Basilio Ada Marie S.
History - Rizal
August 5, 2015
The Philippine Century Hence
The Philippines a Century Hence (Filipinas detro de cien anos ) is an essay written by Jose
Rizal to forecast the future of the country within a hundred years. This famous essay of Rizal, was first
published in La Solidaridad, Madrid on September 30, 1839 to February 1, 1890. Rizal wrote this
essay as he felt that it was time to remind Spain that the circumstances that ushered in the French
Revolution could have a telling effect for her in the Philippines.
The highlights on the first part of this essay is when Rizal showed the changes brought by the
Spaniards when they colonise Philippines. The Filipinos gradually neglect and forget the ethnic culture,
songs, poems and beliefs for them to be easy to cope up with the new and foreign doctrines, which they
dont really understand. They get ashamed and even denied their own culture. They praise and
patronised anything that was from the conquerors until their hearts and minds have been captured. The
filipinos were treated like animals, deprived of thoughts and feelings and made slaves to serve
conquerors in the development of Spain. There are some feelings awakened to the truth of the brutality
and oppression of conquerors because of the ongoing vilification and exploitation which will gradually
wake up the minds of the majority. The second part is about the failure of the colonial policy of Spain
in the development of the Philippines. To those who wants freedom of his country, the country has it.
For liberal Spaniards, the countrys condition doesnt have any progress but for the friars, theres
progress.There is military force, slow communication between Mexico and Spain and expeditions are
arduous for the sea are full of pirates and enemies of Spain. Theres a fine organisation within civil and
military leadership. The communication is easier, faster and more reliable. Rizal said that the
Philippines remained calm at the beginning of the Spanish domination.The Filipinos under Philippine
military becomes official. An indio can be encomendero and become a general of an army. Theres no
place for defamation and no people are insulted. All the good things that pertains to the improvement of
the country is gone. The government is replaced by intimidation, exploitation and slavery.While in the
third part, stated the radical and political reforms if the Philippines will still be under the Spanish
colony. The reforms in the Philippines will be successful if the implementation will be brutal and will
be coming from the ordinary citizen. Theres a need to change the political policy according to the
needs of the people. Reformation will be in order and successful if it will come from the work on an
authority. At the last part, Rizal stated the predictions and opinions about the future. And his message to
Spain.
After reading this essay, Ive come up of realising the Philippines worth to Dr. Rizal. He was that
concerned to the country, even if he knows that he will not stay and live any longer. Analysing the past,
I pity those Filipinos who suffered and even offered their lives just for the welfare of others. They were
forced to embrace the culture of the Spaniards. Comparing the Philippines way back up to the present,
the Philippines during those times was that oppressed and even Filipinos are blind for they do not see
or do not understand that the Spaniards were just using them. The Philippines did not grow any longer,
but rather much retrograded. And I also want to thank Jose Rizal for making the Filipinos realise about
the countrys economy. Thats when people start to awaken, and if the government doesnt change its
act, a revolution will occur. People only need to practice their human rights then a possible outcome
will be declaring themselves independent and in order for them to cry out against all abuses, and to
have more law and greater liberty. With regards to free press, it is needed in order to voice out our
complaints and suggestions towards the reformation of the country. It will also keep the government in
touch with public opinion. Lastly, the terrible lessons and hard teachings that these conflicts will have
afforded the Filipinos will operate to improve and strengthen their ethical nature. If the Philippines may
be able to secure their independence after heroic and stubborn conflicts, they can be rest assured that no
Western countries will dare to take up what Spain was unable to hold.
