POEMS OF RIZAL

Sa Aking Mga Kabata “To my fellow children” a poem about the love of

one's native language written in Tagalog.

Jose Rizal wrote it in 1869 at the age of eight.

The poem was widely taught in Philippine schools to point out Rizal's precociousness and early development of his nationalistic ideals.

Mi Primera Inspiracion

“My first inspiration” 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.

Por la Educacion Recibe Lustre la Patria

“Through Education Our Motherland Receives Light”

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.

Alianza Íntima Entre La Religión Y La Buena Educación

“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.

Religious Poems

Al Nino Jesus› “To the Child Jesus”› written in Spanish by Jose Rizal in 1875 at the

age of 14 during his stay Ateneo De Municipal.

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.

After his mother’s imprisonment, he wrote many poems, mostly inspired by his friend and professor: Father Sanchez.

Among the poems he wrote, in 1875 werethe ff:

Felicitacion (Felicitation) El Embarque Himno a la Flota de Magallanes

(The Departure: Hymn to Magellan’s Fleet) Y Es Español: Elcano, el Primero en dar la Vuelta

al Mundo (And He Is Spanish Elcano, the First to Circumnavigate the World)

El Combate: Urbiztondo, Terror de Jolo (The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo)

In 1876, he wrote other poems on various topics. Among these are:

Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo› “In Memory of My Town”› Which was also another tender poem

about the town where he was born.

El Cuativerio y el Triunfo: Batalla de Lucena y Prisioni de Boabdil› “The Captivity and the Triumph: Battle of Lucena

and the Imprisonment of Boabdil”› This martial poem describes the defeat and

capture of Boabdil, last Moorish sultan of Granada.

Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo

“In Memory of My Town” Rizal wrote it in 1876 when he was 15

years old while a student in the Ateneo de Manila.

This poem is about the Calamba, the place where he was born, which he loved very dearly.

The following year of 1877 also showed a lot of poetry that were written by him:

El Heroismo de Colon› “The Heroism of Columbus”› This poem praises Columbus for his adventurous spirit

and his success as an explorer.

Colon y Juan II› “Columbus and John II”› This poem relates how the King of Portugal, John II missed

fame and riches by his failure to finance the expedition of Columbus to the New World.

Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha› “A Farewell Dialogue by the Students”› This is a virtual farewell poem of Rizal written during

his last days in Ateneo.

2 Reasons why famous poem of Rizal, “To The Filipino Youth” 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,

2. It contained for the first time, the nationalistic sentiment insinuating that the Filipinos, and not the foreigners were the “fair hope of the Fatherland.”

Abd- el- Azis y Mahoma 1879, which was declaimed by Manuel

Fernandez, an Atenean on the occasion of the Ateneo’s patroness.

A Filipinas 1880, for the Album of the Society of

Sculptures.

Al M.R. P. Pablo Ramon 1881, the Ateneo rector whom he

considered a very good and helpful friend.

Amor Patrio “Love of Country” He wrote while he was in Barcelona. Described as a nationalistic essay wherein a pen

name Laong Laan was used. This article was published in two texts, one in

Tagalog and one in Spanish.

Los Viajes “Travels” Inspired by the encouragement given

by the publisher

Revista de Madrid “Review of Madrid” The latter which was returned for the

newspaper had ceased publication for financial reasons.

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”

1882-1885Rizal journeyed and stayed in Paris

and then in Berlin.

“To the Flowers of Heidelberg” Wrote in April 22, 1886. Describing such beautiful spring

flowers. While viewing the cool banks of the

Neckar River, he was fascinated by the blooming forget-me-nots along its banks and so impressed was he that he wrote this poem.

Flores de Heidelberg

The Song of Maria Clara

It is a poem inside his first novel, Noli Me Tangere, which is also a popular piece of poetry.

While an exile in Dapitan, Rizal wrote a poem about Talisay.

Josephine, Josephine

He wrote this poem for Josephine.

The Song of the Traveller It was written when he received a letter

from Governor Blanco on July 1, 1896, that his volunteer application for medical service in Cuba was accepted.

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.

El 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.