Position Paper: Dr.
Jose Rizal's Annotation of Antonio de Morga's
"Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas"
I. Introduction
Dr. Jose Rizal is one of the Philippines’ greatest heroes, known for his role in inspiring the
Filipino people to fight for independence from Spanish colonization. Aside from his famous
novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Rizal also made significant contributions as a
scholar. One of his most important works was his annotation of Antonio de Morga’s “Sucesos
de las Islas Filipinas”. This historical book was written in 1609 by a Spanish official, and Rizal
used it to show Filipinos that their ancestors had a rich culture and history long before the
Spanish came.
II. Rizal’s Interest in Philippine History and Culture
Rizal was very interested in Philippine history because he believed that understanding the past
was key to the country’s future. During his time, the Spanish colonizers taught Filipinos that
they were inferior and uncivilized before colonization. Rizal wanted to challenge this view and
show that Filipinos already had their own advanced systems of governance, trade, and culture.
By studying and writing about Philippine history, Rizal hoped to inspire Filipinos to take pride
in their heritage and fight for their rights.
III. Significance of Morga’s Work in Philippine History
Antonio de Morga’s “Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas” was an important book because it
provided a detailed account of life in the Philippines during the early years of Spanish
colonization. Morga was a Spanish official who witnessed events in the Philippines and
described the people, culture, and changes brought by the Spanish. Unlike most Spanish
writers, Morga was not a missionary, so his work focused more on politics and society. This
made his book one of the most objective accounts of the time. However, it still contained biases
and misrepresentations about Filipino culture, which Rizal aimed to correct.
IV. Rizal’s Purpose for Annotating Morga’s Work
Rizal annotated Morga’s work because he wanted to correct the errors and show that Filipinos
were not the “uncivilized” people the Spanish portrayed them to be. He used the book to prove
that Filipinos already had a highly developed culture before the Spanish arrived. Rizal’s goal
was to build national pride by revealing the truth about Filipino history. He wanted his fellow
Filipinos to realize that they had their own identity and heritage, which had been suppressed
by the Spanish colonizers.
V. Analysis of Rizal’s Annotations: Criticisms and Perspectives
Rizal’s annotations of Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas were detailed and critical. He pointed out
the many inaccuracies in Morga’s writing, especially where it portrayed Filipinos negatively.
For instance, Morga wrote that the Filipinos were ignorant and lacked culture. Rizal responded
by highlighting the Filipinos' advanced trading systems with China, Japan, and other Southeast
Asian nations. He also emphasized that the Filipinos had their own system of governance and
religion before the Spanish imposed their authority.
One of Rizal’s most important critiques was about the impact of Spanish colonization. While
Morga seemed to suggest that the Spanish were helping to “civilize” the Filipinos, Rizal argued
that colonization actually destroyed much of the local culture and industries. He wanted to
show that the Filipinos were better off before the Spanish arrived and that colonization did
more harm than good.
VI. Conclusion
Dr. Jose Rizal’s annotation of Antonio de Morga’s “Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas” was an
important step in reclaiming Filipino history from the biased accounts of the Spanish
colonizers. By correcting Morga’s misrepresentations, Rizal showed that Filipinos had a rich
and proud history long before the arrival of the Spanish. His work helped inspire a sense of
national identity among Filipinos, encouraging them to fight for their independence and reclaim
their culture. Rizal’s annotations remain a crucial part of his legacy as a scholar and a patriot.
References:
• Rizal, J. (1890). Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas: Por el Doctor Antonio de Morga.
Annotated edition.
• Ocampo, A. (1995). Rizal without the overcoat. Anvil Publishing.
• Schumacher, J. (1997). The Propaganda Movement, 1880-1895: The Creation of a
Filipino Consciousness. Ateneo de Manila University Press.
