The 8 Most Important Literary Works by Jose Rizal are: will one day be free from betrayal and

from betrayal and injustice are

reflected in this piece. He wrote a kundiman to profess
 To the Filipino Youth (1879 in Manila) - When Rizal his intense love for his motherland. This piece
was still a student at the University of Sto. Tomas, he reflects his high hopes that one day, the Philippines
composed this literary poetry. Tomas (UST). Rizal would be free from treachery and injustice. At the time,
submitted this poem for a poetry competition for Filipinos the country faced great threats while he was in Europe.
held by the Manila Lyceum of Art and Literature in its
original Spanish translation, "A la juventud filipina."  Junto Al Pasig ( Performed on 8th of December
1880 at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila ) - For the
 Goodbye to Leonor (1874 in Dagupan City) - This velada, a spectacular variety show held during the major
literary work sheds light on the romance that existed feast days, Rizal wrote this one-act play in Spanish. He
between Rizal and his adored Leonor Rivera. “Goodbye wrote Junto al Pasig as a commissioned work for the
to Leonor” was written by Rizal for his childhood feast of the patroness of Ateneo, Immaculate
sweetheart, Leonor Rivera, when she married Henry Conception of the Virgin Mary. The play was first
Kipping, a British railway engineer. “Goodbye to Leonor” performed by Rizal's schoolmates on the 8th of
was written by Rizal for his childhood sweetheart, December 1880 at the Ateneo Municipal de Manila,
Leonor Rivera — who was only 13 years old when they with music written by a Spanish Professor, Blas
met in Dagupan. Echegoyen.

 To the Young Women of Malolos (February 22, 1889  Noli Me Tángere - Rizal wrote the novel to expose the
in London) - He emphasizes the traits ideal Filipino ills of Philippine society during the Spanish colonial era.
moms should have, the obligations of wives to their The first half of Noli me Tangere was written in
husbands and children, and advice for young women on Madrid, Spain from 1884-1885 while Dr. José P. Rizal
how to select their life partners throughout this literary was studying for medicine. While in Germany, Rizal
work. He was inspired to write this letter by the Malolos wrote the second half of Noli me Tangere from time-
ladies who triumphed in the struggle they engaged in. to-time starting February 21, 1887 to expose
Rizal counsels women to uphold their respect and Spanish colonial abuse in print.
dignity, pursue education, and lead honorable lives in
order to set an example for others.
 El Filibusterismo - Rizal dedicated his second book to
 Kundiman (September 12,1891 in Europe) - He
the GOMBURZA, three Filipino priests who were
expressed his fervent love for his motherland in a
hanged for subversion and whose names were Mariano
kundiman. His sincere aspirations that the Philippines
Gomez, Jose Apolonio Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora.
Both of Rizal's two works, which are now regarded as  Rizal eventually earned a land surveyor’s and assessor’s
his literary masterpieces, inadvertently contributed to degree from the Ateneo Municipal while taking up
the Philippine Revolution. Rizal, who began writing El Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas.
Filibusterismo in October 1887 in Calamba, Laguna, Upon learning that his mother was going blind, Rizal
revised some chapters while he was in London and opted to study ophthalmology at the UST Faculty of
completed the book on March 29, 1891. Medicine and Surgery. He, however, was not able to
complete the course because “he became politically
isolated by adversaries among the faculty and clergy who
 Mi último adios (1896 in Fort Santiago) - Rizal was demanded that he assimilate to their system.”
detained and ultimately given a firing squad death  Without the knowledge of his parents, Rizal traveled to
sentence for sedition and rebellion after being Europe in May 1882. According to his biographer,
connected to the Katipuneros. Rizal used letters to tell Austin Craig, Rizal, “in order to obtain a better
his compatriots and motherland farewell during his last education, had had to leave his country stealthily like a
days in Fort Santiago of Manila. One of Rizal's few final fugitive from justice, and his family, to save themselves
compositions is Mi ltimo adiós, or My Last Farewell from persecution, were compelled to profess ignorance
of his plans and movements. His name was entered in
Santo Tomas at the opening of the new term, with the
Rizal’s First education fees paid, and Paciano had gone to Manila pretending to
be looking for this brother whom he had assisted out of
 Jose Rizal’s first teacher was his mother, who had taught the country.”
him how to read and pray and who had encouraged him  Rizal earned a Licentiate in Medicine at the Universidad
to write poetry. Later, private tutors taught the young Central de Madrid, where he also took courses in
Rizal Spanish and Latin, before he was sent to a private philosophy and literature. It was in Madrid that he
school in Biñan. conceived of writing Noli Me Tangere. He also attended
 When he was 11 years old, Rizal entered the Ateneo the University of Paris and, in 1887, completed his eye
Municipal de Manila. He earned excellent marks in specialization course at the University of Heidelberg. It
subjects like philosophy, physics, chemistry, and natural was also in that year that Rizal’s first novel was
history. At this school, he read novels; wrote prize- published (in Berlin).
winning poetry (and even a melodrama—“Junto al  Rizal is said to have had the ability to master various
Pasig”); and practiced drawing, painting, and clay skills, subjects, and languages. Our national hero was
modeling, all of which remained lifelong interests for also a doctor, farmer, naturalist (he discovered the Draco
him. rizali, a small lizard; Apogania rizali, a beetle; and
the Rhacophorus rizali, a frog), writer, visual artist,
athlete (martial arts, fencing, and pistol shooting),  Saturday afternoon, December 17, 1870- Rizal left Biñan
musician, and social scientist. after one year and a half of schooling
 Arturo Camps- a Frenchman friend of Rizal’s father who
EARLY EDUCATION IN CALAMBA AND BIÑAN took care of him on board
 The first teacher of Rizal was his mother, who was
remarkable woman of good character and fine culture —
Artistic Talents
her mother
 Maestro Celestino- Rizal’s first private tutor  Since early childhood Rizal revealed his God-given
 Maestro Lucas Padua- Rizal’s second tutor talents for thearts.
 Leon Monroy- a former classmate of Rizal’s father  He drew sketches and pictures on his books of his
became Rizal’s tutor that instructed Jose in Spanish and sisters, for which reason he was scolded by his mother.
Latin. He died five months later He carved figuresofanimalsand persons out of wood.
 Sunday afternoon in June, 1869- Rizal left Calamba for Even before he learned to read, he could already sketch
Biñan accompanied by Paciano pictures of birds, flowers, fruits, rivers, mountains,
 Maestro Justiniano Aquino Cruz- Rizal’s teacher in a animals and persons.
private school in Biñan -Rizal described his teacher as  He loved to ride on a spirited pony ( which his father
follows: He was thin, long-necked, with a sharp nose and bought for him) or take long walks in the meadows for
a body slightly bent forward him) or take long walks in the meadows and lakeshore
 Pedro- the teacher’s son which Rizal challenged to a with his big black dog named Usman.
fight  At one time, his sisters teased him: “Ute, what are you
 Andres Salandanan- challenged Rizal to an arm- doing with so many statuettes?” He replied: “ Don’t you
wrestling match know that people will erect monument and statues in my
 Juancho-an old painter who was the father-in-law of the honor for the future?”
school teacher; freely give Rizal lessons in drawing and EARLY EDUCATION
painting
 Jose Guevara- Rizal’s classmate who also loved  As Jose grew older, his parents employed private tutors
painting, became apprentices of the old painter to give him lessons at home.
 “the favorite painters of the class”- because of his artistic  The first was Maestro Celestino and the second,
talent Maestro Lucas Padua. Later, an old man named Leon
 Christmas in 1870-Rizal received a letter from his sister Monroy, a former classmate of Rizal’s father, became
Saturnina, informing him of the arrival of the steamer the boy’s tutor. This old teacher lived at the Rizal home
Talim which would take him from Biñan to Calamba and instructed Jose in Spanish and Latin. Unfortunately,
he did not lived long. He died five months later.
 After a Monroy’s death, the hero’s parents decided to
send their gifted son to a private school in Biñan.

Tragedies In Rizal’s Young Life

It was with a sad heart that Francisco Mercado finally sent Jose
off to school in Manila. The boy was now eleven years of age.
His brother Paciano was studying in College of San Jose under
its famous teacher Fr. Jose Burgos, a noble and courageous
Filipino priest. Here Jose Rizal came face to face with another
tragedy in his young life. He found Paciano destructed over the
execution of the beloved Fr. Jose Burgos, who was convicted
of inciting mutinity, an insurrection or uprising against civil, legal,
or political authority.
He was making preparations to depart when an injustice
occurred and threw a shadow across his happy young life. His
mother was thrown into a prison, accused of a crime of which
she was so whole incapable of doing that everybody knew it
was a pure fabrication. She was charged with conspiracy with
her brother, Alberto Realonda, to kill his wife, who had
separated from him.