West Visayas State University

Janiuay Campus
School of Teacher Education
Janiuay, Iloilo

Lesson 5
Rizal's Earliest Literary Work as a Student

Prepared by: Prepared to:

Sheila Rose O. Estampador Mary Ann A. Parian
BSED IV-A Subject Teacher

Poems Written in Ateneo

It was Doa Teodora who first discovered the poetical genius of her son.
It was also she who first encouraged him to write poems.
It was Father Sanchez who inspired Rizal to make full use of his God-given gift in poetry and
improved the latter's poetical art by opening his mind to the enriching influence of the world's
literature.
Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration) - first poem that Rizal wrote during his days in
the Ateneo.
Which was dedicated to his mother on her birthday.
He wrote it before he was 14 years old, in the year 1874.
Before this year he did not write poetry because there was a gloom in his heart owing to his
mother's imprisonment.
Upon the release of his mother in 1874, his poetic heart began to sing with ecstasy and joy.

In 1875, inspired by Father Sanchez, he wrote more poems, such as:

1. Felicitacion (Felicitation)
2. El Embarque: Himno a la de Magallanes. (The Departure: Hymn to Magellan's Fleet)
3. Y Es Espanol: Elcano, el Primero en dar la Vuelta al Mundo (And He is Spanish: Elcano, the
First to Circumnavigate the World).
4. El Combate: Urbiztondo, Terror de Jolo (The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo).

In 1876, Rizal wrote poems on various topics - religion, education, childhood memories, and war. They
were as follows.
1. Un Recuerdo a Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town).
2. Alianza Intima Entre la Religion y la Buena Educacion (Intimate Alliance Between Religion
and Good Education).
3. Por la Educacion Recibe Lustre la Patria (Through Education the Country Receives Light).
4. El Cautiverio y el Triunfo: Batalla de Lucena y Prision 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.
5. La Entrada Triunfal de los Reyes Catolices en Granada (The Triumphal Entry of the Catholic
Monarchs into Granada).
This poem relates the victorious entry of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel into Granada, last
Moorish stronghold in Spain.

A year later, in 1877, he wrote more poems. It was his last year in the Ateneo. Among the poems
written that year were:
1. El Heroism de Colon (The Heroism of Columbus).
This poem praises Columbus, the discoverer of America.
2. Colon y Juan II (Columbus and John II).
This poem relates how King John II of Portugal missed fame and riches by his failure to finance
the projected expedition of Columbus to the New World.
 3. Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha (Great Solace in Great Misfortune).
This is a legend in verse of the tragic life of Columbus.
4. Un Dialogo Alusivu a la Despedida de los Colegiaeles (A Farewell Dialogue of the Students).
This was the last poem written by Rizal in Ateneo; it is a poignant poem of farewell to his
classmates.

"My First Inspiration"

It was most fitting that the first poem written by Rizal as an Atenean should be about his beloved
mother.
In his poem, he felicitates his mother on her birthday, expressing his filial affection in sonorous
verses.
God's wonderful creation are one with Jose Rizal and their family in celebrating her mother's
birthday as Jose Rizal wishes his mother with joy and happiness.

Analysis
Nature was beautiful.
It's truly a good time to celebrate.
He was already inspired to write again.
Implication
The environment was rich during Rizal's time.
 A return of a love one is very important.
Rizal missed his family especially his mother.
Inspiration comes from very significant things, especially people in your lives.

Integration to Our Lives

Nature
We need to learn how to value God's wonderful creation.
We need to learn how to appreciate things around us.
Family
We should honor our parents.
We should value our family.
Let your parents be a role model or inspiration in your life.
God
We should learn how to be more thankful for the things He have done in our lives and honor Him
by doing good.

Rizal's Poems on Education

He had a very high regard for education.
He believed in the significant role which education plays in the progress and welfare of a nation.

Through Education Our Motherland Receives Light

Background
Rizal wrote this poem in the year 1876 at the age fifteen.
It was written in Ateneo de Municipal in Manila.
This poem was written during the Spanish Government.
Meaning
He recounts the demand for sacrifices to obtain education, and the reward a pleasure in living, the
avenue to truth, goodness and honor.
It showed the importance of religion in education.
Encouraging his people to acquire virtue and enlightenment.
He resolutely opposed the pathway of violence and clung to education not only in theory but by
his example.
Stressed the noble benefits of an enlightened citizenry: an aura of peace, youthful usefulness, the
antidote to crime and vices, determination on government humanized men.
The focus of the poem is about "education".
He indicates how he values education. That out of his fervent love for our Motherland, education
seems for him a way for us to extend our deep and warm gratitude to every wonder that we
receive from Her every day.
Reflection
The poem tells us how education is important to every human, because without education we
cannot reach our goals in life.
It is also one of the most effective way to make our country proud and no one can steal it to us.
Education is the most precious gift and treasure that Motherland can give to us.
"Education is the key to success.
A nation where educated people out numbers uncivilized one, excavated treasures more cherished
than any stones of the earth.
The weight of our desires to stand firm on the ground where our beloved country lies, marks the
turning point that leads to our hope for a brighter east
Education is the one that trans people how to become a productive and civilized to our
motherland.

In another poem, The Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education, Rizal showed
the importance of religion in education. To him, education without God is not true education.

The Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education

Background
In 1876, Rizal started writing poems on various topics - wars, childhood memories, education and
religion.
Rizal wrote this poem during the summer of April 1876, before entering his fifth year in Ateneo
Municipal in June.
This is a four stanza poem that correlates education to religion.
Theme
Education
Religion
Power
Common Good

Stanza 1
Compared the relationship of Education and Religion to that of an ivy and elm.
Stanza 2
"The roots of education are bitter, but the fruits its sweet. ~Aristotle
Education will lead us to greener pasture.
Stanza 3
Education without religion is comparable to a vessel lost in a stormy sea.
Stanza 4
With the aid of religion, education will be used for the common good.
Rizal's Religious Poems

During his student days Rizal expressed his devotion to his Catholic faith in melodious poetry.
One of the religious poems he wrote was a brief ode entitled Al Nio Jesus (To the Child Jesus).
This poem was written in 1875 when he was 14 years old.

TO THE CHILD JESUS

How, God-Child hast Thou come

To earth in cave forlorn?
Does Fortune now deride Thee
When Thou art scarcely born?

Ah, woe! Celestial King,

Who mortal from dost keep
Wouldnt rather than be Sovereign
Be Shepherd of Thy Sheep?

Another religious poem which he wrote was entitled A La Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary).
This poem is undated.
Probably Rizal wrote it after his ode to the Child Jesus.

TO THE VIRGEN MARY

Dear Mary, giving comfort and sweet peace

To all afflicted mortals; thou the spring
When flows a current of relief, to bring
Our soil fertility that does not cease;
Upon thy throne, where thou dest reign on high,
Oh, list with pity as I weeful grieve
And spread thy radiant mantle to receive
My voice which rises swiftly to the sky
Placid Mary, thou my mother dear,
My sustenance, my fortitude must be,
And in this fearsome sea my way must steer.
If deprivation comes to buffet me,
And if grim death in agony draws near,
Oh, succor me, from anguish set me free.
Meaning
Its meaning is that love can conquer fear, even when it comes to death and that tough times can
lead to the ultimate freedom.

Dramatic Work in Ateneo

While Rizal was still a student at the Ateneo, his favorite teacher, Father Sanchez, requested him
to write a drama based on the prose story of St. Eustace the Martyr.
During the summer vacation of 1876, he wrote the requested religious drama in poetic verses at
his home in Calamba and finished it on June 2, 1876.
Upon the opening of classes at the Ateneo in 1876 his last academic year at the Jesuit college he
submitted to Father Sanchez the finished manuscript of the drama entitled San Eustacio, Martir
(St. Eustace, the Martyr).
The good priest teacher read it and felicitated the young Atenean for work well done.