Rizal's Poems

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;

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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.

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As what Jose Rizal said, “Ignorance is slavery.” Considering Rizal to have the privilege of being educated, he had a first-hand experience of what change and power would the young Filipinos have if we were to breed an educated youth. This poem emphasized the importance of education and how true education among the citizens of a country, gives glory to its Motherland. This must have been the early beginning of Rizal’s spark for pursuing his vision as an educator and in developing his pedagogies which he later on applied in his exile years in Dapitan.