José Rizal

Patriot, physician, and man of letters whose life and literary works were an inspiration to the
Philippine nationalist movement.

Dr. Jose Rizal: National Hero of the Philippines

Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal was born in the town of Calamba, Laguna on June 19,
1861. He was the second son, and the seventh among eleven children, of
Francisco Mercado and Teodora Alonso.
With his mother as his first teacher, he began his early education at home
and continued in Binan, Laguna. He entered the Jesuit-run Ateneo Municipal
de Manila in 1872 and obtained a bachelor's degree with highest honors in
1876. He studied medicine at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, but
had to stop because he felt that the Filipino students were being
discriminated against by their Dominican tutors. He then went to the
Universidad Central de Madrid, in Spain, and in 1885, at the age of 24, he
finished his course in Philosophy and Letters with a grade of "Excellent."
He took graduate studies in Paris, France and Heidelberg, Germany. He also
studied painting and sculpture. He learned to read and write in at least ten
languages.

The Most Important Literary Works by Jose Rizal

For Dr. José Rizal, the well-respected national hero of the Philippines, “the
pen is mightier than the sword.” Through his literary masterpieces, he
voiced strong opposition to the abuse of Spaniards and conveyed messages
that he hoped would inspire his fellow countrymen. We round up his best
works and uncover the underlying meaning behind them.

To the Filipino Youth

Rizal wrote this literary poem when he was still studying at the University of
Sto. Tomas (UST). Originally written in Spanish (A la juventud filipina), Rizal
submitted this piece for a poem contest organized for Filipinos by the Manila
Lyceum of Art and Literature. At the age of 18, this work is beaming with
strong messages to convince readers, the youth in particular, that they are
the hope of the nation. He also stresses the importance of education to one’s
future. Rizal won the first prize and was rewarded with a feather-shaped
silver pen and a diploma.

Goodbye to Leonor

This literary piece gives an insight into the romantic relationship of Rizal and
his beloved, Leonor Rivera. The two met when in the province of Dagupan
when Rivera was only 13-years-old. Rivera’s parents were not in favor of
their relationship and though distance separated them, the two kept in touch
by sending letters and photographs to each other. Rizal later found out that
her lady love would soon tie the knot with Henry Kipping, and the news
definitely disheartened him. The lonely, heartbreaking feelings he felt,
resulted in this melancholic poem.

To the Young Women of Malolos

Addressed to the Filipino women, Rizal’s letter entitled To The Young Women

of Malolos reflects his inheritance and issues reminders to Filipino women. In
his letter, he addresses all kinds of Filipino women – mothers, wives, and
even the single women. Throughout this literary piece, he highlights the
qualities that Filipino mothers should possess, the duties of wives to their
husbands and children, and a counsel on how young women should choose
their lifetime partners. The idea behind this letter sparked after he was
impressed by the women of Malolos who won the battle they fought. Rizal
advises women to educate themselves, protect their dignity and honor, and
live with good manners – setting up as a role model.

Kundiman

A kundiman traditionally refers to a love song where a man serenades the

woman he loves. For scholars, this word was derived from the Tagalog
phrase “Kung Hindi man” (if it should not be so) which suggests that people
put their faith in a Higher Being who decides whether or not something is
meant for them. But in Rizal’s literary work, he wrote a kundiman to profess
his intense love for his motherland. This piece reflects his high hopes that
one day, the Philippines would be free from treachery and injustice. At the
time, the country faced great threats while he was in Europe. And, through
this work, he voices his hopeful thoughts despite being far away from the
country.

Junto Al Pasig
When translated into English, the title of this work means Beside Pasig River.
In response to the Jesuits’ request, Rizal wrote this one-act play in the
Spanish language for the velada – a gala variety program during the
principal feast days. The play centers around Leonido (a young Filipino who
has a strong faith in the Virgin) and the Diwata/Satan, which symbolizes the
Spanish oppression towards Filipinos. Its theme highlights Christianity, good
vs. evil, and paganism. The Philippines’ national hero wrote it in honor of the
Our Lady of Peace and Voyage of the UST, and the play was staged on
December 8, 1880.

Noli Me Tángere

One of the most sought-after books in Philippine literature until today, is

Rizal’s famous novel titled Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not). Driven by his
undying love for his country, Rizal wrote the novel to expose the ills of
Philippine society during the Spanish colonial era. At the time, the Spaniards
prohibited the Filipinos from reading the controversial book because of the
unlawful acts depicted in the novel. Yet they were not able to ban it
completely and as more Filipinos read the book, it opened their eyes to the
truth that they were being manhandled by the friars. In this revolutionary
book, you’ll learn the story of Crisostomo Ibarra, how he dealt with Spanish
authorities, and how he prepared for his revenge, as told in Rizal’s second
book, El Filibusterismo.

El Filibusterismo

This is Rizal’s sequel to his first book, Noli Me Tángere. In El

Filibusterismo (The Reign of the Greed), the novel exhibits a dark theme (as
opposed to the hopeful atmosphere in the first novel) in which it depicts the
country’s issues and how the protagonist attempts a reform. The story takes
place 13 years after Noli Me Tángere, where revolutionary protagonist
Crisostomo Ibarra is now under the guise of Simoun – a wealthy jewelry
tycoon. Because the novel also portrays the abuse, corruption, and
discrimination of the Spaniards towards Filipinos, it was also banned in the
country at the time. Rizal dedicated his second novel to the GOMBURZA –
the Filipino priests named Mariano Gomez, Jose Apolonio Burgos, and Jacinto
Zamora who were executed on charges of subversion. The two novels of
Rizal, now considered as his literary masterpieces, both indirectly sparked
the Philippine Revolution.

Mi último adiós
After being associated with the Katipuneros, Rizal was arrested and later
sentenced to death by firing squad for acts of sedition and rebellion. During
his final days in Fort Santiago of Manila, Rizal bid farewell to his motherland
and countrymen through letters. Mi último adiós or My Last Farewell is one
of the few last works that Rizal wrote.
Some historical accounts say he wrote it on the eve before his execution,
while others claim that he wrote the poem a few days before his death in
Manila on December 30, 1896. But, because there was no title ascribed to
this poem, his good friend and fellow reformist Mariano Ponce came up with
the title.
Today, Rizal’s literary works, specifically his two novels, are alive and
continuously being analyzed by students and professionals. Colleges and
universities in the Philippines even require their students to take a subject
which centers around the life and works of Rizal. Through his work, the
country’s national hero is always remembered and looked upon with high
regard for his contribution towards the Philippine independence.

https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/the-8-most-important-literary-works-by-jose-
rizal/