Veneration without Understanding (Renato Constantino)

• Who is Renato Constantin?


  A nationalist historian
• What was Renato Constantinos famous works?

  The Past Revisited (Vol. 1) and The Continuing Past (Vol 2); The Making of a Filipino
• What was the five arguments that Constantino proposes in his essay?


  1. Jose Rizal repudiates the Revolution
  2. Jose Rizal is an American-sponsored hero
  3. Jose Rizal is a limited Filipino
  4. Jose Rizal's goal is different from the contemporary goal of the Filipinos
  5. Jose Rizal is a historical figure
• Jose Rizal repudiates the Revolution


  • According to Constantino a hero should me first in the fight (be part of the revolution/ be in the frontlines of the revolution) but Rizal does not like the idea of a revolution.
  • Jose Rizal repudiates the August 1896 revolution
• Rizal as an American-sponsored hero


  • American colonial officials and conservative Filipinos chose Rizal among other contestants (Aguinaldo- too militant, Bonifacio- too radical, and Mabini- unregenerate.) They favored a hero who would not run against the grain of American colonial policy.
• Jose Rizal is a limited Filipino


  Rizal analyzed the society from the lens of an Ilustrado
• Rizal is a historical figure


  • We must see Rizal historically. We must view Rizal as an evolving personality within an evolving historical period.
  • THERE IS REALLY NO NEED TO EXTEND RIZAL'S MEANING SO THAT HE MAY HAVE CONTEMPORARY VALUE.
• Rizal's goal is different from the contemporary goal of the Filipinos


  • Rizal: Towards Hispanization
  • Contemporary goal: Decolonization