Rizal's Letter to the Young Women of Malolos
Letter to the Young Women of Malolos
Europe, February 1889
To My Countrywomen:
When I wrote the Noli Me Tangere, I asked myself on whether or not courage was a common virtue of the young women of our country. I searched my memory diligently, and recalled one by one all the young women I knew since childhood, only to find out that all the young women I knew since childhood. Only to find out that a few conformed to the ideal I longed for. It is true that there were many who were endowed with amiable disposition, beautiful ways, desirable habits, gentle manners, and modesty, but with it mingled complete deference and obedience to every word and request of the so-called fathers of the soul – as if the soul had any other father but God. This is due to their excessive goodness, humility, or perhaps sheer ignorance. They are like withered plants sown and grown in darkness, having flowers without fragrance and fruits without juice.
But now that the news arrived here of what happened in your town of Malolos, I realized my error and great was my rejoicing. I should be blamed, for I did not know the town of Malolos nor its women, except one called Emilia (Emilia Tiongson, whom Rizal met in 1887), and knew her only by name. Now that you have responded to our appeal for public welfare; now that you have manifested a good example to your fellow young women who like you, desire to have their eyes opened and to be free from their servitude, our hope is awakened. The Filipino woman no longer bows her head and bends her knees; her hopes in the future holds promise and is revived; gone is the mother who helps to keep her daughter in the dark, and bring her up in contempt and moral annihilation. It is no longer the highest wisdom to bow the head to blind submission to any unjust order, or in extreme complacency, nor will a courteous smile be deemed the only weapon against insult or tears the ineffable panacea for all tribulations. You have found out that God’s command is
Europe, February 1889
To My Countrywomen:
When I wrote the Noli Me Tangere, I asked myself on whether or not courage was a common virtue of the young women of our country. I searched my memory diligently, and recalled one by one all the young women I knew since childhood, only to find out that all the young women I knew since childhood. Only to find out that a few conformed to the ideal I longed for. It is true that there were many who were endowed with amiable disposition, beautiful ways, desirable habits, gentle manners, and modesty, but with it mingled complete deference and obedience to every word and request of the so-called fathers of the soul – as if the soul had any other father but God. This is due to their excessive goodness, humility, or perhaps sheer ignorance. They are like withered plants sown and grown in darkness, having flowers without fragrance and fruits without juice.
But now that the news arrived here of what happened in your town of Malolos, I realized my error and great was my rejoicing. I should be blamed, for I did not know the town of Malolos nor its women, except one called Emilia (Emilia Tiongson, whom Rizal met in 1887), and knew her only by name. Now that you have responded to our appeal for public welfare; now that you have manifested a good example to your fellow young women who like you, desire to have their eyes opened and to be free from their servitude, our hope is awakened. The Filipino woman no longer bows her head and bends her knees; her hopes in the future holds promise and is revived; gone is the mother who helps to keep her daughter in the dark, and bring her up in contempt and moral annihilation. It is no longer the highest wisdom to bow the head to blind submission to any unjust order, or in extreme complacency, nor will a courteous smile be deemed the only weapon against insult or tears the ineffable panacea for all tribulations. You have found out that God’s command is