LORENZO, Diane Loreto I.

18-1-01682
BS Accountancy 2-1
Life, Works, and Writings of Rizal

MIDTERMS
1. HOW HAS THE PHILIPPINES PAID HEED AND HONOR TO RIZAL’S IDEOLOGY/IDEALISM?
Dr. Jose P. Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines and the nation celebrates the martyrdom
on 30th of December every year. It is the national day of mourning for Rizal in Malolos and all
the victims of Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. In addition, Republic Act 1425 or Rizal
Law was established on June 12, 1956 by Senator Claro M. Recto under the administration of
President Ramon Magsaysay. The law mandates the curricula of private and public schools,
colleges, and university courses to include life, works and writings of Rizal, particularly his
novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. I believe that through this enactment, Rizal has
been remembered by the country ever since. Filipinos are encouraged to be informed that
Rizal’s idealism where to rededicate young people's lives to the values of democracy and
nationalism that our heroes lived and died for.
2. HOW IS NATIONALISM PORTRAYED IN THE FOLLOWING ESSAYS OF RIZAL?
a. El Amor Patrio
El Amor Patrio (Love of Country) was the first nationalistic essay Rizal wrote overseas under
the pen name Laong Laan in Barcelona, June 1882. He was only 21 years old when he left the
Philippines for the first time. He described Europe as a beautiful country but no matter how
he adores Europe, his all affection is on his motherland which is the Philippines. Nationalism
was portrayed in this essay because he wrote it in there that the love for the country is the
purest human sentiment because our land of birth reminds us of the first days of our life and
memories of our childhood. Rizal wanted to show the Filipinos that they have their own
motherland, the Philippines and not Spain and that she deserved to be love and to be
independent.
b. Sa Mga Kababayang Dalaga sa Malolos (To the Young Women of Malolos)
The letter Rizal wrote for the young women of Malolos insinuated his admiration and respect
for the bravery these women showed for advancing the right of education which is an
unlikely movement for women during his time. Rizal noted that through education we can
open our eyes to righteousness. Rizal believed that young women are allies in achieving the
purpose for the betterment of the country that these young women have responsibilities to
raise their children to be not blind about the oppression and to be able to defend the
country. Nationalism is when you desire to protect your country which is what Rizal wants to
 tell young women in Malolos to open their mind and so we can build a nation who’s people
are willing to defend the country from despotism.
c. Sobre La Indolencia delos Filipinos (The Indolence of the Filipinos)
Sobre La Indolencia was published in 5 installments, from July 15 to September 15, 1890 in
Madrid, Spain. Rizal wrote this essay to defend the Filipinos from the accusation that
Filipinos are lazy because they did not work hard during the Spanish regime. He emphasized
in the essay the Filipinos being indolent is not by nature, it exists because of number of
reasons. Indolence therefore has more deeply rooted causes such as abuse and
discrimination, inaction of the government, rampant corruption, wrong doctrines of the
church and wrong examples from some Spaniards who lead lives of indolence which
ultimately led to the deterioration of Filipino values. Rizal wrote this essay to open the minds
of the people of his country about the truth and how they were greatly discriminated. Rizal
believed that the cure of this is education and liberty of the Filipinos because before the
Spaniards came, Filipinos were hardworking and involved in honest economic activities. Rizal
wants to show the Filipinos what we were, what we are and what we can be. Nationalism
was portrayed in this essay because it encourages Filipinos to fight not only for their liberty
but for the whole country.
d. Filipinas Dentro De Cien Adios (The Philippines Within a Century)
This essay was written by Jose Rizal depicting what could happen to the Philippines over a
hundred of years. This essay was a way for Rizal to give hope to the Filipinos that one day,
the Philippines will be saved from oppression by a great nation and to scare away the
Spaniards. Nationalism was illustrated in this essay because this essay represents the love for
the country and the desire to set it free from the oppressive rule of the Spanish tyranny by
having the faith that one day, Philippines will have its liberty.
3. Give the central message of the following poems of Rizal
a. SA AKING MGA KABATA/ TO MY FELLOW CHILDREN
The message of this poem is that we should love our native language. Rizal entitled the
poem “Sa Aking Mga Kabata” because it was written when he was 8 years old which
depicts his early patriotic character. He said in the poem that those who really love their
language will try to desire for liberty where he compared freedom to the birds flying freely
above the space. He said that Tagalog is like any other languages, it has its own alphabet.
The most quoted line of this poem is, “ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang salita mahigit sa
hayop at malansang isda”.
b. UN RECUERDO A MI PUEBLO/ A REMEMBRANCE FOR MY TOWN
The message of this poem is his love for the town of his birth, Calamba in Laguna. Rizal
reminisced his childhood through his hometown describing its beautiful lagoons and places
he went when he was a child. He was away from Calamba when he wrote this poem, he
had to attend Ateneo Municipal in Manila for his studies.
c. HIMNO AL TRABAHO/ HYMN TO LABOR
The message of this poem is that everybody – man, woman, maiden, child – has a role to
play in building the society. His friend from Lipa asked him to write a poem for the
commemoration of the town becoming a city. It was dedicated to the hardworking folks of
Lipa. This poem reflects every duties of the member of the society from men’s work,
women’s dedication, maiden’s desires to children’s eagerness to grow. Rizal emphasizes
the responsibilities of the members of the society that how hard labor can be family and
the country shall benefit.
d. POR LA EDUCACION RECIBE LUSTRE LA PATRIA/THROUGH EDUCATION THE COUNTRY
RECEIVES LIGHT
The message of this poem is that education is important to every human. Education is
vital to every human being because we cannot achieve our goals in life without it. For Rizal,
education is a way for us to make our country proud and no one can steal it. Rizal described
education as a gift from our motherland. He believed that education is the most powerful
tool to let Filipino see what is righteous and make Philippines a better place to live in.