LESSON 4

JOSE P. RIZAL: THE AGE OF INNOCENCE, COMPASSION

AND LOVE OF NATURE

Objectives:
1. To relate appropriately the accomplishments of young Rizal.
2. To analyze Rizal’s childhood and early education.

The early childhood of Rizal reflected by his writing on

“My Birth-Early Years” that provided his reminiscences
from the age of 17 to 18 .We can also share our values,
aspirations and love to our family and motherland. His
manuscript forms part of the Rizaliana Collection of the
Bureau of Public Libraries, Manila, National Historical
Institute, Writings of Jose Rizal, Volume 1, 1982,
Chapter I - My Birth - Early Years. The early education of
Rizal reminded him about the “a jar that contains the
odor of the body that it first held”. The significance from
this insight of Rizal has shown the importance of
education that must start at the early age. At home
provided him a habit to listen, read and learn by the
education given by his mother that made him understand the basic knowledge of artistic
appreciation about human compassion and love of nature.

The social stature of Rizal’s family had provided him the basic comfort of life when he
had a nanny and nurse at home. He appreciated in the way they cared him. Rizal
described his father as a “model of fathers”. While Rizal showed his love with his mother
Teodora Alonso y Quintos as he described “my coming out in this vale of tears would
have cost my mother her life had she not vowed to the Virgin of Antipolo to take me to
her sanctuary by way of pilgrimage.
Rizal inherited his genius from his mother .Dona Teodora Alonzo Realonda
provided all the support in intellectual endeavour and polishing the true value of
education of Rizal. She made him the best gladiator in the arena of human intellectual
struggle of his time. The gentle love and compassion of Rizal that bounded by intellect
that translated from his literary and political masterpieces that later on shape the destiny
of the Filipino nation.
José Rizal's Early Life
1870
José begins school under the instruction of Justiniano Aquin Cruz at just nine years of
age.
1871
José continues his education under the instruction of Lucas Padua.
1872
Rizal is examined by those in charge of college entrance to St. Tomas University in
Manila; he enters the school system as a scholar.
1875
Rizal enters the Ateneo as a boarder at just 14 years of age.
1876
At the age of 15, Rizal receives a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Ateneo de Manila.
He not only receives this degree, but receives it with the highest honors possible.
1877
In June José begins to go to school at St. Tomas University in Manila where he
studies philosophy.

Writing Career

1877
In November Rizal writes a poem and receives recognition for his writing from the Royal
Economic Society of Friends of the Country, also known as Amigos del Pals. The
recognition comes in the form of a diploma of merit and honorable mention.
1878
In June Rizal decides to switch gears in his educational pursuits and transfers into the
medical courses at St. Tomas University. During this time he also writes an additional
two poems that win him further recognition.
1880
At the age of 19 Rizal writes another poem for a competition where he should have won
first prize. However, he was not given this prize due to discrimination.
In December Rizal produces his first Operetta called On the Banks of the Pasig.
1881
Rizal creates the commemorative medal in wax for the Royal Economic Society of
Friends centennial celebration.

Jose Rizal, using the pseudonym P. Jacinto, wrote these reminiscences

from 1878 to 1881; that is, from age 17 to 20. His manuscript forms part of the
Rizaliana Collection of the Bureau of Public Libraries, Manila. (National
Historical Institute, Writings of Jose Rizal, Volume 1, 1982, Chapter I - My
Birth - Early Years)

The social stature of Rizal’s family had provided him the basic comfort of life when he
had a nanny and nurse at home. He appreciated in the way they cared him. Rizal
described his father as a “model of fathers”. While Rizal showed his love with his mother
Teodora Alonso y Quintos as he described “my coming out in this vale of tears would
have cost my mother her life had she not vowed to the Virgin of Antipolo to take me to
her sanctuary by way of pilgrimage.

Rizal inherited his genius from his mother .Dona Teodora Alonzo Realonda
provided all the support in intellectual endeavour and polishing the true value of
education of Rizal. She made him the best gladiator in the arena of human intellectual
struggle of his time. The gentle love and compassion of Rizal that bounded by intellect
that translated from his literary and political masterpieces that later on shape the destiny
of the Filipino nation.
The poetical genius of Rizal was aligned to the education that he received from
his mother became the potent tool to stimulate his artistic literary learning in poem and
drama. At early age he learned to read the bible. He began writing poems at the early
age. Before the age of eight years old he had composed a drama.

The poem of Rizal about “Sa Aking Mga Kabata” was more on the advocacy of
nationalism, freedom and love of country through the unique expression of the native
language. The Rizal’s poetically explained that language is a divine gift to the Filipino
people that pursues the spirit of freedom and liberty. He was designed by nature to be
an artist. This he revealed before he was five years of age, for without any assistance
from others he began to draw with his pencil and to mould in wax or clay any object he
saw about him. When a few years later Rizal recalled those joyous days of his
childhood in Calamba, he revealed his heart in this poem: “in memory of my Village.
This was written in 1876 at the age of 15.

"SA AKING MGA KABATA". 

Kapagka ang baya’y sadyang umiibig

Sa langit salitang kaloob ng langit
Sanlang kalayaan nasa ring masapi

Katulad ng ibong nasa himpapawid

Pagka’t ang salita’y isang kahatulan
Sa bayan, sa nayo't mga kaharian

At ang isang tao’y katulad, kabagay

Ng alin mang likha noong kalayaan.
Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang
salita
Mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda

Kaya ang marapat pagyamanin kusa

Na tulad sa inang tunay na nagpala
Ang wikang Tagalog tulad din sa
Latin,

Sa Ingles, Kastila, at salitang anghel,

Sapagkat ang Poong maalam
tumingin
Ang siyang naggagawad, nagbibigay
sa atin.
Ang salita nati’y tulad din sa iba

Na may alfabeto at sariling letra,

Na kaya nawala’y dinatnan ng sigwa
Ang lunday sa lawa noong dakong
una.
 The significance from this insight of Rizal has shown the importance of education
that must start at the early age. At home provided him a habit to listen, read and learn
by the education given by his mother that made him understand the basic knowledge of
artistic appreciation about human compassion and love of nature. The social stature of
Rizal’s family had provided him the basic comfort of life when he had a nanny and nurse
at home. He appreciated in the way they cared him. “I had a nurse who loved me very
much and who, in order to make me take supper (which I did on the terrace on moonlit
nights), frightened me with the sudden apparition of some formidable asuang, of a
frightful nuno, or a parce-nobis, as she used to call an imaginary being similar to the Bu
of the Europeans. They used to take me for a stroll to the most gloomy places and at
night near the flowing river, in the shade of some tree, in the brightness of the chaste
Diana. . .”
The special care that was given to Rizal had made him to appreciate more about
artistic thoughts through the love of nature. He had experienced the same normal
playing at his early childhood that made him later gifted man who could translate the
natural activities of man into his writings and works for us to learn and someday like
Rizal would use for the love of country. As he said “thus was my heart nourished with
sombre and melancholy thoughts, which even when I was a child already wandered on
the wings of fantasy in the lofty regions of the unknown.”
Rizal described his father as a “model of fathers”. It must have been the support for
education and providing all the material needs including the love of his children that
gave Rizal’s impression about his father... “had given us an education commensurate
with our small fortune, and through thrift he was able to build a stone house, buy
another, and to erect a little nipa house in the middle of our orchard under the shade of
banana trees and others”
He continued to describe his interesting experiences as he loved to play in the
surroundings of their well-constructed stone house.

“There the tasty ate (atis) displays its delicate fruits and bends its
branches to save me the effort of reaching for them; the sweet santol, the
fragrant and honeyed tampoy, the reddish macupa here contend for
supremacy; further away are the plum tree, the casuy harsh and piquant,
the beautiful tamarind, equally gratifying to the eyes and delightful to the
palate; here the papaya tree spreads its broad leaves and attracts the
birds with its enormous fruits, yonder are the nangca the coffee tree, the
orange tree, which perfumes the air with the aroma of its flowers; on this
side are the iba the balimbing( These are tropical fruits: Atis (Anona
aquamosa): santol (Sandoricum indicum L.); tampoy (Eugenia jambos
Linn.); macupa (Eugenia javanica Lam.); casuy (Anacardium
occidentale L.); tamarind (tamarindus indica); nangca (Artocarpus
 integrifola Linn.); iba (Cicca disticha L.): balimbing (Averrhoa
carambola.) the pomegranate with its thick foliage and beautiful flowers
that enchant the senses; here and there are found elegant and majestic
palm trees loaded with enormous nuts, rocking its proud crown and
beautiful fronds, the mistresses of the forests.”
The endless description of Rizal’s past experiences had showed his lasting
impressions about his wonderful years at his home with his family. As he continuously
described on a poetical note about the beautiful panorama of his beloved home. “Ah! It
would be endless if I were to enumerate all our trees and entertain myself in naming
them! At the close of the day numerous birds came from all parts, and I, still a child of
three years at the most, entertained myself by looking at them with unbelievable joy.

OTHER LITERARY WORKS OF RIZAL DURING HIS YOUNGER YEARS:

 Sa Aking Mga Kabata

“To my fellow children”
a poem about the love of one's native language written in Tagalog.
Jose Rizal 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.
 Mi Primera Inspiracion
“My first inspiration”
first poem written by Dr. Jose Rizal during his third academic year in Ateneo de
Municipal.
He wrote the poem in 1874, before he turned 14.
He was delighted to see his mother, Doña Teodora Alonso, released from prison
that same year so he dedicated the poem to her.
He also dedicated this poem to his mother’s birthday.
 Por la Educacion Recibe Lustre la Patria
“Through Education Our Motherland Receives Light”
Rizal wrote this poem in the year 1876 at the age of fifteen.
It was written in Ateneo de Municipal in Manila.
The poem was written during the Spanish Government.
 Alianza Íntima Entre La Religión Y La Buena Educación
“The Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education”
Poem he wrote to show the important relationship between religion and
education.
 During the summer of April 1876, before entering his fifth year in Ateneo
Municipal in June, Jose Rizal previous to turning fifteen wrote this poem along
with Por La Educación Recibe Lustre La Patria.

Religious Poems
 Al Nino Jesus
“To the Child Jesus”
written in Spanish by Jose Rizal in 1875 at the age of 14 during his stay Ateneo
De Municipal.

After his mother’s imprisonment, he wrote many poems, mostly inspired by

his friend and professor: Father Sanchez.
Among the poems he wrote, in 1875 were
the ff:

 Felicitacion (Felicitation)
 El Embarque Himno a la Flota de Magallanes (The Departure: Hymn to
Magellan’s Fleet)
 Y Es Español: Elcano, el Primero en dar la Vuelta al Mundo (And He Is Spanish
Elcano, the First to Circumnavigate the World)
 El Combate: Urbiztondo, Terror de Jolo (The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo)
In 1876, he wrote other poems on various topics. Among these are:
 Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo
 “In Memory of My Town”
Which was also another tender poem about the town where he was born.
Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo
 “In Memory of My Town”
Rizal wrote it in 1876 when he was 15 years old while a student in the Ateneo de
Manila.
This poem is about the Calamba, the place where he was born, which he loved
very dearly.
The following year of 1877 also showed a lot of poetry that were written by
him:

 El Heroismo de Colon
“The Heroism of Columbus”
This poem praises Columbus for his adventurous spirit and his success as an
explorer.

2 Reasons why famous poem of Rizal, “To The Filipino Youth” was described
 as “winning classic in Philippine Literature”
-It was the first Spanish poem written by a Filipino, which gained
recognition among known Spanish authors.
-It contained for the first time, the nationalistic sentiment insinuating that
the Filipinos, and not the foreigners were the “fair hope of the Fatherland.”

CHED Memorandum Order 6 dated February 15, 1996 – CHED ordered all colleges
and universities to offer Rizal course as separate three-unit course fully and
immediately.

Exercise

Direction: Read the following questions and write down your answers
on the spaces provided below.

1. Cite one of Rizal’s poems during his younger year and relate it to your own
experience/s as a child.

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2. Discuss young Rizal’s early education.

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References:

https://www.scribd.com/doc/21694647/Life-and-Works-of-Rizal

https://www.slideshare.net/MeannMolar1993/poems-of-rizal

http://www.joserizal.ph/pm18.html

https://biography.yourdictionary.com/answers/biography/jose-rizal-life-
timeline.html