Poems

Huling Paalam

Salin ito ng huling sinulat ni Rizal nguni’t walang pamagat. Sinulat niya ito sa Fort Santiago, isinilid sa kusinilyang dealkohol, at ibinigay sa kapatid na si Trinidad nang huling dumalaw sa kaniya bago siya (Rizal) barilin.

Ang tulang kilala ngayon sa pamagat na “Ultimo Adios” o “Huling Paalam” ang likhang-guro o obra maestra ni Rizal. Ang orihinal sa kastila ay isinalin na sa mga pangunahing wika sa daigdif, tulad ng Ingles, Prances, Aleman, Italyano, Nippongo, Malyo, at marami pang iba, gayon din sa iba’t ibang wikain sa Pilipinas, tulad ng Tagalog , Ilokano, kapampangan, Pangasinan, Bikol, Sugbuhanion, Hiligaynon, at iba pa.

Maraming nagsalin ng tula sa Tagalog, nguni’t ang pinakakaraniwang bigkasin at siyang matatagpuan sa Luneta ay ang salin ni Jose Gatmaytan na matutunghayan dito. Ang kahuli-hulihang tulang ito ni Rizal ay tigib ng kalungkutan pagka’t maiiwan na niya ang kaniyang mga minamahal sa buhay at mawawalay na siya sa kaniyang bayan. Sa harap ng kamatayan, wala siyang hiniling para sa sarili; ang lahat ay para sa kapakanan ng kaniyang mga kababayan at ng kaniyang bayan.

The Mercado - Rizal Family

The Rizals is considered one of the biggest families during their time. Domingo Lam-co, the family's paternal ascendant was a full-blooded Chinese who came to the Philippines from Amoy, China in the closing years of the 17th century and married a Chinese half-breed by the name of Ines de la Rosa.

Researchers revealed that the Mercado-Rizal family had also traces of Japanese, Spanish, Malay and Even Negrito blood aside from Chinese.

Jose Rizal came from a 13-member family consisting of his parents, Francisco Mercado II and Teodora Alonso Realonda, and nine sisters and one brother.

FRANCISCO MERCADO (1818-1898)
Father of Jose Rizal who was the youngest of 13 offsprings of Juan and Cirila Mercado. Born in Biñan, Laguna on April 18, 1818; studied in San Jose College, Manila; and died in Manila.

TEODORA ALONSO (1827-1913)
Mother of Jose Rizal who was the second child of Lorenzo Alonso and Brijida de Quintos. She studied at the Colegio de Santa Rosa. She was a business-minded woman, courteous, religious, hard-working and well-read. She was born in Santa Cruz, Manila on November 14, 1827 and died in 1913 in Manila.

SATURNINA RIZAL (1850-1913)
Eldest child of the Rizal-Alonzo marriage. Married Manuel Timoteo Hidalgo of Tanauan, Batangas.

PACIANO RIZAL (1851-1930)
Only brother of Jose Rizal and the second child. Studied at San Jose College in Manila; became a farmer and later a general of the Philippine Revolution.

NARCISA RIZAL (1852-1939)
The third child. married Antonio Lopez at Morong, Rizal; a teacher and musician.

OLYMPIA RIZAL (1855-1887)
The fourth child. Married Silvestre Ubaldo; died in 1887 from childbirth.

LUCIA RIZAL (1857-1919)
The fifth child. Married Matriano Herbosa.

MARIA RIZAL (1859-1945)
The sixth child. Married Daniel Faustino Cruz of Biñan, Laguna.

JOSE RIZAL (1861-1896)
The second son and the seventh child. He was executed by the Spaniards on December 30,1896.

CONCEPCION RIZAL (1862-1865)
The eight child. Died at the age of three.

JOSEFA RIZAL (1865-1945)
The ninth child. An epileptic, died a spinster.

TRINIDAD RIZAL (1868-1951)
The tenth child. Died a spinster and the last of the family to die.

SOLEDAD RIZAL (1870-1929)
The youngest child married Pantaleon Quintero.

To The Philippines

Rizal wrote the original sonnet in Spanish

Aglowing and fair like a houri on high,
Full of grace and pure like the Morn that peeps
When in the sky the clouds are tinted blue,
Of th' Indian land, a goddess sleeps.

The light foam of the son'rous sea
Doth kiss her feet with loving desire;
The cultured West adores her smile
And the frosty Pole her flow'red attire.

With tenderness, stammering, my Muse
To her 'midst undines and naiads does sing;
I offer her my fortune and bliss:
Oh, artists! her brow chaste ring
With myrtle green and roses red
And lilies, and extol the Philippines!

Our Mother Tounge

A poem originally in Tagalog written by Rizal when he was only eight years old

IF truly a people dearly love
The tongue to them by Heaven sent,
They'll surely yearn for liberty
Like a bird above in the firmament.

BECAUSE by its language one can judge
A town, a barrio, and kingdom;
And like any other created thing
Every human being loves his freedom.

ONE who doesn't love his native tongue,
Is worse than putrid fish and beast;
AND like a truly precious thing
It therefore deserves to be cherished.

THE Tagalog language's akin to Latin,
To English, Spanish, angelical tongue;
For God who knows how to look after us
This language He bestowed us upon.

AS others, our language is the same
With alphabet and letters of its own,
It was lost because a storm did destroy
On the lake the bangka 1 in years bygone.

Memories of My Town

Imno sa Paggawa

Salin sa tulang "Himno al Trabajo" na sinulat ni Rizal sa kahilingan ng kaniyang mga kaibigang taga-Lipaa, Batangas upang awitin sa pag-diriwang dahil sa pagiging lungsod ng Lipa. Inihandog niya ang tula sa masisipag na tao ng Lipa. Pinuri niyang maigi ang paggawa't kasipagan ng tao "Paggawa'y purihin na siyang sa baya'y nagbibigay-ningning." Pinagpayuhan niya ang kabataang sumunod sa yapak ng masisipag na nakakatanda upang maging karapat-dapat sa kanila, sapagka't" sa patay ang papuri'y wala, maliban sa isang anak na dakila."

KORO

Dahilan sa Bayan sa pagdirigmaan, Dahil sa Bayan din sa kapayapaan, Itong Pilipino ay maasahang Marunong mabuhay o kaya’y mamatay.

Nakukulayan na ang dakong Silangan, Tayo na sa bukid, paggawa’y simulan, Pagka’t ang paggawa’y siyang sumusuhay Sa bayan, sa angkan, sa ating tahanan.

Lupa’y maaring magmamatigas naman, At magwalang-awa ang sikat ng araw Kung dahil sa anak, asawa at Bayan, Ang lahat sa ating pagsinta’y gagaan.

KORO

Magmasigla kayong yao sa gawain, Pagka’t ang baba’y nasa-bahay natin, At itinuturo sa batang mahalin Ang Bayan, ang dunong at gawang magaling

Pagdatal ng gabi ng pagpapahinga, Kayo’y inaantay ng tuwa’t ligaya At kung magkataong saama ang manguna, Ang magpapatuloy ang gawa’y ang sinta.

KORO

Mabuhay! Mabuhay! Paggawa’y purihin Na siyang sa Baya’y nagbibigay-ningning! At dahil sa kanya’y taas ng paningin, Yamang siya’y dugo at buhay na angkin.

At kung may binatang nais na lumigaw, Ang paggawa’y siyang ipaninindigan; Sapagka’t ang taong may sipag na taglay, Sa iaanak nya’y magbibigay-buhay.

KORO

Kami ay turuan ninyo ng gawain; At ang bukas ninyo’y aming tutuntunin Bukas, kung tumawag ang bayan sa amin, Ang inyong ginawa’y aming tatapusin.

Kasabihan niyong mga matatanda: “Kung ano ang ama’y gayon din ang bata,” sapagka’t sa patay ang papuri’y wala. Maliban sa isang anak na dakila.

Hymn to Labor

For the Motherland in war,
For the Motherland in peace,
Will the Filipino keep watch,
He will live until life will cease!

Now the East is glowing with light,
Go! To the field to till the land,
For the labour of man sustains
Fam'ly, home and Motherland.
Hard the land may turn to be,
Scorching the rays of the sun above...
For the country, wife and children
All will be easy to our love.

(Chorus)

Go to work with spirits high,
For the wife keeps home faithfully,
Inculcates love in her children
For virtue, knowledge and country.
When the evening brings repose,
On returning joy awaits you,
And if fate is adverse, the wife,
Shall know the task to continue.

(Chorus)

Hail! Hail! Praise to labour,
Of the country wealth and vigor!
For it brow serene's exalted,
It's her blood, life, and ardor.
If some youth would show his love
Labor his faith will sustain :
Only a man who struggles and works
Will his offspring know to maintain.

(Chorus)

Teach, us ye the laborious work
To pursue your footsteps we wish,
For tomorrow when country calls us
We may be able your task to finish.
And on seeing us the elders will say :
"Look, they're worthy 'f their sires of yore!"
Incense does not honor the dead
As does a son with glory and valor.

Kundiman

Truly hushed today
Are my tongue and heart
Harm is discerned by love
And joy flies away,
'Cause the Country was
Vanquished and did yield
Through the negligence
Of the one who led.

But the sun will return to dawn;
In spite of everything
Subdued people
Will be liberated;
The Filipino name
Will return perhaps
And again become
In vogue in the world.

We shall shed
Blood and it shall flood
Only to emancipate
The native land;
While the designated time
Does not come,
Love will rest
And anxiety will sleep.

A Poem That Has No Title

To my Creator I sing
Who did soothe me in my great loss;
To the Merciful and Kind
Who in my troubles gave me repose.

Thou with that pow'r of thine
Said: Live! And with life myself I found;
And shelter gave me thou
And a soul impelled to the good
Like a compass whose point to the North is bound.

Thou did make me descend
From honorable home and respectable stock,
And a homeland thou gavest me
Without limit, fair and rich
Though fortune and prudence it does lack.

Ang Awit ni Maria Clara

Ang tulang ito'y matatagpuan sa Noli Me Tangere ang inawit ni Maria Clara, kaya gayon ang pamagat. Ito’y punung-puno ng pag-ibig sa bayang tinubuan.

Kay tamis ng oras sa sariling bayan,
Kaibigan lahat ang abot ng araw,
At sampu ng simoy sa parang ay buhay,
Aliw ng panimdim pati kamatayan.

Maalab na halik ang nagsaliw-saliw
Sa labi ng inang mahal, pagkagising;
Ang pita ng bisig as siya’y yapusin,
Pati mga mata’y ngumgiti mandin.

Kung dahil sa bayan, kay tamis mamatay,
Doon sa kasuyo ang abot ng araw;
Kamatayan pati ng simoy sa parang
Sa walang pag-ibig, ni ina, ng Bayan.

Song of Maria Clara

A poem, found in Rizal's book Noli Me Tangere, sung by Maria Clara, which accounts for the title

Sweet are the hours in one's own Native Land,
All there is friendly o'er which the sun shines above;
Vivifying is the breeze that wafts over her fields;
Even death is gratifying and more tender is love.

Ardent kissed on a mother's lips are at play,
On her lap, upon the infant child's awakening,
The extended arms do seek her neck to entwine,
And the eyes at each other's glimpse are smiling.

It is sweet to die in one's own Native Land,
All there is friendly o'er which the sun shines above;
And deathly is the breeze for one without
A country, without a mother and without love.

Sa Kabataang Pilipino

Salin ito ng tulang "A La Juventud Filipina" na sinulat ni Rizal sa Unibersidad ng Santo Tomas noong siya'y labingwalong taong gulang. Ang tulang ito ang nagkamit ng unang gantimpala sa timnpalak sa pagsulat ng tula, na itinaguyod ng Liceo Artistico Literario, sanahang binubuo ng mga taong mahilig sa panitikan at sa sining. Mga Kastila't katutubo ang lumahook na sa paligsahan nguni't ang Lupon ng Inampalang binubuo ng mga kastila ay humanga sa tula ni Rizal at ipinagkaloob ditto ang unang gantimpala.

Ang tulang ito ang kauna-unahang lantarang pagpapahayag ni Rizal ng kaniyang damdaming makabansa. Hinihimok niya ang kabataang Pilipino upang mamukadkad at linangin ang kaniyang masisining na katalinuhan, tinatawag itong "Magandang Pag-asa ng Bayan Kong Mutya," na ngayo'y isang pariralang malimit banggitin.

Sa tula'y ipinahahayag na ang Pilipinas ay bayan ng mga Pilipino at ang salitang "Pilipino" ay unang ginagamit upang tawagin ang mga katutubo ng Pilipinas, hindi ang mga kastilang ipinanganak sa Pilipinas, na siyang gamit ng salitang ito.

Itaas ang iyong
Malinis na noo
Sa araw na ito,
Kabataang Pilipino!
Igilas mo na rin ang kumikinang mong
Mayamang sanghaya
Magandang pag-asa ng Bayan kong Mutya!

Makapangyarihang wani'y lumilipad,
At binibigyang ka ng muning mataas,
Na maitutulad ng ganap na lakas,
Mabilis na hangin, sa kanyang paglipad,
Malinis na diwa, sa likmuang hangad.

Ikaw ay bumaba
Na taglay ang ilaw
Ng sining at agham
Sa paglalabanan,
Bunying kabataan,
At iyong kalagiun ang gapos mong iyang
Tanikalang bakal na kinatalian
Ng matulain mong waning kinagisnan.

Ikaw na lagi nang pataas nag lipad,
Sa pakpak ng iyong Mayamang pangarap,
Na iyong Makita sa Ilimpong ulap
Ang lalong matamis
Na mag tulaing pinakananais,
Ng higit ang sarap
Kaysa "ambrosia" at "nectar" na awagas
Ng mga bulaklak.

Ikaw na may tinig
Na buhat sa langit,
Kaagaw sa tamis
Na kay Filomenang Malinis na hiomig,
Sa gabing tahimik
Ay pinaparam mo ang sa taong sakit,
Ikaw, na ang batong sukdulan ng tigas
Sa lakas ng iyong diwa'y nagagawad
Ng buhay at gilas,
At ang alaalang makislap
Ay nabibigayan ng kamay mong masikap
Ng buhay na walang masasabing wakes.

At ikaw, na siyang
Sa may iba't ibang
Balani ni Febong kay Apelas mahal,
Gayundin sa lambong ng katalagahan,
Na siayng sa guhit ng pinsel mong tanga'y
Nakapaglilipat sa kayong alinman;

Hayo na'y tumakbo! Sapagka't ang banal
Na ningas ng wani'y nais maputungan
Kayong naglalama'y,
At maipamansag ng tambuling tangan,
Saan man humanggan,
Ang ngalan ng tao, sa di matulusang
Lawak ng palibot na nakasasaklaw.

Malwalhating araw,
Ito, Pilipinas, sa lupang tuntungan!
Ang Lumikha'y dapat na pasalamatan,
Dahilan sa kanyang mapagmahal,
Na ikaw'y pahatdan.

To the Philippine Youth

Unfold, oh timid flower!

Lift up your radiant brow, This day, Youth of my native strand! Your abounding talents show Resplendently and grand, Fair hope of my Motherland!

Soar high, oh genius great, And with noble thoughts fill their mind; The honor's glorious seat, May their virgin mind fly and find More rapidly than the wind.

Descend with the pleasing light Of the arts and sciences to the plain, Oh Youth, and break forthright The links of the heavy chain That your poetic genius enchain.

See that in the ardent zone, The Spaniard, where shadows stand, Doth offer a shining crown, With wise and merciful hand To the son of this Indian land.

You, who heavenward rise On wings of your rich fantasy, Seek in the Olympian skies The tenderest poesy, More sweet than divine honey;

You of heavenly harmony, On a calm unperturbed night, Philomel's match in melody, That in varied symphony Dissipate man's sorrow's blight;

You at th' impulse of your mind The hard rock animate And your mind with great pow'r consigned Transformed into immortal state The pure mem'ry of genius great;

And you, who with magic brush On canvas plain capture The varied charm of Phoebus, Loved by the divine Apelles, And the mantle of Nature;

Run ! For genius' sacred flame Awaits the artist's crowning Spreading far and wide the fame Throughout the sphere proclaiming With trumpet the mortal's name Oh, joyful, joyful day, The Almighty blessed be Who, with loving eagerness Sends you luck and happiness.

To Josephine

Rizal dedicated this poem to Josephine Bracken, an Irish woman who went to Dapitan accompanying a man seeking Rizal's services as an ophthalmologist.

Josephine, Josephine
Who to these shores have come
Looking for a nest, a home,
Like a wandering swallow;
If your fate is taking you
To Japan, China or Shanghai,
Don't forget that on these shores
A heart for you beats high.

Education Gives Luster to Motherland

To The Virgin Mary

Mary, sweet peace, solace dear
Of pained mortal ! You're the fount
Whence emanates the stream of succor,
That without cease our soil fructifies.

From thy throne, from heaven high,
Kindly hear my sorrowful cry!
And may thy shining veil protect
My voice that rises with rapid flight.

Thou art my Mother, Mary, pure;
Thou'll be the fortress of my life;
Thou'll be my guide on this angry sea.
If ferociously vice pursues me,
If in my pains death harasses me,
Help me, and drive away my woes!

Sa Aking mga Bata

Unang Tula ni Rizal. Sa edad 8, isunulat ni Rizal ang una niyang tula ng isinulat sa katutubong wika at pinamagatang "SA AKING MGA KABATA".

Kapagka ang baya’y sadyang umiibig
Sa langit salitang kaloob ng langit
Sanlang kalayaan nasa ring masapi

Katulad ng ibong nasa himpapawid
Pagka’t ang salita’y isang kahatulan
Sa bayan, sa nayo't mga kaharian

At ang isang tao’y katulad, kabagay
Ng alin mang likha noong kalayaan.
Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang salita
Mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda

Kaya ang marapat pagyamanin kusa
Na tulad sa inang tunay na nagpala
Ang wikang Tagalog tulad din sa Latin,

Sa Ingles, Kastila, at salitang anghel,
Sapagkat ang Poong maalam tumingin
Ang siyang naggagawad, nagbibigay sa atin.
Ang salita nati’y tulad din sa iba

Na may alfabeto at sariling letra,
Na kaya nawala’y dinatnan ng sigwa
Ang lunday sa lawa noong dakong una.