GEd 103 Module 11: Rizal as a Nationalist

Nationalism

An extreme love of one's country accompanied by all its inhabitants, reflecting a profound state of awareness that a distinct nation exists whose members owe allegiance to the nation rather than a tribe, clan, region, or political entity.

Nationalist

An individual who strongly and actively identifies with their own nation.

Democracy

A constitutional form of government in which all governing powers are shared comprehensively by the citizens, derived from the Greek word Demos meaning "people".

Demos

The Greek root word for democracy, which translates directly to "people".

Rizal's Definition of Nationalism

A unified national sentiment whose absence leads to a lack of collective opposition to harmful measures, a lack of civic initiative, and a weak, sluggish population.

Hans Kohn's Definition of Nationalism

First and foremost a specific state of mind and an intentional act of consciousness striving toward homogeneous group awareness, social conformity, and shared civic action.

John Schumacher's Definition of Nationalism

The premise that a political revolution fundamentally presupposes a population possessing a clear consciousness of its own unique identity and unity as a nation.

George Orwell's Definition of Nationalism

The constant habit of identifying oneself closely with a single nation and recognizing no other primary duty than that of advancing its specific interests.

Family Encyclopedia Definition of Nationalism

The collective desire of the constituent members of a nation to completely govern themselves and aggressively protect internal interests at the expense of outsiders.

Primacy of Native Language

An early factor in Rizal's nationalism emphasizing the absolute importance of the Tagalog language and its powerful impact upon Philippine identity.

Anti-Clerical Critique

An early developmental factor of Rizal's nationalism characterized by being openly and boldly critical of the abuses and overbearing influence of the Spanish friars.

Defense of Civic Liberties

An early factor in Rizal's nationalism focused on actively defending Filipino civil rights against colonial discrimination.

The Power of the Pen

An early factor in Rizal's nationalism driven by the discovery that the written word serves as a potent weapon to expose social ills and awaken public consciousness.

Gradualism

The strategic concept of nationalistic development rooted in education, self-transformation, and structural reform before engaging in an active revolution.

Sa Aking Mga Kabata

A baseline Tagalog poem written originally in 1869, widely attributed to an eight-year-old José Rizal, which focuses entirely on the love of one's native language.

mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda

The famous warning line from Sa Aking Mga Kabata asserting that an individual who does not love his own native tongue is worse than a brute beast or a stinking fish.

El Amor Patrio

An emotional essay authored by Rizal shortly after arriving in Barcelona in 1882, holding the distinction of being his very first article written for a Manila periodical.

Noli Me Tangere

Rizal's 1887 novel whose title translates to "Touch Me Not," designed to meticulously expose the deep sufferings of Filipinos under Spanish rule and break the silence caused by fear.

El Filibusterismo

The 1891 sequel to Noli Me Tangere translating to "The Reign of Greed," written in strict dedication to the three martyred secular priests of GOMBURZA to bring political truth to society.

Urban Center Friction

The historical socioeconomic relationship between the capital city of Manila, the Spanish central government, and the Catholic Church that helped ignite the Philippine Revolution.

Tenuous State-Church Relations

The fragile, highly conflict-prone operational relationship between the powerful Spanish friars and the colonial civil government.

Chinese Mestizo Factor

The economic and social rise of Chinese mestizos who entered the commercial sector as merchants and emerged as dedicated champions of Filipino national identity.

Backwater Nationalism

The localized, highly developed form of political awareness and governance exemplified by Rizal's Calamba agrarian struggles and Bonifacio's early Katipunan vision.

Leon Ma. Guerrero Assessment

The historical evaluation explicitly stressing that Rizal was not merely the "First Filipino," but the absolute primary mover of nationalism across the entire continent of Asia.