The Philippines: A Century Hence

This book, which was published in La Solidaridad as a series in four parts between September 30, 1889, and February 1, 1890, contains José Rizal's predictions on the possible future of the Philippines within a hundred years (Rizal was executed in 1896 by the Spanish government), formulated on then present conditions and circumstances. Rizal notes several possibilities: that the Philippines would stay a Spanish colony provided its citizens receive not only the rights and privileges of citizens of the Spanish crown, but also the inherent rights of a human being; that the Philippines would inevitably rise in revolt against Spain if continuously exploited and abused, citing several historical events as examples; and that the Philippines might be conquered by other nations after Spain's presence in the country is extinguished. Rizal also explains the various factors contributing to every possibility, and how the Filipino/Malayan psyche might exacerbate or mitigate these factors.