Introduction

It can be mirrored in the poems of Dr. Jose P. Rizal the societal norm during the Spanish regime.
Lines in the poems depict happenings in the society, customs and traditions of Filipinos and
important events under the leadership of the Spaniards. Poems of Rizal also show his great ideals
in promoting education among youth and involve them in any civic movements which he thinks
are of help to uplift Philippine freedom. Consumption of Rizal’s poems and other poems related
to these widens Filipinos’ societal awareness not only among youths but among all people.
Through these literary genre, Filipinos will understand the kind of life experienced by Rizal in
the past and treasure Rizal’s noble contribution in Dapitan and his meritorious acts toward
attaining Philippine independence.

1. Sa aking kabata
Rizal wrote the poem entitled “Sa aking mga Kababata” when he was eight years old. This poem
had a strong sense of nationalism expressing Rizal’s love for our own language. He emphasized
the significance and the usage of our mother tongue. Mother tongue was the language we learned
since birth (which was Filipino). It gave us a sense of identity. Language could not only be our
way to communicate but it also served as the reflection of our culture. Rizal also highlighted on
this poem that all languages were equal in terms of its significance and usage. Filipino language
like other languages had its own alphabet and words. The values and attitude that still valid and
usable today is that we should be more proud of our nationality and identity, and by enriching
our language we could show our sense of pride as Filipinos.

2. My first Inspiration(1874)
Mi Primera Inspiracion was the 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. He speaks of the harmony in
Nature, of the ever flowing happiness from his Mother and thence the Love that he discovers.
3. Por la Educacion Recibe Lustre la Patria
“Education gives Luster to Motherland” 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. He pictured education as the foundation of knowledge which gives endless
glory. Through wise education, the youth is directed along the path of righteousness and
goodness creating champions which in turn makes the country thrives, glow and luster.

4. “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. He expressed his love of
God as the foundation of excellent education, that man can only attain his totality with God’s
teaching. He articulated that religion and education have a close relationship that is very essential
in attaining success. Moreover, he believed that education that is unanchored by religion is
misleading and untrue.
Wenceslao Retana, a critic-turned-biographer of Jose Rizal, is believed to be the person who
gave the title of the poem.

The two religious Poem he wrotes are To the Child Jesus and To the Virgin Mary.
5. Al Nino Jesus (“To the Child Jesus”) It was written in Spanish by Jose Rizal in 1875 at the age
of 14 during his stay Ateneo De Municipal. He wrote this short poem with eight verses only,
influenced by the Spanish standard of poetry. It is also classified as an Octave Real.
6. A La Virgen Maria (“To the Virgin Mary”) It was written during Rizal's academic stay in
Ateneo Municipal de Manila on 3 December 1876. The story of this sonnet is said to be about
the last member of a prominent clan in the Muslim Kingdom of Granada around during the 15th
century.
After his mother’s imprisonment, he wrote many poems, mostly inspired by his friend and
professor: Father Sanchez.

7. Felicitation(1875)
Written in 1875 during his academic stay in Ateneo de Municipal. In this poem, Rizal
congratulated Antonio Lopez, his bother-in-law and husband of his sister, Narcisa, on Saint’s
day. He was fourteen years old when he wrote this poem.
8. THE EMBARKATION(1875)
It was one of the historical poems Jose Rizal wrote during his academic years in Ateneo
Municipal de Manila. It was written on 5 December 1875, though there were claims from Rizal’s
former classmate in Ateneo, Vicente Elio and Rizal’s friend, Mariano Ponce that this poem was
written in 1874. El Embarque was first printed in La Patria on 30 December 1899. This was also
the first poem that was given the honor of being read in a public programme to recognize the
remarkable literary merit of the then budding poet.
The poem is a hymn inspired by the historical voyages of the Portuguese maritime explorer
Ferdinand Magellan as well as to pay tribute to Spain for discovering and conquering countries
all over the world. It is described in the poem how people greeted Magellan’s fleet with the
highest spirits and festivities. Finally, the people of the East bid farewell to the Spanish fleet with
felicitation, gratitude for their causes, and inspiration as they embark on another adventure in the
seas.
In 1876, he wrote other poems on various topics. Among these are
9.A Tribute to My Town (1876)
Jose Rizal wrote Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (A Tribute To My Town) when he was 15 years old
in 1876. He was then a student in Ateneo de Municipal. Rizal, being away from his family,
reminisced his memories of childhood in his hometown, Calamba, Laguna and wrote this poem
to express his love and appreciation for the place where he grew up.
10. “A Farewell Dialogue by the Students” › This is a virtual farewell poem of Rizal written
during his last days in Ateneo.
It was two years later in Madrid, Spain that Rizal renewed his writing activity. He joined the
Circulo Hispano-Filipino (Hispano-Philippines Circle) and was requested to write a poem which
he personally declaimed during the New Year’s Eve reception held on Dec. 31, 1882. The title of
the sad poem was: “They Ask Me for Verses”
11. To the Philippines (1880)
A Filipinas is a sonnet written by Dr. Jose Rizal in 1880 for the Sea of Sculptures. The poem
describes how beautiful the Philippines is. He also referred to the country, the Philippines as his
muse.
1882-1885 Rizal journeyed and stayed in Paris then Berlin. This was written during his exile.
12. Amor Patrio
“Love of Country”
He wrote while he was in Barcelona. Described as a nationalistic essay wherin a pen name
Laong Laan was used. This article was published in two texts, one in Spanish and one in
Tagalog.
13. The Song of Maria Clara
It is a poem inside his first novel, Noli Me Tangere, which is also a popular piece of poetry.
María Clara de los Santos is the heroine in "Noli Me Tangere" by José Rizal and is apparently
based on Leaonor Rivera. 

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.

14. To Josephine (1895)

A Josefina (To Josephine) is one of the poems of the Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal
dedicated to Josephine Bracken, an Irish woman and lover of Rizal who went to Dapitan to
accompany her stepfather, George Taufer, an Englishman seeking the professional services of
Rizal as a doctor of ophthalmology
30. The Song of Traveller (1895)
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 the Governor-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.
15. To the Filipino Youth(1879)
A La Juventud Filipina was the poem Jose Rizal wrote when he was in the University of Santo
Tomas. He submitted the poem for a poetry contest organized by the Liceo Artistico Literario de
Manila (Manila Lyceum of Art and Literature for Filipinos). He was only 18 years old then
(1879) but he won first prize (a silver feather-shaped pen decorated with a gold ribbon). Rizal
dedicated the poem to the Filipino youth. This was where the word Filipino was first used to
describe the natives of the Philippines, not the Spaniards born in the islands. At the beginning of
the poem, Rizal urges the youth to develop their talents in various arts and sciences for the
betterment of the Filipinos. "Unfold, oh timid flower!," The poem challenges the Filipino youth
to be motivated by a noble purpose: to free the people from ignorance as well as to seek freedom
and human dignity. He also described the youth as hope of the Motherland who holds the power
to free those sorely grieved, by a charm'd word. He also compared the Filipino youth to the voice
of Philomel that can erase away tears and grief. Freeing of spirit can be attained by the study of
various arts and sciences and knowledge can bring fame and glory to the beloved country.
2 reasons why famous poem of Rizal was described as “winning classic in Philippine literature”
1. It was the first Spanish Poem written by a Filipino which gained recognition among
known Spanish authors and 2. It contained for the first time, the nationalistic sentiment
insinuation that Filipinos and not foreigners wew the “fair hope of the Fatherland”

16. Hymn to Labor

Rizal wrote this poem for Lipa in 1888 in commemoration of the town’s elevation to a villa
(city) by virtue of the Becerra Law in 1888, which was unique and far different from the others
in the sense that it prepared other members of a group to join the hymn
17. Mi Ultimo Adios
My Last Farewell. The most famous of the poems of Rizal.  His last one, a masterpiece, written
on the eve of his execution.  Originally, the poem was without a title and was not signed.  The
title was given by Father Mario Dacanay, a Filipino priest-patriot.  It was published for the first
time in La Independencia, a newspaper of Gen. Antonio Luna on Sept. 25, 1898, almost one year
and a half after Rizal’s execution.  Currently, there are twenty-eight translations of the poem,
but that made by Charles E. Darbyshire. Although Rizal did not give his poem a title, his last
poem has become known Mi Ultimo Adios.
Conclusion
The heroism of Dr. Jose P. Rizal is a manifestation of strength of the Filipinos to face the
challenges of time with valor. His contributions to attain freedom bring about changes in the
lives of the Filipinos and that makes him everyone’s epitome. The life of Dr. Jose P. Rizal is a
living example among Filipinos to live with their intelligence and help bring the country to the
pedestal through intelligence and abilities. Rizal was the first to build a school for Dapitanons,
aimed to establish specialization in Hongkong and believed that the Philippines can acquire
freedom through education. It cannot be argued that Rizal is the source of strength and hope of
the Philippines which is observed during his four Dapitan. ss four years of exile in the city is not
actually a torture for him but an opportunity. He spared his time imparting his talents, skills and
abilities as well as his knowledge to the Dapitanons and continued his idealism for the
improvement and attainment of freedom of his beloved country. The poem interprets that these
are the words of one about to die for his country. He expresses no regret but only gladness,
knowing that in giving his life, he is giving his country the greatest gift any citizen could offer.
Rizal says that it does not matter where one dies, but why one dies and to what purpose but all
death hold the same honor if given for home and Country.
Recommendation
To value and acknowledge Rizal’s heroism, a compilation of his poems may be made and make
use of such compilation in teaching literature or instruction which poems are applicable to let the
students appreciate and utilize the same in promoting Philippine culture and tourism. After
introducing the text to the learners, encourage them to devise their own masterpiece specifically
a poem related to the happenings in their community or in the country applying the elements of
poetry like beauty, imagery, symbolism, figurative languages and the like.