Rizal’s Leer to the Young Women of Malolos * Wrien by Rizal on the 17th of February, 1889 when he was in Europe. * A long leer wrien in Tagalog to the young women of Malolos in compliance to Marcelo H. Del Pilar’s request while Rizal was annotang Morga’s book. * Addressed to 20 courageous young women of Malolos for their perseverance to pursue the establishment of a night school where they can study Spanish. “Based on accounts, on 12 December 1888, 20 young women from Malolos peoned Governor- General Weyler for the establishment of a “night school” to study Spanish under Teodoro Sandiko, a professor of Lan. However, Fr. Felipe Garcia, the Spanish parish priest, objected to the peon, prompng the governor-general to dismiss the peon. Unperturbed, the young women connued with their clamor (for the establishment of the school) and eventually received permission to open their school on certain condions. First, the women were required to fund the school themselves since the government refused to. Second, their teacher would be Guadalupe Reyes rather than Sandico, who had been blacklisted by the friar-curate of Malolos. Third, the classes would have to be held in the day and not at night, probably due to the associaon of nighme gatherings with subversive meengs. The school remained open for three months and was closed down on May 10, 1889.” 1st and 2nd paragraph * Rizal starts his leer by pondering on the lack of courage of young women in the Philippines. * Stated that he only knew a few women of our country who fits his ideals. * Since news came to Spain, Rizal was delighted that his ideals of a young woman are met. * Admied that he did not know the town of Malolos and its young women, except for one named Emilia who he only knew by name. 3rd paragraph * The confidence in Rizal that the country would achieve victory was restored. * Confident that the Filipino woman would no longer bow her head to every unjust order, to smile at an insult, to seek solace in humble tears. * Quesoned the teachings of priests including prolonged kneeling, long prayers, large rosaries, soiled scapulars. * Believed that God created all men equal with his own mind, conscience and will – unchained and free. * Wrote an example for the young women to reflect on – a father who gave each his sons a lamp to light their way in the darkness. To not depend on the light of others but help one another, seek other’s counsel in the search for the way. 4th paragraph * Considered someone who wants to dominate other’s will as arrogant. * More arrogant is he who poses as God as if he knew every manifestaon of God’s will and blasphemous is he who aributes to God everything he says and desires making his personal enemies the enemies of God. * Rizal said that no one should depend on his self alone. One should seek advice, listen to others but in the end, should be able to comprehend and follow what is most reasonable.