MODULE 8 – DR.

JOSE RIZAL’S LITERARY WORKS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this module, the students will be able to:

1. Examine the context, theme and purpose of Rizal’s literary works;

2. Explain Rizal’s perspective of analysis and interpretation of these works;
3. Determine the significance of Rizal’s literary works on Philippine culture and society.

MODULE OUTLINE:

INTRODUCTION

Rizal’s Idealism in the Poetry

The majority of Rizal’s verses written in Spanish and Filipino were composed while abroad,
on his return to his motherland, in exile, and before his death. Literary critics have immortalized
him as a poet. Rizal’s poems were published in Spanish and Philippine newspapers, in multilingual
translations, on textbooks, on literature and social sciences, some of them printed anonymously.
Mariano Ponce, his contemporary historian, revealed Rizal’s authorship. Some of his verses have
been set to music, have been adapted to dance, or have inspired other literary works. His poems
express a deep concern for freedom and justice. Most of his early poetic attempts were written
under the guidance of his mother.

To My Fellow Children (Sa aking mga Kabata)

It is a Tagalog poem written allegedly by Jose Rizal when he was 8 years old. Whether or not it was
written by Jose Rizal, the poem had inspired nationalism among Filipinos.

Ideas of Jose Rizal:

1. Love of one’s language
2. The Tagalog language was equated by Jose Rizal to other languages like the
Spanish, English and Latin.

The message of the poem is all about our love of our country and our own language. Our
language is our powerful weapon towards freedom and liberty against the colonizers that ruled our
country before, especially the Spaniards. And that we should not feel inferior to other languages
against the colonizers that ruled our country before, especially the Spaniards because it is a Gift
given to us from God.

Love of Country (El Amor Patrio)

In June 1882 when Rizal was in Barcelona, Spain he wrote an article entitled “El amor
patrio” (love of country/patriotism) for the Diariong Tagalog (a short-lived Manila newspaper)
published by Basilio Teodoro. He was 21 Years Old when he wrote this essay where he used the
Pen name "Laong Laan " in DiariongTagalog Manila during August 20, 1882. This was his first
ever written article.

Rizal, made this essay in order to express his fondness of the country he grew up in, that no
matter how many other different countries he would eventually visit, it would remain on the
forefront of his mind.
"In our country are the first memories of childhood and memories of our first days of life". His
fondness was incredibly evident in this phrase, he emphasized that us, Filipinos had our own native
land to protect and love, it is not Spain’s nor any other countries ' home, it is ours and ours alone.

My Retreat (Mi Retiro)

It is a poem written by Jose Rizal for his mother which expressed Jose Rizal’s serene life in
Dapitan. This poem shows Rizal’s acceptance of his destiny and whatever justice will be given him.

My last farewell (Mi Ultimo Adios)

Jose Rizal was imprisoned in Fort Santiago, Intramuros for the charges of rebellion,
sedition, and conspiracy in which he was convicted on all three charges, and sentenced to death by
firing squad. This poem expresses Jose Rizal’s undying love for the Philippines and his loved ones.
He reiterated that dying for one’s conviction and for the country is a great honor.

At the eve before his execution, Rizal wrote his final poem on a single paper revealing his
strong nationalism and unwavering love for his country. The poem consists of 14 five-line stanzas
and was written in Spanish. It was later received by his family hidden inside a small alcohol stove.
Originally, Rizal did not give a title for it and if remained untitled, by virtue of logic and literary
tradition, it would be titled by the words coming from the first line of the poem itself. But it was
later on entitled "Mi Ultimo Adios" by Mariano Ponce, his friend and fellow reformist.

Importance of the Mi Ultimo Adios:

• This was considered one of the evidences that Rizal did not retract his beliefs.
• The poem together with Rizal's execution ignited the Philippine Revolution
• In 1902, the poem was recited before the American House of Representatives. The
poem revealed the nobility of the author and forever changed how Americans looked
at Filipinos during the American Occupation resulting to the passing of the
Philippine Bill of 1902.

To the young women of Malolos (Sa mga kababayang dalaga sa Malolos)

Dr. Rizal wrote this famous letter in Tagalog, while he was residing in London, upon
therequest of M. H. del Pilar. The background of this letter is that:

On December 12, 1888, a group of twenty young women of Malolos petitioned Governor-
General Weyle are asking to open a “night school”, to study the Spanish language under Teodoro
Sandiko. On February 22, 1889, Rizal sent this letter to Del Pilar for transmittal to Malolos- They
finally succeeded in obtaining government approval to their project on the following conditions:
 - Señora Guadalupe Reyes should be their teacher.
- The funds will come from their own purse.
- The classes will be held in daytime.

Addressed to the Filipino women, Rizal’s letter entitled To The Young Women of
Malolos reflects his inheritance and issues reminders to Filipino women. In his letter, he addresses
all kinds of Filipino women – mothers, wives, and even the single women. Throughout this literary
piece, he highlights the qualities that Filipino mothers should possess, the duties of wives to their
husbands and children, and a counsel on how young women should choose their lifetime partners.
The idea behind this letter sparked after he was impressed by the women of Malolos who won the
battle they fought. Rizal advises women to educate themselves, protect their dignity and honor, and
live with good manners – setting up as a role model.

The Indolence of the Filipinos (La Indolencia De Los Filipinos)

The Indolence of Filipino was an essay written by Dr. Jose Rizal when he was in Paris.
Published in La Solidaridad in 5 installments, from July 15 to September 15, 1890. He made this to
explain the alleged laziness of his people during the Spanish regime. Where Filipinos were
ostracized as being indolent, Rizal saw the source of said indolence and struck the root of the cause.
According to the essay of Dr. Jose Rizal before the colonization of Spaniards in the
Philippines, Filipinos were industrious and hardworking, but because of the influences during the
Spanish regime, it brought about a decline in economic activities which can be attributed to a wide
scope of causes. All of which are a part of the decline in economic activities during the Spanish
regime.

It was originally entitled “La Indolencia de los Filipinos” and was published in the
periodical La Solidaridad in five installments from July 15 to September 15, 1890. It’s a
response of Jose Rizal to the accusation of Spaniards that the indios (Filipinos) were indolent.

Contents:

Part I. Introduction

Rizal defined the idea of indolence. He criticized that in the Philippines indolence is
blamed for shortcomings and misdeeds of a person. He argued that indolence is not the cause of
backwardness and trouble but the effect of trouble and backwardness.

Jose Rizal admitted that Filipinos have the predisposition of laziness but he attributed this to the
tropical climate of the Philippines. He maintained that indolence is natural and claimed that
the Spaniards and other Europeans were more indolent for they use climate as a reason for
them not to work as hard as the natives in their colonies. They use the natives to do their work
and enjoy their position and manipulation of the situation.

Part II and III

Rizal asserted that the indolence of the Filipinos is a chronic malady [illness] but it is not
hereditary, for Filipinos have not always been indolent. He used several accounts which prove
that Filipinos before the colonization of Spain were virtuous and industrious.
 Part III

In this part, Jose Rizal explained the reasons for the indolence of the Filipinos or the
abandonment of industry, agriculture and commerce” by citing repressive policies implemented
by the Spanish authorities. He concluded that the Filipinos became indolent because they didn’t
benefit from their hard works.

Part IV

In this part, Jose Rizal explained the conditions that foster/encourage and sustain the
indolence of the Filipinos. He explained thet these conditions had made the Filipinos
hopeless and uncertain of their future. Having no reason and motivation to work, he
remained inactive, unproductive and indolent.

Part V

In this part, Jose Rizal explained the reasons of the indolence of the Filipinos which
emanates from them but was perpetrated by the Spaniards. He also explained the causes and
effects of the lack of national sentiments of Filipinos arguing that due to the lack of national
sentiment and the prevailing social conditions in the Philippines that causes great hardships
and miseries, the Filipinos lost their hope and motivation to work and became indolent. For Jose
Rizal indolence of the Filipinos and the backwardness of the Philippines were caused by the
Spaniards.

The Spaniards established the Galleon trade which cut off all our connections with Asia and
the Middle East, exclusively limiting us to trade only with Spain through Mexico and basically
drilled the Filipinos to forced labor working in the shipyards and making roads instead of
agriculture, industry, commerce. The Spaniards were a bad example to the Filipinos, as the women
were followed around by servants doing all the things, they ought to do by themselves, basically
introducing the concept of laziness. There was also the notion that was taught by the crooked
system of religion, that it was easier for a poor man to enter heaven, thus further encouraging the
Filipinos to no longer work and just remain poor. They provided poor education for the students as
their teachings did not even involve the concept of livelihood, just repetitive prayers and things that
were not detrimental to the country ' s progress. The Filipinos also did not receive any form of
protection from invading pirates and had their homes stolen from them and burned, subjecting them
to being nomads and ultimately made them submissive to the mercy of God.

In conclusion, Rizal fought for what was our true essence, that our supposed laziness was
only brought about by the Spaniards ' deceitful acts, that we were more than submissive servants,
we were capable of so much more, and had they not invaded we would have continued to develop.

To The Filipino Youth (A La Juventud Filipina)

It is a poem submitted by Jose Rizal to a poetry contest which had been organized for
Filipinos by the Manila Lyceum of Art and Literature in 1879. He won the first prize and received a
silver feather-shaped pen with decorations of gold and a diploma.
 In this poem, Rizal challenged the youth to study, and develop their full potential for they
are the fair hope of our motherland. They should be able to think and act independently, seek
solutions from within themselves for the betterment of the country.

Rizal once dedicated one of his poems titled “To the Filipino Youths”, not only for the
youths of his time or the generation after them but to all Filipino youths of the past, present and for
future. Rizal wants to remind our young and future leaders that they are the future of the fatherland.
Filipino youths these days seems not live up to what Rizal wanted them to be. Regardless, the
youths of today are still the future of the fatherland but not the ideal youths that Rizal had hope.

To the Flowers of Heidelberg (A Las Flores de Heidelberg)

It was written in April 24, 1886 while he was in Germany and studying ophthalmology. He
was fascinated by the blooming flowers he saw at the Neckar River, especially with the forget-me-
nots.in the spring in Heidelberg and wrote this poem, feeling a deep longing for his family and his
country. Rizal used the flowers as a symbol of his love for his motherland. The flowers reduced in
quality mirrors to Rizal’s useless presence in his country. This poem reflects Rizal’s hopes for the
betterment of the country and the lives of the Filipinos.

Also, To the Flowers of Heidelberg was also a nod to his German venture. Due to the fact
that Rizal studied German language in Heidelberg, he celebrated his 25th birthday with a Lutheran
minister (Karl Ulmer), he attended lectures of ophthalmology under Dr. Otto Becker and Prof.
Wilhelm Kuehne in Alte Universidad, and he trained under two outstanding ophthalmologist Dr.
Becker and Dr. Galezowsky in Augen Klinik.

The Song of the Traveler (El Canto del Viajero)

The poem is known to express sorrow among his creations and was written during his exile.
This expresses Jose Rizal’s feeling of homesickness while talking about the different challenges and
obstacles that a traveler encounters.

This is a poem where he wrote his journey “from shore to shore”, accompanied only by
memories of his joyous days The Song of the Traveler is a poem written by Rizal that shows how
he was a true Filipino who loved his country though he was acculturated to the European lifestyle
and mindset since he spend many years abroad. Because of this, to the Filipino people, he had
become something alien through his different educational experiences. It distanced him from the
culture of his motherland. The poem mainly revolves around the loneliness of being an immigrant
or a traveler.

Rizal captures the image of being an outsider and far away from loved ones. In a foreign land,
one may feel like he has no purpose or is useless. It is very difficult to feel welcome because there
is no sense of belongingness. Rizal talks about trying to find happiness in a foreign place but it
seems like it can never be as satisfying as being in the motherland. Because of this, being a traveler
as described by Rizal can become quite lonesome. Only the happy memories of his loved ones keep
him company. A traveler becomes very nostalgic when he has been away for a very long time.
 In Rizal’s poem, he has thoughts about how maybe death will end his pain and sufferings.
However, dying in a foreign land will be a huge waste because no one will remember him and he
will just be soon forgotten by the people back in his motherland. If people were to be jealous of a
traveler, they do not understand how lonesome and alienating a journey can be without loved ones
to give support. He may want to return to his country after a long time, however it will never be the
same as before. People change and they may have forgotten about you and moved on. Being a
stranger to your own land, could be a sad truth for being a traveler for such a long time but Rizal
tells us in the poem that the traveler should move on and not look back because people may not care
about you like before.

It is a beautiful poem because it captures so well the loneliness of an immigrant. In your new
home you may never truly be accepted as anything more than an outsider, yet the culture you will
inevitably adapt to will mark you for life in your perspective so that you can never return to your
country of origin and fit in as seamlessly as you might once have done. In the end you are
simultaneously a native and a foreigner to both nations.

The voluminous compositions of Dr. Jose Rizal indicate that he spent a great part of his life
in writing his novels, essays, letters and poems. These works covered an array of topics such as
education, politics, history, philosophy and religion. Deeply embedded in his works are his ideas of
patriotism and nationalism. He had written what he had observed on the prevailing conditions of
society and proposed ways on how these conditions should be mitigated, remedied or solved.