Power in the Context of Rizal's Time

It is said that where science ends, faith begins. But where does faith end when there is no science to begin with?

This was the same dilemma that confronted the 19th century Rizal when he started to address the prevalent Philippine feudal system. The lack of adequate public access to formal education coupled with the dominance of Catholic beliefs not only obscured the archipelago from economically advancing, but also left the Philippines in dire oppression and misery. The ecclesiastical power that ruled at the time had fully integrated its influence over the Filipino natives. The Church served as the supreme suppressor of intelligence, freely imposing its teachings to all who were not conscious of the ubiquitous enslavement of the Filipino minds. Indeed, as this article might briefly discuss, the tangles of the Church that were deeply seated in the normal realms of the Filipino lives encompassed critical social institutions such as education and family.

On a tangent matter, the role of education is highly valued in this context since it raises an individual’s level of consciousness, thus allowing one to clearly see all the cobwebs of the existing power structure one may not have seen before. As discussed in class, the role of a university is not only to churn out capable professionals, but more importantly produce noble human beings. This dual-responsibility of imbibing knowledge while instilling the spirit of nobility is perhaps the reason why the omnipotent Church institution chose to deprive it from the Filipino people. Take it by faith. It is because of this convenient phrase that any curiosity for the truth is immediately trampled. Even the familial institution is held hostage by this omnipresent religious institution. The value of humility is consequently put on a pedestal since Christian doctrine preaches that one who humbles oneself shall be exalted. But as pointed out by Professor Fernandez, what is exactly wrong with self-love or privileging oneself? I would have to agree with Professor Fernandez sentiment that, unlike the Catholic doctrine, one who exults oneself shall be exulted. How can an individual hope to better oneself if one does not recognize one’s own success? Isn’t self-love the backbone of development? With these submissive Catholic doctrines being promulgated, it does not come as a big surprise that an ignorant, excessively timid, submissive, and ultimately an oppressed nation is made.

Reading the fourth chapter of Rizal’s Fili made me sympathize even more emphatically with the plight of Kabesang Tales. He embodies the frustration of all hardworking Filipinos during the time of Rizal where a native almost always have to prostrate oneself to the presence of the Spanish colonizers. Though the blood of his departed wife and daughter cultivated his family’s land, his property was mercilessly expropriated from him. Even his father, Tandang Selo, bitterly advised him that a clay cauldron should never challenge an iron cauldron for the fear of the Church wrath over those who challenge them. The deplorable Philippine feudal society has no chance of ever progressing to capitalism if these oppressive practices are allowed to continue further. Given all these things, I now understand why Rizal gives utmost importance to freeing oneself from the bondage of ignorance and setting oneself free by means of education. (02/24/2011)