Decalogue or Ten Commandments). This was his
masterpiece and his aim here was to propagate the spirit of nationalism.

2. EL DESAROLLO Y CAIDA DE LA REPUBLICA (The Rise and Fall of the Philippine Republic)

3. SA BAYANG PILIPINO (To the Filipino Nation)

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4. PAHAYAG (News)

OTHER REVOLUTIONISTS

JOSE PALMA

Jose Palma became popular because of his Himno Nacional Filipino (The Philippine National Anthem)
which was set to music by Julian Felipe.

He was born in Tondo, Manila on June 6, 1876. His brother Rafael Palma became the president of the
UP. He joined the revolution against the Americans together with Gregorio del Pilar, the youngest Filipino
general who died during the revolution.

Aside from the National Anthem, here are his other works:

1. MELANCOLIAS (Melancholies). A collection of his poems.

2. DE MI JARDIN (In My Garden). A poem expressing one’s longings for his sweetheart.

NEWSPAPERS DURING THE REVOLUTION

In the effort of the Revolutionists to spread to the world their longings for their country, many
newspapers were put up during the Revolutionary period. They were:

1. HERALDO DE LA REVOLUCION. Printed the decrees of the Revolutiary Government, news and
works in Tagalog that aroused nationalism.

2. LA INDEPENDENCIA (Independence). Edited by Antonio Luna and whose aim was for Philippine
Independence.

3. LA REPUBLICA PILIPINA (The Philippine Republic). Established by Pedro Paterno in 1898.

4. LA LIBERTAD (Liberty). Edited by Clemente Zulueta.