Chapter III

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 17thof 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.

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.
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
reasons 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.
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.

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.
Friar) and EVERYTING IS HAMBUG (Everything is mere show). Here Jaena explains
the tragedy of marrying a Spaniard.

2 . SA MGA PILIPINO...1891…A speech which aimed to improve the condition of

the Filipinos to become free and progressive.

3 . TALUMPATING PAGUNITA KAY KOLUMBUS (An Oration to Commemorate

Columbus). A speech he delivered in Madrid on the 39thanniversary of the
discovery of America

4. EN HONOR DEL PRESIDENTE MORAYTA DE LA ASSOCIACION HISPANO

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

5. 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.
6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. PAG-ALIS SA BUWIS SA PILIPINAS (Abolition of Taxes in the

Philippines)

10. INSTITUCION NG PILIPINAS (Sufferings of the Philippines). Jaena refers

here to the wrong management of education in the Philippines 1887.

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 which 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

which 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)

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 wrtings:

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)
 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.

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, Kagalang-galanga Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK).
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)

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.