“THE INDOLENCE OF THE
FILIPINOS”
THE INDOLENCE OF THE FILIPINOS
• Published in La Solidaridad Madrid, Spain on July 15,
1890 – September 15 1890.
• “INDOLENCE” is defined as the disposition to be idle
or, put another way, the lack of inclination to work.
LA INDOLENCIA DE LOS FILIPINOS, more
popularly known in its English version “The
Indolence of the Filipinos” is a exploratory essay
written by Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal,
to explain the alleged idleness of his people
during the Spanish colonization.
Before the coming of Spaniards, the
Filipinos were industrious and hardworking.
When the Spaniards came, they became
gamblers, dependent, powerless, corrupt,
amnesiacs, disloyal to their “identity” , and
indolence.
PURPOSE WHY DID RIZAL WROTE THIS?
To serve the country by telling the truth.
To show how we were discriminated.
To illustrate how we inherited some of our negative traits from the Spaniards.
To let us know how we could rise from oppression.
To show us that we have been deceived.
To remind us what we were, are, and could be.
THE INDOLENCE OF THE FILIPINOS
Is the 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 GALLEON TRADE
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 business and handicraft industries that flourished
during the Pre-Spanish period gradually disappeared.
SECOND:
EXTINGUISHED THE NATIVES’ LOVE OF
WORK
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:
AGAINTS FOREIGN INVADERS
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:
CROOKED SYSTEM OFEDUCATION
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 Philippine during those times.
FIFTH:
DESPISE MANUAL LABOR
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
Gambling was established and widely propagated
during those times. Almost everyday there were cockfights,
and during feast days, the government officials and friars
were the first to engage in all sorts of bets and gambles.
SEVENTH:
CROOKED SYSTEM OF RELIGION
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.
LASLY:
TAXES WERE EXTREMELY HIGH
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 days labor in a
temperate climate.”
