Reaction

Based on his works, Rizal is a dedicated, passionate and loving

man. He is a fighter on his own way and only wanted a fair
treatment for everyone. For me, my reaction to his works is that I
was amazed in every inspiration behind those piece he made. He
may be holding a pen instead of sword for fighting but for that he
made a mark for everyone, for that he inspire people to keep on
fighting for their rights and for that he made people believe that
there is a freedom for everyone.

Jose Rizal is there ready to listen to those poor voices and speak in
behalf of those who suffer. He is not blinded for all the oppression
of those who are empowered by money and fame. Rizal whole-
heartedly help fight for their rights. He is not a man whose love only
define to his countrymen, he is also a gentle man who is deeply in
love to his lady love, Eleanor. In his very touching piece, “Goodbye
Eleanor”, I can feel the great sadness of Rizal, it is indeed hard to
accept the fact that the person you love is in the other’s hand. In
addition, the death of Concepcion also let Rizal write a sad piece in
honour to his sister. I can also say that Rizal never forget to love
Mother Nature, and in accordance to his poem he reminds us to
preserve it for the next generation.

All his works will serve all the greatness he did for our country and
will remain forever. For he is a man who is willing to sacrifice his
life to serve the country. He may have a short life but he die with
dignity. He maybe have many accusations but he face his death
without hesitation and that makes him a hero. For that, Filipino
people are grateful for having him as a national hero, for he is
deserving for that.
VIRGIN MARY (A La Virgen Maria, to Our Lady of Peace and Good
Voyage)

Mary, sweet peace and dearest

consolation of suffering mortal:
you are the fount whence springs
the current of solicitude that brings
unto our soil unceasing fecundation.

From your abode, enthroned on heaven's height,

in mercy deign to hear my cry of woe
and to the radiance of your mantle draw
my voice that rises with so swift a flight.

You are my mother, Mary, and shall be my life,

my stronghold, my defense most thorough;
and you shall be my guide on this wild sea.

If vice pursues me madly on the morrow,

if death harasses me with agony:
come to my aid and dissipate my sorrow!

The above undated poem was another religious writing Jose Rizal
wrote in praise of the Virgin Mary, “A La Virgen Maria” (To the
Virgin Mary). To The Philippines, February 1880 A Translation from
the Spanish by Nick Joaquin Warm and beautiful like a houri of
yore, as gracious and as pure as the break of dawn when darling
clouds take on a sapphire tone, sleeps a goddess on the Indian
shore. The small waves of the sonorous sea assail her feet with
ardent, amorous kisses, while the intellectual West adores her
smile; and the old hoary Pole, her flower veil. My Muse, most
enthusiastic and elate, sings to her among naiads and undines; I
offer her my fortune and my fate. With myrtle, purple roses, and
flowering greens and lilies, crown her brow immaculate, O artists,
and exalt the Philippines! This poem was written by Jose Rizal to
serve as a reminder for Filipinos to love their motherland.
Mary Mae R. Alquizar BSCE II-4 February 26, 2017

GOODBYE TO LEONOR, 1882

(A Translation from the Spanish by Nick Joaquin)

And so it has arrived –-

the fatal instant,
the dismal injunction
of my cruel fate;
so it has come at last –
the moment, the date,
when I must separate myself from you.

Goodbye, Leonor, goodbye!

I take my leave,
leaving behind with you my lover's heart!
Goodbye, Leonor: from here I now depart.
O Melancholy absence! Ah, what pain!

Leonor was only 13 years of age when she met Jose Rizal in
Dagupan. Due to the strong disapproval of Leonor’s parents of their
love affair, they kept in touch by sending letters and photographs of
each other. Their relationship lasted for over a decade. However, the
marriage of Leonor to Henry Kipping brought great sadness to Rizal.
Hence, the creation of this sorrowful poem for his lady love.
KUNDIMAN, 1891
Translation from Zaide

Now mute indeed are tongue and heart:

love shies away, joy stands apart.
Neglected by its leaders and defeated,
the country was subdued and it submitted.

But O the sun will shine again!

Itself the land shall disenchain;
and once more round the world with growing
praise shall sound the name of the Tagalog race.

We shall pour out our blood in a

great flood to liberate the parent sod;
but till that day arrives for which we weep,
love shall be mute, desire shall sleep.

The word “kundiman” connotes a traditional Filipino love song

usually used by a man to serenade a woman being wooed.
The above “Kundiman” is a poem written by Jose Rizal to express
his intense love for his motherland. In the verses, we can see that
Rizal is optimistic that the Philippines will be freed from inequality
and oppression.
TO THE PHILIPPINE YOUTH
(A la Juventud Filipina, November 1879)
A Translation from the Spanish by Nick Joaquin

Hold high the brow serene,

O youth, where now you stand; the bright sheen
Of your grace be seen,
Fair hope of my fatherland!
Come now, thou genius grand,
And bring down inspiration;
With thy mighty hand,
Swifter than the wind's violation,
Raise the eager mind to higher station.
Come down with pleasing light
Of art and science to the fight,
O youth, and there untie
The chains that heavy lie,
Your spirit free to blight.
See how in flaming zone
Amid the shadows thrown,
The Spaniard's holy hand
A crown's resplendent band
Proffers to this Indian land.
Thou, who now wouldst rise
On wings of rich emprise,
Seeking from Olympian skies
Songs of sweetest strain,
Softer than ambrosial rain;
Thou, whose voice divine
Rivals Philomel's refrain
And with varied line
Through the night benign
Frees mortality from pain;
Thou, who by sharp strife
Wakest thy mind to life ;
And the memory bright
Of thy genius' light
Makest immortal in its strength ;
And thou, in accents clear
Of Phoebus, to Apelles dear ;
Or by the brush's magic art
Takest from nature's store a part,
To fig it on the simple canvas' length ;
Go forth, and then the sacred fire
Of thy genius to the laurel may aspire ;
To spread around the fame,
And in victory acclaim,
Through wider spheres the human name.
Day, O happy day, Fair Filipinas, for thy land!
So bless the Power to-day
That places in thy way
This favor and this fortune grand!
To the Philippine Youth
Unfold, oh timid flower!
Lift up your radiant brow,
This day, Youth of my native strand!
Your abounding talents show
Resplendently and grand,
Fair hope of my Motherland!
Soar high, oh genius great,
And with noble thoughts fill their mind;
The honor's glorious seat,
May their virgin mind fly and find
More rapidly than the wind.
Descend with the pleasing light
Of the arts and sciences to the plain,
Oh Youth, and break forthright
The links of the heavy chain
That your poetic genius enchain.
See that in the ardent zone,
The Spaniard, where shadows stand,
Doth offer a shining crown,
With wise and merciful hand
To the son of this Indian land.
You, who heavenward rise
On wings of your rich fantasy,
Seek in the Olympian skies
The tenderest poesy,
More sweet than divine honey;
You of heavenly harmony,
On a calm unperturbed night,
Philomel's match in melody,
That in varied symphony
Dissipate man's sorrow's blight;
You at th' impulse of your mind
The hard rock animate
And your mind with great pow'r consigned
Transformed into immortal state
The pure mem'ry of genius great;
And you, who with magic brush
On canvas plain capture
The varied charm of Phoebus,
Loved by the divine Apelles,
And the mantle of Nature; Run !
For genius' sacred flame
Awaits the artist's crowning
Spreading far and wide the fame
Throughout the sphere proclaiming
With trumpet the mortal's name
Oh, joyful, joyful day,
The Almighty blessed be
Who, with loving eagerness
Sends you luck and happiness.

The above is a winning poem in 1879 submitted to the literary

contest held by the Liceo Artistico-Literario (Artistic-Literary
Lyceum) of Manila--a society of literary men and artists. The
inspiring poem written by Jose Rizal at the age of eighteen was said
to be of flawless form which aimed to implore the Filipinos to rise
from indolence. It is said to be a classical piece of Philippine
literature for reasons that (1) Spanish literary authorities recognize
it as an impressive poem written in Spanish by a Filipino and (2) it
was the foremost literary piece to display the nationalistic belief
that Filipinos were the “fair hope of the Fatherland” However, the
poem hinted rebellion for the Spaniards. According to Bantug, one
newspaper writer even said that the poet-doctor “had better devote
his time to his doctoring than to his rhyming.
Jose Rizal Poem-Song
of Maria Clara Song

Of Maria Clara Sweet are the hours

in one's own Native Land,
All there is friendly o'er
which the sun shines above;

Vivifying is the breeze

that wafts over her fields;
Even death is gratifying
and more tender is love.

Ardent kissed on a
mother's lips are at play,
On her lap, upon the infant child's awakening,
The extended arms do seek neck to entwine,
And the eyes at each other's glimpse are smiling.

It is sweet to die in one's own Native Land,

All there is friendly o'er
which the sun shines above;
And deathly is the breeze for one without.
Alin Mang Lahi
Among Jose Rizal’s musical compositions
is the song Alin Mang Lahi (In Any Race).

Alin mang lahi, insinasanggalang

Sa lupit ang kanyang lupang tinubuan
Tuloy pinaghahandugan
Ng buhay at dugo kung kailangan.
Ang kamatayan man, kung saka-sakaling
Igiginhawa ng mga kalahi
Tatanggapin nakangiti
Kaaliwa’t tuwang di mumunti.
Nguni’t pagkasawing-palad yata
Ng katagalugang napapanganyaya
Bukod pa sa ibang umaaba
Lalong nagbibigay-hapis ang ibang kapwa.
Sabagay di kulang sa pupuhunanin
Lakas, dunong, tapang, yaman ay gayon din
Aywan kung bakit at inaalipin
Ng alin mang lahing makasuno natin?

The lyrics of the song, also penned by Rizal, talk about the quest for
freedom from oppression by foreign invaders, and the willingness to
fight battles to restore freedom for one’s countrymen. It was
popularized when Dr. Antonio J. Molina, National Artist for Music,
“transcribed it for coloratura soprano with piano and orchestral
accompaniment” (Rubio, 1978, p. 1920).