SANAYSAY SA PANAHON NG PROPAGANDA
The
Indolence of the Filipinos
Ni: Dr.
Jose P. Rizal
The
Indolence of the Filipinos is a study of the causes why the people did not, as
was said, work hard during the Spanish regime.
Rizal pointed out that long before the coming of the Spaniards, the
Filipinos were industrious and hardworking.
The Spanish reign brought about a decline in economic activities because
of certain causes:
First, the establishment of the
Galleon Trade cut off all previous associations of the Philippines with other
countries in Asia and the Middle East.
As a result, business was only conducted with Spain through Mexico. Because of this, the small businesses and handicraft
industries that flourished during the pre-Spanish period gradually disappeared.
Second, Spain also extinguished the natives’ love of work because of the
implementation of forced labor. Because
of the wars between Spain and other countries in Europe as well as the Muslims
in Mindanao, the Filipinos were compelled to work in shipyards, roads, and
other public works, abandoning agriculture, industry, and commerce.
Third, Spain did not protect the
people against foreign invaders and pirates.
With no arms to defend themselves, the natives were killed, their houses
burned, and their lands destroyed. As a
result of this, the Filipinos were forced to become nomads, lost interest in
cultivating their lands or in rebuilding the industries that were shut down,
and simply became submissive to the mercy of God.
Fourth, there was a crooked system
of education, if it was to be considered an education. What was being taught in the schools were
repetitive prayers and other things that could not be used by the students to
lead the country to progress. There were
no courses in Agriculture, Industry, etc., which were badly needed by the
Philippines during those times. Fifth, the Spanish rulers were a bad example to
despise manual labor. The officials
reported to work at noon and left early, all the while doing nothing in line
with their duties. The women were seen
constantly followed by servants who dressed them and fanned them – personal
things which they ought to have done for themselves.
Sixth, gambling was established and
widely propagated during those times.
Almost every day there were cockfights, and during feast days, the
government officials and friars were the first to engange in all sorts of bets
and gambles.
Seventh, there was a crooked system of
religion. The friars taught the naïve
Filipinos that it was easier for a poor man to enter heaven, and so they
preferred not to work and remain poor so that they could easily enter heaven
after they died.
Lastly, the taxes were extremely high, so
much so that a huge portion of what they earned went to the government or to
the friars. When the object of their
labor was removed and they were exploited, they were reduced to inaction.
Rizal admitted that the Filipinos
did not work so hard because they were wise enough to adjust themselves to the
warm, tropical climate. “An hour’s work
under that burning sun, in the midst of pernicious influences springing from
nature in activity, is equal to a day’s labor in a temperate climate.”
Reflection:
Ipinakita
dito ni Rizal ang madaming katwiran at halimbawa upang ihayag ang sinasabing
indolence ay isang epekto lamang ng dehumanizing conditions na kung saan ang mga
Indio ay sapilitang mabuhay. Dinagdagan ni Rizal ang kahulugan ng indolence.
Ito ay “the inclination to live off the labor of others”. Inamin ni Rizal na
tamad ang mga Pilipino. Pero ito ay dahil sa init ng klima sa ating bansa. Sinabi
ni Rizal na ang indolent o ang tamad ay ang mga Kastila hindi ang mga Indio
dahil ang Peninsulares ay ninais ang magandang buhay ng walang paghihirap o
pagtratrabaho. Hindi mga tama dang Pilipino bagkus sila lamang ay nahihirapan
sa mga pinag gagawa ng mga nasasakupan nito.
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