Propaganda period is a turning point in our Philippine literary journey. This

Welcome to our Propaganda period topic! Propaganda period is a turning point in our Philippine literary journey. This period marked the beginning of the awakening of our sense of nationalism. The seeds of liberty, equality, and fraternity are well starting to germinate from the many failures experienced by the early waves of armed insurrections which were largely self-contained, isolated and doomed from the start. The adage, “the pen is mightier than the sword” will be pitted to good use here, too. So, what are you waiting for, join me as we take a closer look at the Propaganda period, some of the major members of the propaganda movement, and their salient contributions to the Philippine literary tradition.

Intended learning outcomes

At the end of this topic, you should be able to:

Recognize notable selections during the Propaganda period;
Identify significant writers during the Propaganda period; and
Discuss the theme/message of the literary texts written during the Propaganda period.

Historical background

The emergence of the “principalia” paved the way to the rise of the intellectual indios called “Ilustrados”.
The sons of these middle class indios were able to study abroad and gain knowledge on other countries, ideas and concepts of freedom, equality and democracy.
They, in turn, looked back at the deplorable condition of the Philippines and sought for much needed reforms and improvements.

The awakening of nationalism

The proven and tested formula of Spanish subjugation and colonization was institutionalized in the doctrine of “divide et sempera” (divide and rule) seemed to be invincible. The Spanish colonial authorities succeeded in quelling and suppressing the budding ethnic and regionalistic rebellions and insurrections by pitting one ethnic group against the other ethnic group. For instance, when the Ilokanos rebelled when their beloved “basi” (sugarcane wine) was taxed heavily; the colonial masters send in the Kapampangans to fight them. This pattern has to be repeated time and again until sporadic rebellions were silenced and the indios were “pacified” with the whip, the sword and the cross.

However, as nothing remains forever on this earth, the long slumber of Filipino nationalism is destined to be awaken. There were several events led to the awakening of the Filipinos’ spirit of nationalism, namely:

Opening of the Philippines to World Trade.
The coming of liberal leader Gov. Gen. Carlos Ma. dela Torre.
The Secularization Issue.
The Cavite Mutiny.
The Execution of Gom-Bur-Za

If we are to add a sixth one, that would be the emergence of the Propaganda Movement.

What is the Propaganda period?

Propaganda period was a period of Philippine history and literature when the “Ilustrados” (intellectual indios) started calling for reforms, equality and improvement which lasted approximately from 1868 to 1898 although most of their activities happened between 1880-1895.

The propaganda movement was spearheaded mostly by the intellectual middle-class like Rizal, del Pilar, Lopez-Jaena, Ponce and among others. There were also other writers and persons who, through peaceful means, advocated for reforms such as:

To get equal treatment for the Filipinos and the Spaniards under the law.
To make the Philippines a province of Spain.
To restore Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes.
To “Filipinize” the parishes.
To give the Filipinos freedom of speech, of the press, assembly and for redress of grievances.

The Propaganda stalwarts

Jose Rizal (The National Hero)

His full name is Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado Alonzo y Realonda.
He was born June 19, 1861 at Calamba, Laguna.
He studied at Ateneo, UST, Universidad Central de Madrid, Univ. of Berlin, Univ. of Leipzig, and Univ. of Heidelberg.
Executed by musketry on Dec. 30, 1896 with charges of sedition and rebellion.
Pen names include Dimasalang, Laong-Laan and P. Jacinto.
His major works include:
1. Noli Me Tangere – the novel that exposed the evils in society.
2. El Filibusterismo – the sequel of Noli which exposed the evils in the government and in the church.
3. Mi Ultimo Adios – a poem written by Rizal in his prison cell in Fort Bonifacio.
4. Sobre La Indolencia de los Filipinos (On the Indolence of the Filipinos) – an essay defending the Filipinos on the accusation of laziness of the Filipinos and the evaluation of the reasons behind it.
5. Filipinas Dentro de Cien Años (The Philippines within a Century) – an essay predicting the future colonizer of the Philippines is America.
6. La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth) – a prize-winning poem dedicated to the Filipino Youth.
7. El Consejo de los Dioses (The Council of the Gods) – an allegorical play manifesting his admiration for Cervantes.
8. Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig River) – an idyll he wrote when he was 14 years old.
9. Sa aking mga Kababata (To my fellow children) – a poem he wrote when he was 8 years old.
10. Me Piden Versos (They asked me for Verses) – written as requested by his compatriots during a reunion of Filipino expatriates.
11. A Las Flores de Heidelberg (To the Flowers of Heidelberg) – written while he was studying at the Univ. of Heidelberg. It shows Rizal’s depth of emotion in outpouring his love of his native land.
12. Notas a la Obra Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas for El Dr. Antonio de Morga (Notes on Philippine Events by Dr. Antonio de Morga) 1889.
13. P. Jacinto: Memorias de Un Estudiante de Manila (P. Jacinto: Memoirs of a Manila Student) 1882.
14. Diario de Viaje de Norte America (Diary of a Voyage to North America)

Marcelo H. Del Pilar (The Consummate Journalist/Propagandist)

He used pen names such as Plaridel, Pupdoh, Piping Dilat, and Dolores Manapat.
He attended Colegio de San Jose and UST and took up Law.
He established Diariong Tagalog where he exposed the evils of Spanish Government.
He succeeded Lopez-Jaena as editor of La Solidaridad, the official newspaper of Propaganda Movement.
To escape Spanish wrath, he self-exiled in Barcelona, Spain, where he died of tuberculosis.
His major works include:
1. Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa (Love of Country) – he translated Rizal’s Amor Patria.
2. Kaiingat Kayo (Be Careful) – a humorous and sarcastic dig in response to Fr. Jose Rodriguez’s attack on the Noli of Rizal.
3. Dasalan at Tocsohan (Prayers and Jokes) – similar to catechism but sarcastically done against the parish priests.
4. Ang Cadaquilaan ng Dios (God’s Goodness) – it contains a philosophy of the power and intelligence of God.
5. Sagot ng Espanya sa Hibik ng Pilipinas (Answer of Spain on the Plea of the Filipinos) – a poem pleading for change from Spain but that Spain is already weak and old to grant any aid to the Philippines.
6. Dupluhan, dalit, mga Bugtong (A poetical contest in narrative sequence, psalms, riddles) – a compilation of poems on the oppression by the priests in the Philippines
7. La Soberania en Filipinas (Sovereignty in the Philippines) – shows the injustices of the friars to the Filipinos.
8. Por Telefono (By Telephone).
9. Pasiong Dapat Ipag-aalab ng Puso ng Taong Babasa (Passion that should Arouse the Hearts of the Readers).

Graciano Lopez-Jaena (The Greatest Orator)

He wrote 100 speeches in Spanish, and published by Remigio Garcia.
He escaped to Valencia, Spain to avoid arrest due to his “Fray Botod.”
Moved to Barcelona, Spain and established La Solidaridad, as its 1st Editor-in-Chief.
The La Soli became the official paper of the Associacion Hispano de Filipinas, and the official newspaper of Propaganda Movement.
His major works include:
1. Ang Fray Botod – he exposed some of the friars were greedy, ambitious and immoral.
2. La Hija del Fraile (The Child of the Friar) and
3. Everything is Hambug (Everything is a mere Show) – here he explains the tragedy of marrying a Spaniard.
4. Sa mga Pilipino – a speech aimed to improve the condition of the Filipinos to become free and progressive.
5. Talumpating Paggunita kay Columbus – speech he delivered in Madrid on the anniversary of the discovery of America.
6. En honor del Presidente Morayta de la Associacion Hispano Filipino – he praises Gen. Morayta for his equal treatment of the Filipinos.
7. En honor de los Artistas Luna y Resurrecion-Hidalgo – a sincere expression of praise for the paintings of Hidalgo on the condition of the Filipinos under Spain.
8. El Bandolerismo en Filipinas (Banditry in the Philippines) – he refuted the existence of banditry in the Phils. and how laws and reforms were needed.
9. Honor en Filipinas (Honor in the Philippines) – the triumphant exposition of Luna, Resurrecion, and Pardo de Tavera.
10. Pag-alis sa Buwis sa Pilipinas (Abolition of Taxes in the Philippines).
11. Institucion ng Pilipinas (Sufferings of the Philippines).

Antonio Luna (The pharmacist, writer and general)

A pharmacist who was banished by the Spaniards to Spain
He became contributor of La Soli
His pen name was Tagailog
He wrote about Filipino customs and how Spain mismanaged the Philippines.
He became a general of the revolution against Spain.
He was murdered by Aguinaldo’s men at the age of 33.
His major works include:
1. Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) – pictures true Filipino life.
2. Se devierten (How they Diverted Themselves) – a dig at a dance of the Spaniards where the people are very crowded.
3. La Tertulia Filipina (A Filipino Conference or Feast) – depicts a Filipino custom which he believed was much better than the Spanish.
4. Por Madrid (For Madrid) – a denouncement of Spaniards who claim that the Philippines is a colony of Spain but who think of Filipinos as foreigners when it comes to collecting taxes for stamps.
5. La Casa de Huespedes (The Landlady’s House) – depicts a landlady who looks for boarders not for money but in order to get a husband for her child.

Mariano Ponce (The secretary)

He became an editor-in-chief, biographer and researcher of Propaganda movement.
He used Tikbalang, Naning and Kalipulako as pen names
He wrote about the values of education and how the Filipinos were oppresed by the foreigners as well as problems of his countrymen.
His major works include:
1. Ang Alamat ng Bulacan (Legend of Bulacan) – contains legends and folklores of his native town.
2. Pagpugot kay Longinos (The Beheading of Longinus) – a play shown at the plaza of Malolos, Bulacan.
3. Sobre Filipinos (About the Filipinos).
4. Ang mga Pilipino sa Indo-Tsina (The Filipinos in Indo-China).

Pedro Paterno

He is a scholar, dramatist, researcher and novelist.
He is also a mason of the Confraternity of Masons.
He was the first Filipino writer who escaped censorship of the press.
His major works include:
1. Ninay – the first social novel in Spanish written by a Filipino.
2. A Mi Madre (To my Mother) – shows the importance of mothers especially in the homes.
3. Sampaguita y Poesias Varias (Sampaguitas and Varied Poems) – a collection of his poems.

Jose Maria Panganiban

He used JOMAPA as his pen name.
He was known for his photographic mind.
He was a member of various movements in the country.
His major works include:
1. Ang Lupang Tinubuan (My Native Land)
2. Ang Aking Buhay (My Life)
3. Su Plano de Estudio (Your Study Plan)
4. El Pensamiento (The Thinking)

References

Soriano-Baldonado, Rizza. (2013). Readings from World Literatures: Understanding People’s Culture, Traditions and Beliefs: A Task-Based Approach. Quezon City: Great Books Publishing.
Vinuya, Remedios V. (2012). Philippine Literature: A Statement of Ourselves. Metro Manila: Grandbooks Publishing, Inc.
Kahayon, Alicia & Zulueta, Erlinda. (2009) Philippine Literature Through the Years. Manila: National Book Store.

Propaganda period