This rant requires familiarity with Filipino heroes, namely Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Aguinaldo. My knowledge is limited to word of mouth, and old editions of a textbook called “One Country, One People.” The textbook was published with the Code of Kalintiaw which is now known to be a fraud. That said, I am open for corrections.
The intellectual deficiency of the Philippines today can be traced back to three pro-independence revolutionaries in the late 19th century. Rizal, Bonifacio and Aguinaldo emerged as leading figures who opposed centuries of Spanish colonization. They rose to prominence when Filipinoes resigned themselves to a lifetime of oppression because of so many failed attempts at opposing Spain.
Bonifacio and Aguinaldo took up the usual route of revolts and initiated the call to arms. Bonifacio was no savant, charismatic orator, or brilliant tactician but an ancestor of the “savage” datu, Lapu-lapu, who was first to defend our country centuries earlier. He lacks the attractive distinctions of the esteemed Jose Rizal but believed that if independence was to be gained, it would only be through our own power, courage and will. Freedom wasn’t something asked for, but seized. There is still much speculation and controversy over Aguinaldo’s execution of Bonifacio. To my knowledge, Bonifacio had to be eliminated in order to unite differing factions otherwise united bythe same goal.
A nation’s identity and ideology is usually shaped through violence. We lost the chance to experience the kind of transformation that instill self-confidence and self-reliance when Bonifacio died. Bonifacio is the stillborn symbol of pride and initiative. He is popularly described as being illiterate, impulsive, passionate, and having a fiery personality. These attributes may be the reason he was no match for the ambitious and calculating Aguinaldo. His defeat lives on through the prevailing attitude of futility toward government corruption and societal ills that Filipinoes grudgingly tolerate instead of actively oppose.
In parallel, Rizal is identified as the revolutionary who took up the pen instead of the sword. I’ve only recently learned that he is actually an atheist, which coincides with his many criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church. To me, this means that he was not actually a pacifist but an intellectual. He understood that the religion was the greater threat than Spain.
Despite Jose Rizal being a fitting national hero, none of his philosophical views are even remotely understood by Filipinoes. Even today, we remain enslaved by the religion that he denounced long after foreign rule ceased. His works exist only as status symbols for superficial discussion, memorized lines devoid of any real meaning. Our respect for Rizal is limited to his historical prestige, while neglecting what lead to it.
Though we eventually gained independence through peaceful means, I believe that had we fought for our independence instead of waiting to receive it, we would now have a better understanding and appreciation of freedom. Can a contemporary Filipino understand the basic principles of protecting its ideals from oppression, foreign or domestic?
The Philippine People Power is cited the world over as proof that it is possible to make peaceful changes. Did we really learn anything from the experience? Marcos came to power as a popular politician with many suggesting that his power ultimately corrupted him. Marcos was a very religious man who merely practiced what he believed. The Bible is filled with many contradictions so it isn’t a surprise that even a brilliant man like him would eventually lead a country to ruin. Perhaps, he was the type of man Rizal envisioned and wanted to warn us against.
The purpose of history is not just to archive the past but to understand and learn from the successes and shortcomings of those who helped shape who we are today. The Philippines is no longer under foreign threat, but there is general stagnation in culture, politics, and economics that can only be addressed through philosophy. The prevailing philosophy is religion, which deters much needed reforms. If we want progress at all, we need introspection and to adopt a philosophy of secularism.
Presently, we hail overseas workers as heroes for bringing in much needed revenue keeping the country from the brink of bankruptcy. Many others simply migrate for the promise of wealth and opportunity. The Philippines is teeming with talented, productive, hard working people. What it lacks and needs is intellectual leaders.
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