CHAPTER X

LITERARY WORKS

THE MAIN THRUST OF THIS CHAPTER IS THE LEGACY OF RIZAL IN

LITERATURE,WHICH REVEALS HIS INTENSE NATIONALISM AND PERSONAL
IDEOLOGY. HE WROTE POEMS AND ESSAYS ON EDUCATION AND RELIGION,
AMONG OTHER TOPICS AND FOR HIS COUNTRY, THE PHILIPPINES.
SA AKING MGA KABATA
TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH
THROUGH EDUCATION THE COUNTRY RECEIVES LIGHT
THE INTIMATE ALLIANCE BETWEEN RELIGION AND GOOD EDUCATION
TO THE CHILD JESUS
TO THE VIRGIN MARY
MEMORIES OF MY TOWN
HYMN TO LABOR
KUNDIMAN
THEY ASKED ME FOR VERSES
TO MY MUSE
TO THE FLOWERS OF HEIDELBERG
TO JOSEPHINE
THE SONG OF THE TRAVELER
SONG OF MARIA CLARA
HYMN TO TALISAY
MY RETREAT
MY LAST FAREWELL

SA AKING MGA KABATA

IS APOEMABOUT THE LOVE OF ONE'S NATIVE LANGUAGE WRITTEN INTAGALOG.
IT IS WIDELY ATTRIBUTED TO THE FILIPINONATIONAL HEROJOS RIZAL, WHO
SUPPOSEDLY WROTE IT IN 1869 AT THE AGE OF EIGHT. THE POEM WAS WIDELY
TAUGHT IN PHILIPPINE SCHOOLS TO POINT OUT RIZAL'S PRECOCIOUSNESS AND
EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF HIS NATIONALISTIC IDEALS.
A PASSAGE OF THE POEM OFTEN PARAPHRASED ASANG HIND MARUNONG
MAGMAHAL SA SARILING WIK, MASAHOL PA SA HAYOP AT MALANSANG ISD.
IS WIDELY QUOTED TO PROMOTE THE USE OF TAGALOG AMONG FILIPINOS. IT IS
ENCOUNTERED MOST FREQUENTLY DURING THEBUWAN NG WIKA('LANGUAGE
MONTH'), A COMMEMORATION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
FILIPINO LANGUAGEAS THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE OF THE PHILIPPINES.

TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH

A LA JUVENTUD FILIPINAIS APOEMWRITTEN INSPANISHBYFILIPINOWRITER ANDNATIONAL HEROJOS RIZAL, FIRST PRESENTED
IN 1879 INMANILA, WHILE HE WAS STUDYING AT THEUNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS.
"A LA JUVENTUD FILIPINA" WAS WRITTEN BY RIZAL WHEN HE WAS ONLY EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD, AND WAS DEDICATED TO THE FILIPINO
YOUTH.
IN THE POEM RIZAL PRAISES THE BENEFITS THAT SPAIN HAD BESTOWED UPON THE PHILIPPINES. RIZAL HAD FREQUENTLY DEPICTED
THE RENOWNED SPANISH EXPLORERS, GENERALS AND KINGS IN THE MOST PATRIOTIC MANNER. HE HAD PICTURED EDUCATION
(BROUGHT TO THE PHILIPPINES BY SPAIN) AS "THE BREATH OF LIFE INSTILLING CHARMING VIRTUE". HE HAD WRITTEN OF ONE OF HIS
SPANISH TEACHERS AS HAVING BROUGHT "THE LIGHT OF THE ETERNAL SPLENDOR".
IN THIS POEM, HOWEVER, IT IS THE FILIPINO YOUTH WHO ARE THE PROTAGONISTS, WHOSE "PRODIGIOUS GENIUS" MAKING USE OF
THAT EDUCATION TO BUILD THE FUTURE, WAS THE "BELLA ESPERANZA DE LA PATRIA MIA!" (BEAUTIFUL HOPE OF THE MOTHERLAND).
SPAIN, WITH "PIOUS AND WISE HAND" OFFERED A "CROWN'S RESPLENDENT BAND, OFFERS TO THE SONS OF THIS INDIAN LAND."
THE POEM WAS PRESENTED IN 1879 INMANILAAT A LITERARY CONTEST HELD IN THE MANILA LYCEUM OF ART AND LITERATURE, A
SOCIETY OF LITERARY MEN AND ARTISTS, WHERE HE WON THE FIRST PRIZE, COMPOSED OF A FEATHER-SHAPED SILVER PEN AND A
DIPLOMA.

THROUGH EDUCATION THE COUNTRY

RECEIVES LIGHT
THIS POEM PROVED THAT HE VALUED EDUCATION SO MUCH THAT MAY GIVE
THE POWER OF THE COUNTRY TO SURVIVE FROM ANY FORCESIN THE
STRUGGLES OF SOCIETAL FREEDOM . THROUGH EDUCATION, IT CREATES
THE VIRTUE OF POWER TO HUMAN RACE. THIS GIVES SECURITY AND PEACE
TO THE MOTHERLAND AS THE FILIPINOS WOULD LEARN THE SCIENCES AND
ARTS AS THE BASIS TO CALM DOWN THE LIFE OF THE SOCIETY.
IN THE POEM #THROUGH EDUCATION THE COUNTRY RECEIVES LIGHT

THE INTIMATE ALLIANCE BETWEEN

RELIGION AND GOOD EDUCATION
THE INTIMATE ALLIANCE BETWEEN
RELIGION AND GOOD EDUCATION BY: DR. JOSE P. RIZAL IN 1876, RIZAL WROTE POEMS ON
VARIOUS TOPICS - RELIGION,
EDUCATION, CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
AND WAR. RIZAL WROTE THIS POEM DURING THE
SUMMER OF APRIL 1876, BEFORE ENTERING HIS
FIFTH YEAR IN ATENEO MUNICIPAL IN JUNE. "EDUCATION WITHOUT GOD IS NOT TRUE EDUCATION." AS THE CLIMBING IVY OVER LOFTY ELM
CREEPS TORTUOUSLY, TOGETHER THE ADORNMENT
OF THE VERDANT PLAIN, EMBELLISHING
EACH OTHER AND TOGETHER GROWING,
BUT SHOULD THE KINDLY ELM REFUSE ITS AID
THE IVY WOULD IMPOTENT AND FRIENDLESS WITHER;
SO IS EDUCATION TO RELIGION
BY SPIRITUAL ALLIANCE FIRMLY BOUND.
THROUGH RELIGION, EDUCATION GAINS RENOWN, AND
WOE TO THE IMPIOUS MIND THAT BLINDLY SPURNING
THE SAPIENT TEACHINGS OF RELIGION, THIS
UNPOLLUTED FOUNTAINHEAD FORSAKES.
THE INTIMATE ALLIANCE BETWEEN RELIGION AND GOOD EDUCATION
RIZAL SHARED HIS THOUGHT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION TO ENLIGHTEN THE NATION WHICH WAS USEFUL TO GAIN SOCIETAL
FREEDOM FOR EVERY NATION. IT MAY ALSO PROVIDE US THE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ATTITUDE TO EXPAND THE HORIZON OF
OUR THOUGHTS. HOWEVER, THIS WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO BE PROPERLY EDUCATED. RIZAL THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS REALLY AN
INTIMATE ALLIANCE BETWEEN RELIGION AND GOOD EDUCATION.

TO THE CHILD JESUS

WHY HAVE YOU COME TO EARTH,
CHILD-GOD, IN A POOR MANGER?
DOES FORTUNE FIND YOU A STRANGER
FROM THE MOMENT OF YOUR BIRTH?

Alas, of heavenly stock

now turned an earthly resident!
Do you not wish to be president
but the shepherd of your flock?
was written in Spanish by Jose Rizal in 1875 at the
age of 14. The poem is an octave real or a short
poem with eight verses only which was actually
according to the Spanish standard of writing
poems.
religious poem

TO THE VIRGIN MARY

THIS WAS THE FIRST SAD SONNET POEM OF RIZAL ENTITLED TO THE VIRGIN
MARY AS HE PROVIDED ABOUT HIS DEEP RELIGIOUS BELIEF ON HIS PAINFUL
EXPERIENCES IN HIS TEENAGE LIFE. HIS DEEP COMPASSION ON RELIGION
MAY SHOW THE LOVE AND CARE OF THE VIRGIN MARY. RIZAL BELIEVED THE
POWER OF PRAYER THROUGH THE VIRGIN MARY. THE SUFFERINGS,
DEPRIVATIONS AND SUPPRESSIONS OCCURRED IN LIFE MAY BE BEST
ADDRESSED THROUGH PRAYER OF THE VIRGIN MARY TO PROVIDE PEACE,
LOVE, HOPE AND TRANQUILLITY EVEN AT THE PEAK OF HUMAN MISERY.

MEMORIES OF MY TOWN BY JOSE. RIZAL

BASED ON MY INTERPRETATION, IT IS A POEM IN WHICH HIS MEMORIES OF A LIFE AS A CHILD WERE
IDYLLIC AND REPRESENT THE LOVE OF NATURE AND FAMILY. THIS POEM TELLS ABOUT SOMEONE WHO
LIVES THE CHAOS OF THE MODERN WORLD TO BE A LONE AND REFLECT ON NATURE. THEN AS HE SITS
HE IS OVER COME WITH A SUDDEN MEMORY OF ALL THE THINGS HE SAW AS GRIEF, HE REALIZE THAT
THEY WERE WHAT THEY WERE AND IT IS HIS CHOICE TO SEE THEM AS HE ONCE DID.

THE FACT ON HIS POEM IS THE BEAUTY OF NATURE. HE WILL ALWAYS RECOGNIZE THE PLACE
WHERE HE LIVED.WE ALL KNOW, THE NATURE IS THE ONE THING THAT CAN GIVE HAPPINESS. MOREOVER,
RIZAL REMINISCES OF HIS CHILDHOOD DAYS, AS HE WRITES THAT POEM. HE SOMEHOW WISHES HE
COULD REWIND THE TIME AND SPEND MORE DAYS DOING WHAT HE USED TO DO, BEING WITH THE
PEOPLE HE USED TO BE WITH, AND FEELING THE SENSATIONS HE FELT AS A BOY. HE WANTS HIS
INNOCENCE BACK, AND THE GREAT FEELING OF PRAYING TO GOD ALMIGHTY WITH A LITTLE CHILD'S FAITH
WHICH IS BELIEVED TO BE THE PUREST OF ALL HEARTS.

HYMN TO LABOR
IN THE MEN'S CHORUS OF THE HYMN, THE GROUP CALLS FOR THEIR FELLOWS TO GO OUT INTO THE
FIELDS AND TILL THE LAND. THE MEN SAY THAT THEIR LABOR WILL SUSTAIN THE PHILIPPINES AND
THAT THEY MUST OVERCOME ALL ODDS, SUCH AS THE HOT RAYS OF THE SUN AND BACK-BREAKING
WORK, IN ORDER TO DO SO.
THE WOMEN'S STANZA OF THE HYMN SUPPORTS AND FORTIFIES THE MEN'S WILL TO WORK. THE
WOMEN'S CHORUS SAYS THAT THE MEN SHOULD "GO TO WORK WITH SPIRITS HIGH" BECAUSE THE
WOMEN ARE AT HOME WATCHING OVER THE HOUSE AND THE CHILDREN. THE WOMEN ARE TASKED
WITH TEACHING THEIR CHILDREN TO LOVE "VIRTUE, KNOWLEDGE AND COUNTRY.
THE MAIDENS' STANZA FURTHER SOLIDIFIES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE YOUNG MEN'S LABOR. THE
MAIDENS' CHORUS STATES THAT THE LOVE OF YOUTH IS SUSTAINED WITH THE STRUGGLE AND
WORK OF LABOR. THE FINAL STANZA OF THE HYMN IS SUNG BY THE CHILDREN, WHO ASK FOR THE
OLDER GROUPS TO TEACH THEM HOW TO FOLLOW IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS AND FINISH THEIR
LABORIOUS TASKS.
RIZAL CREATED THE HYMN IN AN EFFORT TO RESHAPE THE MORAL AND ETHICAL VALUES OF A
FILIPINO SOCIETY THAT WAS HELD UNDER SPANISH OCCUPATION AT THE TIME.

KUNDIMAN
WROTE KUNDIMAN IN TAGALOG IN SEPTEMBER 12,1891. A KUNDIMAN IS
ACTUALLY A TRADITIONAL FILIPINO LOVE SONG USED BY A YOUNG MAN TO
SERENADE THE WOMAN OF HIS LOVE. THE THEME OF RIZALS KUNDIMAN IS
HIS INTENSE LOVE FOR HIS MOTHERLAND. HIS WORDS REFLECTED HIS
OPTIMISM THAT PHILIPPINES WOULD BE FREED FROM INJUSTICE
ANDBONDAGE.

THEY ASKED ME FOR VERSES

.

JOSE RIZALHAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ACCLAIMED POET AFTER HIS MARTYRDOM. ZEALOUS
POETS AND WRITERS WERE INSPIRED BY RIZALS WORKS IN EVERY GENERATION.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN WHATEVER ARTISTIC AND LITERARY GENRES REVEAL
FILIPINO PATRIOTISM IN THE MIDST OF REJECTION AND PERSECUTION.
JOSE RIZALS POEM BELOW WAS WRITTEN WHILE HE WAS A MEMBER OF CIRCULO
HISPANO FILIPINO. ME PIDEN VERSOS (THEY ASKED ME FOR VERSES) REFLECTED HOW
SAD IT WAS FOR HIM TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO STEER EMOTIONS THROUGH HIS POEMS
YET STIFLED AND MUTED BY THE POWERFUL AND OPPRESSIVE SPANIARDS.
THE DREAMS OF YOUNGER HOURS,
LOVE, ENTHUSIASM, DESIRE,
HAVE BEEN LEFT THERE UNDER THE SKIES
OF THAT FAIR LAND OF FLOWERS.
OH, DO NOT ASK OF MY HEART
THAT LANGUISHES, SONGS OF LOVE!
FOR, AS WITHOUT PEACE I TREAD
THIS DESERT OF NO SURPRISES,
I FEEL THAT MY SOUL AGONIZES
AND THAT MY SPIRIT IS DEAD.

TO MY MUSE
A MI MUSAORTO MY MUSEIS A POEM PUBLISHED INLA SOLIDARIDAD
USING THE PEN NAME,LAONG LAAN. IT WAS WRITTEN BYJOSE RIZALIN 15
DECEMBER 1890 BECAUSE OF HIS DISAPPOINTMENT OVER THE HALFHEARTED ATTITUDE OF THE FILIPINO EXPATRIATES WORKING FOR THE
REFORMS IN SPAIN. THIS POEM EXPRESSED HIS BITTERNESS OVER THE
TROUBLES IN CALAMBA.
IN THE POEM, RIZAL PERSUADES HIS MUSE TO LEAVE HIM, BUT WHILE THE
MUSE GOES AWAY, HE PLEADS HER TO RETURN:

TO THE FLOWERS OF HEIDELBERG

INTERPRETATIONS:
1. RIZAL USED THE FLOWERS AS HIS SYMBOL OF HIS LOVE FOR HIS MOTHERLAND.
2. FLOWERS' REDUCED QUALITY REFERS TO RIZAL'S USELESS PRESENCE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.
3.HE WAS HOMESICK FOR HIS NATIVE PHILIPPINES.
4. "TO THE FLOWERS OF HEIDELBERG" WAS NOT LITERALLY ABOUT FLOWERS, HE WAS REFERRING TO THE
FRAULEINS. IN 1882, RIZAL LEFT FOR SPAIN TO PURSUE A MEDICAL DEGREE. RIZAL HAD A PERSONAL REASON AS
WELL AS AN ALTRUISTIC REASON FOR HIS DECISION TO STUDY ABROAD. HE WANTED TO BECOME AN EYE SPECIALIST
IN ORDER TO CURE HER MOTHER FROM AN EYE AILMENT. POEMS ARE SIMPLY REFLECTIONS OF AN AUTHORS
FEELINGS BASED ON HIS EXPERIENCES AND PRESENT SITUATION. WHILEIN HEIDELBERG EXPERIENCING THE FEELING
OF NOSTALGIA FOR HIS PARENTS AND HIS COUNTRY, RIZAL WROTE THE POEM"TO THE FLOWERS OF HEIDELBERG"
WHEN RIZAL SOARED TO HEIDELBERG IN 1886, HE WAS FASCINATED WITH THE BLOOM FLOWERS HE SAW IN THE
NECKARRIVER. THOSE FLOWERS REMINDED HIM OF THE FLOWERS IN THEIR HOMES GARDEN IN CALAMBA BECAUSE
OF HIS MOOD OF HOMESICKNESS.
IN HEIDELBERG, HE WAS ASTOUND WITH THE FLOWERS ALONG THE NECKAR RIVER, ESPECIALLY THE FORGET-MENOTS, WHICH MADE HIM COMPOSE THE POEM, A LAS FLORES DE HEIDELBERG (TO THE FLOWERS OF HEIDELBERG),
ON APRIL 22, 1886
HIS POEM, TO THE FLOWERS OF HEIDELBERG IS SIMPLY AN EXPRESSION OF HIS SADNESS AS HE REMEMBERED HIS
FAMILY WHOM HE LOVES SO MUCH. FORGET ME NOT FLOWERS

TO JOSEPHINE
RIZAL DEDICATED THIS POEM TO JOSEPHINE BRACKEN, AN IRISH WOMAN WHO WENT TO
DAPITAN ACCOMPANYING A MAN SEEKING RIZAL'S SERVICES AS AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST.
JOSEPHINE, JOSEPHINE
WHO TO THESE SHORES HAVE COME
LOOKING FOR A NEST, A HOME,
LIKE A WANDERING SWALLOW;
IF YOUR FATE IS TAKING YOU
TO JAPAN, CHINA OR SHANGHAI,
DON'T FORGET THAT ON THESE SHORES
A HEART FOR YOU BEATS HIGH.

THE SONG OF THE TRAVELER

CANTO DEL VIAJERO(SONG OF THE TRAVELER) IS A POEM WRITTEN BY THE PHILIPPINE
NATIONAL HERO,JOSE RIZAL. THIS POEM IS KNOWN TO BE DOLEFUL AMONGST HIS
CREATIONS AND WAS WRITTEN DURING HIS EXILE. HE WAS BOUND TO JOURNEY FROM
SHORE TO SHORE, ACCOMPANIED ONLY BY MEMORIES OF HIS JOYOUS DAYS. ON THE
17TH DAY OF DECEMBER 1895, HE WROTE A LETTER TO THEGOVERNOR-GENERAL,
REQUESTING FOR A POST IN THE MEDICAL CORPS OF THE SPANISH ARMY IN CUBA, ALSO
A SPANISH COLONY AT THE TIME. HE WAS LONGING TO BOARD AGAIN ON HIS TRAVELS
FOR HE SINGS: LEAVE THOU TO OTHERS THE SONGS OF LOVE, TO OTHERS THE JOYS;
YOU AGAIN DEPART. HE DID PROCEED TRAVELING AGAIN, IN JULY 1896, BUT HE
REACHED ONLY SPAIN AND WENT BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES AS A PRISONER.

SONG OF MARIA CLARA

UNANG SAKNONG:PINAPAHAYAG NI JOSE RIZAL KUNG GAANO KASAYA SA ISANG LUGAR NA
PINANGGALINGAN MO AT KUNG GAANORIN KASARAP SA PAKIRAMDAM NA DOONKA RIN MAMAMATAY.
IKALAWANG SAKNONG:IPINAPAKITA SA SAKNONG NA ITO KUNG PAANOANG PAGMAMAHAL NG ISANG INA.
IKATLONG SAKNONG:IPINAPAHIWATIG NITO KUNG GAANO KASARAP IALAY ANG BUHAY NATIN SAATING
BANSA. SA PAMAMAGITANNITO, MAPAPAKITA NATIN ANG ATING PAGMAMAHAL SA ATINGSARILING BAYAN
KATULAD NG ATINGPAGMAMAHAL SA ATING MGA INA.
CANTO DE MARIA CLARAORSONG OF MARIA CLARAIS A POEM WRITTEN BYJOSE RIZALIN 1887. IT
IS A VERSE INNOLI ME TANGERETHAT HAD BEEN SET TO MUSIC BYJUAN HERNANDEZ.MARIA CLARAIS
A CHARACTER IN JOSE RIZALS NOVEL NOLI ME TANGERE. SHE IS THE LOVE INTEREST OF THE MAIN
PROTAGONIST OF THE NOVEL,JUAN CRISOSTOMO IBARRA. LATER, UPON HEARING OF HIS DEATH, SHE
WENT ON TO BECOME A NUN. THE POEM CAN BE FOUND INCHAPTER 23AND WAS TRANSLATED IN
DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
THE CHARACTER, MARIA CLARA SANG IT WHILE HAVING A PICNIC NEAR THE LAKE WITH HER FRIENDS,
UPON THEIR REQUEST. IT IS A MELODRAMATIC SONG BECAUSE IT IS A FIGURATIVE DEFINITION OF
PATRIOTISM. IT ALSO SHOWED RIZALS UNDYING COMMITMENTS AND SENTIMENTS TO HIS COUNTRY. THE
POEM DESCRIBED HOW SWEET THE HOURS SPENT IN A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AS WELL AS DYING FOR THE
COUNTRY.
IN THE PRESENT TIME, A BAND NAMEDCAMERAWALLSMADE UP OFCLEMENTINE(FORMERLY FROM
ORANGE AND LEMONS ),LAW SANTIAGOANDJOSEPH RUDICA. IT IS UNDER THEIR ALBUM POCKET
GUIDE TO THE OTHER WORLD.

HYMN TO TALISAY
HIMNO A TALISAY(HYMN TO TALISAY) WAS A POEM WRITTEN BY THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL HERO, [[JOSE
RIZAL | DR. JOSE RIZAL WHILE IN EXILE IN DAPITAN, RIZAL CONDUCTED HIS SCHOOL AT HIS HOME IN
TALISAY, NEAR DAPITAN. IT IS ALSO WHERE HE HAD HIS FARM AND HOSPITAL. HIS FAVORITE MEETING WITH
HIS STUDENTS WHO ARE MOSTLY BOYS WAS UNDER A TALISAY TREE, AFTER WHICH THE PLACE WAS
NAMED. IN HONOR OF TALISAY, HE WROTE A POEM ENTITLED "HIMNO A TALISAY" FOR HIS PUPILS TO SING.
HOWEVER, THE SPANIARD FIND THE POEM SUBVERSIVE, HAVING THIS POEM BEING USED BY HIS
OPPONENTS AGAINST HIM DURING HIS TRIAL.
THE POEM SPEAKS OF HOPE FOR TOMORROW, DESPITE OF THE LATE EDUCATION. THE CHILDREN BELIEVES
THAT DESPITE OF BEING CHILDREN, THEY WILL BE THEIR FAMILIES GUARDIAN BY MEANS OF EDUCATION.
=
WE ARE CHILDREN, CHILDREN BORN LATE,
BUT OUR SPIRITS ARE FRESH AND HEALTHY;
STRONG MEN SHALL WE BE TOMORROW
THAT CAN GUARD A FAMILY RIGHT.
THE POEM ALSO GIVES PRIDE TO THE PEOPLE OF TALISAY:
TALISAYON, THE PEOPLE CALL US:
A GREAT SOUL IN A LITTLE BODY;
IN DAPITAN AND ALL ITS REGION
TALISAY HAS NO MATCH!

MY RETREAT
MI RETIRO (MY RETREAT) IS A POEM WRITTEN BY PHILIPPINE NATIONAL HERO JOSE RIZAL IN 1895
AS A REPLY TO HIS MOTHERS REQUEST. . IT HAS 24 STANZAS AND 120 LINES. IN THIS POEM,
RIZAL EXPRESSED HIS LONELY LIFE IN HIS EXILE IN DAPITAN. HE ALSO BECAME APPRECIATIVE
AND SENTIMENTAL HERE ABOUT HIS LIFE, NATURE AND SURROUNDINGS IN DAPITAN.
MI RETIRO SERVED AS RIZALS AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN DAPITAN. HE DESCRIBED HIS HUT NEAR THE
SHORE WHERE THE SAND IS FINER. HE ALSO DESCRIBED THE SOUND OF THE ANIMALS AND
CALM SKIES. THOUGH FULL OF GLOOM BECAUSE OF BEING ALONE, RIZAL MANAGED TO LIVE,
MAKING HIS LOVED ONES AND THE PAST MEMORIES AS HIS INSPIRATIONS:
I LIVE WITH THE REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE THAT I HAVE LOVED AND HEAR THEIR NAMES STILL
SPOKEN, WHO HAUNT MY MEMORY; SOME ALREADY ARE DEAD, OTHERS HAVE LONG
FORGOTTEN BUT WHAT DOES IT MATTER? I LIVE REMEMBERING THE PAST AND NO ONE CAN
EVER TAKE THE PAST AWAY FROM ME.
RIZAL ALSO COMPARED HIMSELF TO A BUTTERFLY THAT GOES FROM FLOWER TO FLOWER TO SIP
THE SWEETEST NECTAR, JUST LIKE WHEN HE WENT TO ABROAD TO PURSUE HIS STUDIES.
A BUTTERFLY A THIRST FOR RADIANCES AND COLORS, DREAMING OF OTHER SKIES AND OF A
LARGER STRIFE, I LEFT, SCARCELY A YOUTH, MY LAND AND MY AFFECTIONS, AND VAGRANT
EVEYWHERE, WITH NO QUALMS, WITH NO TERRORS, SQUANDERED IN FOREIGN LANDS THE
APRIL OF MY LIFE.

MY LAST FAREWELL
MI LTIMO ADIS(SPANISH, MY LAST FAREWELL) IS APOEMWRITTEN BYPHILIPPINE
NATIONAL HERODR.JOS RIZALON THE EVE OFHIS EXECUTIONBYFIRING SQUADON 30
DECEMBER 1896. THE PIECE WAS ONE OF THE LAST NOTES HE WROTE BEFORE HIS DEATH;
ANOTHER THAT HE HAD WRITTEN WAS FOUND IN HIS SHOE BUT BECAUSE THE TEXT WAS
ILLEGIBLE, ITS CONTENTS TODAY REMAIN A MYSTERY.
"ON THE AFTERNOON OF DEC. 29, 1896, A DAY BEFORE HIS EXECUTION, DR. JOS RIZAL WAS
VISITED BY HIS MOTHER, TEODORA ALONZO, SISTERS LUCIA, JOSEFA, TRINIDD, MARIA AND
NARCISA, AND TWO NEPHEWS. WHEN THEY TOOK THEIR LEAVE, RIZAL TOLD TRINIDD IN
ENGLISH THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE SMALL ALCOHOL STOVE (COCINILLA), NOT
ALCOHOL LAMP (LAMPARILLA). THE STOVE WAS GIVEN TO NARCISA BY THE GUARD WHEN THE
PARTY WAS ABOUT TO BOARD THEIR CARRIAGE IN THE COURTYARD. AT HOME, THE RIZAL
LADIES RECOVERED FROM THE STOVE A FOLDED PAPER. ON IT WAS WRITTEN AN UNSIGNED,
UNTITLED AND UNDATED POEM OF 14 FIVE-LINE STANZAS. THE RIZALS REPRODUCED COPIES
OF THE POEM AND SENT THEM TO RIZAL'S FRIENDS IN THE COUNTRY AND ABROAD. IN 1897,
MARIANO PONCE INHONG KONGHAD THE POEM PRINTED WITH THE TITLE "MI ULTIMO
PENSAMIENTO." FR. MARIANO DACANAY, WHO RECEIVED A COPY OF THE POEM WHILE A
PRISONER IN BILIBID (JAIL), PUBLISHED IT IN THE FIRST ISSUE OFLA INDEPENDENCIAON SEPT.
25, 1898 WITH THE TITLE 'ULTIMO ADIOS'."

CHAPTER XI
NATIONALISTIC NOVELS

THIS CHAPTER PRESENTS THE TWO HISTORICAL NVELS OF RIZAL

NOLI ME TANGERE
NOLI ME TNGERE(LATINFORTOUCH ME NOT) IS ANOVELWRITTEN BYJOS RIZAL,
CONSIDERED AS ONE OF THENATIONAL HEROESOF THEPHILIPPINES, DURING THE
COLONIZATION OF THE COUNTRYBY SPAIN TO EXPOSE THE INEQUITIES OF THESPANISH
CATHOLICPRIESTS AND THE RULING GOVERNMENT.
HAVING COMPLETED HIS STUDIES IN EUROPE, YOUNG JUAN CRISSTOMO IBARRA Y MAGSALIN
CAME BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES AFTER A SEVEN-YEAR ABSENCE. IN HIS HONOR, DON SANTIAGO
DE LOS SANTOS, ALSO KNOWN AS "CAPTAIN TIAGO", A FAMILY FRIEND, THREW A WELCOME HOME
PARTY, ATTENDED BYFRIARSAND OTHER PROMINENT FIGURES. ONE OF THE GUESTS, FRAY
DMASO VARDOLAGAS, THE FORMERCURATEOF SAN DIEGO, BELITTLED AND SLANDERED
IBARRA.
THE NEXT DAY, IBARRA VISITS HIS BETROTHEDMARA CLARA, THE BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER OF
CAPTAIN TIAGO AND AFFLUENT RESIDENT OFBINONDO. THEIR LONG-STANDING LOVE WAS
CLEARLY MANIFESTED IN THIS MEETING, AND MARA CLARA CANNOT HELP BUT REREAD THE
LETTERS HER SWEETHEART HAD WRITTEN HER BEFORE HE WENT TO EUROPE. BEFORE IBARRA
LEFT FOR SAN DIEGO IN TIME FOR THE TOWN FIESTA, LIEUTENANT GUEVARA, ACIVIL GUARD,
REVEALS TO HIM THE INCIDENTS PRECEDING THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER, DON RAFAEL IBARRA, A
RICHHACENDEROOF THE TOWN.

EL FILIBUSTERISMO
ALSO KNOWN BY ITS ENGLISH ALTERNATE TITLETHE REIGN OF GREED,[2]IS THE SECOND NOVEL WRITTEN BY
PHILIPPINENATIONAL HEROJOS RIZAL. IT IS THE SEQUEL TONOLI ME TANGEREAND, LIKE THE FIRST BOOK,
WAS WRITTEN INSPANISH. IT WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1891 INGHENT, BELGIUM.
THE NOVEL'S DARK THEME DEPARTS DRAMATICALLY FROM THE PREVIOUS NOVEL'S HOPEFUL AND ROMANTIC
ATMOSPHERE, SIGNIFYING THE CHARACTER IBARRA'S RESORT TO SOLVING HIS COUNTRY'S ISSUES THROUGH
VIOLENT MEANS, AFTER HIS PREVIOUS ATTEMPT AT REFORMING THE COUNTRY'S SYSTEM HAVE MADE NO
EFFECT AND SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE ATTITUDES OF THE SPANIARDS TOWARDS THE FILIPINOS. THE
NOVEL, ALONG WITH ITS PREDECESSOR, WAS BANNED IN SOME PARTS OF THE PHILIPPINES AS A RESULT OF
THEIR PORTRAYALS OF THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT'S ABUSE AND CORRUPTION. THESE NOVELS ALONG WITH
RIZAL'S INVOLVEMENT IN ORGANIZATIONS THAT AIM TO ADDRESS AND REFORM THE SPANISH SYSTEM AND ITS
ISSUES LED TO RIZAL'S EXILE TO DAPITAN AND EVENTUALEXECUTION. BOTH THE NOVEL AND ITS
PREDECESSOR, ALONG WITHRIZAL'S LAST POEM, ARE NOW CONSIDERED RIZAL'S LITERARY MASTERPIECES.
BOTH OF RIZAL'S NOVELS HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON PHILIPPINE SOCIETY IN TERMS OF VIEWS ABOUT
NATIONAL IDENTITY, THE CATHOLIC FAITH AND ITS INFLUENCE ON FILIPINO'S CHOICE, AND THE
GOVERNMENT'S ISSUES OF CORRUPTION, ABUSE, AND DISCRIMINATION, AND ON A LARGER SCALE, THE ISSUES
RELATED TO THE EFFECT OF COLONIZATION ON PEOPLE'S LIVES AND THE CAUSE FOR INDEPENDENCE. THESE
NOVELS LATER ON INDIRECTLY BECAME THE INSPIRATION TO START THEPHILIPPINE REVOLUTION.
THROUGHOUT THE PHILIPPINES, THE READING OF BOTH THE NOVEL AND ITS PREDECESSOR IS NOW
MANDATORYFORHIGH SCHOOL STUDENTSTHROUGHOUT THE ARCHIPELAGO, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOW READ
USING ENGLISH, FILIPINO, AND THE PHILIPPINES' REGIONAL LANGUAGES.

CHAPTER XII
SELECTED LETTERS AND ESSAY

THE LETTERS
LETTER TO HIS SISTER TRINIDAD, WHICH HE WROTE IN HEIDELBERGE
GERMANY ON MARCH 11,1886
IN THE LETTER ,RIZAL DESCRIBED THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TYPICAL
GERMAN WOMAN:SERIOUS,STUDIOUS, AND VERY MUCH ATTACHED TO HER
WORK.
RAISE YOUR CHILDREN CLOSE TO THE IMAGE OF THE TRUE GODAWAKEN
AND PREPARE THE MIND OF THE CHILD FOR EVERY GOOD AND DESIRABLE
IDEA .

TO THE YOUNG WOMEN OF MALOLOS

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

RIZALS MESSAGE TO FILIPINO WOMEN

JOSE RIZAL WAS GREATLY IMPRESSED BY THE FIGHTING SPIRIT THAT THE YOUNG WOMEN OF MALOLOS HAD SHOWN. IN HIS LETTER,
HE EXPRESSES GREAT JOY AND SATISFACTION OVER THE BATTLE THEY HAD FOUGHT. IN THIS PORTION OF RIZALS LETTER, IT IS
OBVIOUS THAT HIS ULTIMATE DESIRE WAS FOR WOMEN TO BE OFFERED THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES AS THOSE RECEIVED BY MEN IN
TERMS OF EDUCATION. DURING THOSE DAYS YOUNG GIRLS WERE NOT SENT TO SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE UNIVERSAL NOTION THAT
THEY WOULD SOON ONLY BE TAKEN AS WIVES AND STAY AT HOME WITH THE CHILDREN. RIZAL, HOWEVER, EMPHASIZES ON
FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION, WHICH MUST BE GRANTED TO BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS ALIKE.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF FILIPINO MOTHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN
RIZAL STIPULATES A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT POINTS IN THIS PORTION OF HIS LETTER TO THE YOUNG WOMEN OF MALOLOS. THE
CENTRAL IDEA HERE, HOWEVER, IS THAT WHATEVER A MOTHER SHOWS TO HER CHILDREN IS WHAT THE CHILDREN WILL BECOME
ALSO. IF THE MOTHER IS ALWAYS KISSING THE HAND OF THE FRIARS IN SUBMISSION, THEN HER CHILDREN WILL GROW UP TO BE
SYCOPHANTS AND MINDLESS FOOLS WHO DO NOTHING BUT DO AS THEY ARE TOLD, EVEN IF THE VERY NATURE OF THE TASK WOULD
VIOLATE THEIR RIGHTS AS INDIVIDUALS.
QUALITIES MOTHERS HAVE TO POSSESS
RIZAL ENUMERATES THE QUALITIES FILIPINO MOTHERS HAVE TO POSSESS:
BE A NOBLE WIFE.
REAR HER CHILDREN IN THE SERVICE OF THE STATE HERE RIZAL GIVES REFERENCE TO THE WOMEN OF SPARTA WHO EMBODY THIS
QUALITY
SET STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR FOR MEN AROUND HER.
RIZALS ADVICE TO UNMARRIED MEN AND WOMEN
JOSE RIZAL POINTS OUT TO UNMARRIED WOMEN THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE EASILY TAKEN BY APPEARANCES AND LOOKS, BECAUSE
THESE CAN BE VERY DECEIVING. INSTEAD, THEY SHOULD TAKE HEED OF MENS FIRMNESS OF CHARACTER AND LOFTY IDEAS. RIZAL
FURTHER ADDS THAT THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT A YOUNG WOMAN MUST LOOK FOR A MAN SHE INTENDS TO BE HER HUSBAND:
A NOBLE AND HONORED NAME
A MANLY HEART
A HIGH SPIRIT INCAPABLE OF BEING SATISFIED WITH ENGENDERING SLAVES.

 TO THE WOMEN OF MALOLOS CENTERS AROUND FIVE SALIENT POINTS (ZAIDE &ZAIDE,
1999):
FILIPINO MOTHERS SHOULD TEACH THEIR CHILDREN LOVE OF GOD, COUNTRY AND
FELLOWMEN.
FILIPINO MOTHERS SHOULD BE GLAD AND HONORED, LIKE SPARTAN MOTHERS, TO OFFER
THEIR SONS IN DEFENSE OF THEIR COUNTRY.
FILIPINO WOMEN SHOULD KNOW HOW TO PROTECT THEIR DIGNITY AND HONOR.
FILIPINO WOMEN SHOULD EDUCATE THEMSELVES ASIDE FROM RETAINING THEIR GOOD
RACIAL VALUES.
FAITH IS NOT MERELY RECITING PRAYERS AND WEARING RELIGIOUS PICTURES. IT IS LIVING
THE REAL CHRISTIAN WAY WITH GOOD MORALS AND MANNERS.
IN RECENT TIMES, IT SEEMS THAT THESE QUALITIES ARE GRADUALLY LOST IN THE WAY
FILIPINO WOMEN CONDUCT THEMSELVES. THERE ARE OFTENTIMES MOMENTS WHERE
MOTHERS FORGET THEIR ROLES IN REARING THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THE OVERRIDING
IDEA OF HAVING TO EARN FOR THE FAMILY TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR HUSBANDS INCOME.
ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT WORKING HARD FOR THE WELFARE OF THE
FAMILY, THERE MUST ALWAYS BE BALANCE IN THE WAY PEOPLE GO THROUGH LIFE. FAILURE
IN THE HOME CANNOT BE COMPENSATED FOR BY ANY AMOUNT OF WEALTH OR FAME.

THE ESSAY
LOVE OF COUNTRY
RIZAL WROTE HIS FIRST ESSAY ENTITLED LOVE OF COUNTRY WHEN HE FIRST ARRIVED IN
MADRID AT THE AGE OF 21. HE USED THE PSEUDONYM LAONG LAAN. IT WAS PUBLISHED
ON AUGUST 21,1882 IN DIARIONG TAGALOG A PHILIPPINE NEWS PAPER AND THEN AGAIN ON
OCT.31,1890 IN LA SOLIDARIDAD IN MADRID
HIS LOVE FOR THE COUNTRY WAS VERY EVIDENT IN HIS DESIRES TO ALWAYS GO BACK TO
HER. EUROPE WAS A LOVABLE, FREE, CULTURED, AND CIVILIZED CONTINENT; YET HE
DECIDED TO LEAVE IT, FEELING THAT IT WAS IN HIS OWN LAND WHERE HE WOULD BE MORE
USEFUL. HIS FRIENDS AND COMPATRIOTS WERE KEEPING HIM FROM RETURNING, WARNING
HIM THAT HIS DESTRUCTION WAS AWAITING HIM THERE. HE DID NOT LISTEN TO THEM
BECAUSE THERE WAS THAT STRONG URGE TO BE IN THE PLACE HIS HEART FOUND
SATISFYING FOR HIM, BESIDE HIS LOVED ONES

SOBRE LA INDOLENCIA DE LOS FILIPINOS

LA SOLIDARIDAD
SOBRE LA INDOLENCIA DE LOS FILIPINOS("ON THE INDOLENCE OF THE FILIPINOS" INSPANISH) IS A SOCIOPOLITICAL ESSAY PUBLISHED INLA SOLIDARIDADINMADRIDIN 1890. IT WAS WRITTEN BYJOS RIZALAS A
RESPONSE TO THE ACCUSATION OFINDIOORMALAYINDOLENCE. HE ADMITS THE EXISTENCE OF INDOLENCE
AMONG THE FILIPINOS, BUT IT COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO A NUMBER OF REASONS. HE TRACES ITS CAUSES TO
FACTORS SUCH AS THE CLIMATE AND SOCIAL DISORDERS. HE DEFENDS THE FILIPINOS BY SAYING THAT THEY
ARE BY NATURE NOT INDOLENT, BECAUSE IN FACT, EVEN BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF SPANIARDS, FILIPINOS HAVE
BEEN ENGAGED IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES SUCH AS AGRICULTURE AND TRADE. INDOLENCE THEREFORE HAS
MORE DEEPLY ROOTED CAUSES SUCH AS ABUSE AND DISCRIMINATION, INACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT,
RAMPANT CORRUPTION ANDRED TAPE, WRONG DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH AND WRONG EXAMPLES FROM
SOME SPANIARDS WHO LEAD LIVES OF INDOLENCE WHICH ULTIMATELY LED TO THE DETERIORATION OF
FILIPINOS VALUES. IN THE END, RIZAL SUMS UP THE MAIN CAUSES OF INDOLENCE TO THE LIMITED TRAINING
AND EDUCATION FILIPINO NATIVES RECEIVE AND TO THE LACK OF NATIONAL SENTIMENT AND UNITY AMONG
THEM. EDUCATION AND LIBERTY, ACCORDING TO RIZAL, WOULD BE THE CURE TO FILIPINO INDOLENCE

LA SOLIDARIDAD
WAS AN ORGANIZATION CREATED IN SPAIN ON DECEMBER 13, 1888. COMPOSED OF FILIPINO
LIBERALS EXILED IN 1872 AND STUDENTS ATTENDING EUROPE'S UNIVERSITIES, THE
ORGANIZATION AIMED TO INCREASE SPANISH AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS OF ITS COLONY, THE
PHILIPPINES, AND TO PROPAGATE A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COLONY AND SPAIN. [1]
HEADED BYJOS RIZAL'S COUSIN,GALICANO APACIBLE, IT ALSO ISSUED A NEWSPAPER OF THE
SAME NAME WHICH WAS PUBLISHED INBARCELONA, SPAIN ON FEBRUARY 15, 1889. IT WAS
EDITED BYGRACIANO LPEZ JAENAAND LATER ON BYMARCELO H. DEL PILAR.[2]THE NEWSPAPER
PUBLISHED NOT ONLY ARTICLES AND ESSAYS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, POLITICAL, AND
SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE COUNTRY, BUT ALSO CURRENT NEWS, BOTH LOCAL AND FOREIGN,
AND SPEECHES OF PROMINENT SPANISH LEADERS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES.

CHAPTER XIII
BASIC IDEAS REGARDING NATION BUILDING

 RIZAL WAS BORN AT THE TIME IN WHICH HIS PEOPLE AND RACE WERE
SUBMERGE IN THE THEN-EXISTING WORLD POLITY. THE PHILIPPINES WAS
NOT ONLY A COLONY OF SPAIN THEN, THE FILIPINOS WERE ALSO
EXPLOITED.TYRANNIZED OVER AND MALTREATED.
POLITICAL REFORMS
PEOPLES AND GOVERNMENT ARE CORRELATED AND COMPLEMENTARY.
EDUCATIONAL REFORMS
NOLI ME TANGERE
MORAL PRINCIPLE
A FIRM BELIEVER IN GOD
RIZAL DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO OUR COUNTRY
SOCIOECONOMIC REFORMS
WAS RE ORIENT THE CHARACTERS OF FILIPINOS.