GE 109

Readings in Rizal's Life and Works

Written Report for

RIZAL AND THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT
 Chapter 6:
RIZAL AND THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT

Introduction

The Propaganda Movement, a parenthetical period also known as the reform movement, was
very significant in Philippine history. It was a period in which the Filipinos fought to see
meaningful changes in the country granted to and enjoyed by all the Filipinos. In a sense, the
kind of cultural conditions prevailing in mainland Spain was demanded for the Filipinos in the
Philippines as befitting Spanish citizens. The fight was staged locally and then later in mainland
Spain when liberal Filipinos migrated there to escape persecutions or to pursue their studies.
They would write, form clubs and associations, tie up with influential politicians and organize
banquets to deliver rousing speeches.

The propagandists aimed to sway the Spanish public to influence the colonial government to
grant political and economic reforms in the Philippines. They argued that since colonization in
1565, the Philippines had not been fully integrated into the Spanish nation, resulting in societal
issues like limited education, poverty, and social inequality. Despite the Filipinos' loyalty in
defending Spanish interests in the region, they believed the country deserved recognition and
assimilation into Spain for their sacrifices. The propagandists advocated for the modernization
enjoyed by Europeans to be extended to the Philippines as a rightful claim. The roots of the
propaganda campaign can be traced back to the late 18th century, initiated by cultured
individuals from the creole class –Philippine-born Spaniards, who were influenced by
Enlightenment and French revolutionary ideas, setting the stage for later reformist movements
led by figures like Del Pilar and Rizal.

The Early Reformists

Spaniards faced challenges returning to the Philippines due to the arduous journey, leading
many to settle permanently. The offspring of these Spaniards and native women identified as
Spaniards, mestizos, or Creoles. Early reformists, predominantly Insulares, including Luis
Rodriguez Varela, Manuel Zumalde, Jose Javier de Torres, and later Pedro Pelaez, fought
against friars and peninsulares, advocating for equality and justice. These reformists sought
assimilation, improved education, government participation, and representation in Spanish
Cortes. Luis Rodriguez Varela, a prolific early propagandist, championed liberal ideas, urged
Filipinos to unite during the Spanish invasion by Napoleon, and worked towards enhancing
Filipino life. The fight for reforms shifted to Spain, becoming a religious and racial controversy
known as the secularization controversy.

Most prolific and forthright of these early propagandists was Luis Rodriguez Varela. Immersed
in the liberalism of the period, he began his career in the late 1790s by writing a series of books
that dealt squarely on the subject of liberty and equality of mankind irrespective of race and
birthplace.When Spain fell after the invasion of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1808, Varela wrote the
Proclama Historial calling all the Filipinos to unite behind Spain and steel themselves for a
showdown with the army of the emperor.

Pedro Pelaez continued the fight after Varela's death, openly supporting secularization and
organizing Filipinos against royal decrees that stripped them of parishes. Padre Jose Burgos,
Pelaez's disciple, defended secularization through pamphlets, emphasizing Filipino merits.
Burgos, a theology student, displayed separatist tendencies, favoring secular clergy over friars.
He organized the Committee of Reformers, pressing for liberal laws, and supported student
demonstrations for curricular changes at UST. Before the tragic events of 1872, Burgos's politics
indicated a clear belief in Filipino ownership, extending beyond creoles and mestizos to include
Indios.

Rizal and the Propaganda Movement

Rizal's involvement in the Propaganda Movement followed the tragic Cavite Mutiny of 1872, a
pivotal event in his childhood. GOMBURZA's martyrdom deeply impacted him, transforming
his political stance. Rizal, between his two European travels, contributed significantly to the
propaganda, with his evolving politics evident in the sequential writing of "Noli Me Tangere"
and "El Filibusterismo."

In the early phase, Rizal publicly supported assimilation but privately contemplated more
radical ideas. However, by the time he wrote "El Filibusterismo," he had become more
radicalized, openly advocating separatist politics. While in Spain, Rizal wrote extensively about
the Philippines' needs, defended Filipino interests against detractors, and communicated with
fellow propagandists, providing updates on Philippine and Spanish affairs.

Rizal was preceded by reformists like Pedro Paterno, the Regidores, and others who
campaigned for economic and political reforms in Spain. These earlier reformists, mainly
creoles and mestizos, sought urgent economic reforms and political representation in the
Cortes. However, their writings were less daring compared to the nationalist works of Rizal,
Lopez-Jaena, and Del Pilar.

In the mid-1880s, Rizal joined forces with new reformists, including Evaristo Aguirre, Julio
Llorente, Marcelo H. Del Pilar, Antonio Luna, and Mariano Ponce, to establish La Solidaridad,
the main propaganda mouthpiece until its demise in 1895. The newer reformists had diverse
views on how to secure the country's best interests, driven by social and racial differences. The
tension among propagandists, evident in Barcelona's Circulo Hispano-Filipino, continued
throughout their united actions for the Philippines, leading to disagreements and the eventual
cessation of Rizal's contributions to La Solidaridad.
Rizal, Del Pilar and Blumentritt

Rizal and Del Pilar, both passionate nationalists, aimed for the Philippines' liberation from
Spanish rule. Despite differing leadership styles and strategies, they shared a common vision
for the country's future. Rizal, disillusioned with Spain, focused on forming a nation of
Filipinos, emphasizing education.

Del Pilar, sponsored by the Comite de Propaganda, moved to Spain in 1888 to continue his anti-
friar activities and campaign for reforms. He led La Solidaridad in Madrid while Rizal was in
London annotating De Morga's Sucesos. The "twin-towers" of the propaganda movement
finally united in Madrid.

In 1891, tensions arose among Filipino students after a controversial sermon by Rizal. Despite
winning the election for President, he abdicated in protest against the divisive results. The
internal strife affected La Solidaridad, leading to its demise.

Ferdinand Blumentritt, an Austrian scholar, played a vital role. Eight years older than Rizal, he
admired Rizal's talents and introduced him to German scholars. Blumentritt, initially a fervent
Catholic, later recognized the harsh conditions imposed by the Spanish colonial system on the
Filipinos. He defended them in La Solidaridad, battling against racist articles and criticizing
Spanish functionaries for their unyielding response to valid concerns. Blumentritt provided
valuable support to the Filipino struggle for liberation, writing prologues for Rizal's works.

Rizal as Journalist-Novelist

Postlude

Case Studies

For making their thoughts heard through the press, the movement for reforms instituted by
Filipinos was called the Propaganda Movement. Propaganda is information used primarily to
influence an audience and further an agenda by presenting facts to encourage a particular
perception or to use such information to produce an emotional response.
Document 1

The speech was Rizal’s toast to the success of Juan Luna’s El Expolarium and Felix Hidalgo Las
Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho in their work of arts whose works illuminates two
ends of the globe, which are the East and West (Spain and the Philippines). The document is
about the acknowledgement and giving thanks to Juan Luna and Felix Hidalgo for the pride
and glory they gave to the Filipinos. But most of all, Rizal praises those youths' actions that can
make a difference and contribute to the glory of the Philippines.

Also in the speech there are various lessons that we can apply in our lives such as, he
mentioned geniuses can be born and made anytime and anywhere. No one has the right to
judge or put down a person because anyone can be great. He also said that Spain and the
Philippines are equal, no greater nor slaves. Dr Jose Rizal is great because he said bravely what
the Spaniards are afraid of, it is our Education System. Lastly in the speech he focused more to
inspire the Filipinos and prove how worthy our nation can be.

Document 2

In this speech Rizal Progressive describes the transformation of the Filipino colony, traces the
history and death of the Circulo Hispano Filipino. He also gives a summary of the events
during his three years in Spain, and appeals to all to maintain unity and solidarity among the
members of the colony. In this document Rizal also said: “Let us maintain firm union and
solidarity among us; let the good of the mother country be our only cause; and let us prove to
everyone and let us make it clear that if a Filipino wills, he can.”

Document 3

Jose Rizal published this in La Solidaridad on May 31, 1889. He wrote this article to oppose
insulting discussion of the Spaniards to the native Filipinos. He is aiming to analyze the
background of the accusations in this article.

All of Rizal's articles are parochial and silent to some people because it affects the Filipino
concerns in the Spanish era. It aims were among this:

● to work peacefully for both political and social reforms which is more evident in the era.
● to portray dreadful conditions of the Philippines, so that Spain may have a solution on
this matter
● to disagrees of the evil forces of reaction and medievalism in the Philippines
● to justify other radical ideal and progress on the situations
● to promote aspirations to the Filipino people about life, democracy and happiness with a
fair verdict.
Document 4

In this document it includes four letters from Rizal - Del Pilar correspondence. These letters,
chosen from the recorded 38 exchanges of letters between Jose Rizal and Marcelo H. Del Pilar,
were written towards the end of the Propaganda Movement, dating October 1891 to July 1892.

In the first letter Rizal explains his differences with Del Pilar in terms of the nature of La
Solidaridad: Del Pilar saw it as “una empresa particular” (a private enterprise), Rizal said, while
he understood it as “una empresa nacional” (a national undertaking). He nevertheless ends
with a reassurance: “I say I work in parallel with La Solidaridad.”

In the second letter Rizal sent a letter of protest to Mariano Ponce against the article of Eduardo
Lete published in La Solidaridad. He wondered why Marcelo H. del Pilar permitted the
publication of such an article. He feared that it would lead the Filipinos to believe the existence
of schism among them. He was angry and furious at the attack of Lete.

In the third letter Rizal is glad that Marcelo H. Del Pilar is not responsible for the article that
attacks Rizal. And Rizal hoped that he could see Marcelo H. Del Pilar in Manila to come to an
understanding.

In the last letter Marcelo H. Del Pilar replied to the letters of Rizal. In the letter he justifies
himself that Rizal is mistaken in allowing Pete’s article that attacks Rizal. Also Marcelo H. del
Pilar, in his letter, pointed fingers at other propagandists for seeming idle and not fully
supporting the cause. He voiced his worry about the growing hardships in pushing reform due
to the Spanish authorities' opposition and issues within their group.