University of Makati

POLITICAL 101

Jose Rizal’s legacy to Filipino women is embodied in his famous essay entitled, “To the

Young Women of Malolos,” where he addresses all kinds of women – mothers, wives,

the unmarried, etc. and expresses everything that he wishes them to keep in mind.

SUMMARY

“To the Women of Malolos” was originally written in Tagalog.

Rizal penned this writing

when he was in London, in response to the request of Marcelo H. del Pilar.

The salient

points contained in this letter are as follows:

The rejection of the spiritual authority of the friars – not all of the priests in the country

that time embodied the true spirit of Christ and His Church.

Most of them were

corrupted by worldly desires and used worldly methods to effect change and force

discipline among the people.

The defense of private judgment

Qualities Filipino mothers need to possess – as evidenced by this portion of his letter,

Rizal is greatly concerned of the welfare of the Filipino children and the homes they

grow up in.

Duties and responsibilities of Filipino mothers to their children

Duties and responsibilities of a wife to her husband – Filipino women are known to be

submissive, tender, and loving.

Rizal states in this portion of his letter how Filipino

women ought to be as wives, in order to preserve the identity of the race.

Counsel to young women on their choice of a lifetime partner