Letter To The Young Women of Malolos

Letter to the
YOUNG WOMEN OF
MALOLOS
Presented by: GROUP 5
Filipino women's struggles have always been
entwined with the larger, more universal struggles
for social justice and independence. Throughout
the Spanish period, women fought colonialism
alongside the underground resistance movement,
Katipunan. They fought with the men and
learned a lot about politics and how to do things.
Women were able to break free of the traditional
roles (i.e. homemaker and caregiver) that had been
imposed on them by the patriarchal Spanish
regime
Despite a paucity of literature on the achievements
of the masses of women to the revolution against
Spain, some accounts show that women did play
important roles in that period of Philippine history.
"To the Young Women of Malolos," one of Jose
Rizal's most famous essays, is dedicated to all
types of women—mothers, wives, the
unmarried, and so on—and conveys everything
he desires them to bare in mind as they go about
their daily lives
A group of young women wanted to set up an evening
school where they could learn Spanish in December
1888. The women claimed that their inability to
attend day classes at Manila's educational
institutions was due to their domestic responsibilities.
As a result of their actions, the nationalists' hopes
had been boosted. When Jose Rizal saw the young
women of Malolos fighting so bravely, he was deeply
moved. For him, the battle was an occasion to
celebrate and reflect on their accomplishments. This
section of Rizal's letter makes it clear that his main
objective was for women to have equal access to
education as men.
At the time, young girls were not sent
to school due to the widespread belief
that they would soon be taken as wives
and remain at home with the children.
But Rizal says that both boys and girls
should be able to have the right to
think freely and to go to school.
As a liberal feminist, Rizal sees women as having the power
to make or break a nation. If they are irrational people
they can make an irrational society if they have been
indoctrinated with ideas that make them think they are
smarter than they are. They can, however, build a rational
society when left to their own devices by the Church.
In Rizal's view, a woman not only builds a family and
home, but also a nation because she is the seedbed of
humanity—she bears and gives birth, feeds and educates.
Even if wives are expected to stay at home and care for
their families, Rizal believed that they should have the
opportunity to receive an education that would help them
gain their own independence and a better understanding of
their own rights. What a mother demonstrates to her
children determines who they will become.
Another salient points contained in
this letter are as follows:
THE REJECTION OF THE SPIRITUAL
AUTHORITY OF THE FRIARS
not all of the priests in the country that time DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF
embodied the true spirit of Christ and His Church. FILIPINO MOTHERS TO THEIR
Most of them were corrupted by worldly desires and CHILDREN
used worldly methods to effect change and force
discipline among the people.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A
THE DEFENSE OF PRIVATE WIFE TO HER HUSBAND
Filipino women are known to be submissive,
JUDGMENT tender, and loving. Rizal states in this portion of
his letter how Filipino women ought to be as wives,
QUALITIES FILIPINO MOTHERS in order to preserve the identity of the race.
NEED TO POSSESS
as evidenced by this portion of his letter, COUNSEL TO YOUNG WOMEN ON
Rizal is greatly concerned of the welfare
THEIR CHOICE OF A LIFETIME
of the Filipino children and the homes
they grow up in.
PARTNER
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF
FILIPINO MOTHERS TO THEIR
CHILDREN
Rizal stipulates a number of important points in this portion of
his letter to the young women of Malolos. The central idea here,
however, is that whatever a mother shows to her children is
what the children will become also. If the mother is
always kissing the hand of the friars in submission, then her
children will grow up to be sycophants and mindless fools who
do nothing but do as they are told, even if the very nature of
the task would violate their rights as individuals.
QUALITIES MOTHERS HAVE TO
POSSESS
Rizal enumerates the qualities Filipino
mothers have to possess:
1. Be a noble wife.
2. Rear her children in the service of
the state – here Rizal gives reference to
the women of Sparta who embody this
quality
3. Set standards of behavior for men
around her.
RIZAL’S ADVICE TO
UNMARRIED MEN AND
WOMEN
Jose Rizal points out to unmarried women that they should not
be easily taken by appearances and looks, because these
can be very deceiving. Instead, they should take heed of men’s
firmness of character and lofty ideas. Rizal further adds
that there are three things that a young woman must look for
a man she intends to be her husband:
1. A noble and honored name
2. A manly heart
3. A high spirit incapable of being satisfied with
engendering slaves.
Conclusion:
“TO THE WOMEN OF MALOLOS” CENTERS AROUND
FIVE SALIENT POINTS (ZAIDE &ZAIDE, 1999):
1. Filipino mothers should teach their children love of God,

country and fellowmen.
2. Filipino mothers should be glad and honored, like Spartan
mothers, to offer their sons in defense of their country.
3. Filipino women should know how to protect their dignity and
honor.
4. Filipino women should educate themselves aside from retaining
their good racial values.
5. Faith is not merely reciting prayers and wearing religious
pictures. It is living the real Christian way with good morals
and manners.
Thank you for
listening!
DON'T HESITATE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS!

Letter To The Young Women of Malolos

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Letter To The Young Women of Malolos

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Letter To The Young Women of Malolos

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Letter to the

1. Filipino mothers should teach their children love of God,

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.