According to Ileto, there are three main ways in which Rizal's writings contributed to the development of Philippine nationalism:
1) Rizal's work helped to create a sense of a shared Filipino identity. By writing about the shared history and culture of the Filipino people, Rizal helped to create a sense of unity and common purpose among Filipinos that had previously been lacking.
2) Rizal's writings helped to delegitimize Spanish colonialism by exposing its abuses and injustices, Rizal provided Filipinos with a more critical understanding of the Spanish colonial regime and its negative impact on Philippine society.
3) Rizal's writings helped to inspire Filipinos to fight for independence from Spain. By providing a vision of a free and independent Philippines, Rizal helped to motivate Filipinos to take action against Spanish colonialism and to fight for their freedom.
In addition to these three main contributions, Ileto also argues that Rizal's writings had a broader impact on Philippine society and culture. For example, he argues that Rizal's writings helped to promote the development of a Filipino literature and to lay the foundation for the development of a more democratic and egalitarian society in the Philippines.
Overall, Ileto's book provides a compelling argument for the importance of Rizal's writings in the development of Philippine nationalism and in the shaping of Philippine history more generally. By providing a close reading of Rizal's works, Ileto demonstrates that Rizal was not only a great writer, but also an important political thinker and a key figure in the development of the Philippine nation.