ENRIQUEZ, Isaac Noah

M.
ECE12
SOCSCI102
Sir Aquino Garcia

THE INTIMATE
ALLIANCE BETWEEN
RELIGION AND
EDUCATION

NOTE: This poem was

written by Rizal was
almost at the age of fifteen
and a student at the Ateneo
not long before he
graduated. It may be noted
that the Jesuits held to a
strong relationship
between education and
faith, the ratio studiorum.
-- rly

As the climbing ivy over

lofty elm
Creeps tortuously, together
the adornment
Of the verdant plain,
embellishing

So is Education to Religion
By spiritual alliance firmly
bound.
Through Religion,
Education gains renown,
and
Woe to the impious mind
that blindly spurning
The sapient teachings of
Religion, this
Unpolluted fountainhead
forsakes.

As the sprout, growing

from the pompous vine,
Proudly offers us its
honeyed clusters
While the generous and
freshning waters
Of celestial virtue give
new life
To Education true,
shedding
On it warmth and light;
because of them
The vine smells sweet and
gives delicious fruit.

By the roaring blows and

buffets of the dread
Tempestuous Boreas [The
north wind -- rly], who
fiercely wields
His power until he proudly
sends her down
Into the deep abysses of
the angered sea.

As heavens dew the

meadow feeds and
strengthens
So that blooming flowers
all the earth
Embroider in the days of
spring; so also
If Religion holy nourishes
Education with its
doctrines, she
Shall walk in joy and
generosity
Toward the Good, and
everywhere bestrew
The fragrant and luxuriant
fruits of Virtue.

19 April 1876.

Each other and together

growing,

Without Religion,
Human Education

But should the kindly elm

refuse its aid

Is like unto a vessel struck

by winds

The ivy would impotent

and friendless wither;

Which, sore beset, is of its

helm deprived

REACTION PAPER:

As I read Dr. Rizals writing about Education and Religion, with metaphorical and
artistic way by using words that represents nature, and these words ignite my
imagination, it was like in a dream, where Education is the tree and Religion is the
ground, working together to create a new seed, with Educations branches waving in the
air, with her leaves riding the wind and as the rain falls down, each leaves that fell to the
ground became a new seed. As I have read from Rizals point of view, every man/ child/
student has two aspects that he should find within the university he chooses and viceversa, each university should provide complete Intellectual aspect, Moral aspect and
Spiritual aspect.
From the first stanza, my own interpretation is that, Rizal points out that one does
not stand firmly if the other is not present. Education as the ivy, and Religion as the elm
tree, that Religion refined and purified what Education reveals, Religion limits the
Educations scope and if ever Religion stopped limiting Education, Education would be
pointless. From the second stanza, it was fruits being made by a tree, if it would be seen
as a person, it would be a person which is morally correct, intelligent and God-fearing.
From the third stanza, where in, if a person lacks Spiritual stability and Moral orientation,
his intellect can be easily shaken down by culture and society. And lastly, if Religion
continually supports Education, then each student and/or professor will have complete
moral, spiritual and intellectual aspect.

If I would reflect on Rizals thoughts and apply it to what the society is now, if
each citizen, had a complete spiritual, moral and intellect, the nation would be better.