MOST of the writings of Gen. Emilio Jacinto that we know of came into the possession of historians Epifanio de los Santos and his son, José P. Santos, but one of his essays fell into the hands of the Spanish authorities and was subsequently found at the Archivo General Militar de Madrid.
More than a call to action, it is a summary of Philippine history similar to Andres Bonifacio’s “Ang Dapat Mabatid ng mga Tagalog” (What the Tagalogs Should Know) that also employs the “liwanag-dilim-liwanag” (from light to darkness to light) narrative, or what historian Zeus Salazar calls “the tripartite view of Philippine history.” It was our answer to the two-part (bipartite) history of the Spaniards, where they tell us that we were barbarians before colonizing us and giving us a marvelous culture and civilization (from darkness to light narrative). It opens with a description of the situation at that time, in so much darkness. Searching for the valor of our ancestors before colonialism, like those of Lapulapu, the datu of Mactan, who vanquished Magellan in 1521, and Manila’s Last King, Rajah Soliman, who resisted the Spanish in 1570 before giving up after a year. It was a wake-up call to end the darkness and usher in the era of light and freedom. Although it underscores that it can only happen if we find ourselves united in true brotherhood and not in relying on leaders who benefit from our suffering. That we should destroy what makes us suffer. So much to chew on even for our time today.
The handwritten manuscript was dated Oct. 23, 1895, under the alias “J. Aging.” The title of the essay was “Wake up, Tagalogs!!” Here are some excerpts as translated by the historian Jim Richardson:
"For more than three hundred years — an amazing length of time!... we have been in darkness, the horrifying dark night of slavery!
“... Ay! Seeing your situation makes the heart burst, the eyes cloud over, the blood seethe, and the righteous breast fill with ardent desire. Is that not so, brothers? Or will you remain blind and enslaved?
“Where now is the blood of Kalipulako, the defiant ruler of Mactan, who killed the traitor Magellan?
“... Forward! Forward, my country and awake! Arise, open your eyes, and look about you, my unfortunate people!
"Do you see those who are exposed to the heat of the afternoon sun; who are soaked by the rain, and who with the drops of their sweat and the fatigue of their exhausted bodies raise from the earth the harvest that gives life to everyone and gives comfort to those whose spirits are low? They are Tagalogs...
"... Wherever you turn your eyes, nothing is to be seen but Tagalogs who are poor and Spaniards who are rich; Tagalogs who are enslaved and Spaniards who are enslavers!
“... But here we shall stop, let a heavy curtain be drawn over these desolate truths, and turn our thoughts to the best remedy... ‘What on earth are you thinking? We shall achieve nothing. We have no unity.’ This will be your immediate answer, without letting me finish what I want to say. You lament there is no unity, which suggests that you want unity. But you are mistaken; but we shall be truly mistaken. Do you believe that words are enough, that an aspiration is enough? If you just say you will move forward; if you just have the desire to move forward, does it mean you actually will move forward? Does it mean that you actually will reach your destination? Deeds, deeds and deeds! If you do not have the courage to act, the unity of which you speak is perhaps a lie that conceals your cowardliness; the unity that you desire is a dream that belies your weak resolve...
"What are you waiting for? Are you waiting for them to take pity on you, and decide compassionately to grant you your rights? Are you waiting for them to do this, they who live because you die, they who prosper because you live in poverty; they who are masters because you are slaves?
"... You are all true brothers; one is the blood that runs through your veins; one the country of your birth; one the sun under which you opened your eyes and which gave warmth to your body; one your grief and humiliation. Why not, therefore, unite your resolve and thoughts in order also to make one your strength, so that nobody will dare to insult and trample on your sacred rights?
“... Too many afflictions already! No more suffering! No more cruelty! Only women and babies would bear these things; men who have integrity and honor will fight and die...! You, Tagalogs, mobilize, fight and learn how to die!”
Jacinto's kind of woke is not the self-righteous type but one who was empathic to his fellowmen, understanding their plight and trying to convince them by letting them find their inner strength and power.
