Rizal’s Letter to the Women of Malolos

Dr. Jose Rizal

The Women of Malolos

Elisea T. Reyes (1873-1969)

Juana T. Reyes (1874-1900)

Leoncia S. Reyes (1864-1948)

Olympia S.A. Reyes (1876-1910)

Rufina T. Reyes (1869-1909)

Eugenia M. Tanchangco (1871-1969)

Aurea M. Tanchangco (1872-1958)

Basilia V. Tantoco (1865-1925)

Teresa T. Tantoco (1867-1942)

Maria T. Tantoco (1869-1912)

Anastacia M. Tiongson (1874-1940)

Basilia R. Tiongson (ca. 1860-ca. 1900)

Paz R. Tiongson (ca. 1862-1889)

Aleja R. Tiongson (ca.1865-ca.1900)

Mercedes R. Tiongson (1869-1928)

Agapita R. Tiongson (1870-1937)

Filomena O. Tiongson (ca. 1865-1930)

Cecilia O. Tiongson (ca. 1867-1934)

Feliciana O. Tiongson (1869-1938)

Alberta S. Uitangcoy (1865-1953)

Symbol:

The yellow roses symbolist a Love, Purity, and Peace to the Women of Malolos . They also show that education is important to each person .. and all Filipinos have a hidden talent and ability to raise the living

BACKGROUND

“To the Young Women of Malolos” is an essay written by Jose Rizal while he was in London upon the request of Marcelo H. Del Pilar

December 12, 1888, a group of 20 young women of Malolos petitioned Governor-General Weyler for permission to open a night school so that they might study Spanish under Teodoro Sandiko

Fr. Felipe Garcia objected their plan so, the governor-general turned down the petition.

However, the women still continued their petition of the school and they succeeded in obtaining government approval in a condition that Señorita Guadalupe Reyes should be their teacher.

Del Pilar (who was in Barcelona) wrote to Rizal (who was in London) on February 17, 1889, requesting to send a letter in Tagalog to the brave women of Malolos.

Rizal sent the letter to Del Pilar on February 22, 1889 for transmittal to Malolos

Summary

Rizal pays homage to 20 women of Malolos who desire to educate themselves

In this way, Rizal sees in these women a ray of hope in restoring the Filipino women’s dignity and worth

Rizal emphasizes the importance of Filipino mothers

Rizal refers to different women in society: mothers, daughters, wives and even the unmarried ones.

Responsibilities of Filipino mothers to their children

There are many points mentioned in this portion of Rizal’s letter, but the central idea is:

Whatever the mother shows to her children is what the children

will also become

Rizal’s advice to unmarried men and women

Appearance and looks can be very deceiving

Three things that young women should look for a man she intends to be her husband:

A noble and honored name

A manly heart

A high spirit incapable of being satisfied with engendering slaves

Analysis

“To the Women of Malolos” centers around five salient points (Zaide & Zaide, 1999):

1. Filipino mothers should teach their children about the 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.

Relevance in today’s society

There are often times that mothers forget their roles to their children because of the overriding idea of having to earn enough money to help the father sustain the family’s needs

Activism of the Feminist groups in our country (e.g. Gabriella)

Source:

http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2011/08/to-young-women-of-malolos-summary-and.html