Lifetime Literary Accomplishments according to Gunner (n.d.

According to Gunner (n.d.), Jose Rizal’s literary works surpasses those of writers who live long lives. Furthermore, his
works are considered notable because of their significance in Filipino independence and the beauty of the language
used.
Plays of José Rizal

 Rizal used satire effectively as a rhetorical device for his political messages (Gunner, n.d.). Criticizing the
political state of the Philippines back then, Rizal’s plays often included absurd situations.
 El Consejo de los Dioses
 Junta Al Pasig (Along the Pasig)
 San Euistaquio, Mártyr
 Por Telefono (By Phone)
 Poems of Rizal
 At age 14, Rizal wrote the poem “To the Child Jesus.” This indicates his interest in Christianity and social equity
at an early age (Gunner, n.d.). Rizal’s poems reflected how beautiful and at the same time cruel his country was.
This led him to write his final poem before his execution, which was named “Mi ultimo adios” by Mariano Ponce.
 “Farewell to 1883”
 “Por la Educación Recibe Lustre la Patria”
 “Sa Aking mga Kabata”
 “Mi Último Adiós” (My Last Farewell)
 “Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo”
 “Felicitation”
 “Flower Among Flowers”
 “Goodbye to Leonor”
 “Himno Al Trabajo”
 “Himno Al Talisay” (Hymn to Talisay)
 “Kundiman”
 “Mi Retiro”
 “El Canto del Viajero”
 “To the Child Jesus”
 “To the Virgin Mary”
 “Agua y Fiego” (Water and Fire)
 “Me Piden Versos”

Musical Compositions

Rizal also composed music. He used his poems and transformed them to lyrics (Gunner, n.d.). In addition, some of
his compositions were adapted to longer pieces by future generations. These are some of his compositions:

 Kundiman ni Rizal
 Alin Mang Lahi
 Leonor

Speeches and Petitions

During 1880 and 1890 art was political and Rizal belonged to a group of artist who were also activists (Gunner, n.d.).
The group used writing, music, and art to stand up against tyranny. For Rizal, his speeches honored his friends and
countrymen who fought for freedom.

 In honor of two Filipino painters, Rizal’s toast to Luna and Hidalgo

 Rizal’s speech delivered at Cafe Habanero
 Petition of the town of Calamba
 Order of the Marquis of Malinta

Historical

Rizal was also a proficient historian as he could read in different languages (Gunner, n.d.). These languages included
Spanish, Italian, English, German, French, and Tagalog. Through his commentaries on different works, Rizal
provides a look into the Philippines in that era.

 Ma-Yi
 Tawalisi of Ibn Batuta
 Filipinas Dentro de Cien Años
 Sobre La Indolencia De Los Filipinas
 Manila en el mes Diciembre, 1872
 Historia de la Familia Rizal de la Calamba
 Los Pueblos del Archipelago Indico
 La Politica Colonial on Filipinas
 Rizal’s Annotations to Morga’s 1609 Philippine History
Letters and Petitions

Jose Rizal also had a large number of correspondences in the form of letters and petitions (Gunner, n.d.). Through
these correspondences, one could understand Rizal better as a political figure. He wrote to his fellow activists, family,
Ferdinand Blumentritt, Leonor Rivera, and Josephine Bracken.

 Tribute to Blumentritt
 Sa Mga Kababaihang Taga Malolos
 A Los Filipinos (To the Filipinos)
 Rizal’s letters (composed of correspondence to Blumentritt, Father Pablo Pastells, Marcelo del Pilar, and other
activists)

Articles and Essays

Majority of Rizal’s work come from his articles and essays (Gunner, n.d.). Through his essays that were published in
La Solidaridad and other political circulars, Rizal admired the Filipino people while criticizing their Spanish
oppressors. He was imprisoned when the Spanish government found his writings.

 “El Amor Patrio”

 “Come se gobiernan las Filipinas”
 “Revista De Madrid" (Review of Madrid)
 “Los Viajes” (Travels)
 “La Verdad Para Todos"Unfortunate Philippines”
 “Pensamientos De Un Filipino”
 “Note on the Maremagnum”
 “Los Agricultores Filipinos”
 “Sa Mga Kababayan”
 “Una Visita A La Victoria Gaol”
 “A La Defensa” (To La Defensa)
 “How to Deceive the Native Land”
 “To Barrantes on the Tagalog Theater”
 “Una Profanacion,” ”Verdades Nuevas”
 “Crueldad" (Cruelty)
 “Diferencias” (Differences)
 “Inconsequencias” (Inconsequences)
 “Llanto Y Risas” (Tears and Laughter)
 “Ingratitudes” (Ingratitude)
 “Cosas de Filipinas”
 “Sobre La Nueva Ortografia De La Lengua Tagala”
 “A La Nacion Espanola"
 “Defensa Del Noli”
 “Nameless”
 “Let Us be Just”
 “Philippine Affairs”
 “More on the Negros Affair”
 “Cowardly Revenge”
 “A Reply to Mr. Isabelo de los Reyes' Las Luchas de Nuestros Dias”
 “How the Philippines is Governed”
 “On the Calamba Incidents”
 “Ang mga Karapatan ng Tao”
 “Executives of the Town of Calamba”
 “Colonisation Du British North Borneo, Par De Familles De Iles Philippines”
 “Proyecto De Colonization Del British North Borneo Por Los Filipinos”
 “La Instruccion”
 “La Mano Roja” (The Red Hand)
 “Pobres Frailes” (Poor Friars)
 “By-laws of the Association of Dapitan Farmers”
 “Date for My Defense”
 “Additions to My Defense”
 “Manifesto to Some Filipinos”
 “The Philippines as a Spanish Colony”
 “Notes on Melanesia, Malaysia, and Polynesia”
 “Constitution of La Liga Filipina”
 “La Vision Del Fray Rodriguez” (The Vision of Fr. Rodriguez)
 “Estado de religiosidad de los pueblos en Filipinas”’

General Understanding of Rizal as a Writer

According to Mojaro (2018), an issue occurred with the problem in recognizing Jose Rizal as a national hero. There
was more of a focus on Rizal’s life and not much on his works and writings. “The lack of understanding of Rizal
comes from the fact that Rizal was a writer and suffered the irony of being a national hero in a country where most
people do not like to read” (Mojaro, 2018, para. 5).
Unfortunately, Rizal’s writings are read in a shallow and nationalist way and are not critically analyzed (Mojaro, 2018).
With the exception of Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, the rest of Rizal’s literary works are rarely seen in
bookstores. If it were not for the efforts of Teodoro M. Kalaw, the rest of Rizal’s works would not be readily available
in the present.

1. Prolific – Most of his literary masterpieces were not made for entertainment but exhibit deep meaning. His
works were written for specific purposes.

2. Double entendre – His phrases could have two meanings that could be understood in two different ways. He
liked to keep secret codes and loved to hide the sarcasm in serving the painful truth.

3. Heroic – Most of his works showed heroism and selflessness. He implored and praised heroic deeds in many
of his written accounts.

4. Social transformation – Studying in Madrid, traveling in places, and being a propagandist influenced Rizal
on the nature of his work and made him aim for social change.

5. Nationalistic and patriotic – He aimed to better the country as it is always present in his literary works.

6. Experiential –Parts of his stories and literary works were based on actual events that he experienced or
witnessed.

What we read affects us. It inhabits our mind and influences our thoughts and point of view in life and almost
everything. Our decisions are based on the abstract truth that we build in our consciousness, and what we read truly
affects this process. Written below are some of the outcomes that may prevail if someone will appreciate the literary
masterpieces of Rizal.

1. Political awareness – Most of his works are written to scrutinize the political status of the country. Reading
his works might influence you on how to check, unravel, and investigate the government's shortcomings.

2. Social awareness – His works also show how we should observe the becoming of society. Social awareness
and the current status of society some of the highlights of his works. Reading the works of Rizal might help
you in observing what is happening in reality.

3. To be active – Rizal always encourages self-development that leans toward personal improvement and your
action-driven impact on society. For Rizal, life could only be fruitful if used to improve the country and society.

4. To patronize our Nationality – We should build our identity, that is, to embrace being Filipino and to be
proud of what we are. We should not believe how other nationalities shape us; instead, we should focus on
improving our own culture without losing our true identities.

5. To build camaraderie – We should become one. Rizal believed that citizens must unite and work hand in
hand in building a better society.

6. To see the bitter truth – Rizal’s works are idealistic, but they showed the bitter truth, the mishaps, and the
misfortunes that surround the society. To see the contributions of this bitter truth in understanding the status is
to diagnose the problem and address the solutions properly.
7. To love – Rizal is indeed a romantic. He has a talent for charming and swooning women, as shown in his
works.

8. To be selfless – This refers to working not for personal development but to work and serve the lives of
others. His work teaches us that we can impact our society by working to improve the lives of one another. To
live with a noble cause brings not only success but also growth.

9. To aim for progress and reforms – This refers to seeking change, that is, to avoid mediocrity and aim for
something better. We should not settle with what we have. We should search for what we could be to serve
our country.

10. To become a visionary – Rizal will teach us how to dream. To look forward and chase those dreams.

11. Education – Rizal has always believed in the power of education. He believed in what a learned man can do
and how knowledge can change our status.