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Rizal Justice System 1

The document discusses Rizal's annotations on Morga's book about pre-colonial Philippine society and culture, particularly the justice system. Rizal's annotations aimed to show that Filipinos had their own traditions and customs for settling legal disputes locally, demonstrating a sense of national identity and culture before Spanish colonization. The annotations are supported by descriptions from Scott and Morga himself.

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Arjelle Malaza
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498 views

Rizal Justice System 1

The document discusses Rizal's annotations on Morga's book about pre-colonial Philippine society and culture, particularly the justice system. Rizal's annotations aimed to show that Filipinos had their own traditions and customs for settling legal disputes locally, demonstrating a sense of national identity and culture before Spanish colonization. The annotations are supported by descriptions from Scott and Morga himself.

Uploaded by

Arjelle Malaza
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Analyzing Rizal’s Annotations on Morga’s Sucecos de las Islas Filipinas

Buaya, Far, Godornes, Luana, Niez, & Zaragoza

Aspect of Pre-Colonial Society and Culture :

JUSTICE SYSTEM

Morga’s Comments Rizal’s Annotations Scott’s Descriptions


Whenever any native had any “This is very simple and erude Chiefs rendered justice to
controversies or differences but it was more speedy, and their barangay, settling
with others on pecuniary the judges were persons of disputes on appeal, and
matters, on property or the locality, forming a jury, summoning, judging, and
regarding insults and physical elected by both parties who sentencing lawbreakers
injuries to their persons there knew the case the customs but if they failed to take
were appointed elders among and usages better than the action against a known
the same clan or group whose gowned judge who comes criminal, other datus
decisions were respected and from outside to make his intervened. (p. 245; par. 4)
executed without any further fortune, to judge a case he
process or delay. (p. 277) does not know and who does
not know the usages,
customs, and language of the
locality.” (p.277)
The authority which these “These slaves were not “Neither were slaves
principal men or leaders that always in such dismal mentioned as having any
they considered its components condition. Argensola says that rights under the law at all.”
as their subjects, to treat well or they ate with their master at (p. 246; par. 1)
mistreat, disposing of their the same table and afterward
persons, children and they married members of the
possessions at their will and family. But tyrants and brutal
pleasure wihtout any opposition men who abused their
from the latter, nor duty on their authority were not lacking,
part to account for the though they could not have
principals’ action. Upon their surpassed the encomenderos,
committing any slight offense or for history mentions
fault, these henchmen were rebellions and assassinations
either punished, made slaves or of encomenderos by their
killed. tenants while it does not
record a single case of
rebellion or assassination of
some native leader for
reasons of revenge.” (Page
276)
The laws throughout the islands Rizal annotated that the laws Timawa could bring suit
were along similar lines throughout the islands did against one another before
following the tradition and not affect the peace of the their chief, who would first
customs of their ancients in people because many times a try to arrange an amicable
accordance with the unwritten custom has more force than a settlement between them.
statuses. In some provinces, written or printed law, Failing this he tried the
there were different customs in especially when the written case, examining both
certain things, although laws are a dead letter to those parties- “orally since
generally speaking, they had who know how to evade them among them there is no
uniform usages and procedure or who abuse their high writing in any suit”- and
throughout the Islands. (p. 278) position. (Page 278) hearing their witnesses.”
(p.246; par. 2)

Those who helped in building Rizal stated: “Namamahay Slaves inherited their
the master’s house and to serve from bahay (house), one who parents’ condition,
frequently as helpers in the lives in his own house. This becoming the property of
same when there are guests, and kind of slaves, if they can be their parents’ master. (p.
to serve there whenever the called slaves, still exist, and 247; par. 6)
master requires them to do so, are called kasama (for being
also without any compensation, now the partners or laborers
and the latter are known as of a capitalist or farmer).
Namamahayes slaves whose Bataan means servant,
children and descendants are kampon, tao, etc. (Page 279)
also slaves to serve in the same
capacity. (p. 279)
His used part-time freedom from “The free half had the rights of In relation to Arsons.
service, which price is based on a free man. It proves also that Morga annotated “The one
the persons according to the the laws were not tyrannical who set the fire was made
standing of saguiguilid or despite their being rigorous, to pay for the damage as
namamahay slave whether half the custom of asking charge of assessed by the chiefs…
or fourth-part slave. the rights of the free half, and his property seized
rather than the degradation and wife and children sold
of the slave half. Dasmariñas, into slavery if necessary to
however, compelled the cover the damages.” (p.
encomenderos not to pay 247; par. 3)
more than two tatls of gold for
slaves abought by force. Some
became slaves on account of
unpaid loans and usurious
rates of interest.” (Page 280)
Concluding Essay

The Philippines in the Pre-colonial era, whenever natives had controversies they

addressed their problems to the elders of the clan and follow the procedure used by their

forefather in similar cases. The laws throughout the Islands are based from the tradition and

customs of their ancients. Although there are some provinces that have different customs in

certain things still, they have uniform usages and procedures throughout the islands. This

agreement of laws and uniformity prove that the islands have strong relationship. In this era

System of Slavery among natives exist thus this leads to unjust cases which have engaged the

attention of Court of Justice and confessors.

The overall image of the past that Rizal wanted to convey in his annotations is the rich

tradition and culture that Philippines had during the pre – colonial conquest. Basically, his

ultimate goal was to raise the sense of national consciousness and identity. He wanted to

establish the idea that Filipinos had their own justice systems. There were crimes that

disrupted the peace and order in the community, this include insults, murder, arson, theft,

adultery, divorce, inheritance disputes, and slavery. However, chiefs knew how to settle

these discords and lawsuits brought by one party against another in their respective

barangays by summoning, judging, and sentencing lawbreakers without any delay. Laws that

were passed down orally following the traditions and customs of their ancestors governed

the legal procedures. However, upon the Spanish colonization, Philippines was depopulated,

impoverished and retarded by losing old traditions and by learning other incomprehensible

foreign doctrines.

Rizal’s views of the pre-conquest past through his annotations on “Sucesos de las Islas

Filipinos” by Dr. Antonio de Morga served as the historical foundation on which our nation
could be built. His views on the pre-conquest past were valid and became the basis of the

historical writers of the new generation. The works of Scott mirrored the facts that Rizal has

presented in his annotations. A similar description was found in the report by Morga. Morga

played an important role in the administration of justice in the Philippines, as councilor and

deputy governorgeneral of the Judicial Executive. Rizal regarded Morga’s book as a proof

that there had been cultural excellence in the Philippines before the arrival of Spaniards.

Description of Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas became a strong source of moral support for the

Philippine Independence Movement. The reports by Chirino and Morga have been

appropriated by modern historians and linguistics.

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