Colegio de San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila of Northern Samar, Inc.
J.P. Rizal Street, Brgy. Calachuchi, Catarman, N. Samar
Email Address: clsrm_nsi@[Link]/cslrm.nsi90@[Link]
Tel Nos. (055) 500 9260/09813474090
Chapter III
Rizal Works
Prepared by:
Abuke, Kyde E.
Balag, Maita Anne Shey
Cardos, Jelian May P.
Escano, Elyssa Jade P.
Oronos, Mel Angela T.
Ongsotto, Jasmin T.
Potot, Bernadette Miles G.
Submitted to:
Mrs. Raquel P. Hernandez, RN.
2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Lesson 9: Works of Rizal………………………………………………………………………………..…..4-5
Lesson 10: The Value of Science……………………………………………………………………………5-6
Lesson 11: The Art of Rizal…………………………………………………………………………………6-8
Lesson 12: Organizations……………………………………………………………..……………………8-10
2
Chapter Description:
In this chapter, we are going to explore Rial’s different fields of interest, from his well-known
writings, views on science and his scientific undertakings, artistic and creative pursuits, and eventually to the
creation of an organization. Every great man and woman capable of expressing his/her thoughts is endowed
with a vision to purport his/her ideas unto another. This was how Rizal transformed his deep knowledge on
the things surrounding him. In dealing with his writings, he came up with numerous essays, poems, letters,
and novels to substantiate the different facets of his time. When it came to complex sciences, a topic which
unwelcome back then in Spanish colonial Philippines, Rizal went to discover its advantages and made full
use of them in dealing with the indolent situation of the country. Along with his rational knowledge was also
his pursuit for the creative. The creative faculties of his brain determined the importance of not only the
rational but also the visual. To create art is to inform others without explaining too much. His artistic pursuit
gave way to express his deepest thoughts along with his poetry. The culmination of all his efforts was best
displayed in his facilitating the possibility of Filipinos working together. As he worked on uniting all the
people in the archipelago, Rizal dealt with centuries of divisive thinking or regionalism and political
bickering by other less attenuated individuals. He nonetheless came victorious in providing the inspiration
for a national organization.
Chapter Outcomes:
At the end of the chapter, the students should be able to:
1. enumerate the different works, interests, and organizations of Dr. Jose Rizal;
2. discuss how Rizal valued the arts and the sciences in his works; and
3. analyze the different disciplines he ventured in and how it shaped
his mind for the birth of a nation.
3
LESSON 9: Works of Rizal
Lesson Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. discuss selected works of Rizal;
2. enumerate the significance of each of his works in their own context; and
3. relate the significance of Rizal's works to one's life.
Lesson Introduction:
In this lesson, we take a closer look at how Rizal used his talent for writing reaching a great number
of people. From his life as a young student up to his first days in Intramuros, Rizal always had his pen
beside him.
This lesson aims to position the student with regard to Rizal's selected work and their specific
contexts, along with the important concepts found in each one.
Exploration: Tracing Rizal's Writing
Rizal's original writings were written in Spanish. What we have now a translations of his original
works. These translations come in many versions by the different Rizal scholars.
Lesson Discussion:
A man of letters, Rizal is known best for his writings. His novels were the reasons for sparking a
revolution. He was also a man who wrote a lot to his friends, family, colleagues, fellow reformers, and many
more. Aside from all the prose he became known for, he also produced fine poems expressing the deepest
desires of his hearts that no essay, letter, or novel could materialize.
The Noli Me Tangere, a Latin phrase for "touch me not," came out in 1887, published in Berlin,
Germany. It was his first attempt to talk about his people while revealing the social ills and complications a
fellow Filipino like himself would have to live with during the Spanish rule. Eventually, this became a
massive hit; it became his masterpiece. With the lens of a doctor, he tried to expose the ills of society and
looked for proper remedy. As a mere novelist and physician, he applied his knowledge of prescription by
means of exposing the evils in society. Rizal intended to bring enlightenment to his readers. Those readers in
turn became doctors themselves to the malady as each held knowledge vital to its cure or detriment.
In his second novel, the El Filibusterismo, a Spanish term for 'The Subversion', came out in 1887,
published in Ghent, Belgium. Continuing where he left off with a new cast of characters, Rizal explored the
Philippines in a much grander scale. Both these two novels depicted the life of the colony, detailing the
various characters in their own context while drawing inspiration from real life contemporaries.
4
In one of his poems, Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell in English) he bid adieu to his beloved
country. Well hidden in the lamp given to Trinidad on the eve of his martyrdom, Rizal spoke in English so as
to cleverly tell his dear sister as to the contents inside. Later this letter was translated by the Supremo
Bonifacio in Tagalog as Pahimakas ni Dr. Jose Rizal, that further sparked the cause to revolt, stirring the
emotion of the people.
Regardless of a number of his influential works, some of his writings also employed greater skill as a
scholar of various disciplines. As a student of history, Rizal annotated the known book of Antonio de
Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas. His method of annotation was by hand which made him spend a lot
of time in the British Museum where one of the extant copies was located.
LESSON 10: The Value of Science
Lesson Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. enumerate the discoveries made by Rizal in Dapitan;
2. provide alternative ways on looking at how his mind works; and
3. synthesize his scientific approach to transforming a nation.
Lesson Introduction:
Science was instrumental in the developing changes in the 19th century. Rizal was also a part of that
century when various methods of enlightening took shape not only in the societal arena but also in industrial
concerns.
In this lesson, we take a further look into the state of science in the Philippines back in Rizal's time
and how he viewed its contribution to the nation he envisioned.
Lesson Discussion:
Science was not at the forefront of the Spanish colonial Philippines in the 19 th century. It was merely
introduced as a required subject to be taken to fulfill the much needed courses to attain a degree. The El
Filibusterismo described a student enrolled in a class of Physics to be "reciting lessons from memory,"
which was a usual predicament back then. Students were to mimic, like parrots, the lessons laid out by their
professors from the religious orders. When students showed a sign of distaste for the subject, the atmosphere
transformed into "a sermon about lessons on humility, submissiveness, and respect for the religious." That
was the context by which science was suppressed in the 19th century. But in one of his essays, the
Religiosity of the Filipinos, Rizal asserted that science is helpful in understanding the Creator.
5
As a propagandist writing in the La Solidaridad, Rizal would invoke the importance of science in
laying out reforms and in improving the state of the country In the Indolence of the Filipinos, Rizal argued
the important use of physical science to understand current social reality. In The Philippines a Century
Fence, he compared science with history.
"History does not record in its annals any lasting domination by a group of people…the existence of
a foreign body within another endowed with strength and activity is contrary to all natural and ethical
laws. Science teaches us that it is either assimilated, destroys the organism, is eliminated or becomes
encysted."
An ardent admirer of the physical sciences, Rizal had to prove his knowledge about the subiect when
he was in exile in Dapitan. The solitude and tranquility of the place provided him with resplendent natural
surroundings and he believed that any scientific pursuit would be within his grasp. In his four-year exile, he
fostered fascination for conchology or the study or collection of shells, estimated to be around 346 shells
from 203 species. Rizal became a familiar name for at least three species named after him: Draco rizali
(lizard), Apogonia rizali (beetle), and Rhacophorus rizali (frog). Furthermore, he delved into
archaecological, geological, geographical and anthropological studies based on his correspondences with his
fellow scientists.
Rizal was also in touch with his scientific side and never relinquished his thirst for knowledge.
The species named after him clearly displayed his contributions to botany and zoology. His inquiries
into the local environment provided detailed accounts of his different contributions to society. A man of his
caliber, born in the East, educated in the West, and still was able to focus and look on the greater side of man
makes you take a second look on his scientific pursuits.
LESSON 11: The Art of Rizal
Lesson outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. identify the artistic works of Rizal and how he made use of them;
2. establish the connection of his art works with other fields of endeavor; and
3. synthesize Rizal's passion for the arts complementing his love for reason.
Lesson Introduction:
Most of the works of Rizal are glossed over by historians. But when they look at his humanity,
creativity, and expression, they would be surprised, for he was also an artist!
In this lesson, we deal with the side of Rizal being a creator of his designs, literally. As he was
managing to travel abroad, correspond with distant family and friends, or mark a special occasion for a
person or event, his creative hands could not help but accentuate his thoughts. Finally, a closer look into the
different types of his art works is discussed in this lesson.
Lesson Discussion:
Rizal utilized his knowledge of the arts and its power of evoking what words cannot describe. This
talent of Rizal provided an added fuel in sending out his message connecting to the people close to him as if
they were just near. The understanding that Rizal also knew of the arts casts another look at his creativity.
6
Rizal was a fan of the visual arts. His pen being famous for writing so many lines people tend to
forget
about its other use for conjuring up an image. He had the talent for it even at a young age. He was said to
have been given clay and moments later he fashioned it into a any sculpture. He was given creative freedom
by his parents at a very young age. It Rizal were to be given another chance in life, he would have chosen to
be an artist. But, alas, it was not to be. Instead he used this skill in providing to the people around him.
By sharing his talent in crafting something out of nothing, Rizal provided his circle with the benefit
of being complete. As he was narrating his travels abroad, he also attached a sketch of a view from his
steamer or apartment. In most cases, he would send some of his friends some letters with an attachment
along with these on special occasions. When he felt gloomy or wanted to report to his correspondence about
the state of his health, he would often take a self-portrait about himself and would narrate the state he was in.
There were cases also of giving tokens of appreciation in the form of a small portrait bust in exchange for
the hosts hospitality and warmth. At times, his skills would be used to carve out toys for the games he
invented as well. One of the most famous would be his artistic cover of his first novel, Noli Me Tangere. It
was a teaser of sorts to the uninitiated contents of his book, giving glimpses of details about characters and
elements in various chapters. He also gave time to be playful and came up with his version of a comic strip
for his nephews in the Monkey and the Turtle. Yet even those dear to his heart need not worry, for he was
truly inspired by them and drew their portraits as a souvenir. The variety and extent of Rizal's artistic
practice was indeed diverse!
Figure 1: The Monkey and the Turtle
Figure 2: The Mother’s Revenge
7
Figure 3: Triumph of Death over Life Figure 4: Triumph of Science over Death
Figure 5: Noli Me Tangere book cover Figure 7: A sketch of himself by Rizal, in the training class,
Project Gutenberg
Figure 6: Rizal’s Last View of Manila, 1882
LESSON 12: Organizations
Lesson Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. categorize the different organizations that Rizal had formed;
2. discuss the reason for establishing each organization; and
3. classify each organization's specific contribution.
8
Lesson Introduction:
If one plans to change something impossible, he must be in the company of a few, for in this few, he
gathers the strength of the many. Trusted and like-minded individuals such as Rizal were constantly looking
for people who would be willing to accompany him in his greater goal. In his studies abroad, he became
open to establish various organizations who would be a larger voice in hearing out the faint cry of the
people. This lesson deals with the different organizations Rizal became involved in.
Lesson Discussion:
Upon his arrival in Europe, Rizal linked up with his, fellow Filipinos. They established a number of
organizations to strengthen their identify as a simple collective group of Flipinos embarking on the Paris
Exposition of 1882. They adopted the name of Kidlat Club, whose members included Antonio Luna,
Baldomero Roxas, Fernando Canon, Juan Luna, etc. Eventually, the name became temporal, fashioned
out of a whim. However, they spotted the native American Indians and were inspires by them. From being
Kidlat Club, they became the Los Indios Bravos. Adopting the derogatory term the Spaniards called their
fellow Filipinos, the members classified themselves into a greater goal of unifying their fellow Filipino
students in Europe.
Eventually, this group of students and young professionals became entrenched in providing a voice
to air their issues and suggestions to the government. The Asosacion La Solidaridad materialized. This
organization later published the newsletter entitled La Solidaridad where the lengthiest and groundbreaking
articles of Rizal were published, the 5-part Indolence of the Filipinos and Philippines, A Century Hence.
"Man works for an object. Remove the object and you reduce him to inaction. The most active man
in the world will fold his arms from the instant he understands that it is madness to bestir himself,
that this work will be the cause of his trouble, that for him it will be the cause of vexations at home
and of the pirate's greed abroad." Indolence of the Filipinos (Part III)
"Deprive a man, then, of his dignity, and you not only deprive him of his moral strength but you also
make him useless even for those who wish to make use of him. Every creature has its stimulus, its
mainspring: man's is his self-esteem. Take it away from him and he is a corpse, and he who seeks
activity in a corpse will encounter only worms." Indolence of the Filipinos (Part IV).
"No one ceases to be a man, no one forfeits his rights to civilization merely by being more or less
uncultured, and since the Filipino is regarded as a fit citizen when he is asked to pay taxes or shed his
blood to defend the fatherland why must this fitness be denied him when the question arises of
granting him some right? Moreover, how is he to be held responsible for his ignorance, when it is
acknowledged by all, friends and enemies that his zeal for learning is so great that even before the
coming of the Spaniards every one could read and write…" Philippines, A Century Hence (Part III).
"The people no longer have confidence in its former protectors, now its exploiters and executioners.
The masks have fallen. It has been that the love and piety of the past have come to resemble the
devotion of a nurse, who unable to live elsewhere, desires the eternal infancy, eternal weakness, for
the child in order to go on drawing her wages and existing at its expense, it has seen not only that she
does not nourish it to make it grow but that she poisons it to stunt its growth and at the slightest
protest she flies into a rage!" Philippines, A Century Hence (Part II).
"Perhaps the great American Republic, whose interests lie in the Pacific and who has no hand in the
spoliation of Africa, may dream some day of foreign possession. This is not impossible, for the
example is contagious, covetousness and ambition are among the strongest vices, and Harrison
manifested something of this sort in the Samoan question... Furthermore, this is contrary to her
traditions." Philippines, A Century Hence (Part IV).
When he returned to Manila, Rizal tried to establish the first national organization uniting the
archipelago. Never before had there been a gathering where different mestizo and indios were unified under
9
one country, the Filipinas. On the 3rd of July, 1892, Rizal established his national organization at the
Ongjunco Residence, in Tondo, Manila. It was to be known as the La Liga Filipina. It was attended by a
number of Filipinos from different fields and social strata like Domingo Franco, Pedro Serrano Laktaw,
Ambrosio Salvador, Apolinario Mabini, Andres Bonifacio, and several others.
The La Liga Filipina had its own constitution written by Rizal. Its aims were the following:
1. unity of the whole archipelago into one compact and homogenous body;
2. mutual protection in every want and necessity;
3. defense against all violence and injustice;
4. encouragement of education, agriculture, and commerce; and
5. analysis and application of reforms.
Eventually, the La Liga Filipina was the last organization Rizal formed and was directly involved in
because a few days after, Governor General Despujol arranged for Rizal's arrest and eventual exile to the
southern part of Mindanao, Dapitan. Despite his failure to materialize any long standing organization,
Rizal's followers were able to establish for themselves without his help. The formation of the Katipunan by
Supremo Andres Bonifacio who benefited from Rizal's vision made use of the latter's influential mien, as
references alluding to the Dapitan exile was present throughout their secret organization.
10