THROUGH EDUCATION OUR MOTHERLAND

RECEIVES LIGHT

The vital breath of prudent Education

Instills a virtue of enchanting power;

She lifts the motherland to highest station

And endless dazzling glories on her shower.

And as the zephyr's gentle exhalation

Revives the matrix of the fragrant flower,

So education multiplies her gifts of grace;

With prudent hand imparts them to the human

race.

For her a mortal-man will gladly part

With all he has; will give his calm repose;

For her are born all science and all art,

That brows of men with laurel fair enclose.

As from the towering mountain's lofty heart

The purest current of the streamlet flows,

So education without stint or measure gives

Security and peace to lands in which she lives.

Where Education reigns on lofty seat

Youth blossoms forth with vigor and agility;

He error subjugates with solid feet,

And is exalted by conceptions of nobility.

She breaks the neck of vice and its deceit;

Black crime turns pale at Her hostility;

The barbarous nations She knows how to tame,

From savages creates heroic fame.

And as the spring doth sustenance bestow

On all the plants, on bushes in the mead,

Its placid plenty goes to overflow

And endlessly with lavish love to feed

The banks by which it wanders, gliding slow,

Supplying beauteous nature's every need;

So he who prudent Education doth procure

The towering heights of honor will secure.

From out his lips the water, crystal pure,

Of perfect virtue shall not cease to go.

With careful doctrines of his faith made sure,

The powers of evil he will overthrow,

Like foaming waves that never long endure,

But perish on the shore at every blow;

And from his good example other men shall learn

Their upward steps toward the heavenly paths to

turn.

Within the breast of wretched humankind

She lights the living flame of goodness bright;

The hands of fiercest criminal doth bind;

And in those breasts will surely pour delight

Which seek her mystic benefits to find,

Those souls She sets aflame with love of right.

It is a noble fully-rounded Education

That gives to life its surest consolation.

And as the mighty rock aloft may tower

Above the center of the stormy deep

In scorn of storm, or fierce Sou'wester's power,

Or fury of the waves that raging seep,

Until, their first mad hatred spent, they cower,

And, tired at last, subside and fall asleep, --

So he that takes wise Education by the hand,

Invincible shall guide the reigns of motherland.

On sapphires shall his service be engraved,

A thousand honors to him by his land be granted:

For in their bosoms will his noble sons have saved

Luxuriant flowers his virtue had transplanted:

And by the love of goodness ever lived,

The lords and governors will see implanted

To endless days, the Christian Education,

Within their noble, faith-enrapture nation.

And as in early morning we behold

The ruby sun pour forth resplendent rays;

And lovely dawn her scarlet and her gold,

Her brilliant colors all about her sprays;

So skillful noble Teaching doth unfold

To living minds the joy of virtuous ways.

She offers our dear motherland the light

That leads us to immortal glory's height.

1. The Intimate Alliance Between

Religion and Good Education

Rizal shared his thought about the

importance of education to enlighten the nation

which was useful to gain societal freedom for

every nation. It may also provide us the

necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to

expand the horizon of our thoughts. However,

this would not be enough to be properly

educated. Rizal thought that there was really an

intimate alliance between religion and good

education. A man who was properly educated

needed to apply what he learned on spiritual

view rather than simply on material

achievements. The result of good education

always fulfilled a growing uprightness and

valuable virtue within the bounce of spiritual

and moral dimensions. There showed also be

growing dignified fulfillment and application to

the teachings of religion ,just like a vine which

continually grow that would someday the fruit

will become sweet and delicious.

Without religion, human education may

result to chaos and disorder in any civilized

nation because people may no longer value

freedom, respect, dignity and other good virtues

that maintain societal order. It may result to a

natural disaster just as the angered sea, which

characterized the fierce winds that may, wrecked

the vessel in the deep abysses. Rizal knew that

religion had a profound effect to education, the

educated must internalized the virtue of

incorruptible life based on the ethical and moral

standard of the society.

THE INTIMATE ALLIANCE BETWEEN

RELIGION AND GOOD EDUCATION

As the climbing ivy over lefty elm

Creeps tortuously, together the

adornment

Of the verdant plain, embellishing

Each other and together growing,

But should the kindly elm refuse its aid

The ivy would impotent and friendless

wither

So is Education to Religion

By spiritual alliance bound

Through Religion, Education gains

reknown, and

Woe to the impious mind that blindly

spurning

The sapient teachings of religion, this

Unpolluted fountain-head forsakes.

As the sprout, growing from the

pompous vine,

Proudly offers us its honeyed clusters

While the generous and loving garment

Feeds its roots; so the fresh’ning waters

Of celestial virtue give new life

To Education true, shedding

On it warmth and light; because of

them

The vine smells sweet and gives

delicious fruit

Without Religion, Human Education

Is like unto a vessel struck by winds

Which, sore beset, is of its helm

deprived

By the roaring blows and buffets of the

dread

Tempestuous Boreas, who fiercely

wields

His power until he proudly send her

down

Into the deep abysses of then angered

sea.

As the heaven’s dew the meadow feeds

and strengthen

So that blooming flowers all the earth

Embrioder in the days of spring; so also

If Religion holy nourishes

Education with its doctrine, she

Shall walk in joy and generosity

Toward the good, and everywhere

bestrew

The fragrant and luxuriant fruits of

virtue

4.To the Filipino Youth

At the age of eighteen years old, he wrote a

poem entitled “To the Filipino Youth” which was

submitted for the poetry contest by the Manila

Lyceum of Art and Literature. This was dedicated

to the Filipino youth that he won the first prize,

a silver pen, feather-shaped and with a gold

ribbon running through it.

Rizal made this poem at the peak of the

grandeur day of his life for him to experience the

radiant growing intellect and wonderful life as a

youth. He always wanted the youth to follow his

ideals in the love their country. They could

utilize the growing intellect on arts and sciences

to b properly educated in their homeland .Where

they trained to become wise and pious even from

the shadows of the Spanish authority. Anyone of

aspired for the success of life my always find the

difficult and long road of sacrifices to reach the

sweetness and glory of life.

TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH

Hold high your faultless brow,

Filipino youth, on this day grand!

Shine forth resplendent now,

In gallant glory stand,

Handsome home of my motherland!

Radiant Genius, arise!

Make thy noblest dreams his own;

Catch his mind in keen surprise;

Swifter than by tempest blown

Sweep him up to glory's throne!

Descend, O youth, -- the lovely light

Of art and science in your train; --

On life's arena, smite

And break the heavy chain

Where long your pinioned poetry hath lain.

Behold how, on this ardent zone

Where shadows dwell, the Spaniard's hand,

So wise and pious grown,

Confers a garland grand

Upon the youth of our fair Indian land!

O you, who now aspiring rise

On fancy's gifted wings

From Mount Olympus to the skies,

While Poetry more sweetly sings

Than any sweetness nectar ever brings.

Ye rivals of the nightingale

Who carol some celestial lay

Beneath the night moon pale,

And by the tune you play

Drive bitter mortal pain away.

All ye who hold the power to free

Those sorely grieved, by your charm'd word,

And fix in their fond memory,

That by your genius is stirred,

The immortal thought that ye have heard.

And ye who Phoebus' charms expose,

That stole divine Apollo's heart;

And borrowing from nature's clothes,

With artist's magic art,

On linen canvas portray every part.

O hasten! See whose sacred flame

Of genius will be laurel crowned;

And hear what moral name,

While trumpet peals resound,

Around the whole wide world will be renowned!

O blessed day and hour,

Beloved Filipinas, for your land,

Thanks to the mighty Power

Which, with loving hand,

This venture and this consolation planned

B. Religion and Spiritual Values

The poems of Rizal were also on religion

and spiritual values that present to hid life .The

poems about the symbol of religious values

include “To the Child Jesus”; and “To the Virgin

Mary”. He cares so much about his mother.

Where he wrote poem “ My First Inspiration” to

show how fortunate he was because of the loving

care f his mother.

His poem entitled “ To the Child Jesus”

where he reflected his pity to the birth of Child

Jesus. Although he was so omnipotent and

powerful god of the universe may astonished the

kind of life he suffered from his birth. He was

always there with us to guide the true meaning

of ethical life.

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

Woulds’t rather than be sovereign

Be sherperd of thy sheep

This was the first sad sonnet poem of Rizal

entitled “To The Virgin Mary” as he provided

about his deep religious belief on his painful

experiences in his teenage life. His deep

compassion on religion may show the love and

care of the Virgin Mary. Rizal believed the power

of prayer through the Virgin Mary. The

sufferings, deprivations and suppressions

occurred in life may be best addressed through

prayer of the Virgin Mary to provide peace, love,

hope and tranquillity even at the peak of human

misery.

TO THE VIRGIN MARY

Dear Mary, giving comfort and sweet

peace

To all afflicted mortals; thou the spring

Whence 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 coemes to buffet me,

And if grim death in agony draws near,

Oh, succor me. From anguish set me

free.

This poem praised the care of his mother

from its natal day. The inspiration of Rizal was

purely devoted from the love and care of his

mother. Here he described the natural beauty

from fragrance and sweetness of the flowers, the

flitting of the birds in the tender grass, the

crystal spring and the feast in carmine clouds.

His birth was so fortunate to have loving mother

who gave her life. This was the inspiration that

continually work hard to be educated and live in

tranquil through the blessing and care of his

mother.

MY FIRST INSPIRATION

Why do the scented bowers

In fragrant fray

Rival each other’s flowers

This festive day?

Why is sweet melody bruited

In the sylvan dale,

Harmony sweet and fluted

Like the nightingale?

Why do birds sing so

In the tender grass,

Flitting from bough to bough

With the winds that pass

And why does the crystal spring

Run among the flowers mother, they

While lullaby zephyrs sing

Like its crystal showers?

I see the dawn in the East

With beauty endowed.

Why goes she to a feast

In a carmine cloud?

Sweet mother, they celebrate

Your natal day

The rose with her scent innate

The birds with his lay

The murmurous spring this day

Without alloy

Murmuring bids you always

To live in joy

While the crystalline mursmurs glisten,

Hear you the accents strong

Struck from my lyre, listen!

To my love’s first strong

He wrote, "A Farewell Dialogue of the

Students" just before he graduated from the

Ateneo. On March 23, 1877, not yet sixteen years

old, he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts

with highest honors. He never ceased to love the

Ateneo. Five years after his graduation he wrote

a lovely tribute to the Very Reverend Pablo

Ramon, Rector of the Ateneo, on the occasion of

that good Father's birthday.

TO THE VERY REVEREND FATHER

PABLO RAMON, S.J., RECTOR OF ATENEO, ON

HIS BIRTHDAY

Sweet is the breeze which at the break of day,

Waving the calyx of the fragrant flowers,

Scatters gentle odors everywhere

Across the field.

Sweet and mellow is the placid murmur

Of the gentle brook with silver foam

Dissolving merrily between the golden sands

And splashing pearls.

Sweet are the songs of melodious birds;

Soft the aroma of the festive flowers;

And fragrances at silver dawn

Are soft and sweet.

But thy name, Father idolized,

A purer sweetness in our breasts instills,

Of light extending from th' eternal splendor

Its gentlest rays.

Most loving hand of God, a father

And example thou, whose sincere love,

Despite the bitter path of life,

Still guides us tenderly.

Aye! What might happen with the youthful energy

Which burns so merrily within our breasts

But for the guidance of thy pious hand;

Thy love, thy zeal!

We, thy children, Father, -- thou our guide

To habitations of eternal bliss.

No fear can agitate the mind

With such a pilot.

May the Apostle whose great name thou bearest,

In whose footsteps thou doest walk so valiantly,

Grant to thee his grace divine o'erflowing, --

Power divine!

D. Family Relationship

The poem was written when he was fourteen

years old to offer his congratulation to his

brother-in-law Antonino Lopez .Rizal showed his

tender love and affection to his brother-in-law as

he described the family’s happiness as his saint’s

day in 1875.

FELICITATION

If Philomel with sonorous voice,

That shows her face at the golden sun

Behind the hill or mountain high

Sends out her trills;

We too are filled with happiness

We're greeting you and your noble saint

In brotherly rhythm and tender song

Dear Antonino.

From your sisters and other relatives

Receive with love th' affectionate verse,

That the gentle breath of love dictates

Benign and sweet.

From fond Emilio and loving wife

Receive sweet fondness beyond compare,

And in misfortune may its sweetness soften

Afflictions hard.

Alike the pilot who valiantly fought

With the tempest in the obscure night

He takes care that his bark is safe

To arrive at port.

Thus, turning away from your earthly home

Your eyes are directed t'ward heaven high

At the one who is solace of all men

Beloved Father.

And coming from us with tender words

We greet you where e'er you celebrate

Loud hurrahs, that from the bosom come

Pleasantly accept.

E. Spanish Adventurism and Colonial Struggle

This poem was about the departure of

Magellan in Spain in search of the new route to

the east. Rizal had shown this literary work as

part of his knowledge in the beginning of

Spanish adventurism and later on the colonial

struggle of the Spanish authorities.

THE EMBARKATION

The embarkation as poem was written by

Rizal when he was a boarding student at the

Ateneo Municipal de Manila. It is believed to

have been his first poem that had the honor of

being read in a public program held at that

school, a recognition of its literary merit.

One beautiful day when in the East

The sun had gaily brightened,

At Barrameda with rejoicing great

Activities everywhere reigned.

'Tis 'cause on the shores the caravels

Would part with their sails a-swelling;

And noble warriors with their swords

To conquer unknown world are going.

And all is glee and all is joy,

All is valor in the city.

Everywhere the husky sounds of drums

Are resounding with majesty.

With big echoes thousands of salvos

Makes at the ships a roaring cannon

And the Spanish people proudly greet

The soldiers with affection.

Farewell! They say to them, loved ones,

Brave soldiers of the homeland;

With glories gird our mother Spain,

In the campaign in the unknown land!

As they move away to the gentle breath

Of the cool wind with emotion,

They all bless with a pious voice

So glorious, heroic action.

And finally, the people salute

The standard of Magellan

That he carries on the way to the seas

Where madly roars the hurricane.

ABD-ELAZIS AND MOHAMMED

This epic poem was compose by Rizal as he

recalled her struggle between the Spaniards and

Moors in Spain. It was a part of the intellectual

knowledge of Rizal from the historical account of

the Spanish conquest to defeat the Moors in

Spain.

It was night: the moaning wind

Sighs as it kisses the towers tall

And on its wings carries mournfully

Thousands of confused noises agitating the space.

Aweful clouds bedim the peace

Of the dark night's beautiful star,

And a soft tint like a mantle of snow

Covers the fields that the Spaniard treads.

There, from the tall, Moorish tow'r

Sings the own on th' imposing peak,

Numberless evils and bloody fights

With fatidical accent foretells.

In the mean while on the soft bed

That the luxurious Moor makes of ivory,

Rest doth seek the weary, brave Abd-El-Azis,

Pleasant relief from the bygone day.

Th' incense mild in silver tripods

That th' Arabian bark distills,

Burns and spreads intoxicating scent,

Of the sumptuous chamber soft delight.

Everything is silent: everyone sleeps;

Only the sorrowful Moor keeps guard,

Contemplates the light that sadly

Penetrates through th' elegant arch.

Columbus and John II (Colon y Juan II)

"Christopher, to you, fame,

And immortal crown and great renown

Homage history pays !

Your august name reaches

Posterity and is amazed.

"Blesses you the world

In canticles of love and contentment

All that Lusitania

Holds proclaim instantly

Your faith's noble valor.

"Who, like you, is gentle,

Constant, resigned, and gen'rous?

Conquered thou the dreadful

Fury of the wavy sea

And the cowardly, treach'rous mariner.

"Hail, illustrious Adm'ral,

Firm of heart, fiery in the fight ;

To your constant valor

Kindly today I offer

Castles and honors together.

"I, your voice I shall be

To proclaim before my standards

Viceroy of good graces

And above the towers

I shall put your name in royal flags."

Thus did speak the sov'reign,

Portugal's Juan the enlightened.

Glory great beforehand

And the highest post in his palace

Offers he the veteran.

But . . . hurriedly he flees

Columbusfrom the treach'rous deceiver

Of the palace ambitious;

Runs he, flies to where dwells

Isabel the Christian, his benefactress

Al M.R.P. PABLO RAMON, 1881

Sweet is the breeze that at the break of dawn

The calyx of fragrant flowers shakes,

Alluring odors soft they spread

O'er the countryside ;

The placid murmur is sweet and soft

Of the gentle rivulet that with joy

Throws silv'ry foam on sands of gold

And drops of water white ;

Sweet are the trills of musical birds

Soft is th' aroma of motley flow'rs

And the perfumes of th' aurora white

Mellow and sweet;

But your name, oh, Father idolized,

Instills the purest joy in our breast,

Whence it diffuses most mellow rays

Of eternal glow.

The Almighty's hand affectionate

You show us, Father, whose love sincere

Throughout the bitter road of life

Does guide us with love.

Alas! What will become of youthful toil

That restlessly burns in our breast,

Without the guidance or your kind hand,

Your love, your zeal?

We're, Father, your sons; you do guide us

To the homes of eternal happiness.

The mind will not be disturbed by fright

With a pilot like you.

The great Apostle whose name you bear,

Whose footsteps with enthusiasm you trail,

With heavenly favor shower you,

A sacred treasure.

MEMORY OF MY TOWN (Un

Recuerdo A Mi Pueblo, 1876)

When I remember the days

that saw my early childhood

spent on the green shores

of a murmurous lagoon;

when I remember the coolness,

delicious and refreshing,

that on my face I felt

as I heard Favonius croon;

When I behold the white lily

swell to the wind’s impulsion,

and that tempestuous element

meekly asleep on the sand;

when I inhale the dear

intoxicating essence

the flowers exude when dawn

is smiling on the land;

Sadly, sadly I recall

your visage, precious childhood,

which an affectionate mother

made beautiful and bright;

I recall a simple town,

my comfort, joy and cradle,

beside a balmy lake,

the seat of my delight.

Ah, yes, my awkward foot

explored your sombre woodlands,

and on the banks of your rivers

in frolic I took part.

I prayed in your rustic temple,

a child, with a child’s devotion;

and your unsullied breeze

exhilarated my heart.
The Creator I saw in the grandeur

of your age-old forests;

upon your bosom, sorrows

were ever unknown to me;

while at your azure skies

I gazed, neither love nor tenderness

failed me, for in nature

lay my felicity.

Tender childhood, beautiful town,

rich fountain of rejoicing

and of harmonious music

that drove away all pain:

return to this heart of mine,

return my gracious hours,

return as the birds return

when flowers spring again!

But O goodbye! May the Spirit

of Good, a loving gift-giver,

keep watch eternally over

your peace, your joy, your sleep!

For you, my fervent pryers;

for you, my constant desire

to learn; and I pray heaven

your innocence to keep!