INDOLENCE OF THE

FILIPINO

Indolence of the Filipinos

La Indolencia de los Filipinos in Spanish
Indolence is defined as the disposition to be idle or, put
another way, the lack of inclination to work.
published in La Solidaridad in five installments, from
July 15 to September 15, 1890
The Indolence of the Filipinos is a study of the causes
why the people did not, as was said, work hard during
the Spanish regime.

Chapter I
In this chapter, Rizal admitted that the Filipinos were
indeed indolent.
He said that it was not because of the attributes of
the country but rather because of what the country
has experienced.
One must examine the causes of indolence, Rizal
says, before proposing a remedy.

Chapter I
Rizal then points out some factors for being indolent
which was the
CLIMATE
A hot, climate requires of the individual quiet and rest,
just as cold incites to labor and action.
An hour work under the Philippine sun is equivalent to a
days work in temperate regions.
EFFECT OF MISGOVERNMENT

Chapter II
Rizal said An illness will worsen if the wrong treatment is
given
Indolence in the Philippines is a chronic malady, but not a
hereditary one
Before the arrival of Spaniards, Malayan Filipinos raised
on an active trade, not only among themselves but also
with other neighboring countries.
Rizal ends the chapter by asking what caused the
Filipinos to forget that they are indolent

Chapter III
Reasons why the Philippines almost lost its entire
population:

Pirate attacks
Warfare between neighboring countries
Filipinos who were sold by encomenderos during
the Spanish era
Filipinos who were starved to death by Spanish
officials
Filipinos incapable of fighting the suppressive
soldiers

Chapter III
Statements:
Gaspar de San Agustin
Morga
Philip II
Rizal mentioned that these were the same reasons that
triggered the Filipinos to lose their desire to work. Their
lands were robbed and so are the innocent lives of their
loved ones.
Still they struggled a long time against indolence, yes: but
their enemies were so numerous that at last they gave up!

Chapter IV
The Spaniards did not encourage the Filipinos to do
trade which caused the neighboring trade partners of the
Philippines to be suspicious of what is becoming of the
country
Wrong teachings:
- Why work? If the rich man will not go to heaven.
- False teaching of church
- Gambling promise of sudden wealth
Discrimination on education
Businesses was monopolized by government officials

Chapter V
All causes of indolence were drawn to two major factors:
Limited training and education
Filipinos were inferior in everything the
Spaniards imposed, thus lead to being used to being
inferior.
Lack of national sentiment of unity
Filipinos were used to the fact that they are
inferior, they tend to imitate the foreign practices and
culture.
Education and liberty is the key to solve this issue.