Literary Works of Jose Rizal

Lesson 4
objectives:

■ Appraise the link between individual and society

through the works of Jose Rizal
■ Understanding the Socio-political climate of the
country in the time of Rizal through context of his
works
■ Analyze the effects of his works in context of where
the Philippines is in now today
wait!
Before you start reading the slides, download first the lesson 4
companion file attached in this module in it are the literary
works that will be discussed during this lesson
early works of Rizal
Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo
When he was 15 years old, he wrote “Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo”(In
Memory of My Town).
Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo
This was written when he was a student at the Ateneo, when he
remembered and missed his hometown, Calamba. This poem was
composed of seven stanzas in which the author poured his emotions.
Joyful reminiscing of childhood, longing for the place (hometown),
admiration of God’s gift (nature), amazement of the beauty of the town he
missed, and parting with hope in heart.
 La Primera Inspiracion
Jose Rizal wrote “Mi Primera
Inspiracion”(“My First Inspiration”) as
his first poem when he was at the
Ateneo. This was dedicated to Doña
Teodora on her natal day. He felicitated
his mother and expressed his affection
as a devoted son to a loving mother.

Image F. Amorsolo; Ina at Anak https://images.app.goo.gl/iFu2T3E9JHQFDZFd9

Fr. Sanchez inspired Jose Rizal to write more poems.
In 1875, he wrote; Felicitacion, El Embarque: Himno a
la Flota de Magallanes, in 1876; Un Recuerdo a Mi
Pueblo, Por la Educacion Recibe Lustre la Patria, in
1877; Colon y Juan II, El Heroismo de Colon, and
many others.
Other poems
“Through Education Our Motherland Receives Light”, a
poem expressing Jose Rizal’s belief that education plays a
vital role for a nation’s welfare and development. He exalted
education and its benefits even at a young age. In his
“Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education”,
he emphasized the relevance of religion in education. He
believed that education without the Almighty is not real
education.
Other poems
Other religious poems of Jose Rizal included: “To the Child Jesus” (“Al
Niño Jesus”) and “To the Virgin Mary” (“A La Virgen Maria”). “To the
Child Jesus” was written when he was 14 years old and during his days
as a student. In here, his devotion to the Catholic faith was
expressed through a melodic poetry. He used poetic
verses in writing a religious drama, which was
requested of him by Father Sanchez.
Trivia!
Sa Aking Mga Kabata Dilemma
“Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang salita mahigit sa
hayop at malansang isda.” perhaps we can agree that
this phrase has be overused ever since our initial
Filipino subjects. you may have recited this during your
buwan ng wika wearing that camesa de chino with the
red bandana or your little filipiñana. BUT do you know
who wrote this poem?

And of course you do?

iiits … Jose Rizal!

SIKE!
SIKE!

Although Rizal may have written

literary pieces as early as the age of
8, the “sa aking mga kabata” was
never one of them.

Lets take a look at this video to

understand more:

https://youtu.be/87fZdVNdWOE
What are your thoughts after watching the video?
● Let us go to the forum and have a discussion about it
● Share your thoughts and realizations about what you saw
● You can also share your childhood experiences relating the poem we
are discussing.
● be sure to interact in the forum because
it may be graded ;)
To the Filipino Youth

In 1879, Jose Rizal entered his poem “To the Filipino

Youth” (“A La Juventud Filipina”) in a literary contest in
Artistic-Literary Lyceum of Manila. Impressed by Jose
Rizal’s poem, The Board of Judges who were Spaniards,
gave it the first prize. His prize which was a
silver pen added to his happiness in winning
the poetry contest.
To the Filipino Youth
This was a call for the Filipino youth to be energetic and make
use of art and science to help break the chains that have tied the
people’s spirit. This poem was the first great poem written by a Filipino
in Spanish. For the first time, this poem expressed
the nationalistic concept that the Filipinos were the fair
hope of the Fatherland, not the foreigners.
El Consejo de los Dioses

In the following year, another literary

contest was opened by the
Artistic-Literary Lyceum, in
commemoration of the 400th year of the
death of Cervantes, the famous author of
Don Quixote.

Image: Miguel Cervantes https://images.app.goo.gl/Z6hb2t6SK2tf13yY7

 El Consejo de los Dioses
A lot of writers participated in the contest. Jose Rizal submitted “El Consejo de los
Dioses” (“The Council of the Gods”), an allegorical drama. Since it was superior
over the other literary entries, Rizal’s work was awarded the first prize. That
winning piece of his was based on Greek classics.

image: Divine council https://images.app.goo.gl/kRgA43xujSsnxvKf6

Other works
Another poem was written by Jose Rizal in 1882, in Madrid. It was
entitled , “Me Piden Versos” (“They Ask Me for Versos”), which was
written upon the request of the members of the Circulo Hispano-Filipino.

Image Circulo Hispano-Filipino Members https://images.app.goo.gl/Lyidh7Q4hzX3VWpG8

 Other works
In 1886, he wrote “A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (“To the Flowers of
Heidelberg”) because the beautiful flowers of spring reminded him of the
flowers in bloom in their home garden in Calamba.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg#/media/File%3ACarl_Philipp_Fohr_001.jpg
Other works
A poem dedicated to the industrious workers of Lipa was written in 1888
with the title “Himno Al Trabajo”(“Hymn to Labor”). He also wrote “To
My Muse”
Noli and El Fili
Not to be forgotten are Jose Rizal’s two famous novels: Noli Me Tangere (
The Social Cancer) and El Filibusterismo( The Reign of Greed). These
were intended for the opening of the eyes of his countrymen to the
cruelties and abuses of the Spaniards.
Makamisa
While in Hong Kong in 1892, the poet wrote the sequel to the El
Filibusterismo. Unfortunately Jose Rizal’s Third Novel was not finished. It
has only one chapter entitled “Makamisa” which was about 10 pages. The
famous historian, Ambeth Ocampo, was said to have
discovered the original manuscripts. (Geoffrey Rhoel
C. Cruz and Bernardino C. Ofalia, 2015)
Works during exile
While in Dapitan, Jose Rizal was still able to do some
literary works. He lived particulary in a part of Dapitan
called Talisay,(from Talisay tree). He wrote a poem,
“Himno A Talisay”, for his pupils to sing. The lyrics of this
poem can be read on a pavement in the Rizal Shrine in
Dapitan City.
Mi Retiro

Batong Lumayag ( Sailing Stone) was the name

of this heart-shaped rock in ancient history. It
was because it looked like floating or sailing
when the tide was high. It was later known as
“Mi Retiro Rock” since it was believed to be
where Jose Rizal wrote his longest poem

“Mi Retiro”, which was 10 stanzas longer than

his famous “Mi Ultimo Adios”. The latter
wascomposed of 14 stanzas.
Mi Retiro

It was also believed that Jose Rizal

and Josephine Bracken exchanged
vows as husband and wife in this site.
Also, Jose Rizal spent many hours
watching the sunset on this rock.
Mi Retiro and Mi Ultimo Adiós
This poem is regarded by some of his admirers as the most profound and
noble poem he ever composed. This was the “Mi Retiro” (“My Retreat”),
which was written on the “Mi Retiro Rock”. All critics agree that it is
second only to “Mi Ultimo Adiós” (“My Last Farewell”),
the last poem that he wrote. His last poem was written
on the eve of his execution on the
30th of December, 1896.
Mi Ultimo Adios
Paalam na, sintang lupang tinubuan,
Bayang masagana sa init ng araw,
Edeng maligaya sa ami’y pumanaw
At perlas ng dagat sa dakong Silangan.
Inihahandog ko ng ganap na tuwa
Sa iyo yaring buhay na lanta na’t aba;
Naging dakila ma’y iaalay rin nga
Kung dahil sa iyong ikatitimawa.
Ang nanga sa digmaan dumog sa paglaban
Handog din sa iyo ang kanilang buhay,
Hirap ay di pansin at di gunamgunam
Ang pagkaparool o pagtagumpay.
http://www.joserizal.ph/pm17.html
Bibitaya’t madlang mabangis na sakit
O pakikibakang lubhang mapanganib,
Pawang titiisin kung ito ang nais
Ng baya’t tahanang pinakaiibig.
Ako’y mamamatay ngayong minamalas
Ang kulay ng langit na nanganganinag
Ibinababalang araw ay sisikat
Sa kabila niyang mapanglaw na ulap.
Kung dugo ang iyong kinakailangan
Sa ikadidilag ng iyong pagsilang,
Dugo ko’y ibubo’t sa isa man lamang
Nang gumigiti mong sinag ay kuminang.
Mi Ultimo Adios
Ang mga nasa ko, mulang magkaisip,
Magpahanggang ngayon maganap ang bait,
Ang ikaw’y makitnag hiyas na marikit
Ng dagat Silangan na nakaliligid.
Noo mo’y maningning at sa mga mata
Mapait na luha bakas ma’y wala na,
Wala ka ng poot, wala ng balisa,
Walang kadungua’t munti mang pangamba,
Sa sandaling buhay maalab kong nais
Ang kagalingan mo’t ang paiwang sulit
Ng kaluluwa king gayak ng aalis:
Ginhawa’y kamtan mo! Anong pagkarikit!
http://www.joserizal.ph/pm17.html
Bibitaya’t madlang mabangis na sakit
O pakikibakang lubhang mapanganib,
Pawang titiisin kung ito ang nais
Ng baya’t tahanang pinakaiibig.
Ako’y mamamatay ngayong minamalas
Ang kulay ng langit na nanganganinag
Ibinababalang araw ay sisikat
Sa kabila niyang mapanglaw na ulap.
Kung dugo ang iyong kinakailangan
Sa ikadidilag ng iyong pagsilang,
Dugo ko’y ibubo’t sa isa man lamang
Nang gumigiti mong sinag ay kuminang.
synthesis
Lesson 4 is about Jose Rizal’s literary works. His literary passion started
when he was still young and ended on the eve of his execution when he
wrote his last poem “Mi Ultimo Adios”. He wrote poems on different subjects.
He wrote out of melancholy or out of joy. He wrote poems dedicated to
women. He wrote poems when he was requested to, aside from writing
poems for some other reasons too. He wrote essays and drama also. But the
most famous were his “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo”.

Each of his literary work could be likened to a seed,that if sown and

germinated in the fertile mind of those who comprehend, could be of help in
one way or another.
Source
Books
Agoncillo, Teodoro A.(1990). History of the Filipino People. Quezon City: GAROTECH Publishing.
Cruz, Geoffrey Rhoel C. and Bernadino C. Ofalia.(2015).A Workbook for Rizal Course.Mandaluyong
City: Anvil Publishing Inc.
Zaide, Gregorio F. and Sonia M. Zaide.(2008). Jose Rizal: Life, Works, and Writings of a Genius, Writer,
Scientist, and National Hero. Quezon City: All-Nations Publishing Co. Inc.
Internet Sources
https://www.slideshare.net/MeannMolar1993/poems-of-rizal
http://g1d.me/mi-retiro-rock/
https://www.tagaloglang.com/sa-aking-mga-kababata-jose-rizal/
https://prezi.com/ek7cj3isrq96/un-recuerdo-a-mi-pueblo-a-tribute-to-my-town/
https://www.joserizal.com/mi-retiro/
https://www.kapitbisig.com/philippines/poems-written-by-dr-jose-rizal-mi-retiro-by-dr-jose-rizal_612.html
https://www.google.com.ph/search?dcr=0&source=hp&ei=DYaDWrfkMMaq0QTxlKywAQ&q=date+
when+mi+retiro+was+written&oq=date+when+mi+retiro+was+written&gs
https://marydenapril.wordpress.com/2015/08/12/hello-world/
https://www.scribd.com/doc/34172588/To-My-Fellow-Children-by-Jose-P-Rizal
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fgscQ31Lf00/SeV3hmMXQ1I/AAAAAAAACGE/lwZoODJmDos/s320/jose
+rizal+w+pen+copy.jpg