Chapter 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 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 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 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.
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 39thanniversary of
the discovery of America.
 5. EN HONOR DEL PRESIDENTE MORAYTA DE LA ASSOCIACION HISPANO FILIPINO
1884. Here he praised Gen. Morayta for his equal treatment of the Filipinos.
 6. 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.
 7. 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.
 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.
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 Taga-ilog. 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.
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 and the Association 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 writings:

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 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 JOMAPA. He
was also known for having photographic mind. He was a member of a
number of movements for the country.
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, 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.

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 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.
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.
 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.