Nov. 20, 2012
RIZLIFE
“The Indolence of the Filipinos”
“The Indolence of the Filipinos” is an essay written by Dr. Jose Rizal to explain the alleged idleness of the people during the Spanish Colonization.
The meaning of Indolence is like a habitual laziness. During their time, Rizal pointed out that long before coming of the Spaniards; the Filipinos were industrious and hardworking. But then, the Spaniards brought about a decline in economic activities because of certain causes like, the establishment of the Galleon Trade where in business was only conducted with Spain through Mexico and small businesses like handicraft industries during the Spanish period disappeared, next is that Spain extinguished the natives love of work because of the implementation forced labor. Filipinos were compelled to work in shipyards, roads, abandoning agriculture and industry, next is that Spain did not protect Filipino people against other invaders and pirates. The natives were killed, their houses burned and even their lands was destroyed. As a result of these scenes, Filipinos were forced to become nomads because of losing the interest to rebuild their industries or cultivating their lands. Next was education. There were no courses in Agriculture, Industry and etc, which were badly needed by the Philippines during those times. Next was, the Spanish rulers were bad example to despise manual labor. Next thing is that, gambling was also established and widely propagated during those times. Some gambling that was being held back then was cockfights during feast days and the government officials and friars were the first to engage in all sorts of bets and gambles. Next is the religion, where in friars taught the naïve Filipinos that it was easier to for a poor man to enter heaven, and so they prefer not to work and remain poor so they could easily enter heaven after they died. Lastly is that taxes were extremely high.
Rizal answered the accusation of the Spaniards against the Filipinos of being indolent in a way that he explained that if only a prejudicial measure is order, no one will protest. He also explained that education and liberty are the soil and sun of man. That If only we Filipinos already have the ability to such things, we wouldn’t be Indolent in the eyes of the Spaniards.
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