The Philippine Century Hence

Summary

The first part of this novel is all about Rizal’s looking back of the Philippines. Here, Rizal

showed the changes brought by the Spaniards when they colonize Philippines. Wherein, the

former leader of the Philippines was under the hands of the conquerors, hoping that they will

progress if they’ll be under the conquerors. The Filipinos gradually neglect and forget the ethnic

culture, songs, poems and beliefs for them to be easy to cope up with the new and foreign

doctrines, which they don’t really understand. They get ashamed and even denied their own

culture. They praise and patronized anything that was from the conquerors until their hearts and

minds have been captured. Years later, the religion which flashed also used the worship of God to

persuade and ultimately enforcing the Filipinos to be under the Spaniards. When the Filipinos

are treated like animals, deprived of thoughts and feelings and made slaves to serve conquerors

in the development of Spain. Revived the dormant feelings of the Filipinos because of the pain

and humiliation they experienced. There are some feelings awakened to the truth of the brutality

and oppression of conquerors because of the ongoing vilification and exploitation which will

gradually wake up the minds of the majority.

The second part is about the failure of the colonial policy of Spain in the development of

the Philippines. It is stated here the Philippines condition within the past 300 years from 1889.

To those who wants freedom of his country, the country has it. For those who have seen the

chaos and misunderstanding, they decided to accept freedom whatever the future holds. For

liberal Spaniards, the country’s condition doesn’t have any progress but for the friars, there’s

progress. The handling of the Spaniards to Philippines was uneasy but they still continue

handling it. There is military force, slow communication between Mexico and Spain and

expeditions are arduous for the sea are full of pirates and enemies of Spain. In the year 1889, the

country’s condition is much better. There’s a fine organization within civil and military

leadership. The communication is easier, faster and more reliable. Rizal said that the Philippines

remained calm at the beginning of the Spanish domination. The Filipinos under Philippine

military becomes official. An indio can be encomendero and become a general of an army.

There’s no place for defamation and no people are insulted. All the good things that pertains to

the improvement of the country is gone. The government is replaced by intimidation,

exploitation and slavery.

While in the third part, stated the radical and political reforms if the Philippines will still

be under the Spanish colony. The reforms in the Philippines will be successful if the

implementation will be brutal and will be coming from the ordinary citizen. There’s a nee/d to

change the political policy according to the needs of the people. Reformation will be in order and

successful if it will come from the work on an authority.

At the last part, Rizal stated the predictions and opinions about the future. And his

message to Spain.

MAJOR POINTS, CLAIMS & ASSUMPTIONS

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4>Analysis of the Past >Maintenance of

Spanish Authority>Transformation in a political sense

>The future of colonization

Chief causes of the suffering of the natives:>Implementation of Spain’s military policies> Gradual loss of ethnic culture and beliefs>Sensitivity of the Filipinos

>Role of Priest>Brutalization of the masses>Impoverishment of the country

>Reforms :Freedom of the pressFilipino representatives: as military, prove to be unruly

>Accumulations of acts of injustice.Philippines and other foreign powers.

>Realization of the oppression of the conquerors

>Gradual extermination of the inhabitants

>Criticisms >A message to Spain

SIGNIFICANCE IN THE SOCIETY

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

For those who have

this strong urge to

fight for freedom, the

Philippines will never

be under the Spanish

colony again.

But for those whose

weak and contented

that the country is

oppressed, freedom

will never be claimed.

Blind by the

Spaniards fake

promises, Filipinos

give all their faith and

liberty and freedom

hoping that they will

get something good in

return. But they was

wrong. The spaniards

are it’s executioners

and exploiters.

To tell the Filipinos

that their human

rights must be

practiced in order for

them to cry out

against all abuses, and

to have more law and

greater liberty.

If the Philippines

may be able to secure

their independence

after heroic and

stubborn conflicts,

they can be rest

assured that no

western countries will

take up what Spain

was unable to hold.

REFLECTION

After reading this novel, I’ve come up of realizing the Philippines worth to Dr. Rizal. He

was that concerned to the country, even if he knows that he will not stay any longer. At the first

part, analysing the past, I pity those Filipinos who suffered and even offered their lives just for

the welfare of others. They were forced to embrace the culture of the Spaniards. Comparing the

Philippines way back 1889 up to the present, the Philippines in 1889 was that oppressed and

even Filipinos are “blind’ for they do not see or do not understand that the Spaniards were just

using them. The Philippines did not grow any longer, but rather much retrograded. One more

thing, I thank Dr. Jose Rizal for making the Filipinos realize about the country’s economy.

That when people start to awaken, and if the government doesn’t change its act, a

revolution will occur. People only need to practice their human rights then a possible outcome

will be declaring themselves independent. With regards to free press, it is needed in order to

voice out our complaints and suggestions towards the reformation of the country. It will also

keep the government in touch with public opinion.

Lastly, the terrible lessons and hard teachings that these conflicts will have afforded the

Filipinos will operate to improve and strengthen their ethical nature.” If the Philippines may be

able to secure their independence after heroic and stubborn conflicts, they can be rest assured

that no Western countries will dare to take up what Spain was unable to hold.