Rizal Concept Paper

LICEO DE CAGAYAN UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE

Rudolfo N. Pelaez Blvd., Cagayan de Oro City,
9000 Misamis Oriental
CONCEPT PAPER:
HOW WAS THE FILIPINO NATIONAL
IDENTITY ESTABLISHED?

By
Alvarez, Eman John Miles R.

Bachelor in Medical Laboratory Science-1
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the

subject Life and Works of Rizal;
For the Semi-Final term of the First Semester;
Of School Year 2019-2020;
To Mrs. Carmencita Jubas, CAR
September 19, 2019

Introduction
For a fact, the history of the Philippines is multiplex. It has been a colony
of three (3) different nations in the following order: Spain, United States of
America, and Japan. With different longevity of colonial occupation, it gave
sprung to a nation with much diversity in culture and traditions. Each of the
foreign occupants have all neither contributed a good element to the identity of
the Philippines or gave it a colonial illness and an identity crisis.
Among the three, it’s the Spaniards that had its attachments lodged deeply
into the nation and thus, had greater influences [among its colleague colonizers]
in the totality of the Filipino identity. The Spanish colonizers of which occupied
the Philippines for 3 centuries, 3 decades, and 3 years―333 years began their
colonization at the year 1565 to 1898. To mention, between 1500’s to 1900’s, the
nations of Europe were the most active in colonization including Spain. Though
the thought and primary motive behind colonizing a land or nation is to acquire
of its raw resources and increase the expansion of a nation. The Spaniards were
devoted-Catholic European colonizers who included in their agenda to colonize
the Philippines with Christianity. Indeed, they were true to their motives, but
like other things, hypocrisy were present. They ruled chaos and with tyranny
without the Crown of Spain’s knowing their abuses.
With Spain’s grasp on the Philippines, the Filipino suffered countless and
unthinkable horrendous mistreatment. Of course, the mind of the Filipino is just
like any other human minds, it has the ability to comprehend that enables the
person to realize its will―even to cause and organize an uprising against
authorities. Such minds were kindled by the extensive series of oppression. From
it, individuals who were exhausted in living a life of oppression were fueled with
the desire to break the chain and establish independence. Such individuals were
filled with much determination and became part of the revolution organized and
led by the prominent figures of patriotism like Jose Rizal, Andrés Bonifacio,
Apolinario Mabini, Juan Luna together with his brother General Antonio Luna,
Marcelo H. del Pilar, and powerful heroine of the revolution like Gabriela Silang
and Melchora Aquino, and the list goes on. Most of them are intellectuals, others
are simply just desperate and determined to remove the Spanish colonizer’s hold
on the Filipino people.
The aforementioned individuals have lived a life committed to a cause and

therefore, died as a noble. They fought for freedom with swords and guns, and
some fought with the use of their gifts such as their intellect like Jose Rizal.
Personal excerpts of reflection on:
• Jose Rizal
“Probably one of the most notable individual of the Philippines. His

patriotic aspiration for the nation had affairs with both the national and
foreign. His affiliations and sacrifices had him cemented in the history for
his patriotic deeds that cost him his very life. He fought a bloodless
revolution for freedom with just his pen and paper. His choice to live an
inconvenient life for the Philippine’s independence alone, is virtuous, in
considering the fact that he is able to live a life of luxury and comfort―he
denied himself of that privilege to suffer for the cause of independence.”
• Andrés Bonifacio
“Jose Rizal wanted to attain freedom by his pen and paper. On the
contrast, Andrés Bonifacio is determined to wage war against wants the
Spaniards. Jose Rizal’s revolution was bloodless while Bonifacio’s
revolution was violent.
The unfortunate fact that political immorals had exist long before the
Independence is saddening because it is the root cause of the treacherous
deaths of the notable patriotic men such as Bonifacio and Luna. They
bravely fought the Spaniards without worrying about themselves. They are
truly desperate and willing to sacrifice their lives for the cause of
Independence….a wake-up call for the timid and slumbering spirit of
nationalism of the Filipino people. To conclude, to love your country is to love
your identity.”
• General Antonio Luna
“Mga kapatid, mayroon tayong mas malaking kaaway kaysa mga

Amerikano. Ang ating sarili”. Truly, the biggest threat is the self because of
its capability to jeopardize. Emotions are dwindling and intentions are
destructive. Just like what happened to the life of General Luna, his
unsurpassed patriotism, his dedication in fighting for the nation’s freedom,
and his agenda for the common good was compromised by his ‘dignified’
and ‘intellectual’ fellowmen due to their self-interests; which were also the
culprits that led General Luna to his bitter death.
Sometimes, I could say that history indeed repeats itself in some way. The
problems faced by the Filipinos are either caused by selfishness or
ignorance. The aforementioned root-causes are also the same factors that
weakened the nation by dividing the people in interest and goal.”
• Emilio Aguinaldo
“The highlights of Emilio Aguinaldo’s life is his struggles to protect his

cabinet members and his people while exercising his authority; and the
Philippines in general against the Spanish regime for its Independence.
There were so many struggles and dilemmas they faced, and again, the
people were willing to sacrifice their lives fighting for freedom and against
the enemies that hinders the Independence.”
Conclusion
The common point provides the resolution to the interrogation of ‘How was
the Filipino identity established?’ and it is the invaluable sacrifice of the all
the Filipino heroes. There cannot be a degree of comparison amongst the
individuals who forfeited their finite lives. Yet, their sacrifice for the noble cause
will make them immortals; as they will have their names inaugurated and
cemented in the eternal history.

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LICEO DE CAGAYAN UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE

Alvarez, Eman John Miles R.

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the

September 19, 2019

The aforementioned individuals have lived a life committed to a cause and

“Probably one of the most notable individual of the Philippines. His

• General Antonio Luna

“Mga kapatid, mayroon tayong mas malaking kaaway kaysa mga

“The highlights of Emilio Aguinaldo’s life is his struggles to protect his

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