Imagining a Nation To protect the environment.

Activism is also
essential for protecting the environment and
Vocabulary words: addressing the climate crisis. Activists can work to
Creole - a Spaniard born in the Philippines. hold polluters accountable, to promote sustainable
Another term for insulares development, and to raise awareness of the
Mestizo - an individual born of mixed ancestry; importance of environmental protection.
may refer to a Spanish mestizo or a Chinese To defend democracy and human rights. Activism
mestizo can also be used to defend democracy and human
Propaganda - information used to promote or rights. Activists can work to protect freedom of
publicize a particular cause or point of view speech, assembly, and association; to prevent
Restoration - refers to the Spanish restoration; a human rights abuses; and to promote good
period in Spanish history spanning the years 1874 governance.
- 1931 the saw the restoration of the monarchy
under Alfonso XII together with the establishment Freedom of the Press, Expression, and
of a bicameral legislature. Assembly are rights protected under the
Philippine Constitution
Filipinos Abroad Article III, Section 4
Towards the end of the nineteenth century No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of
economic conditions in the Philippines had speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right
improved in such a way that it was possible for of the people peaceably to assemble and petition
many creole and mestizo families to send their the government for redress of grievances.
sons to school not only in Manila, but also in One of the freedoms covered by this section is the
Europe. constitutional freedom of speech and expression,
Many of these people will be referred as and of the press, otherwise also known as
“Ilustrados”. the freedom of expression.

Q: Can you name some Ilustrados during the Freedom of Expression

time of Jose Rizal? This right implies the right to freely utter and
Many of the names we know and remember today publish whatever one pleases without previous
in our country belonged to this class: Juan Luna, restraint, and to be protected against any
Graciana Lopez Jaena, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Felix responsibility for so doing as long as it does not
Resureccion Hidalgo, Antonio Luna, and Mariano violate the law.
Ponce. It also includes the right to circulate what is
Looking at the image above, and with the growing published. This is of course heavily exercised in
disappointment and dissatisfaction of some the field of journalism and integral in the exercise
Filipinos against student activism and protests, of such a profession.
would you agree that they are not helping at all?
Censorship during the Spanish Period
Q: Why is activism important? There was government-sanctioned censorship in
Importance of Activism the Philippines as a Spanish colony which was
Activism is the practice of using a variety of perceived to be prevalent.
methods, including direct action, civil However, the level of censorship varied depending
disobedience, and lobbying, to bring about social on the sitting Governor General.
or political change. Technically, freedom of the press and expression
It can be a powerful tool for people to make their was regulated and at many times, suppressed.
voices heard and to hold those in power Noted publications banned by the colonial
accountable. authorities were the Noli Me Tángere and El
To promote social justice and equity. Activism can Filibusterismo novels of José Rizal which were
be used to address a wide range of social critical of the Spanish colonial government and
problems, such as poverty, racism, sexism, and the church.
discrimination. Activists can work to raise
awareness of these issues, to change laws and Filipinos in Europe
policies that perpetuate injustice, and to build Filipino students learned the virtue of progress
movements for social change. and love for their motherland through their
sojourn in the Peninsula.
In Europe, Filipino students learned how to think, Equality before the law of Filipinos and Spaniards
question, and imagine what a nation is. Q: Do you agree that sometimes, in an
It was in Europe where the first attempts to unite organization, rivalry among its members
Filipinos took place. arises? Why?
By the end of the 19th century Philippines, Rizal and Del Pilar Rivarly
journalism became a means for Filipinos to In the late 1890s, a rivalry developed between del
engage the Spanish-reading public on issues Pilar and Rizal.
concerning the Philippines. This was mainly due to the difference between del
Pilar's editorial policy and Rizal's political beliefs.
CIRCULO HISPANO- FILIPINO Rizal believes that to serve the country better, one
It is an organization under the leadership of a had to bring the issues closer to home.
Creole, Juan Atayde. Del Pilar was a skillful politician who felt that
It had the support of Spaniards who were efforts at persuading the Spanish leaders and
sympathetic toward the Filipinos. officials needed to be continued and that this was
It published a bi-weekly newspaper titled Revista the best way to achieve the reforms Filipinos were
del Circulo Hispano-Filipino in 1882. seeking.
The newspaper and organization lasted until 1883. At the New Year’s Eve banquet in 1891, Filipinos
in Madrid proposed that they elect a leader to
Los Dos Mundos unite their community.
In 1883, Los Dos Mundos came out with the Rizal won the election, but upon learning that he
intention of demanding for the overseas Hispano won due to the manipulation of his friend,
Colonies equality of rights and equal opportunities Mariano Ponce, he felt a shallow triumph, so he
for progress. left Madrid.
Graciano Lopez Jaena and Pedro Govantes y The newspaper released its final issue on
Azcarraga were staff members. November 15, 1895.
Rizal and Eduardo de Lete were article
contributors concerned with socio-political and Q: What do you think is the important role that
economic reforms in the Philippines. the early Filipino movements and newspapers
played? Explain in a gist.
Espana en Filipinas Importance of early Filipino movements like
Another newspaper titled Espana en Filipinas the Propaganda
started its publication through the support of The Propaganda Movement and early Filipino
Filipinos, creoles, and mestizos in Madrid. newspapers played an important role in the
The newspaper was short-lived due to glaring development of Filipino nationalism and the
differences and internal feuding among its staff. Philippine Revolution.
Early Filipino newspapers, such as La Solidaridad
Propaganda Movement and La Independencia, were also important tools
The Propaganda movement expressed their for the Propaganda Movement.
campaigns in the La Solidaridad – the official These newspapers provided a platform for Filipino
newspaper of the movement. writers to share their ideas and to mobilize public
The Propagandists not only exposed the social support for their cause.
conditions of the Philippines and asked for The Propaganda Movement and early Filipino
reforms, but they also wrote about Philippine newspapers helped to raise awareness of the
history, culture, and identity. Philippine situation and to build support for
independence.
Programs: They also inspired a new generation of Filipino
to combat all reactions; to impede all revolutionaries, such as José Rizal and Andres
retrogression; to applaud and accept every Bonifacio.
liberal idea;
to defend all progress.
Reforms sought:
Philippine representation in the Cortes
Freedom of the press
End of the practice of exiling residents without
due process.