Abad, Ru Ruwilyn C. C. BSMA-4 February 8, 2011
Row 3 – Seat 6
The Indolence of the Filipino I.
Summary The Indolence of the Filipino was published in La Solidar Solidaridad idad in Madrid in 1890. This was written by Jose Rizal as a response to the accusation of Filipino indolence. Rizal admits that indolence among the Filipinos exists, but there could be numbers of reasons behind it. He traces its causes to factors such as the climate and social disorders. He defends the Filipinos by saying that they are by nature not indolent, because in fact, Filipinos have been engaged in economic activities such as agriculture and trade even before the arrival of Spaniards. In the end, Rizal summarizes the main causes of indolence to the limited training and education Filipino natives receive and to the lack of national sentiment and unity among them. them. Accord According ing to Rizal Rizal,, educat education ion and liber liberty ty would would be the cure to Filipino indolence. Salient Points II. “Indolence “Indolence,, instead instead of holding it to be the cause of the backwardness backwardness and and the the trou troubl ble, e, we regar regard d it as the the effe effect ct of the the trou troubl ble e and and the the backwar kward dness ss,, by fostering the development of a lame amentabl able predisposition.” “Man's object is not to satisfy tile passions of another man; his object is to seek happiness for himself and his kind by traveling along the road of progress and perfection.” “Man works for an object. Remove the object and you reduce him to inaction.” “Man’s is his self-esteem. Take it away from him and he is a corpse, and he who seeks activity in a corpse will encounter only worms.” III. Reaction Jose Rizal’s The Indolence of the Philippines is a self-defense against the hatred and calumnies of the oppressors who condemn the Filipinos as inert, unresponsive and useless. I disagree on what those people say that Fili Filipi pino no work worker ers s are are unski unskill lled ed,, untr untrai aine ned, d, misg misgui uide ded, d, irre irresp spon onsi sibl bly y haughty, intoxicated with show, romp and glory, and unconcerned with the intrinsic value of work. It’s not a concrete reasons or basis for them to conclude conclude that Filipinos Filipinos are indolent. Filipinos Filipinos were in fact hardworking hardworking people who are very dedicated with their works. It is more right to say that that indo indole lenc nce e of Fili Filipi pino nos s is he effe effect ct,, not not the the cause cause,, of Ph Phil ilip ippi pine ne backwa backwardn rdness. ess. They They way Spania Spaniards rds treate treated d the Filipi Filipinos nos made made them them indolent. They snatched the land of Filipinos and work for their own soil without benefiting from it. They made Filipinos believe that rich people have have no plac place e in heav heaven en and and poor poor’s ’s have, have, maki making ng them them give give more more offeri offerings ngs,, becaus because e of wrong wrong doctri doctrines nes of the church, church, to the extent extent of leavin leaving g nothin nothing g for them. them. They They introd introduce uce miracl miracles es that that made made Filipi Filipinos nos
very dependent to it. Abuses and corruptions ultimately faded the true Filipino values. If Filipinos had only retained their rights over their properties, their own land, they would be more determined to improve their ways of living. If they were free to learn, they would know better. If they were not being fooled by the wrong doctrines, they would still have their own ways. If they were just taught the best, they would not be worsening. But it’s never too late to correct the wrong impression. We Filipinos should also do our part for this. Be educated and learn from the past. It is true that education and liberty would be the cure for Filipino indolence.
