Rizal's Intellectual Legacy in Selected Poems

Sa Aking Mga Kababata

Rizal wrote this poem when he was eight years old. This poem had a strong sense of nationalism expressing Rizal’s love for our own language. He emphasized the significance and the usage of our mother tongue. Mother tongue was the language we learned since birth (which was Filipino). It gave us a sense of identity. Language could not only be our way to communicate but it also served as the reflection of our culture. Rizal also highlighted on this poem that all languages were equal in terms of its significance and usage. Filipino language like other languages had its own alphabet and words. The values and attitude that still valid and usable today is we should be more proud of our nationality and identity, and by enriching our language we could show our sense of pride as Filipinos.

Kapagka ang baya'y sadyang umiibig

sa kanyang salitang kaloob ng langit,

sanlang kalayaan nasa ring masapit

katulad ng ibong nasa himpapawid.

Pagkat 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 pagyamaning kusa

na tulad sa isang tunay na nagpala.

Ang wikang tagalog tulad din sa latin,

sa ingles, kastila at salitang anghel

sapagka't ang Poong maalam tumingin

ang siyang naggawad, nagbigay sa atin.

Ang salita nati'y huwad din sa iba

na may alfabeto at sariling letra,

na kaya nawala'y dinatnan ng sigwa

ang lunday sa lawa noong dakong una

Interpretation: Sa Aking mga Kababata

Kapagka ang baya’y sadyang umiibig

Sa langit salitang kaloob ng langit

Sanlang kalayaan nasa ring masapi

Katulad ng ibong nasa himpapawid

This first stanza in Rizal's poem shows that long before he sprouted the first fruits of his youth, he had already placed distinguished value in the importance of one's mother tongue.  According to these verses, if a nation's people wholeheartedly embrace and love their native language, that nation will also surely pursue liberty.  He likens this idea to a bird soaring freely in the vast, eternal sky above

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.

            Language here is likened to a people born into freedom.  In Rizal's time, Filipinos were held in slavery by Spain.  Rizal, however, believed that if the people treasured and loved and used their mother tongue, it would become a symbol of relative freedom, and of identity.

Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang salita
Mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda
Kaya ang marapat pagyamanin kusa
Na tulad sa inang tunay na nagpala

It is here in these lines of verse that we find Rizal's famous quote: "He who does not love his own language is worse than an animal and smelly fish."  He further adds that Filipinos must work to make the language richer, and likens this endeavor to a mother feeding her young.  The native tongue is now compared to a helpless child that must be nurtured in order to grow and flourish.

Ang wikang Tagalog tulad din sa Latin,
Sa Ingles, Kastila, at salitang anghel,
Sapagkat ang Poong maalam tumingin
Ang siyang naggagawad, nagbibigay sa atin.

The Tagalog language is, according to these lines, equal in rank to Latin, English, Spanish, and even the language of the angels.  It is not inferior to any other language, nor must it be considered so.  For it is God who has bestowed upon the Filipinos this gift, just as he has blessed the other nations and lands with their native tongues.

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.

            These last lines may very well be referring to the Alibata, or the old Filipino alphabet whose characters are unique in every essence, finding no likeness in any other alphabet.  The Tagalog language, according to Rizal, has letters and characters of its very own, similar to the way other "elite tongues" do.  These letters, however, were overthrown by strong waves and lost, like fragile, fickle boats in the stormy sea, many long years ago.

Education Gives Luster to Motherland

Wise education, vital breath

Inspires an enchanting virtue;

She puts the Country in the lofty seat

Of endless glory, of dazzling glow,

And just as the gentle aura's puff

Do brighten the perfumed flower's hue:

So education with a wise, guiding hand,

A benefactress, exalts the human band.

Man's placid repose and earthly life

To education he dedicates

Because of her, art and science are born

Man; and as from the high mount above

The pure rivulet flows, undulates,

So education beyond measure

Gives the Country tranquility secure.

Where wise education raises a throne

Sprightly youth are invigorated,

Who with firm stand error they subdue

And with noble ideas are exalted;

It breaks immortality's neck,

Contemptible crime before it is halted:

It humbles barbarous nations

And it makes of savages champions.

And like the spring that nourishes

The plants, the bushes of the meads,

She goes on spilling her placid wealth,

And with kind eagerness she constantly feeds,

The river banks through which she slips,

And to beautiful nature all she concedes,

So whoever procures education wise

Until the height of honor may rise.

From her lips the waters crystalline

Gush forth without end, of divine virtue,

And prudent doctrines of her faith

The forces weak of evil subdue,

That break apart like the whitish waves

That lash upon the motionless shoreline:

And to climb the heavenly ways the people

Do learn with her noble example.

In the wretched human beings' breast

The living flame of good she lights

The hands of criminal fierce she ties,

And fill the faithful hearts with delights,

Which seeks her secrets beneficent

And in the love for the good her breast she incites,

And it's th' education noble and pure

Of human life the balsam sure.

And like a rock that rises with pride

In the middle of the turbulent waves

When hurricane and fierce Notus roar

She disregards their fury and raves,

That weary of the horror great

So frightened calmly off they stave;

Such is one by wise education steered

He holds the Country's reins unconquered.

His achievements on sapphires are engraved;

The Country pays him a thousand honors;

For in the noble breasts of her sons

Virtue transplanted luxuriant flow'rs;

And in the love of good e'er disposed

Will see the lords and governors

The noble people with loyal venture

Christian education always procure.

And like the golden sun of the morn

Whose rays resplendent shedding gold,

And like fair aurora of gold and red

She overspreads her colors bold;

Such true education proudly gives

The pleasure of virtue to young and old

And she enlightens out Motherland dear

As she offers endless glow and luster.

Interpretation: Education Gives Luster to Motherland

Wise education, vital breath
Inspires an enchanting virtue;
She puts the Country in the lofty seat
Of endless glory, of dazzling glow,
And just as the gentle aura's puff
Do brighten the perfumed flower's hue:
So education with a wise, guiding hand,
A benefactress, exalts the human band.

                In this first stanza, Rizal expresses that education is what builds up a country and allows her to rise above the rest in matters of honor and a good name. He likens a guided and relevant education to the vibrance of a flower.

Man's placid repose and earthly life
To education he dedicates
Because of her, art and science are born
Man; and as from the high mount above
The pure rivulet flows, undulates,
So education beyond measure
Gives the Country tranquility secure.

                From the time of a man's birth to the moment of his death, he is constantly engaged in the journey of learning. This can come in the form of a formal education and a structured curriculum, or in the essence of daily living. And in this continued journey, people begin to discover and innovate, create and recreate, giving birth to great discoveries and breathtaking wonders. Rizal likens education to a rivulet, a stream, a brook, that provides a certain peace as the water endlessly flows.

Where wise education raises a throne
Sprightly youth are invigorated,
Who with firm stand error they subdue
And with noble ideas are exalted;
It breaks immortality's neck,
Contemptible crime before it is halted:
It humbles barbarous nations
And it makes of savages champions.

                Knowledge and wisdom enliven and embolden the young. With the sword of education they are able to identify errors and correct them. They are able to find fault in the seemingly faultless fabric of earthly knowledge and smother it with truth. They are well-respected for the ideas they bring to the world.

                A good education is an effective remedy to the problem of criminal acts and unlawful pursuits. Even nations who wish nothing more than to divide, conquer, and control are silenced when they open their ears to the voice of wisdom, which stops hatred in its tracks and promotes the welfare of the people. Even savages, turn into champions when they are afforded a good education.

And like the spring that nourishes
The plants, the bushes of the meads,
She goes on spilling her placid wealth,
And with kind eagerness she constantly feeds,
The river banks through which she slips,
And to beautiful nature all she concedes,
So whoever procures education wise
Until the height of honor may rise.
From her lips the waters crystalline
Gush forth without end, of divine virtue,

                Knowledge is likened to a spring that nourishes everything its water touches. The spring of knowledge is everlasting; there is no end to it.

And prudent doctrines of her faith
The forces weak of evil subdue,
That break apart like the whitish waves
That lash upon the motionless shoreline:
And to climb the heavenly ways the people
Do learn with her noble example.

                In the education and enlightenment of the soul, man is able to overcome the powers of evil, which in this stanza, are likened to the waves that lash upon the shore. Yet when man opens his eyes to the divine revelation and acquires knowledge in matters of the spirit, he is able to defeat the oppression of evil and "climb the heavenly ways."

In the wretched human beings' breast
The living flame of good she lights
The hands of criminal fierce she ties,
And fill the faithful hearts with delights,
Which seeks her secrets beneficent
And in the love for the good her breast she incites,
And it's th' education noble and pure
Of human life the balsam sure.

                Here, education is likened to a balsam, producing medicinal effects to the many afflictions of the human race, which are generally and singularly rooted in the propensity for evil. The acquisition of good wisdom enables man to magnify his passion for good and continually shun temptation.

And like a rock that rises with pride
In the middle of the turbulent waves
When hurricane and fierce Notus roar
She disregards their fury and raves,
That weary of the horror great
So frightened calmly off they stave;
Such is one by wise education steered
He holds the Country's reins unconquered.

                An educated man does not sway when trials come. He stands firm in the midst of trouble and remains courageous in times of despair. Great horrors cannot frighten him as they do other people. Education provides her country with strong and respectable citizens who are ready to fight for her honor no matter the cost.

His achievements on sapphires are engraved;
The Country pays him a thousand honors;
For in the noble breasts of her sons
Virtue transplanted luxuriant flow'rs;
And in the love of good e'er disposed
Will see the lords and governors
The noble people with loyal venture
Christian education always procure.

                The achievements of an educated man are not forgotten, and he passes his wisdom on to the generations that come after him. He becomes a beacon to his family and sets a good example for the youth. In this stanza, Rizal also stresses the great importance of a Christian education, as opposed to one that lacks the spiritual aspect, which he obviously considers an essential cornerstone.

And like the golden sun of the morn
Whose rays resplendent shedding gold,
And like fair aurora of gold and red
She overspreads her colors bold;
Such true education proudly gives
The pleasure of virtue to young and old
And she enlightens out Motherland dear
As she offers endless glow and luster. 

                The poem ends in a splash of color as the author likens a good education to lights of the sun and the aurora. Great wisdom picks no favorites; young and old benefit from it and delight in its joys. Rizal closes the verse with an image of his country with the sun overhead, a sun that embodies the virtues and wonders of a good education, which he dreams for every citizen to enjoy.

I am really amazed by Rizal because of his unique wisdom which at his young age, he knows this things already. Indeed, it is very true that education gives strong bondage to every community and to every people. Without education, we can’t achieve unity and peace, we can’t achieve our dreams and goals, and we can’t achieve the freedom that we’re aiming for. I don’t need to give anymore the explanation above but just one reminder to everyone especially to all youths like me, “Don’t make your studies taken for granted. For without knowledge, you are nothing.”-MJL