“To the Philippines”

by Jose P. Rizal

(Critical Analysis)

Introduction

This poem “To the Philippines” is about the unselfish love of Jose Rizal for the
Philippines. It is composed to awaken Filipinos patriotism for the country.

Analysis

Aglowing and fair like a houri on high,

Full of grace and pure like the Morn that peeps

When in the sky the clouds are tinted blue,

Of th’ Indian land, a goddess sleeps.

Rizal used simile and metaphor to describe his beloved country in this part of the poem.
In the first line of the first stanza, he likens the Philippines to a houri. According to Oxford
Languages, a houri is a beautiful young woman, especially one of the virgin companions of the
faithful in the Muslim Paradise. The second and third line is more like a sentence when you
arranged it. In the last line, he describe his motherland to a sleeping goddess of the Indian land, it
maybe because the Philippines is not yet free from the colonization of Spain.

The light foam of the son’rous sea

Doth kiss her feet with loving desire;

The cultured West adores her smile

And the frosty Pole her flow’red attire.

 In the first and second line of the second stanza, it says about the Philippines being
kissed by the light foam of the son’rous sea. Rizal used these words to describe the Philippines as
an archipelago. It is also included here that the country is being colonized by the West.

With tenderness, stammering, my Muse

To her ‘midst undines and naiads does sing;

I offer her my fortune and bliss:

Oh, artists! Her brow chaste ring

With myrtle green and roses red

And lilies, and extol the Philippines!

In the third stanza, Rizal shows his adoration of his motherland. He uses the word
undines and naiads which in mythology are different types of nymphs. The myrtle, roses and
lilies represents the nature of the Philippines.

This poem was written by Jose Rizal to express how he unselfishly love the
Philippines. Although we have freedom now, as Filipinos, we should always show love for our
country even in small things like voting the right and deserving person.

Sources:

http://www.joserizal.ph/pm04.html

https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/

https://www.icysedgwick.com/water-nymphs/