Gertrude Pearl B.

Unay BSA-2

Critique Paper on the article “Did young Rizal really write poem for children?” by Ambeth

Ocampo

Ambeth Ocampo, in Philippine Daily Inquirer, writes his critical evaluation of the poem,

“Sa Aking Mga Kabata” which was purportedly written by our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. He

stated that based on the letters of Rizal before, Rizal has always expressed his frustration in

being unable to express himself in his native tongue. If he has always perceived writing in

Tagalog as a weakness of his, would it have been possible for him to write a poem in Tagalog at

the young age of 8? Does the poem with most quoted line, “Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa

sariling wika masahol pa sa hayop at malansang isda.” really something that Rizal wrote at such

a young age? According to various researchers and historians, no original manuscript was found

and Rizal never mentioned it in any of his writings.

The poem was published posthumously in 1906, in a book by Hermenegildo Cruz. Cruz

said he received it from Gabriel Beato Francisco, who claimed to have received it from Rizal’s

close friend, Saturnino Raselis. However, Raselis was never mentioned in any of Rizal’s journals,

diaries, and writings. Further criticisms arose because of the use of “k” and “w” which was not

yet present in the Spanish Ortography during that time. The use of the word “kalayaan” was

also emphasized because according to Rizal, he frst encountered the word when he was 21

years old. Ambeth Ocampo was able to write this article in an unbiased manner, and was able

to provide supporting informations based on factual evidence. Identifying the true author of

“Sa Aking Mga Kabata” is important because millions of Filipino children are miseducated.