Liga Filipina.pdf

Formation of a Filipino National Community: The Founding of Liga Filipina

Antecedents • Publication of the annotations of Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas (1899) • Cases of evictions and deportations of Calamba Tenants (1899-1891) • Founding of La Solidaridad as the mouthpiece of the propaganda movement (1899) • Rizal’s break with M.H. Del Pilar (1891) • Publication of El Filibusterismo (1891)

Rizal’s break with Del Pilar • Rizal was made the honorary president of the Solidaridad association; Del Pilar, as the editor of La Solidaridad, was the de-facto leader of the Filipino colony in Madrid. • The conflict occurred when it was proposed that the Filipino colony be organized under a single leader (called responsable). • The elections polarized the colony between Rizal and Del Pilar factions. • Rizal was eventually elected, but declined the position and decided to leave the Filipino colony for good.

Rizal-Del Pilar conflict was based on ideological differences • J. Rizal to M. H. Del Pilar (Ghent, 12 August 1891): • “If I stopped writing for La Solidaridad, it was because of several reasons: 1st, I need time to work on my book; 2nd, I want other Filipinos to work also; 3rd, I considered it very important to the party that there be unity in the work: and as you are already at the top and I also have my own ideas, it is better to leave you alone to direct the policy such as you understand it and I do not meddle in it…”

Rizal the radical • Galicano Apacible’s testimony (1935): • “In the famous election that lasted three days held in Madrid by the Filipino colony to elect a Responsable, a Filipino who would direct and be responsible for the Philippine policy in Europe, there were two candidates: Rizal and Marcelo H. del Pilar. Many of us who supported Rizal's candidacy did so on the conviction that Rizal was a separatist and the more radical one” (Quibuyen 2010, as cited in Alzona, 1971).

• Rizal began to assume a more radical and separatist role especially after the publication of Noli.

Disassociation from the Filipino colony • Laong Laan (Europe, October 1891, fragments of a letter: • If our countrymen are counting on us here in Europe, they are very much mistaken… we can help them with our life in our country… the battlefield is the Philippines…”

Disassociation from the Filipino colony • J. Rizal to F. Blumentritt (30 December 1891) • “Life in the Philippines has become impossible: without courtesy, without virtue, without justice! That is why I think that La Solidaridad is no longer the place to give battle; this is a new fight. I should like to follow your wishes, but I believe that it will all be in vain; the fight is no longer in Madrid. It is all a waste of time…”

Interlude in Hong Kong (1891-1892)

Interlude in Hong Kong (1891-1892) • Rizal was considering his options while in Hong Kong: a) Establishment of a Filipino colony in Sandakan, North Borneo (for evicted farmers of Calamba) b) Returning to the Philippines and the establishment of Liga Filipina

• Nonetheless, he was already convinced at this point that independence from Spain was inevitable.

Interlude in Hong Kong (1891-1892)

Interlude in Hong Kong (1891-1892) • Had Rizal toyed with the idea of a revolution while in Hong Kong? • F. Blumentritt to J. Rizal (30 January 1892) • “…not to meddle in revolutionary agitations. Because one who initiates a revolution ought at least to have the probability of success, if he does not wish to burden his conscience with useless bloodshed…”

Rizal’s homecoming is not unplanned • J. Rizal to the Filipinos (Hong Kong, 20 June 1892) • “I cannot live seeing my brothers and their large families persecuted like criminals. I prefer to face death cheerfully and gladly give my life to free so many innocent persons from unjust persecution… • I wish to show those who deny us patriotism that we know how to die for our duty and convictions… • Publish these letters after my death…”

Rizal’s blueprint on his return Exclusive group of Filipinos advocating for reforms in Spain

Incorporating more Filipinos in the reform movement by bringing the struggle to the Philippines (A requisite for independence)

Constitution and By-laws of Liga Filipina

Aims of Liga Filipina 1)

To unite the whole archipelago into one compact, vigorous, and homogenous body;

2)

Mutual protection in every want and necessity;

3)

Defense against all violence and injustice;

4)

Encouragement of instruction, agriculture, and commerce; and

5)

Study and application of reforms

Some excerpts from the statute of the Liga • “Duties • Of the members: • 2nd – To obey blindly and punctually all orders emanating from the chief of a council. • 5th – To give preferential treatment to members of Liga in all his acts; he shall not buy except in the store of a member of if he sells him something, he should give him a discount. Other things being equal, he shall always favor a fellow member. Every violation of the article shall be severely punished. • 6th – If a member who is able to help another in case of trouble or danger refuses to do so, a penalty shall be imposed on him equivalent at least to what the other has suffered.” • Of chiefs:

• 8th – The offenses of the officials are punished more severely than those of ordinary members

Pursuit of nationhood • Any individual must be instilled with moral obligation to contribute to the welfare of the society.

• “There is then individual progress or improvement in the Philippines, but there is no national, general progress” (J. Rizal to V. Garcia, 7 January 1891).

• Prior to independence… “it was necessary to be worthy, to be united, so that when the time came, we might not fall into the hands of Japan, or of England, or of Germany.” (J. Rizal, Data for my defense, 12 December 1896). • Nation-building is achieved through national unity. Hence, Rizal envisioned the Liga as an important step towards nationhood.

Rizal’s deportation and schism among Liga’s members • Liga was a short-lived society because of Rizal’s banishment to Dapitan in July 1892. • Liga was eventually dissolved to arrest the possibility of being discovered by the authorities due to the disagreements among its members. • Those former members who agreed to continue paying monthly contributions for Soli formed a group called Compromisarios, while Andres Bonifacio reorganized the Liga into Katipunan with independence as its primary objective. (See The Philippine Revolution by Apolinario Mabini (1901-1903), http://malacanang.gov.ph/8143-the-philippine-revolution-by-apolinario-mabini/)

The Liga from the words of Rizal • Excerpts from “Addition to my defense” (J. Rizal, Real Fuerza de Santiago, 26 December 1896). • “It is true that I framed its statutes. It is also true that its aims were to promote commerce, industry, the arts, etc. by means of cooperation…” • “The Liga died stillborn..” • “Liga was not a subversive organization…”

The Liga from the words of Rizal • Excerpts from “Data for my defense” (J. Rizal, 12 December 1896). • “Now if I’m to be punished or condemned for having desired the unity of my fellow countrymen, the welfare of my country, her material development, her equality as far as possible to the provinces in Spain in order not to be called colony, if this is punishable, condemn me.”