8 Imagining A Nation

I. Introduction

Question to Ponder:

Share us about the about a time you convinced someone to do something or buy something or
believe something? What was it?

How did you convince them? Do you think you are good at convincing people?

Towards the end of the 19th century, the economic conditions in the Philippines had improved in
such a way that it was possible for many creole and mestizo families to send their sons to school
not only in manila but also in Europe. The young Filipino sojourn to the Peninsula would awaken
in their minds ideas about progress and love for their motherland.

Nineteenth century Spain was also going through several processes of change. Politically
speaking, the Restoration put back into place the monarchy of Alfonso XII and established a
constitutional monarchy with a bicameral legislature.

The environment where the Filipinos immersed themselves therefore, was one where ideas of
progress could be expressed and exchanged freely. Political and religious institutions could be
questioned and attacked without fear of reprisal. It was an environment that allowed these
young Filipino students to think, question and imagine what a nation is.

II. Learning Objectives

• Recognize the important contribution and role of the Propaganda Movement

• Identify competencies in distinguishing Rizal’s involvement in the Propaganda
Movement
• Cite appreciation of explaining how propaganda works
• Explain and discuss the vision that the Propagandists had after experiencing
freedom, prosperity, and relative peace in Europe

III. Lesson Proper

KEY WORDS

• Cortes – the legislative or lawmaking body of the Spanish government

• Creole – a Spanish born in the Philippines
• Propaganda – information used to promote or publicize a particular cause or point of
view

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• Restoration – refers to the Spanish restoration; a period in Spanish history spanning the
years 1874-1931 that saw the restoration of the monarchy under Alfonso XII together with
the establishment of a bicameral legislature.

Circulo Hispano-Filipino

Earliest attempt to unite Filipinos studying in Spain was the formation of the Circulo Hispano-
Filipino, under the leadership of creole named Juan Atayde. They gained the support of
Spaniards who are sympathetic of Filipinos. Published a bi-weekly newspaper titled Revista del
Circulo Hispano-Filipino in 1882 but the newspaper and the organization itself were short –lived
and lasted only until 1883.

Los Dos Mundos

Despite the demise of the Revisita del Circulo Hispano-Filipino, the Filipinos in Spain continued to
write and engage in journalism. In 1883, a periodical called Los Dos Mundos came out. It
demands for the overseas Hispanic colonies equality of rights and opportunities for progress.
Staff members are Graciano Lopez Jaena and Pedro Govantes y Azcarraga, Rizal and Eduardo
de Lete are also contributors.

Espana en Filipinas

Began its publication through the support of Filipinos, creoles and mestizos in Madrid in 1887. It
was short-lived as well because of glaring differences and internal feuding among its staff. With
the end of the newspaper emerged a stronger Filipino community united in its purpose to
continue working for Filipino rights. By January 1889, the Filipino community in Barcelona began
preparations for the publication of a new periodical.

La Solidaridad

• Supported and financed by Mariano Ponce and Pablo Rianzares, Graciano Lopez Jaena
offered his service as editor. Joined by Marcelo H. Del Pilar. Its first issue was released
February 15, 1889.

• Program is defined as “to combat all reaction, to impede all retrogression, to applaud
and accept every liberal idea and to defend all progress.”

• Among its reforms sought were:

• Philippine representation in the cortes

• Freedom of the press

• End of the practice of exiling residents without due process.

• Printed letters from foreign correspondents, all speaking of situations on the ground

• Contributors are Rizal, Dominador Gomez, Jose Maria Panganiban, Antonio Luna and
Ferdinand Blumentritt

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• Del Pilar took over the supposed work of Jaena for Jaena spent most of his time in cafes
and known to be incapable of sustained work. First issue was printed on November 15,
1889.

• Rizal and Del Pilar had differences in views. Rizal wanted to speak more to the Filipinos
while Del Pilar wanted to persuade the Spaniards.

• New year’s eve of 1891, Filipinos in Madrid decided to elect a leader to unite their
community (Rizal vs Del Pilar). Rizal won the election, but only through the manipulation
of Mariano Ponce

• Rizal felt that his victory was shallow and left Madrid. Instead, he just continued writing his
novel and stopped writing for La Soledaridad. Because of the lack of funds and internal
feuding, the newspaper published only until 1895 and had their last print on November
15, 1895. In its final issue, its editor, del Pilar, had written, “We are persuaded that no
sacrifices are too little to win the rights and the liberty of a nation that is oppressed by
slavery.”

“Our Aims” written by the staff of La Solidaridad

Our aspirations are modest, very modest. Our program, aside from being simple,
is clear: to combat reaction, to stop all retrogressive steps, to extol and adopt
liberal ideas, to defend progress; in a word, to be a propagandist, above all, of
democratic ideas in order to make these supreme in all nations here and across
the seas.

The aims, therefore, of La Solidaridad are described as to collect, to gather,

libertarian ideas which are manifested daily in the field of politics, science, art,
literature, commerce, agriculture and industry.

We shall also discuss all problems relating to the general interest of the nation and
seek solutions to those problems in high-level and democratic manner.

We shall pay special attention to the Philippines because those island need the
most help having been deprived of representation in the Cortes. We shall thus
fulfill our patriotic duty in the defense of democracy in those islands.

The nation of eight million souls should not and must not be the exclusive
patrimony of theocracy and conservatism…

Indifference to our Archipelago will not be so good for Spain’s integrity in the
Philippines. The country is attuned to progress. The heart of the nation longs for
legitimate hopes of a better life and we do not believe in any political theory
which would discuss such pleas with the classic “We shall see.”

We believe therefore that by offering to study the problems mentioned above

and those relating to them, we shall be, in our humble way, of service to the
nation and her institution.

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PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES (Otherwise known as: Propaganda Techniques)

A Propaganda is information used to promote or publicize a

particular cause or point of view. It is often constructed with the
intention to manipulate or incite an audience into action.
Because of its nature, there is an urgent and important need to
determine what propaganda is before making informed
choices.

Who uses propaganda?

• Military
• Media
• Advertisers
• Politicians
• You and I!

Propaganda Techniques

Bandwagon Technique- The bandwagon appeal is a technique which is used to try and
convince the consumer that everybody else is doing one thing, so they should be doing it too so
they aren't different. This is an especially important technique today because people strive to be
perfect more than ever. People fear being different because they fear being made fun of or
bullied. This is why this technique works so well.

Testimonial- The endorsement and testimonial technique is a very commonly used advertising
technique in this modern day. It involves a well-known figure, athlete, actor/actress, artist, etc.,
whom large quantities of people look up too or idolize, where they back up an assertion to try
and make the consumer think that "if they're doing it, I should too!"

Loaded Words - also known as weasel words, are words that are very descriptive and filled with
emotion. These words are used to capture the consumers’ attention and influence their actions.
They can be used in both a positive and negative way and appear in all sorts of
advertisements.

Personal Appeal - a propaganda technique used to sell you something based on how you
believe the product will affect or improve your worth and self-image. It doesn't sell you on the
actual quality or usefulness of the product.

Glittering Generalities - a technique that is intended to make you think positively about
something. It does this by sending a positive slogan, while at the same time not offering any
support as to why this product or this person will do something for you. You see this type of
technique used a lot in political advertising.

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Name-calling - a technique used to bring a negative look towards someone or something,

which is basically the exact opposite of Glittering Generalities. Like the glittering generalities
technique, name-calling doesn't offer support to back up its claims, and is very often seen in
political advertisements to make fun of or put down another candidate.

Artificial Dichotomy – Claiming that there are only two sides of an issue even if, in reality, there
are many sides

Misleading Numbers - The Misleading Numbers technique is one that is widely used by politicians
and in advertisements for various food products. It involves the advertiser using numbers or
statistics that aren't always valid or are manipulated in various ways. The numbers presented
aren't always pure lies, however, sometimes they are presented in certain ways which cause
them to be interpreted differently than they should be.

Plain Folks Appeal - a technique very commonly used in political advertising. It makes it appear
that the candidate is a regular person just like everyone else and that they understand the
common person because they are one! You will often see pictures of the candidate along with
kids, animals, or other objects that make them seem like they are just a normal person like you
and me.

Fear – Using fear to convince people to believe in an idea. Example would include an insurance
flyer or pamphlets showing pictures of houses destroyed by floods.

IV. Learning Activities

Calling Out Propaganda. Group (synchronous)/Individual (asynchronous) Activity

Form yourselves into groups of three members. Pick an article on any topic of your choice (e.g.,
politics, economics, showbiz, health, etc.) from the Internet. Determine if the article uses one or
more of the propaganda techniques listed above.
Attach the article used and your/group’s analysis on the propaganda techniques used. You will
be graded according to the rubric below.

Grading Rubric for Propaganda activity

Criteria 3 2 1
Propaganda material’s Propaganda material’s Propaganda
purpose or message is purpose or message is material’s purpose or
Purpose clearly explained in the explained but some message is not
analysis. details are missing in explained at all in the
the analysis. analysis.

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Propaganda type used Propaganda type used Propaganda type

is clearly explained. is explained but some used is not explained.
Propaganda Used
details are missing

Specific details about Little details about the No details about the
Evidence support the propaganda propaganda material propaganda material
and outcomes material are mentioned are mentioned in the are mentioned in the
in the analysis analysis analysis

V. Assessment/Reflection

Assessment: Read the excerpt from the article, “Our Aims,” written by the staff of La Solidaridad
(found above) on February 15, 1889. Answer the questions that follow.

1) What are the aims of the newspaper, La Solidaridad?

2) What does the article tell you about nineteenth century Philippines?

3) Based on the article, what are the propagandists’ view of progress?

VI. Self-Test

True or False. Write TRUE if the sentence is correct and FALSE if the sentence is incorrect.
1. The cortes is defined as the judicial body of the Spanish government
2. The propaganda technique Carly is using to persuade Jem to vote for Rigoberto as
senator of Pampanga ‘because everyone else in their barrio will vote for him’ is Plain
Folks Appeal.

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3. Labeling netizens as “Dilawan” after criticizing the Duterte governance is an example of

Artificial Dichotomy.
4. In the becoming of La Solidaridad, differences emerged between Rizal and Del Pilar;
wherein Rizal wanted to speak more to the Filipinos while Del Pilar wanted to persuade
the Spaniards.
5. The Circulo Hispano-Filipino pushed for three reforms during its time: the Philippine
representation in the cortes, freedom of the press, and the end of the practice of exiling
residents without due process.

VII. Post-test

All post-tests shall be given by the instructor.

VIII. Resources

Rhodalyn Wani-Obias, Aaron Abel Mallari, Janet Regindin-Estella. The Life and Works of Rizal: C
& E Publishing, Inc. 2018

Propaganda Techniques. (n.d.). Retrieved September 06, 2020, from

https://propagandatechniques.weebly.com/

1. FALSE; 2. FALSE; 3. TRUE; 4. TRUE; 5. TRUE

Self-test answers:

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