Filipino Social Thinkers

• Social theorists and philosophers from across the globe have not only significantly refined our understanding of society, they have also altered the course of history through their ideas
• The same may be inferred about the Philippines' social thinkers
• Sociology was first incorporated into the Philippine educational system over a century ago
• Since then, the Philippines has produced great minds that challenged the norms and helped society improve
• Social thought in our contemporary society is still breaking away from its colonial roots and Western influences
• Sociology in the country is establishing its own tradition
• Social thinker


  A person who studies the theoretical dimensions of ideas or subjects related to society
• Isabelo de los Reyes was known as the father of Filipino socialism, founded the nation's first labor union, and promoted the creation of works about "local knowledge"
• Isabelo de los Reyes wrote articles against the abuses committed by Spanish colonizers and friars, and established the first independent church in the country called the Iglesia Filipina Independiente
• Jose Rizal was part of the Propaganda Movement that called for reforms or improvements in the Spanish rule in the Philippines
• Rizal's beliefs


  • Education can help develop a nation's collective wisdom and lead it to progress
  • Values and intelligence should be cultivated among the youth
  • Education is the key to freedom and effective governance
  • Education has the ability to liberate people from feeling inferior and being ignorant
• Rizal's idea on suffering


  Suffering is merely man-made and irrational, and can be resolved through rationalization
• The Philippine Revolution was primarily led by Andres Bonifacio, who founded the Katipunan movement
• Bonifacio's "Dekalogo"


  Upheld the values of faith, honor, charity, reason, and diligence, and emphasized the importance of doing morally righteous deeds
• Emilio Jacinto's "Kartilya"


  • Aimed to enlighten the members of the Katipunan movement of the merits of nationalism, piety, equality, and dignity
  • Focused on the superior importance of free thought or intellectual liberty over freedom of will and action or volitional liberty
• Manuel L. Quezon's political philosophies

  • Political pragmatism - prioritizing the formulation of goals and alternatives in every political endeavor
  • Social Darwinism beliefs about governance - governments do whatever they can to survive
• Quezon promoted free public education, at least at the primary levels, endorsed the use of a national language, believed the working class should be given financial help, and proposed an ethical code of good citizenry and governance and upheld social justice
• Jose P. Laurel believed that people have a "love-hate" relationship with one another, and this is the reason why moral rules exist
• Renato Constantino, Esquivel Embuscado, Cirilo Bautista, Claro R. Ceniza, and Rolando M. Gripaldo were also notable Filipino social thinkers
• Quezon took other steps that reflected his political beliefs during his governance. He promoted free public education, at least at the primary levels. He endorsed the use of a national language, although there were objections against this. He also believed that the working class should be given financial help. Most importantly, he proposed an ethical code of good citizenry and governance and upheld social justice.
• Jose P. Laurel


  Believed that people have a "love-hate" relationship with one another, which is the reason why moral rules exist. However, despite this love-hate relationship, Laurel believed in the importance of unity. Because of this, Laurel was keen on the creation of a national identity.
• Laurel promoted the creation of a national symbol and the respect of the national flag during his presidency.
• Renato Constantino


  Promoted nationalism and wrote against the American occupation. He maintained that because Filipinos have been colonized by Westerners, we have also favored anything Western instead of our own, which has become an obstacle to the progress of our country. This problem is called colonial mentality.
• Constantino believed that Filipinos will only be truly free once they have overcome the mentality of considering anything American or Western superior to our own.
• Esquivel Embuscado's art philosophy "dissectionism"

  Aims to break away from the past and instead focus on the present and its connection to the future. It focuses on dreary scenes of the present society such as war, poverty, boredom, and old age. Originality and adventurousness are of prime importance in this art philosophy.
• Cirilo Bautista


  Believed that history can be told in a way that people can relate to it. He encouraged the incorporation of Filipino history and culture in creating the "ideal poem", which he called a "rubber tower". He also encouraged Filipinos to use English, the language of American colonizers, to be confident in themselves and show their strength to others.
• Claro R. Ceniza


  Defined existence as "standing out" and "making a difference". However, he believed that one must not completely ignore something for not standing out, and used the term "subsist" to describe things that do not stand out but should not be ignored.
• Rolando Gripaldo


  Tackled the argument of free choice, believing that human beings may make their own decisions but can still be influenced by external factors. He distinguished between rational decisions, which are made after much thought, and irrational decisions, which are "unconscious" or done out of habit.
• Go


  Upheld the values of faith, honor, charity, reason, and diligence
• Emilio Jacinto


  Revolutionist who wrote the Kartilya, which taught the members of the Katipunan about self-reflection, piety, solidarity, and wisdom
• Manuel L. Quezon


  Believed that governments think of alternatives and solutions for survival, and the importance of education and financial help
• Jose P. Laurel


  Valued national unity during his presidency
• Renato Constantino


  Nationalist who believed Filipinos need to overcome colonial mentality in order to be truly free
• Esquivel Embuscado


  Known for dissectionism, an art philosophy that focuses on the present and the future
• Cirilo Bautista


  Poet and theorist who held that history can be told through poetry and other forms that people can relate to
• Claro R. Ceniza


  Philosopher who defined existence as "standing out" and "making a difference"
• Rolando M. Gripaldo


  Claimed that individuals can make decisions on their own, but they may still be affected by factors beyond their control
• Claro Ceniza believed that existence mostly lies in the ability to stand out
• Manuel Quezon upheld the scientific materialist view, which values alternatives when it comes to governmental policies and strategies
• A metaphysicist is a person who studies the theoretical dimensions of an idea or a subject