Writings of Dr. Jose Rizal PDF

Writings of Dr. Jose P. Rizal Being a prolific writer and literary-genius, Rizal wrote about thirty- six (36) poems, one (1) drama, two (2) satires, one (1) manifesto, ten (10) essays, one (1) eulogy...

Writings of Dr. Jose P. Rizal Being a prolific writer and literary-genius, Rizal wrote about thirty- six (36) poems, one (1) drama, two (2) satires, one (1) manifesto, ten (10) essays, one (1) eulogy, twenty-five (25) -published articles, seventy- seven (77) letters, six (6) unfinished novels two (2) finished novels, and His writings are presented herewith in an outline form. A. Poems 1. Sa Aking mga Kabata - written by Rizal in Tagalog when he was eight (8) years old in 1869. It was written before he went to Biñan to begin his formal education. This poem depicts the nationalistic significance of the Filipino language in the life of our people. 2. Mi Primera Inspiracion (My First Inspiration). This was the first poem written in 1874 by Rizal in Ateneo before he reached 14 years old. It is a poem dedicated to his mother Doña Teodora on her birthday. 3. Felicitacion (Felicitation) -It was a congratulatory poem dedicated to his sister, Narcisa, on her birthday. congratulation or greeting 4. El Embarque Himno a la Flota de Magallanes (The Deportation Hymn to Magellan's Fleet). 5. Y Es Espanol: Elcano, El Primera en dar la Vuelta el Mundo (And He is Spanish: Elcano, The First to Circumnavigate the World). 6. El Combate: Urbiztondo, Teror de Jolo (The Battle: Urbiztondo, The Terror of Jolo) 7. A La Virgen Maria (To the Virgin Mary) - It is a religious poem that expressed his faith to the Virgin Mary. 8. Al Niño Jesus (To the Child Jesus) - It expresses his devotion to his Catholic faith. *Number 3 to 8 poems above were written by Rizal in 180 when he was 15 years old. 9. La Tragedia de San Eustaquio (The Tragedy of St. Existacey), This poem recounts the tragic story of St. Eustacee. 10. Un Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo (In Memory of My Town). It i a poem in honor of Calamba, the hero's beloved town and birthplace 11. Alianza Intima Entre la Religion y la Buen Educacion (Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good Education). 12. Por La Educacion Recibe Lustre La Patria (Through Education, the Country Receives Light). 13. El Centeverio y el Triumfo: Batalla de Lucena y Prision de Boabdil (The Captivity and the Triumph: The Battle of Lucena and the Improvement of Boabdil) - This poem describes the defeat and capture of Boabdil, last Moorish sultan of Granada. 14. La Entrada Triumfal de los Reyes Catolicos en Granada (The Triumphal Entry of the Catholic Monarchs into Granada) - It relates the victorious entry of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella into Granada, last Moorish stronghold in Spain. *Number 9 to 18 poems were written by Rizal in 1876. 15. El Heroismo de Colon (The Heroism of Columbus) - It praises Columbus, the discoverer of America. 16. Colon y Juan (Columbus and John II) - It relates how John II of Portugal missed fame and riches by his failure to finance the projected expedition of Columbus to the New World. 17. Gran Consuelo en la Mayor Desdicha de los Colegiales (Great Confort in Great Misfortune) - This is a legend in verse of the voyage of Columbus. 18. Un Dialogo Alusivo a la Despedida de los Colegiales (A Farewell Dialogue of the Students) - This poem is a farewell poem written by Rizal in Ateneo. 19. A La Juventud Filipina (To the Filipino Youth) - This was his literary piece in a poetry contest at the Liceo Artistico-Literario in Manila. Rizal's prize was a silver pen, feather-shaped and decorated with a gold ribbon. It was the first poem of Rizal written in Spanish that beseeched the youth to rise from lethargy. 20. Abd-el Azis y Mahoma (Abd-el Azis and Mahoma) - It was recited by Manuel Fernandez on the night of December 8, 1879 in honor of Ateneo patroness. 21. El Consejo de los Dioses (The Council of the Gods) - Rizal won first prize with a gold ring as his prize - the only "Indio" among the Spanish contestants and Spanish judges. *Number 19 to 21 poems were written by Rizal when he was 8 years old in 1879. 22. A Filipinos (The Philippines) - Rizal urged all Filipinos to glorify the Philippines. 23. 23. Al M R. P. Pablo Ramon, Rector del Ateneo en Sus Dias (To MRP Pablo Ramon, Rector of Ateneo in Our Days) - It was a poem written to express his affection to the Father Rector for his kindness and help to Rizal. *Number 22 to 23 were written by Rizal in 1880 when he was a medical student at the University of Santo Tomas. 24. Mi Piden Versos (They Asked Me for Verses). This was written in 1882 shortly after his arrival in Madrid and joined the Circulo Hispano - (Hispano-Philippine Circle), a society of Spaniards and Filipino. In this sad poem, Rizal pointed out the cry of his agonizing heart. 25. A La Senorita C.O. y R. (To Senorita C.O. y R.) - It was written in Madrid on August 22, 1883. 26. A Las Flores de Heidelberg (To the Flowers of Heidelberg) - It was written in 1886 when Rizal was in Heidelberg. It was a poem dedicated to the blooming flowers of Heidelberg. Rizal's favorite flower was the light blue "Forget-Me-Not." 27. The Song of Maria Clara - written in Berlin, March 29, 1887 (in Noli Me Tangere) 28. Himno al Trabajo (Hymn to Labor) - This was a poem written by Rizal in 1888 in commemoration of Lipa's alleviation to a villa (city). In this poem, Rizal extolled man's labor and industry, singing praise to labor, of the country, wealth and vigor. Rizal likewise awakened the youth to be worthy of their elders by following their footsteps. 29. A Mi... (To My Muse) - A poem of Rizal with passionate feeling that depicts sadness and worriness about by family disasters. This poem was written in 1890 while Rizal was in Binondo. 30. Kundiman. A poem written in 1891 when Rizal was inManila 31. A Don Ricardo Cornicera - A poem was written in Dapitan on August 26, 1892 32. Himno A Talisay (A Hymn to Talisay) - Rizal wrote this poem in 1892 when he was in exile in Dapitan. This poem was written in honor of the tree for his pupils to sing. 33. Mi Retiro (My Retreat) - It is one of the best literary writings of Rizal in 1895. Rizal wrote this poem during his exile in Dapitan at the request of his mother who was eager to know how he lived there. This poem is a sentimental poem describing his home and serene life in lonely Dapitan. 34. A Poem for Josephine Rizal wrote this poem in 1895 in Dapitan while Rizal and Josephine lived together as common- law husband and wife. Rizal praised Josephine and revealed to her his new happiness. 35. El Canto del Viajero (The Song of the Traveler) - This was a heart-moving poem written in 1896 that tells about Rizal being free again - and once more, he was to travel to Europe. 36. Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell). Originally, this poem is untitled and unsigned. It was Mariano Ponce who gave the title when he read a copy of the poem. This poem was given by Rizal to Trinidad (Rizal's sister) who came with Doña Teodora (Rizal's mother) and her daughters on the eve of the execution, December 29, 1896. This poem was placed by Rizal in a little alcohol lamp. Before his death, Rizal whispered to Trinidad in English: "There is something in it."  In this poem, Rizal bade farewell to his country, his family and his friends in lines of dignity and grace devoid of bitterness. He was willing to die for his dearly beloved country he called "Pearl of the Orient Sea." B. Drama 1. Junto al Pasig (Beside the Pasig) - This drama was staged during the celebration of Immaculate Conception, Patroness of Atenco in 1880. He wrote this drama when he was a member of the Academy of Spanish Literature in the Ateneo. C. Manifesto 1. A Manifesto - In December 15, 1896, Rizal wrote this manifesto while in his prison cell at Fort Santiago. It is a manifesto to his people appealing to them to stop the unnecessary shedding of blood and to achieve their liberties by means of education and industry. D. Satires (written in 1889 while Rizal was in Hongkong. He used the pen name Dimas Salang. 1. La Vision, del Fray Rodriguez a satire that defended Noli from the attacks of Fray Jose Rodriguez. 2. Por Telefono-another satire as a reply to another slanderer Fr. Salvador Fort, who masterminded the banning of Noli. E. Eulogy 1. A Eulogy to Panganiban of a Bohol martyr, Jose Ma. Panganiban, when the latter died in ban - Rizal deeply mourned the passing August 19, 1890 after a lingering illness. F. Essays 1. Amor Patria - This essay was sent to Basilio Teodoro, a member of the editorial staff for publication in Diariong Tagalog. He wrote this essay under a pen name Laong Laan. 2. Memorias de Un Estudiante de Manila -Using his pen name P. Jacinto, he wrote this 42-page account of his student days in Manila. It was translated in English by Leon Ma. Guerrero in 1950 and published by Bardavon Book Company in Manila in 1951. G. Articles a. Rizal's splendid articles which appeared in La Solidaridad from 1889 to 1890. Rizal used his pen name Dimas Alang and Laong Laan. 1. Los Agriculturos Filipinas (The Filipino Farmers), March 25, 1889-Rizal's first article that appeared in La Solidaridad 2. La Verdad Para Todos (The Truth For All) - second article of Rizal written for La Solidaridad, written in May 31, 1889 3. A La Defensa (To La Defensa) - April 30, 1889 4. Teatro Tagalo - June 15, 1889 5. Verdades Nuevas (New Truth), July 31. 1889 6. Crueldad (Cruelty), Aug. 15, 1889 7. Una Profanacion (A Profanation), July 31, 1889 8. Diferencias (Differences), September 15, 1889 9. Inconsequencias (Inconsequences), November 30, 1889 10. Llanto y Risas (Tears and Laughter), November 30, 1889 11. Ingratitudes (Ingratitudes), January 15, 1890 12. Sin Nombre (Without Name), February 28, 1890  13. Sobre la Nueva Ortografia de la Lengua Tagala (On the New Ortography of the Tagalog Language), April 15, 1890 14. Cosas de Filipinas (Things About the Philippines), April 30, 1890 b. Articles Published in Diariong Tagalog, a Filipino-owned newspaper edited by Calvo- 1. Love of Country - It was later translated in Tagalog by M. H. del Pilar on August 20, 1882 2. Travels-written in Madrid, Spain in 1882 3. Review of Madrid - written in Madrid, Spain on November 29, 1882 c. Articles published in The Hongkong Telegraph, a British daily newspaper edited by Mr. Frazier Smith. 1. Ang Mga Karapatan Nang Tao (The Rights of Man) - depicts the French Revolution in 1789. 2. A La Nacion Española (To the Spanish Nation) - an appeal to Spain to correct the injustice done to the Calamba tenants. 3. Sa Mga Kababayan (To My Countrymen) written in December 1891, depicting the Calamba agrarian situation. 4. Una Visita a la Victoria Gaol (A Visit to Victoria Gaol) Rizal's account of his visit to the colonial prison of Hongkong. He contrasted the cruel Spanish prison system with the modern and more human British prison system. 5. Colonizacion du British North Borneo, por de Familles de Iles Philippines (Colonization of British North Borneo by Families from the Philippine Islands) - an article in French to elucidate his pet Borneo colonization project. 6. Proyekto de Colonizacion del British North Borneo por los Filipinos (Project of the Colonization of British North Borneo by the Filipinos) - Rizal's another article in Spanish that elaborated on the same idea. d. Articles published in Dr. Rost's Trubner's Record 1. Specimens of Tagal Folklore - published in May 1889 2. Two Easter Fables - published in June 1889 H. Lecture 1. "Science, Virtue and Labor" - This was a lecture on Masonic Affairs which he delivered in 1889 at Lodge Solidaridad, Madrid. I. Letters (About 77 letters) These letters were addressed to: 1. Ferdinand Blumentritt-29 letters These letters narrated Rizal's observations, experiences, complaints, etc. 2. Enrique Lete - 1 letter Rizal wrote Lete to help him improve his musical ability by teaching him solfeggio and voice culture in the Ateneo. 3. Sister Trinidad - 2 letters He described his administration to the German people and his vast landholdings and productive farms in Dapitan. 4. Fernando Canon - 1 letter He expressed his deprivation in life and hopelessness in publishing his novel Noli Me Tangere to Canon. 5. Felix Hidalgo - 1 letter Rizal explained the Biblical source of his Noli. 6. Francisco Mercado Rizal - 2 letters Rizal explained the Biblical source of his Noli. He also asked pardon to his father and bid goodbye. 7. Mariano Ponce-7 letters  Rasal shared his observations on strong racial discriminatio informed him to go home, expressed his appréhension abesa the plan of Antonio Luna to go to Cuba only to die of yellose fever, 8. Jose Maria Basa-2 letters Rizal told his plan to establish a Filipino College in Hongkong to educate men, good families and other people. 9. Vicente Barrantes - 1 letter Rizal exposed the ignorance of Barrantes on Philippine Affairs and his mental dishonesty. 10. Antonio Luna - 1 letter Rizal sent Luna a shooting target containing 10 bullets. 11. Soledad Rizal - 1 letter Rizal told his sister that because of him, he caused much trouble to their family. 12. Marcelo H. del Pilar-2 letters Rizal disclosed, among others, that he was the Laong Laan (Ever Ready) who wrote several articles. 13. Parents (Don Francisco and Dona Teodora) - 3 letters Rizal asked his parents' permission for him to return home. 14. Governor Valeriano Weyler-1 letter Rizal wrote him to permit the landless Filipinos to establish themselves in Borneo 15. To the Spanish Nation - 1 letter Rizal appealed to Spain to apply justice and equity to the Calamba tenants. 16. To His Countrymen - 4 letters Rizal explained to his countrymen the issue and facts about the Calamba agrarian dispute 17. Governor Eulogio Despujol - 3 letters Rizal wrote Despujol that he was placing himself under the protection of Spanish government once he arrived in Manila. He also offered himself as volunteer physician in Cuba. 18.. Pablo Pastells- 5 letters Among other letters to Pastells, he debated with the priest on theological issues and concerns. 19. Dr. Lorenzo Marquez-1 letter Rizal described how he gave free medicines and medical services to poor patients in Dapitan. 20. Manuel T. Hidalgo- 3 letters Rizal asked his brother-in-law to buy big fishing net and to send him two (2) good fishermen from Calamba to teach the Dapiteños wooden fishing methods. 21. Teodora Alonzo - 3 letters Rizal told her mother not to worry about him and his mission in Cuba. 22. Taviel de Andrade-1 letter Rizal expressed his desire to think about his case. 23. Paciano (Rizal's brother) -1 letter Rizal recorded his gratitude to him, asked sorry for everything and explained that he was innocent of the charge of rebellion. 24. A Letter of Retraction - 1 letter On December 29, 1896 at about 11:30 in the evening, Rizal professed his Catholic faith and declared his adjuring masonry. It should be noted that what Rizal retracted were his errors in religion and attacks against the church, not his political convictions. The Church, in truth, was concerned only with the spiritual welfare of man. Every Catholic has political philosophy. Unfinished and Untitled Novels 1. Untitled and unsigned novel consisting of 44 pages in Rizal's handwriting. The manuscript form is preserved in the National Library. Some of the characters included Prince Tagulima and Sultan Zaide. The hero of the Novel is Kamandagan. 2. Makamisa, a novel in Tagalog. Only two chapters were finished. The manuscript consists of 20 pages. 3. Dapitan-written in ionic Spanish. It consists of eight (8) pages It was written during Rizal's exile in Dapitan.  4. Life in Pili, Laguna an unfinished Spanish novel. The manuscript consists of 147 pages. Some of the characters of this novel are Pedro Agaton, a Spanish friar, Capitan Panchoy and Capitana Barang, Cecilia their pretty girl, and Isagani, the lover of Cecilia. 5. Cristobal-a novel without a title is about Cristobal, a youthful Filipino student who returned from Europe. 6. A novel that was contained/written in two notebooks The first note contains 31 written pages and the second 12 written pages. K. Finished Novels: Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo The Uncle Tom's Cabin, a book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe which portrays the brutalities of American slave-owners and the pathetic conditions of the unfortunate Negro slaves inspired Rizal to prepare a novel that would depict the miseries of the Filipino people under the lash of Spanish tyrants. Rizal was then a medical student at the Universidad Central de Madrid. NOLI ME TANGERE Toward the end of 1884, Rizal started to write the Noli in Madrid and finished about one-half of it. In Paris in 1885, while studying at the Universidad Central de Madrid, he finished one-half of the second half. He finished the last fourth of Noli in Germany. The last few chapters were written at Wilhemsfeld in April - June 1886. Viola Financed the Printing. Sick and penniless, Rizal had no hope of having it published, he received a telegram from Dr. Maximo Viola that he was coming to Berlin. Dr. Viola was a scion of rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan. When Viola arrived before Christmas Day in 1887, he was shocked to find Rizal in poverty and was sick due to lack of proper nourishment. Viola gladly agreed to finance the printing cost of the Noli. He also loaned Rizal some cash money for living expenses. To save printing expenses, Rizal deleted certain passages in his manuscript, including the whole chapter, Elias and Salome. EL FILIBUSTERISMO After Rizal arrived in Ghent, Belgium, he searched for a printing press with the lowest cost for the publication of his Fill. The F. Meyer Van Loo Press charged the lowest fee and was willing to print the book on installment basis. To pay the down payment, Rizal pawned his jewels. While the printing was going on, Rizal was desperate because his funds were running low. The money he received from Basa and Php 200.00 from Rodriguez Arias were also used up and much more was needed to pay the printing press. The printing had to be suspended because he could no longer give the needed amount, in a moment of despair, he almost hurled the manuscript into the flames, just as he almost did to Noli in Berlin. When everything seemed lost, an unexpected help came from Valentin Ventura in Paris who learned of Rizal's predicament. When Ventura sent him the necessary funds, the printing of the book was resumed. Printing of the Fili was Completed. On September 18, 1891, El Filibusterismo came off the press. Now, Rizal was a happy man. Immediately, he sent two (2) printed copies to Basa and Sixto Lopez who were in Hongkong. He also sent complimentary copies to Blumentritt, Mariano Ponce, Graciano Lopez Jaena, Pardo de Tavera, Antonio and Juan Luna and other friends. Likewise, he gratefully donated the original manuscript and an autographed printed copy. El Nueva Regimen, a liberal Madrid newspaper, serialized the novel in the issues of October 1891. Rizal dedicated the novel to Gom-Bur-Za because of their martyrdom (Mi Ultimo Adios (My last Farewell) Source: Life, Works, and Writings of Dr. Jose P. Rizal by Mariano M/ Ariola, AA., AB., BSE, MAED, LLB, Ed. D