Dungca-3bsit6d Act2
Dungca-3bsit6d Act2
Dungca-3bsit6d Act2
3BSIT6D
Activity No. 2 – The Philippines in the 19th Century (Rizal’s Context) [Reaction Paper]
The Philippines in the 19th century was a blast in the past where the time of Filipinos
experience extreme oppression and suffering from the Spaniards. When I researched the context
of Rizal's life, it was horrible and painful how the Spaniards took advantage to take over from
the Filipinos. There is an inequality in the social hierarchy of slaves and fools who had no right
to get what they deserved. The taxes increased, promotion of monopoly and reforms promised to
the Filipino people aren't meet. Government Officials who are supposed to promote peace and
order abuse their power and authority that brought violence to the people. Friars who are
supposed to strengthen faith in religion are greedy and cruel to show injustice towards the weak.
Also, there is an imbalance of justice that is supposed to everyone but served only to those who
are in the upper class of the social hierarchy. The impact of these changes affects the Filipinos
which considering the beginning of what the people experience until the present day.
In the time of Rizal, he is generally known as a reformist, and his work illustrates the
belief that reform was only a necessary step towards the goal, independence from Spain. That’s
shows awaken the Filipinos to fight for their freedom and stand for their right. It had made me
realize that war does not necessarily have to end through means of violence, it could always be
ended peacefully, through words and maybe even forgiveness. Words are far stronger than any
gun. Vengeance is not ours, it’s God. Evilness is at every corner but you shall not fear because
bury and forget although it’s painful to recall these times. It reminds us how Rizal and other
propagandists fought hard to get back our freedom, our rights as Filipino people, and the land
that is rightfully ours. That is the time when the true sense of nationalism arises. Rizal’s
observation became so relevant and changes shaped his ideas, works, and actions which in turn,
rippled to the Filipinos to fight for freedom and justice. He showed us that knowledge and
mind are one great weapon, that if properly use the pen is mightier than any sword in the
world.
I learned a lot about the Philippines in the 19 th century from Rizal’s perspective, the
challenges and responses on how the Spaniards change the course in the lives of the Filipinos but
on the other hand their prejudice that destroys humanity. I heard about the life of Rizal before in
some of my subjects’ way back high schooldays, his background, personal life and work, the
contribution that brought justice and independence from the Spanish regime. But in this kind of
reading articles and scanning the information, there is a lot about him. I remember his statue in
Manila that signifies patriotism and nationalism, that’s why he is our national hero. He is the
voice of truth that every Filipino should know. Even in our present day, a lot of experiences that
we’re brought from the past exposed once again but remember as Filipinos, we should speak the
true value of freedom in our society and the rest of the world that have a vision as a nation united
as one.