Indio:Bravo//

Diario de Filipinas: EXCLUSIVE: Colonial authorities refuse to publish Rizal's Manifesto

If blogging entered the late 19th century Philippines, you’d probably encounter this. Imagine steampunk-ized internet. History unfolds once again as we end the year 2011, the 150th birth anniversary of Jose Rizal. There is also a last-days-of-Rizal trending on twitter. In a snap, we have been part of history once again.

diariodefilipinas:

Fort Santiago, Manila - where Dr. Jose Rizal is being held prisoner. (Photo by Arnaldo Dumindin)

Manila, Philippine Islands - Diario de Filipinas has gathered from reliable sources that the Spanish authorities have refused to publish a manifesto from condemned mestizo writer and social critic, Dr. Jose Rizal. The manifesto, written last December 15, exhorted indios led by Andres Bonifacio of Manila and Emilio Aguinaldo of Cavite to lay down their arms and end the rebellion.

In the manifesto, Rizal disavowed any involvement with the rebellion by Bonifacio and Aguinaldo, although he is aware that his name is being used by these armed groups to solicit funds and gain support from the rest of the indios, the mestizos and even some erring subjects of the Crown. Rizal admits that he was consulted by the leaders of the rebellion, but he also added that he advised against it.

Rizal also said that he was willing to offer his professional services as a physician to those who had suffered as a result of the hostilities, if only to prove his condemnation of the rebellion. He also said that the rebellion was barbarous and ridiculous.

But in the same document, Rizal said that the rebellion is not the best means of working for reforms in the Philippine Islands in its current state. He said that the general population in the islands must first be educated, if they are to ensure the attainment of the needed changes in the governance of the islands.

It was this last part of Rizal’s pronouncements that made Judge Advocate General Nicolas de la Peña, wary of making the manifesto public. De la Peña said that Rizal “limits himself to criticizing the present insurrectionary movement as premature… [But] as far as Rizal is concerned, the whole question is one of opportunity, not of principles and objectives.” The judge advocate general added that the manifesto was nothing but a call for indios like Bonifacio and Aguinaldo to postpone the rebellion and not end it.

Diario de Filipinas tried to schedule an interview with Rizal concerning the manifesto, but the authorities have refused the request. Rizal’s lawyer, Lt. Taviel de Andrade was also contacted, but he refused to comment on the issue.