Rizal as a Reformist

Rio Cruz

11238542

-------------------------------------------------

KASPIL1

-------------------------------------------------

Sr. Victor Torres

RIZAL AS A REFORMIST

The Propaganda Movement consists of several groups, publications and movements which are bound by a common cause and that, is to simply eradicate the unjust means by which the Philippines is put under the Spanish rule in the eyes of the propagandists. One of the prime conspirators of the Propaganda Movement would be the La Solidaridad, a publication established by Jose Rizal and several other Filipino liberal exiles in Spain. La Solidaridad claimed to have stood for modest aspirations and humble ideals such as Filipino – Spanish equality, independence from friars or secularization, and other forms of libertarian ideals. But a man such as Rizal in my opinion stands nowhere near these humble aspirations. Reformation and change in pursuit of assimilation, which will benefit the nations through humble means, is a likelier statement. As a member of the La Solidaridad, one could incur that Rizal brought forth a lot in participating as a reformist because La Solidaridad conveyed issues, which dealt with politics, science, commerce, and industry and discussed the complications that related itself to the welfare of the nation, they also provided solutions addressing those problems in a rational, democratic and non violent way. What I find most promising is how Rizal, along with the La Solidaridad fulfilled their patriotic duties by finding and addressing these national problems with democratic ideas. I believe that Rizal also knew better in choosing to be a part of a reformation rather than a revolution because he knew that the Philippines was incapable yet of standing up independently during his time. If not for the censorship or the poor circulation and finally, the disappointing halt in publishing the paper, the La Solidaridad would have awoken more Filipinos in realizing the previous state that...