A Century Hence

Senor Dr. Jose Rizal, I am honored to have been given the privilege of writing to you. I have just read your work “The Philippines: A Century Hence”, and it has, by all means, astounded me. You see, I am now writing to you as a student of the University of the Philippines – formed from the freedom you so dearly fought for which has now been achieved. Which brings me back to your aforementioned work. A lot of people – myself included - think of it as a prophecy come true. Reading into your essay, I found out about the different causes of the sufferings of the Filipino people. If what you said is true, then the Spaniards were either making us into people we’re not or just basically driving us into extinction. It must have been the latter although it proved to be too hard so they settled for the former. In your fight for our freedom, we lost a lot along the way – the fire and spirit of the Filipinos, our creativity, and our choice. I’d say they turned us into some living robots, almost no different to the former African slaves, the only difference being only men were forced to work and women and children were kept sort of dormant, doing nothing and locked at home, if ever learning only what is basic, or violated in worst case scenarios or rather commonly if you ask me. The arrival of the Spaniards, sword and cross in hand, caused the deterioration of the Filipino culture. No longer were we the happy, friendly, thriving, and free people we used to be. We lost confidence in our rich heritage, what we used to be, what we’re supposed to be. We questioned what we had and lost hope of a better future. The so-called enlightenment of the Spanish friars only made us passive, not moving, not caring, only fearing the injustice and wrongful acts of their supposed church. But then you raised the question of whether or not the Spaniards would be able to prevent the progression of the Philippines and that had me wondering. Was that really what they had in mind? To keep us from improving? If so, then were they really just after the land and God, gold, glory be damned? Then I read further into your essay and thought. Probably so.
The foreigners you talked about, although with a few exceptions, seem heartless and brutal to me. How they managed to enslave a whole nation without thought for its people left me dumbfounded. I do not and probably never will understand how people could treat others so differently, and rather harshly might I add, just because they’re not as civilized. Is it because of the way they dress? Or the way they live perhaps? With houses of only wood and leaves, a livelihood of fishing and little agriculture, and maybe a little under educated, does that mean they’re inferior? Should they not be given space for improvement? Should they be kept from standing on their own two feet? Well I think not! But our colonizers seem to think otherwise. They’ve deemed themselves superior – the best at what they do. But where did they end up? How did they end up? I don’t suppose they liked the answer much.
All the pain, all the suffering – yours and others’ – were not overlooked. It awoke the nationalism in peoples’ hearts and it strengthened day by day. And of course Spain was not able to keep up with it. Filipinos rose from nothing to something, something we can take hold of and claim ours, something significant, something recognized. Despite all their efforts, they ended up in vain. The Filipinos would defeat them competition after another and we were learning. We leveled them and faced them head on and if we didn’t end up in a draw, we won. “History does not record in its annals any lasting domination by one people over another, of different races, of diverse usages and customs, of opposite and divergent ideas. One of the two had to yield and succumb.” This excerpt from your work proves to be very powerful and true. We and Spain weren’t one and the same, we’re different, with as much difference there is from what the friars practiced to what they preached. And therefore, we cannot be ruled by them – well at least without problems.
The freedom you fought to attain, we cherish. The freedom you gave us, we will fight for. And with these in our hearts and minds, we will never be conquered again. We will stand up as one strong race, united against those that strive to take our freedom away.
I am thankful for one gift of Spain though. I am now a very faithful Christian and if there is one thing I learned, we all have a choice. And you knew that because you chose the right thing. You fought for what you believed in despite everything that hindered you. You had will-power and you battled with a fiery spirit that cannot be appeased. You believed in what is right and you got what you fought for although maybe it came a little late for you. As Elias did say “Mamamatay akong hindi namamasdan ang pagbubukang-liwayway sa aking bayan.” You fought bravely and died with honor.

For everything you did for us, I am eternally grateful. You will forever be my hero.
Respectfully yours,