1. What are the civil rights not available to the Filipino people during the time Propaganda was
organized?
Civil rights guarantee equal social opportunities and equal protection under the law,
regardless of race, religion, or other personal characteristics and these basic human rights were not
given to Filipino under the Spanish regime, which led them to uprise to bring consciousness on
the government about social, political, ethical and cultural issues they are facing.
The Filipino people were deprived of equal treatment before the law because many of them
were arrested without due process and persecuted if they are against the government. They also do
not have the opportunity to enter into government service, instead, they forced them to do labor
and to sell local products to the government imposing them with higher taxes. Education was only
given to the privileged and learning is only limited because friars control the school system.
Moreover, during the time Propaganda Movements were organized, Filipinos seek for individual
liberties such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assembly and freedom for
action on all complaints. These freedoms must be inherent among people but it turned to be the
other way around because they are being ignored and manipulated because the way how our
ancestors speak and move were controlled by the Spaniards. After all, this liberty to do so if the
foundation of all government and if it is taken away from its people, tyranny will just flourish.
These prejudices against them imply that Filipino people were seen as nothing because
they turn a blind eye to the pain of those suffering under its oppression, and the cycle never ends
if no one dares to stand up. Until then, they realized to fight back because we should not be slaves
of our own land, and justice and equality must uphold no matter what it takes and how it costs.
2. What are the values we gained out of the establishment of Propaganda Movement?
The Propagandists embodied the values of patriotism, love and selflessness, courage and
resiliency because they were the flag-wavers who waged their movement using pen and tongue to
expose the defects of Spanish rule in the Philippines and the urgency of reforms to remedy them.
These values were meant to be left in us so that history of oppression will not repeat itself, and we
needed to fight back if we feel that we are deprived of our rights and freedom.
They are patriots and we must do the same by fighting for the sovereignty of our land – to
be not an underdog of other countries, to not sell our natural resources and people to them, and to
not be afraid of the giants even if how they intimidate us because a true warrior will not fall easily
to the sweet promises of the enemy because we must be willing to risk our life in defense of our
country.
They show true love with one another by supporting the civic movements to free the society
from the plights of the invaders. Even if there are misunderstanding and traitors, winnings and
failures, this does not discredit the fact that they strive not for themselves, but for the people of the
Philippines and its future generations. This is tantamount to being a brother and sister because we
should turn our backs to one another when abuse, injustices and oppression kill our families.
They are courageous and resilient and these two values must always be upheld in times of
difficulties because if we show weakness, people will step down on us – and we must learn to bout
back and preserve our dignity as human beings. The Propagandists, despite the intrinsic roads they
partake, still stood on their feet to get the liberty and rights they deserve; and we must do the same
– to endure the pain because at the end, victory is ours.
We must instill these values up to present because we are the caretaker of our land and we
must do everything just to protect her from any mischievous people. After all, this is our land and
we have total rights to it before the other countries.