Philippine E-Journals

El Katipunan

Rafael Palma

Discipline: History

 

Abstract:

 

In these four chapters of his Historia de Filipinas, the author describes in more detail than other historians the conditions of life in the Philippines of the 19th century, and relates the causes why Jose Rizal and other leaders of thought and action of his time had to lead the people to take their destiny in their hands.  In publishing these particular chapters at this time, the Journal has in mind to help greater understanding of the significance of the works, specially the historical novels written by Rizal, whose first centenary has just been celebrated by the Filipino Nation of which he is the Father. 

 

Se ha dicho por muchos observadores extranjeros que los filipinos y en general los malayos carecen del sentido de organizacion. La formacion del Katipunan, una sociedad patriotica que alcanzo gigantescas proporciones en varias provincias del Archipielago, parece desmentir tan supina afirmacion. El Katipunan era un modelo de organizacion secreta adecuada a las circunstancias. No solo se mantuvo en secreto por varios anos, sino que vivio del apoyo solido de las cIases populares. El hecho mismo de que los espanoles menospreciaban a los Filipinos y no creian que estos fueran capaces de unirse para un solo fin dio hasta cierto punto la medida de su exito.

Article is written in Spanish.