José Rizal and the Question of Philippine Independence

Abstract

The Philippines’ primary national hero is undoubtedly José Rizal. His role in shaping Philippine identity and nationhood is unquestionable. It is also little disputed that, although Rizal enjoyed considerable fame and respect in his lifetime, the US colonial administration had significantly contributed to his reputation as a national hero. Following the Spanish-American War, the victorious new colonial authorities’ first impressions of Rizal, who had been executed a few years earlier in 1896, were that he was a moderate, anti-revolutionary reformer. As a result of American propaganda, it soon became the generally accepted view that Rizal not only opposed the revolution but also supported assimilation with Spain. However, from the 1960s onwards, more and more people began to question this assertion. The primary aim of the study is to examine Rizal’s views on independence and revolution in depth, based primarily on his published writings and surviving correspondence.