Propaganda: Philippine Revolution and Jose Rizal Essay Example

Filipinos in Europe were more active in seeking reforms compared to those in Manila. They can be categorized into three groups - the first group consisted of Filipinos who were exiled to the Marianas Islands in 1872 due to their involvement in the Cavite Mutiny. After spending many years in the Marianas, they relocated to Madrid and Barcelona since they were unable to return to the Philippines.

The second group in the Philippines consisted of illustrados who were sent to Europe for their education. The third group included Filipinos who fled their country to escape punishment or due to Spanish atrocities. However, not all Filipinos living in Spain were part of the Propaganda Movement. Its most prominent members were Jose Rizal, Graciano Lopez Jaena, and Marcelo H. del Pilar.

Lopez Jaena, a brilliant orator, wrote pieces such as "Fray Botod," "Esperanza," and "La Hija del Fraile," all of which criticized the abuses of Spanish friars in the Philippines. Del Pilar, an excellent writer and speaker, established the newspaper Diarion Tagalog in 1882, focusing on the friars as his favorite topic. Some of his most popular writings were "Caiingat Cayo," "Dasalan at Tocsohan," and "Ang Sampung Kautusan ng mga Prayle." "Caiingat Cayo" responded to criticisms of Jose Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere in pamphlet form. "Dasalan…" parodied the prayer books used by the Church, while "Ang Sampung Kautusan…" satirically depicted the Ten Commandments and strongly ridiculed the Spanish friars.

Jose Rizal, renowned as the great novelist of the Propaganda Movement, was the first Filipino to gain fame for his written works. Even at the tender age of eight, he showcased his talent by composing the poem "Sa Aking mga

Kababata." His novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, vividly portrayed the hardships endured by the Filipino people and shed light on the rampant injustices committed by the friars during their colonial rule. Unsurprisingly, Rizal's critical view of the government and the friars earned him numerous adversaries. Ultimately, on December 30, 1896, Rizal met his demise at Bagumbayan (later known as Luneta Park and now renamed Rizal Park) through execution.

The writings produced by the Propaganda Movement served as inspiration for Andres Bonifacio and other radicals in establishing the Katipunan, thus catalyzing the Philippine Revolution. Additionally, they continued to have an impact on La Solidaridad and La Liga Filipina.