Lesson 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 yRealonda 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,
JuanCrisostomo 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 (ThePhilippines 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 (TheCouncil 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 LASFILIPINAS FOR EL DR. ANTONIO DE
MORGA(Notes on Philippine Events by Dr. Antoniode Morga): 1889
11. P. JACINTO: MEMORIAS DE UNESTUDIANTE DE MANILA (P. Jacinto:
Memoirsof 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 hispen 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 1883where 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
LASOLIDARIDAD, 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, publishedin Barcelona in 1888. He used
Dolores Manapatas 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 NGPILIPINAS (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 (APlea 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 NGTAONG 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
LASOLIDARIDAD. 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 DELA ASSOCIACION HISPANO
FILIPINO 1884.Here he praised Gen. Morayta for his equal treatment of the Filipinos.
6. EN HONOR DE LOS ARTISTAS LUNA YRESURRECCION 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 DEMALOLOS (Love for Spain or To the
Youth of Malolos). The theme is about how girls were taught Spanish in schools and
whose teacher swere the governors-general of the place.
8. EL BANDOLERISMO EN PILIPINAS (Banditryin 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 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 Beheadingof Longinos). A play shown at the
plaza of Malolos, Bulacan.
3. SOBRE FILIPINOS (About the Filipinos)
4. ANG MGA PILIPINO SA INDO-TSINA (TheFilipinos 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)
 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, andPio Valenzuela
decided that there was no other way except to revolt.

The gist of literature contained mostlyaccusations 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,
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 ANAK NG BAYAN (Obligations of Our
Countrymen). Thisis an outline of obligations just like the 10commandments of God.
3. PAG-IBIG SA TINUBUANG 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.

EMILIO JACINTO

Emilio Jacinto was the intelligent assistant of Andres Bonifacio in the establishment of
the Katipunan. 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 bookon 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.

APOLINARIO MABINI
Apolinario Mabini is known in literature and history as the Sublime Paralytic and the
Brains of the Revolution.
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 LAREPUBLICA (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 tothe 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). Editedby Antonio Luna and whose aim was
for Philippine Independence.
3. LA REPUBLICA PILIPINA (The Philippine Republic). Established by Pedro Paterno
in1898.
4. LA LIBERTAD (Liberty). Edited by Clemente Zulueta.

Exercise:
Read the literary work of Emelio Jacinto, “Liwanag sa Dilim”, and Andres Bonifacio’s
“Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa”.
1. Write a summary of the two literary works.
2. Create a reaction paper for each literary works.
3. Submit it through our google classroom. Deadline is on January 14, 2022.