RIZAL'SPOLITICALIDEAS

RIZAL'SPOLITICALIDEAS

RIZAL'SPOLITICALideasarescatteredthroughhispublishedandunpublished works;thetwonovels,theannotationstoMorga,newspaperarticles,pamphlets,letters. Theyoccurforthemostpartinfragmentaryformaspartialstudies,occasional reflections,obiterdicta:yettheyseemtospringfromafairlyconsistentbodyofdoctrine whichhehadworkedoutinhisownmind,thoughheneverfoundthetimetogetthe wholeofitonpaper. Variousattemptshavebeenmadetoreconstructthisbodyofdoctrine.Themost obviousmethodhasbeentocullfromRizal'swritingsallthe"political"passagesandto combinetheminthemannerthatseemstomakethemostsensetothecompiler.Thegreat weaknessofthismethodisthatwhiletheresultingsynthesismaybeeminently satisfactorytotheonewhoconstructsit,wecannotbeatallsurethatitwouldbesoto Rizalhimself.Forthepiecesofthispuzzlecanbeassembledsembledinanumberof differentways;bysimplychangingtherelationshipsbetweenthemwecanmakeRizal outtobearadicaloramoderate,aliberaloraconservative,areformerorarevolutionary. Nowheobviouslycouldnothavebeenalltheseatonce,andsoourdifferent reconstructionsmayindeedthrowlightonourownpoliticalopinions,butnotnecessarily onthoseofRizal.Theywillembodymoreorlessneatlythepoliticalphilosophywhicli weimagineorwishRizaltohaveheld,notnecessarilythatwhichhedidhold. Itisnotenough,then,topluckthepoliticalideasscatteredthroughRizal'sworkand weavethemintoagarlandthestrandsofwhichareofourowndevising.Wemustlookfor somecluetothestructurewhichtheseideastookinhismindandtherelativevalues whichtheyhadwithinthatstructure.Whereshallwefindit?Ourfirstinstinctistoturnto thenovels.OfallRizal'sworkstheyareunquestionablythemostelaborateandmature. Yetoneconsiderationmustgiveuspause.Theseareworksoffiction,andinaworkof fictiontheauthorspeaksforthemostpartnotinhisownpersonbutinthatofhis characters.Withregardtocertainpassageswemayhaveastrongsuspicionthatwhilethe facemaybethefaceofIbarraorEliasorPadreFlorentino,thevoiceisthatofRizal.But wecanneverbequitecertain,andRizalinoneofhislettersexplicitlywarnsusnottobe.
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Whatthen?Isuggestthatweturntotheessays.Oneinparticularseemstopresentat leastthebaselinesofthestructurewearelookingfor.Thisisthestudyentitled"Filipinas dentrodecienaos"whichappearedinfourpartsinLaSolidaridad,September1889to January1890.Ibelievethatifweusethesebaselinesasaframeofreferencewecan organizetherestofRizal'sknownpoliticalviewsintoaconsistentbodyofdoctrine whoseinternalrelationshipswillapproximatethoseintendedbyRizalhimself. TheconcretestartingpointofRizal'sthoughtwasthecontemporarysituationinthe Philippines.Thatsituationcalledforafundamentalchangeintherelationshipwhichhad hithertoobtainedbetweenthecolonyandthemothercountry,betweenthedominantand thesubjectpeople.Thischangewasinevitable.Itcouldnotbestoppedanditwasuseless totrytostopit.However,thechangecouldbedirected.Thereweretwoalternative directionsinwhichthechangecouldtakeplace,anditwasstillpossibletochoose betweenthem.Tochooserightlyitwasobviouslynecessarytounderstandthesituation thatcalledforchange;andtounderstandthatitwasnecessarytounderstandthecauses thatproducedit. Thus,itiswithhistorythatRizalbegins.SpanishrulewasimposedonthePhilippines byconquest.BeforetheconquestFilipinoshadtheirownculture.Theyhaddeveloped theirownformsofeconomicandsocialorganization.Theyweregovernedbytheirown rulersundertheirownlaws.Theyworshippedtheirowngods.Theyspokeandwrotein theirownlanguages.Theyhadthebeginningsofanativeliteratureandanativeart.Itwas alladmittedlyprimitive.Butitwasallinprocessofnormaldevelopment;didnotall peoplesbeginthus?Certainaspectsofitwerefullofpromise:lefttoitself,whatmightit nothavebecome? Butitwasnotlefttoitself.TheSpanishconquestsurpriseditinmidcareerand overwhelmedit.TheFilipinoswereforcedtoabandontheirownforanalienculture,a culturewhichtheynevercompletelyunderstoodorassimilated.Theresultwasthatthey losttheirnerve.Theylostconfidenceintheirpast,faithintheirpresent,hopeintheir future.RizaldescribesthisuprootingoftheFilipinoculturalheritageinthefollowing terms: TheFilipinosnowentereduponanewera.Littlebylittletheylosttheir ancienttraditions,theirmemoryofthepast.Theyforgottheirownsystemof writing,theirsongs,theirpoetry,theirlaws,inordertolearnbyrotealien
The Background of Nationalism 1965 By Horacio de la Costa, S.J.

RIZAL'SPOLITICALIDEAS ideas which they did not understand, an alien code of conduct, an alien conceptionofbeauty,allfarremovedfromthoseinspiredintheirracebythe environmentinwhichtheylivedandbytheirnativegenius.Theysankintheir ownestimation.Theybecameinferiorbeingseventothemselves.Theybegan tobeashamedofwhatwastheirown,ofwhatwasnativetotheircountry. They began to admire and praise whatever was foreign and beyond their comprehension.Theylostheart,andbecameasubjectpeople.

TheFiipinosremainedinthisstateofsubjectionforthreecenturies.Duringthose threecenturiestheSpanishcolonialgovernmentnotonlydeprivedthemoftheirown culturebutimposeduponthemheavyburdensandexactionsofeverysort.Yetthey offerednoeffectiveresistance.Theyremainedpassiveandapathetic.Why? Theanswerusuallygiventoday,inlinewithouraggressiveandsomewhatuncritical nationalism,istodenythesupposition.TheFilipinosdidresist;theydidnotremain passiveandapathetic;andtheproofofthisisthealmostunbrokenseriesofconspiracies, uprisingsandrevoltswhichstretchesfromoneendoftheSpanishcolonialperiodtothe other. ThiswasnotRizal'sview.Hepointedoutthattherevoltscitedwerelimited,local, isolatedandeasilyputdown.Theywereoutburstsofrageagainstthisparticularexaction, thatparticularencomenderoorofficial.Theywerenotmovementsofresistanceof FilipinosassuchagainstSpanishruleassuch.Theywerenotnationalforthesimple reasonthatFilipinoswerenotyetconsciousofthemselvesasanation. ByRizal'stime,however,bythelatterpartofthenineteenthcentury,thiswasno longertrue.Filipinoswereconsciousofthemselvesasanation.Andthismadeallthe difference.This,inRizal'sview,waswhatgavethecontemporarysituationitsparticular characterofurgency. WhathadhappenedtorousetheFilipinosfromthesleepofcenturies?Whatshock jarredthemintothisnewconsciousnessofthemselvesasapeople?Rizal'sanswertothis questioniscuriousandcharacteristic. Heattributesthechangenottoaneconomicorpoliticalorsocialcausebuttoa psychologicalone.WhatdiditwasthattheSpaniardsaddedinsulttoinjury.Duringthe
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earlierphaseofSpanishrule,thecolonialgovernmentdemandedmuchofFilipinosbutit didnotdespisethem.IttreatedFilipinosasasubject,butnotaninferiorpeople.It exploitedthem,tobesure,butitalsorecognizedtheiressentialhumanityandhencetheir essentialequalitywiththeconqueror.Filipinosweredraftedintothecolonialarmy,but theywerealsogivenpositionsofcommandinthatarmy.Thegovernmentinsistedon obedience,butitalsolistenedtocomplaintsandoccasionallydidsomethingaboutthem. Injustice,eventhatcommittedbythewhiteman,wassometimespunished;wrongs,even thosesufferedbythebrownman,weresometimesredressed. Butinthelatterphaseofthecolonialperiodadifferentattitudebegantoprevail amongtheSpaniardsinthePhilippines.TheybegantotreatFilipinoswithcontemptas essentiallyinferiorbeings,"meremuscle,brutesandbeastsofburden,"whoweresuch becausetheywereincapableofbeinganythingelse.InRizal'sownbitterwords,they affirmedandtookforgrantedwhattheywantedtobelieve.Theymadetheraceitselfan objectofinsult.Theyprofessedthemselvesunabletoseeinitanyadmirablequality,any humantrait.Certainwritersandclergymensurpassedthemselvesbyundertakingtoprove thatthenativeslackednotonlythecapacityforvirtuebuteventhetalentforvice. ByadoptingthisattitudetheSpaniardwoundedtheFilipinointhemostsensitivepart ofhisspiritualbeing:hisamorpropio,thatistosay,hisselfesteem,hissenseofpersonal dignity.Rizalgavegreatimportancetothis.Heseemstohavelookeduponamorpropio asthekeytothepsychologyoftheMalayrace. Asiansingeneral[hesays]andMalaysinparticulararepeopleofgreatsensibility; delicacyoffeelingistheirmostprominentcharacteristic.Thismaybeobservedeven today.TheMalayFilipino,inspiteofhiscontactswithWesternersandtheiraltogether differentscaleofvalues,willsacrificeeverythingfreedom,comfort,security,reputation totheattainmentofsomeobject,whetheritbereligious,intellectualorsomethingelse, thathasfiredhisambitionorcaughthisfancy.Yetattheleastwordthatwoundshisamor propioheforgetsallhissacrificesandabandonsallhislaborsinordertospendtherestof hislifebroodingontheinjusticetowhichhethinkshehasbeensubjected. Nowonder,then,thattheFilipinoreactiontoSpanishcontemptwasinstantaneousand passionate.Notonlythat,itwasnational;andthisiswhatRizalparticularlywishedto Mtreae.Itwasnational:theaffrontwasofferednottoaparticularFilipinoortoa particularclassofFilipinosbuttoFilipinosassuch,asanation,andinreactiontoitthe
The Background of Nationalism 1965 By Horacio de la Costa, S.J.

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Filipinonationfounditself.Whatthreecenturiesofoppressioncouldnotdo,wounded amorpropiodid;itbroughtintobeingFilipinonationalism. ConsciousnowoftheircommonmiseryFilipinosbegantoagitateforreformsona nationalscale.Thedayofregionalrevolts,oflocaluprisings,ofsmallephemeral conspiracieswasover.Thedemandwasforreappraisaloftheentirecolonialsystemfrom toptobottomandforitsreconstructiononanentirelynewprinciple,thatofequality betweenSpaniardsandFilipinos.Inthevanofthisnewnationalistmovement,oneofthe earliesttoariseinAsia,wasagroupofyoungFilipinosimbuedwiththeideasof nineteenthcenturyEuropeanliberalism,amongwhomwasRizalhimself. SuchinbriefwasRizal'sanalysisofthePhilippinesituationasstatedintheLa Solidaridadarticlesandresumedorreferredtoinmanypassagesofhisotherworks.We mustnowconsiderwhathethoughtoftheSpanishpolicytowardsit.Andfirst,whatdid hethinkthatpolicywas?Hebelievedittobe,onthewhole,apolicyofrepression.He observedthattheSpanishConservativeswereopposedtoanychangeinthecolonial administrationonprinciple.ButeventheSpanishLiberals,whiletheymightpaylip servicetoliberty,equalityandfraternity,didnotseriouslyentertaintheintroductionof anyrealreforms.AscertainLiberalsthemselvesputit,theycouldaffordtobeLiberalsin Spain;inthePhilippinestheycouldnotbeanythingbutSpaniards. WewouldexpectRizaltolookuponthispolicyasmistaken.Buthewentfurtherthan that.Helookeduponitasimpossible.Howindeed,heasked,didSpainproposetostop progressinthePhilippines?Hecouldthinkofonlyfourways:bykeepingtheFilipinosin astateofutterignorance,byreducingthemtoabjectpoverty,bynotallowingthemto increaseinnumbers,orbysowingdiscordamongthem.Noneofthesedevicescould possiblywork. Thefirsthadbeeninoperationforsometime,and,withsingularlackofsuccess.In spiteofaneducationalsystemdesignedtoimpartignoranceratherthanknowledge,an increasingnumberofFilipinoswerefindingwaysandmeansofenlighteningthemselves andtheirfellowcountrymeneitherbyselfinstructionortravelabroad.Asforthesecond method,alittlereflectionwouldshowthatitseffectwasboundtobetheexactoppositeof whatwasintended. ThethirdmethodwastolimitthepopulationofthePhilippinesandbyslowdegrees
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renderitextinct;animpossibletask.TheAustralian,thePolynesianandtheAmerican IndianmightgivewaybeforetheadvanceofEuropeansettlementandwasteawayintoa fewscatteredtribes.ButtheFilipinos,inspiteofrecurrentepidemics,inspiteofthe almostuninterruptedseriesofwarsinwhichtheyhadbeenforcedtotakeparteitheras antagonistsorasalliesoftheSpaniards,wereactuallyincreasinginnumbers.Malaysare tooprolific;theyabsolutelyrefusetobecomeextinct. ThereremainsthemethodofsettingFilipinosagainsteachotherandthuspreventing themfromcombiningagainstacommonenemyorworkingfortheircommoninterests. Thismighthavesucceededanddidsucceedtoalargeextentinthepast,when communicationsbetweenthedifferentregionswereslowanddifficult,travelcostlyand dangerous.IthadceasedtobeipracticablebyRizal'stime.Theveryattempttocreate regionaldivisionstrengthenednationalunity,foritmeantsendingnativetroopsfromone islandtoanother,andthisinterminglingofFilipinos,farfromestrangingthemfromone another,merelygavethemexcellentopportunitiesfordiscussingtheircommonproblems andseekingacommonwayoutofthem. IfSpainpersistedinherintransigentpolicy,therewasnodoubtinRizal'smindasto whatdirectiontheinevitablechangewouldtake.ThePhilippineswouldbecompelledto seekbyforceofarmsitscompleteindependence.TheFilipinopeoplestillrecognized moderatereformersastheirleaders;butinthemeasurethattheylosthopeofobtaining redressbypeacefulmeanstheywouldtransfertheirallegiancefromthemenofpeaceto themenofviolence.Rizal'sobservationsonthissubjectarestrangelyprophetic: Itisthusthatweinterpretthesituation,wewholaborthroughlegalmeans andpeacefulargument.Witheyesfixedonourobjectivesweshallcontinueto promoteourcausewithoutoversteppingthelimitsofthelaw.Butifforce compelsustobesilentormisfortuneremovesusfrompubliclifewhichisnot impossiblesincewearemortalthenweknownotuponwhatcoursesa youngergeneration,morenumerousandmoreaggressivethanweare,and strainingtotakeourplaces,willembark. WouldtheFilipinosbedeterredfromattemptingawarofliberationbythenear certaintyoffailure?Rizaldidnotthinkso.Doubtlesstheywouldfailthefirsttime,faila second,thirdandfourthtime;buttheywouldnotalwaysfail.Theunalterablefactsof geographyanddemographywereintheirfavor.Spainwasfarawayandherlimited
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populationcouldnotlongsupportthestrainofkeepingdownbymainforceapeople determinedtobefree.OncefreetheFilipinoshadafairchanceofkeepingtheirfreedom. True,everyEuropeanPowerwasonthelookoutforcolonies:butthiswasinthe Philippines'favor,forthePowerswouldhardlypermitoneoftheirnumbertosteala marchontherest. ThusFilipinoswouldatlastregaincontroloftheirowndestinyandresumethe untrammeleddevelopmentoftheircharacteristiccultureandsocietyaftertheharsh interruptionofSpanishrule.Thiswasonedirectiontheimpendingchangecouldtake. Rizalconsideredit,presenteditandrejectedit. Foronething,itscostinbloodandtreasurewouldbeappalling;anditwouldsevera historicbondbetweenSpainandthePhilippineswhichhadbeenforgedbythreecenturies ofcoexistence,whichhadyieldedmutualbenefitsinthepastandmightyieldstillgreater benefitsinthefuture. Thisbondought,then,tobepreserved:buthow?Notasitwas.Themastersubject relationshipwasnolongertenable.Tokeeptherelationshiponemustchangeit,andit wouldhavetobeafundamentalchangeindeed.Thecolonialbondmustbecomea partnership.Morethanapartnership;forwhatRizalcontemplatedwasnotsomuchthe BritishideaofacommonwealthofnationsastheFrenchideaofassimilation.Theonly waytokeepFilipinosloyaltoSpain,heclaimed,wastograntthemequalcitizenshipwith SpaniardsinthesameSpanishnationwhichwouldthenincludenotonlytheSpanish homelandbutthePhilippines.Thiswasatallorderandherealizeditfully.Heproposed thatitshouldbesetupasanultimateobjectivethewaytowhichwastobepavedbya seriesofreforms. SomeofthesereformsshouldbeundertakenbytheSpanishgovernment,othersby theFilipinosthemselves.ThepoliticalreformsproposedbyRizal,takenindividually, werenodifferentfromthoseproposedbyhiscolleaguesinthePropagandaMovement. Whatmakesthemdistinctivelyhisownandhenceofinteresttoourpresentinquiryisthe orderofimportanceinwhichheliststhem.Firstonhislististheremovalofrestrictions onthefreedomofexpressioninthecolonywithreferencetomattersofpublicinterest. AnotherreformwhichRizalstressedwasthatthecolonialcivilservicebeopento FilipinosandSpaniardsalike,andthatadmissionandpromotionintheservicebestrictly
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onthebasisofmeritasestablishedincompetitiveexaminations.Hisargumentinsupport ofthisisafaintlysardonicone.Surely,hesaid,theSpaniardscouldhavenoobjectionto this,sincetheyregardthemselvesasbeingineverywaysuperiortoFilipinos;they cannotthereforehaveanyfearthatFilipinoswilltaketheirjobsawayfromthem. Moreover,ithasbeensaidoftenenoughthattheFilipinoisindolent;verywell,whynot givehimthisopportunitytoprovehisindolencebothtohimselfandtotheworld? ThereformswhichRizalurgedhisfellowcountrymentoundertakeintheirownlives andinthecustomsandusagesoftheircountryarefamiliarenough.Theyarewoveninto theverythemeoftheNoliandtheFili.FilipinosdonothavetheSpaniardsaloneto blamefortheirstateofsubjection.Theyhavethemselvestoblamejustasmuchifnot more."Therewouldbenomastersiftherewerenoslaves."Filipinosmustrealizethat theycannothavetheprivilegesoffreedomunlesstheyarewillingtoacceptits responsibilities.Buttofitthemselvesfortheresponsibilitiesoffreedommeans undergoingalong,slowandpainfulprocessofselfdiscipline;makingadeterminedand sustainedeffort,individuallyandcollectively,toliftthemselvesoutofthesloughof despond,ignorance,apathyandindolenceinwhichtheyhavebeencomplacently wallowingforcenturies. Moreover,ifFilipinoswishedtoestablishademocraticrepublicintheircountry,then insteadofmerelyagitatingforitastheyweredoing,letthemdevotesometimeandeffort tocultivatinginthemselvesthosevirtueswhichthecitizensofademocraticrepublic oughttohave.Whatwerethesevirtues?Inaninterestingandalltoolittleknownletterto themembersofLaSolidaridadRizalenumeratesthosewhichheconsideredtobethe mostimportant. Onewaswhathecalledeconomia:theprudenthusbandingoflimitedresourcesso thattheywillproducethemaximumbenefitforthegreatestnumber.TheBritishslogan ofsomeyearsback,"austerity,"willservewellenoughasamodernequivalent.Thepoint hereisthatRizalthoughttheimportanceofthisvirtuesoobviousthatinsteadof expatiatingonit,hemerelywroteitdownthreetimes:economia,economia,economia "austerity,austerityandagainausterity." AnothervirtuemostnecessarytothefreecitizenofafreenationiswhatRizalcalled transigencia,whichwemayroughlyrenderas"thespiritofgiveandtake."BythisRizal meantthewillingnesstocompromise,notindeedonmattersofprinciple,butonthose
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questionsofpracticalpolicywhichareoftheirnaturesubjecttoadjustment.Democratic governmentisunworkablewithoutthisreadinesstomakemutualconcessionsinorderto arriveatgeneralagreement.Fordemocracy,Rizalpointedout,isgovernmentby discussion;thepeopleortheirrepresentativesmeettodebateseveraldifferentcoursesof actionanddecideonone.Hence,theobjectofdebateinademocraticgovernmentisnot tomakeone'sopinionprevailatallcosts,butcollectivelytochoosethatcoursewhichwill befoundafterfreeandfrankdiscussiontobethewisestandthebest.Thiscoursemaynot beone'sown;itmaynotbeanybody's;itmaybe,andusuallyis,acoursewhichemerges duringthedebateitselfthroughaseriesofmutualconcessionsandcompromises.This procedure,sonecessaryinademocracy,requiresahighdegreeofdiscipline,selfrestraint andhumilityonthepartofitsctizens.Tramigenciathusunderstooddoesnotcome naturaltopeople,especiallytopeoplewithasmuchamorpropioasFilipinos.Itmustbe theobjectofconsciouseffort.Itmustbelearned. Finallyandinthelastanalysis,whatdidRizalunderstandbynationalism?Thereisno questionbutthathemeantbyit,firstandforemost,sacrifice.Thetruepatriotishewhois readyatalltimestoforegohisownpersonalandprivateadvantageinordertoadvance thewelfareofhispeople.Thecommongoodofthenationisafinething;itisaprecious thing:butlikeallfineandpreciousthingsithasanexorbitantprice.Thatpriceis sacrifice,andthetruepatriotishewhoiswillingtopaythatprice;topayit"sindudas, sinpesar,"thatistosay,withoutthinkingtwiceaboutit,andwithoutcalculatingthecost. SuchinbriefarewhatIhavecalledthebaselinesofRizal'spoliticaldoctrine.How arewetoevaluatethatdoctrine?Rizalbeingournationalherowenaturallytendtoaccept whateverhewrotealmostasgospeltruth.Itmaythereforebeofhelptowardsanobjective appreciationifwepointedoutwhatseemtobedeficienciesinhishistoricalanalysis. Therearesome.RizalconsistentlyoverratesthepreSpanishcultureofthe Philippines,whichwasnotnearlyasdevelopedashemakesitouttobebothin"The PhilippinesaCenturyHence"andintheannotationstoMorga.Ontheotherhandhis evaluationofSpanishruleisvitiatedbytheassumptionthattheSpanishconquest destroyedtheindigenouscultureandsubstitutedanaliencultureinitsstead.Thisisto oversimplifymattersconsiderably.Culturesarenotdestroyedinquitesosummarya fashion.Spanishruleundoubtedlymodifiedournativecultureandaddedtoitelements whichwerecompletelynewChristianity,forinstance;butithardlydestroyedit.The FilipinosdidindeedreceiveSpanishculture,buttheydidsoselectivelyandvitally;they
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10

madeittheirown,aculturedifferentbothfromwhattheyhadoriginallyandwhatthe Spaniardsbrought. IsupposethatRizal,ifpressed,wouldadmitthis;buthewouldclaim(indeed,hehas claimed)thatthistransformationofourculturewasabadthing,aforcibledeflectionof itsnormallineofdevelopment.Thisviewseemstomeunsound.Onemaywellask:what isthe"normal"lineofdevelopmentofanyculture?Isitclaimedthatculturesdevelop normallyonlyinavacuum,solelybytheunfoldingofitsowninnerpotentialitiesand neverbystimulationorenrichmentfromwithout?Ifso,thenwhatexistingculturecanbe saidtohavehadanormaldevelopment?Whatexistingorevenextinctculturecanbe callednativeinthissense?CanevenourpreSpanishculture,withitsnumerous borrowingsandadaptationsfromIndiaandIndonesia,becalledsuch? NoonequestionsthefactthattheSpanishconquestofthePhilippineswasviolentand destructive,asallconquestsmustbe,andthatthesubsequentcolonialrulewasinmany waysoppressiveandrepressive.Butitisgoingbeyondtheevidencetoarguefromthis,as Rizalseemstodo,thattheSpanishperiodofourhistorywasanalmostcompletely negativeinterlude:astateofsuspended,animation;akindofDarkAgewhich contributednothingtotheenrichmentordevelopmentofournationalculture.The culturalvalueofChristianityisprettygenerallyadmittedevenbythosewhodonot believeinit,andourdebttoSpaininthisregardisasobviousasitisprofound. DoestheFilipinoorMalayamorpropiodeservethekeyrolewhichRizalgivestoitin theawakeningofFilipinonationalconsciousness?Peoplelikemyselfwhohaveonlythe slightestacquaintancewithsocialpsychologywouldbetemptedtosayno.Wetendto lookformoretangiblecauses,usuallyofaneconomicorpoliticalnature.Still,onecan perceive,especiallyifonehappenstobeaFilipino,thatthereisgreatvalueinthis insight,evenifonecannotagreewithRizal'svaluationofit.Certainlytherewereother causesequallyimportantwhichIhavetriedtosuggestelsewhere.Nottheleastofthem waspreciselytheactionofSpainitselfwhichRizaltendsconsistentlytominimize. ItiscuriousbutundeniablethatcolonialrulebytheWesternnationssoonerorlater developsthenationalismswhicheventuallyputanendtocolonialrule;andthisnotonly negativelyassheerreactionbutpositively,bysupplyingtheseparatistmovementwithits frameofreferenceanditsprinciples.Itmayevenbesaidthatcolonialism,atleastofthe Westerntype,isselfliquidating.
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Butthisoughtnottobesurprising,especiallytousFilipinos,whomustrealizethatit wasthroughthemediationofSpaininpartthattheideasofhumanequality,civic freedomandtheruleoflaw,ideasHellenicandChristianinorigin,becameanintegral partofournationalculture.OnedoesnothavetoreadveryextensivelyinRizalandhis associatestorealizethattheirrejectionofcolonialismhadforitstheoreticalbasenotan AsianbutaWesternworldview.ItwasnotfromtheUpanishads,ortheConfucian Analects,ortheKokutainoHongi,oreventheCodeofKalantiaothattheyderivedtheir inspiration.Theliberty,equalityandfraternitytheyspokeofwereforgedintheGreek citystate,theChristiangospels,theuniversitiesoftheMiddleAges,andtheDeclaration oftheRightsofManandtheCitizen. ButtheseconsiderationsaresurelyperipheraltoRizal'smainargument.Thatmust standinitsessentiallinesasamonumenttotheman'sperceptivenessandbreadthof vision.Wemaycavilatthedetails,butweareboundtorecognizethatamongRizal's contemporariesnoonegraspedsosurelytheprimefactorsoftheproblempresentedby thepoliticalsituationinthePhlippines,orpasseduponthemsobalancedajudgment.

The Background of Nationalism 1965

By Horacio de la Costa, S.J.