My First Inspiration (Mi Primera Inspiracion,
1874)
Most likely, “Mi Primera Inspiracion” was the first
poem Jose Rizal had written during his stint at
Ateneo. This poem was written in honor of his
mother’s birthday as suggested by the terms
“perfume of the flowers”, “the songs of the birds”,
“feast your day of bloom” and “festive day”.
Jose Rizal’s poetic verses show his eternal love
and appreciation for his mother. This was
somewhat his way of paying tribute to all the
efforts for him of her dear mother.
Felicitation (Felicitacion, 1875)
The poem “Felicitation” was written by the hero
in 1875 during his schooling in the Ateneo de
Municipal. The 14-year old Rizal wrote this poem
to congratulate his brother-in-law, Antonio
Lopez, husband of his sister Narcisa.
The Embarkation, A Hymn to Ferdinand
Magellan’s Fleet (El Embarque: Himno A La
Flota De Magallanes, 1875)
Rizal wrote this poem while he was a boarding
student at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. It
was believed to have been his first poem that
had the honor of being read in a public program
held at that school. “Hymn to Magellan’s
fleet”talked about the departure of Ferdinand
Magellan, the first man to colonize the
Philippines.
And He Is Spanish: Elcano, The First To
Circumnavigate The World (Y Es Espanol:
Elcano, El Primero En Dar La Vuelta Al
Mundo, December, 1875)
This poem is about Juan Sebastián Elcano, a
Spanish Basque, Ferdinand Magellan’s second
in command, who upon Magellan’s death on the
shores of Mactan in the Philippines, took over
and completed the first circumnavigation of the
world.
The Battle: Urbiztondo, Terror of Jolo (El
Combate: Urbiztondo, Terror De Jolo,
December 1875)
The poem is a reflection of Rizal’s liking for
history. It was written to hail Urbiztondo for the
successful battle against the Muslims. In the
poem, the hero narrated how the great warrior
defeated the Moros under Sultan Mahumat of
Jolo.
The Tragedy of St. Eustace (La Tragedia De
San Eustaquio, June 1876)
This poem recounts the tragic story of St.
Eustace. The original manuscript of this poem
no longer exists however as it may have been
destroyed during the WWII bombings.
Nonetheless, the poem had been published in
installments in a magazine, “Cultura Social” of
the Ateneo.
In Memory of My Town (Un Recuerdo A Mi
Pueblo, 1876)
Rizal loved his hometown Calamba in Laguna.
He fondly remembered his memories of the said
town. In 1876, Rizal as a 15-year old student in
the Ateneo Municipal de Manila wrote the poem
“In Memory of My Town”. It was written to
express his love and appreciation for the place
where he grew up.
Intimate Alliance Between Religion and Good
Education (Alianza Intima Entre La Religion Y
La Buena Educacion, 1876)
Jose Rizal believed that religion and good
education go together. Believing that there is a
strong relationship between academics and
faith, he wrote the poem “Intimate Alliance
between religion and good education” at the age
of fifteen while he was in Ateneo.
Education Gives Luster To The Motherland
(Por La Educacion Recibe Lustre La Patria,
1876)
Our national hero, despite his young age, had
expressed high regards for education. He
believed in the significant role education plays in
the progress and welfare of a nation as evident
in his poem “Education Gives Luster to the
Motherland”.
Rizal believed that education gives
knowledge, knowledge gives wisdom, and that
great wisdom benefits everyone. Considering
that education is a vehicle for a country’s
prosperity and success, he encouraged the
Filipinos through the poem to acquire education
for them to be able to fulfill their dreams and to
improve their motherland. His high regards for
education was manifested in his determination to
seek the best education possible even across
the shores of his country.
The Captivity and the Triumph: Battle of
Lucena and the Imprisonment of Boabdil (El
Cautiverio y el Triunfo: Batalla de Lucena y
Prision de Boabdil, December 1876)
At 12 years of age, Rizal was believed to have
read “El Ultimo Abencerraje,” a Spanish
translation of Chateaubriand's novel, “Le Dernier
des Abencérages.” This is the story of the last
member of a famous family in the Muslim
Kingdom of Granada in the 15th century, which
later inspired Rizal to compose “The Captivity
and the Triumph: Battle of Lucena and the
Imprisonment of Boabdil” while studying in
Ateneo. In this poem, he described the defeat
and capture of Boabdil, last Moorish sultan of
Granada.
Triumphant Entry of The Catholic Monarchs
Into Granada (Entrada Triunfal De Los Reyes
Católicos En Granada, December 1876)
This poem of Jose Rizal relates the triumphant
entry of Ferdinand and Isabella, Spain’s “Most
Catholic Kings,” into the city of Granada in 1492.
This entry is one of the most powerful symbolic
moments in Spanish history.
The Heroism of Columbus (El Heroismo De
Colon, 1877)
Jose Rizal wrote this epic poem in December
1877 during his academic years in Ateneo
Municipal de Manila. This poem praises
Columbus, the discoverer of America.
Columbus and John II (Colon y Juan II)
This poem relates how King John II of Portugal
missed fame and riches by his failure to finance
the projected expedition of Columbus to the new
world.
Great Solace in Great Misfortune (Gran
Consuelo En La Mayor Desdicha, 1878)
This is a legend in verse of the tragic life of
Columbus, the person credited for discovering
America.
A Farewell Dialogue of the Students (Un
Dialogo Alusive A La Despedida De Los
Colegiales)
This was the last poem written by Rizal in
Ateneo which again amazed his teachers. It was
a poignant poem of farewell to his classmates,
written just before he graduated from the
Ateneo.
Child Jesus (Al Nino Jesus, November 1875)
During his student days, the 14-year old Jose
Rizal wrote “Al Niño Jesus” (Child Jesus), a brief
religious ode which expressed his devotion as a
child to Catholicism.
To the Virgin Mary (A La Virgen Maria, To Our
Lady of Peace and Good Voyage)
This undated poem was another religious writing
Jose Rizal wrote in praise of the Virgin Mary, the
mother of Jesus Christ.
To The Philippine Youth (A La Juventud
Filipina, November 1879)
This was a winning poem in 1879. Rizal
submitted it as his entry to the literary contest
held by the ‘Liceo Artistico-Literario’ (Artistic-
Literary Lyceum) of Manila—a society of literary
men and artists. Written by Rizal at the age of
eighteen, this artwork which was said to be of
flawless form aimed to implore the Filipinos to
rise from indolence. It is deemed a classical
piece of Philippine literature for reasons that (1)
Spanish literary authorities recognized 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.”
Abd-El-Azis and Mohammed (Abd-El-Azis Y
Mahoma, December 1879)
This epic poem was written by Jose Rizal in
1879 and declaimed by a certain Manuel
Fernandez on the night of December 8, 1879 in
honor of the Ateneo’s Patroness. It recalls the
struggle between the Spaniards and the Moors
in Spain.
The Philippines, February 1880
This very nationalistic poem was written by Jose
Rizal to serve as a reminder for Filipinos to love
their motherland.
Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon, 1881
Jose Rizal truly loved his alma mater Ateneo as
well as his professors. He wrote a poem for one
of them, ‘Al M.R.P. Pablo Ramon’, a lovely
tribute to the Very Reverend Pablo Ramon,
Rector of the Ateneo, who had been so kind and
helpful to the national hero. The poem was
written on the occasion of the rector’s birthday.
Goodbye to Leonor, 1882
Leonor was only 13 years of age when she first
met Jose Rizal. Due to the strong disapproval of
Leonor’s parents of their love affair, they kept in
touch by sending letters and photographs to
each other. This poem was the one Rizal wrote
for Leonor as he left for Spain in 1882.
They Ask Me for Verses (Me Piden Versos,
October 1882)
Rizal had been a member of Circulo Hispano-
Filipino (Hispano-Philippine Circle), a society of
Spaniards and Filipinos in Madrid. In the New
Year’s Eve reception of the Madrid Filipinos held
in 1882, he declaimed his written “Me Piden
Versos”, a poem he wrote due to the request of
the society’s members. In March 31, 1889, this
poem was published in the La Solidaridad.
To Miss C.O. y R., 1883
Jose Rizal, though not really a handsome man in
today’s perspective, attracted ladies easily.
Perhaps his exceptional talents and charisma
made him attractive to women. Furthermore, his
gift of poetry made him even more likable. He
composed a poem entitled “To Miss C.O. y R” to
express his admiration to Consuelo Ortiga y
Perez, the beautiful daughter of Don Pablo
Ortiga y Rey. Nevertheless, he did not pursue
his feelings for her due to the fact that he was
still engaged to Leonor Rivera then and his
friend, Eduardo de Lete, had serious feelings for
Consuelo.
The Flowers of Heidelberg (A Los Flores De
Heidelberg , April 1886)
At some points in his life, Jose Rizal stayed in
Heidelberg, a city in the state of Baden-
Württemberg in Germany. In 1887, the 25-year
old Rizal completed his eye specialization under
the renowned Prof. Otto Becker in the University
of Heidelberg. In spring, flowers bloom along the
banks of Neckar River. Rizal admired particularly
the light blue spring flower “forget-me-not”.
These beautiful flowers made him think of their
flowers in Calamba. Amid his homesickness in
the spring of 1886, he came up with this nice
poemwhich expressed prayer for the wellbeing
of his native land.
The Song of Maria Clara, 1887
This poem forms part of the Jose Rizal’s first
novel, Noli Me Tangere. In the novel, one of the
main characters, Maria, upon the insistent
requests of her friends, rendered a beautiful
song with the accompaniment of the harp.
Hymn To Labor, 1888
Jose Rizal wrote the poem “Himno Al Trabajo”
before he left Calamba in 1888. This poem was
in response to the request of his friends from
Lipa, Batangas. They wanted a hymn to
commemorate the elevation of Lipa from a town
to a city in January 1888. Dedicated to the
industrious folks of Lipa, the poem consisted of
lyrical conversations of men, wives, maidens
and children.
To My Muse (A Mi, 1890)
It was against a background of emotional agony
in Brussels, during those sad days when he was
worried of family disasters, that Rizal wrote his
emotional poem, “A Mi” (To my Muse).
Kundiman, 1891
The word “kundiman” connotes a traditional
Filipino love song usually used by a man to
serenade a woman being wooed. Rizal’s
“Kundiman” was a poem expressing his intense
love for his motherland. In the verses, we can
see that Rizal is optimistic that the Philippines
would be freed from inequality and oppression.
Water and Fire (El Agua Y El Fuego, 1891)
This is a very short composition excerpt from the
novel El Filibusterismo, Chapter ‘El Cubierta’. In
this poem, Jose Rizal expressed his great dream
for the Philippines: its freedom and
advancement.
To Josephine, 1895
Rizal dedicated this poem to an Irish woman,
Josephine Bracken, whom he called (in another
poem) his “dulce extranjera” (sweet
foreigner).When Josephine temporarily left
Dapitan to accompany Taufer to Manila, Rizal
gave her this short poem which manifested that
he was really “smitten” with Josephine.
Hymn To Talisay, October 1895
Rizal conducted his school at his home in
Talisay, near Dapitan, where he had his farm
and hospital. He frequently met with his boys
underneath a talisay tree. This poem, which was
written for his pupils to sing, also taught them
how to fight for their rights. The poem speaks
about the place Talisay and Rizal’s serene life in
exile.
My Retreat (Mi Retiro, 1895)
Upon the request of Doña Teodora, Jose Rizal
came up with a beautiful poem vis-à-vis his
tranquil life in Dapitan. The poem, which was
entitled “Mi Retiro” (My Retreat), was sent to his
mother in 1895. It was commended by the
critics as one of the best of his literary creations.
In the poem, he gave a narrative account of his
peaceful life while exiled in Dapitan where he
lived a well-rounded life as a farmer, teacher,
and a merchant.
Song of the Wanderer/Traveler (El Canto Del
Viajero, 1896)
Rizal’s friend Blumentritt once advised Jose
Rizal, an exile in Dapitan, to offer his services as
a military doctor in Cuba which was raged by
yellow fever epidemic. A letter from Governor
Ramon Blanco later notified Rizal that his offer
was accepted. Knowing that he would be able to
travel again (to Europe and then to Cuba), his
delight in receiving the news led him to writing
his “El Canto del Viajero” (The Song of the
Traveler/Wanderer).
My Last Farewell (Mi Ultimo Adios, December
1896)
This untitled poem is considered as the most
celebrated poem by the national hero. Rizal’s
friend, Mariano Ponce,was the one who titled the
poem “Mi Ultimo Pensamiento”(My Last
Thought). Later, the poem was referred to as
“My Last Farewell” (Mi Ultimo Adios).
“Mi Ultimo Adios”, a brilliant creation, was
assumed to be written the night before Jose
Rizal’s execution on December 30, 1896. As the
dear visitors were leaving, Jose handed over to
his sister Trinidad an alcohol cooking stove, a
gift from the Pardo de Taveras, whispering to
her in a language which the guards could not
comprehend, “There is something in it.” That
‘something’ was Rizal’s unsigned, undated, and
untitled poem consisting of 14 five-line stanzas.
The Rizal family reproduced and distributed
copies of it and sent copies to the hero’s friends
in the country and abroad.
Widely regarded as the most patriotic poem in
the world, it has been translated into at least 38
languages. The poem reflects the hero’s
adoration to and patriotism for his country. The
poem requests Filipinos to pray for others who
also have died and suffered for the country. It
begged the Filipino people to never lose hope
and faith in the Lord God. Forceful words were
used to inspire them not to be the discouraged
by the oppressions of the Spaniards.
At the last part of the poem, Jose Rizal
mentioned of his “sweet stranger” as his friend
and joy. This implied his farewell to his beloved
“dulce estranjera”, Josephine. Lately, asong
based on the poem “Mi Ultimo Adios” was
composed by contemporary artist Joey Ayala.
A Fragment (A poem that has no title)
This short poem of Rizal has no title. It bespeaks
of his thanksgiving to God for soothing him
during his troubles and dark moments. In the
poem, he also expressed his gratitude to God for
allowing him to be born to a respectable and
honorable family and to belong to a rich country.
The difficulties and struggles of Rizal which he
suffered and his sadness were evident in the
verses of this poem.
To My Fellow Children: The Controversial
Poem
The famous poem was a nationalistic artwork
promoting the use of Tagalog (Filipino) language
by the Filipino people.
The poem “To My Fellow Children” (Sa Aking
Mga Kababata/Kabata)was traditionally believed
to be the national hero’s first written Tagalog
poem at the age of eight and was said to have
been published posthumously many years after
Rizal’s death.
However, recent investigations cast serious
doubts concerning the assumed authorship of
the poem. Many scholars today believe that the
very young Rizal could have not written the
nationalistic poem. For one thing, it is doubted
that an eight-year old child, who normally just
begins to read, could write a five-stanza poem
with profound terms.
Furthermore, Jose Rizal had preserved
correspondence with Paciano, his brother,
expressing that he had difficulties in using the
Tagalog language particularly in translation.
More significantly, Jose admitted that he had
only encountered the word “kalayaan” when he
was already 21 years old. The term (‘kalayaan’)
was used not just once in the poem.