Bataan Peninsula State UniversityProject in SSCI-110

Submitted by:Maria Criselle G. Tala

Submitted to:Sir. Ariel Magtanong Tamayo

Through Education the Motherland Receives

Light

BACKGROUND OF POEM• Rizal wrote this poem in the year 1876• at the age of fifteen• It was written in Ateneo de Municipal in

ManilaIn this poem, Dr. Jose Rizal enumerated the

benefits a country derives from education namely: atmosphere of peace, propagation of correct values, an antidote to vices and crime, encouragement for youthful usefulness and as a motivation or determined civil service.

The vital breath of prudent EducationInstills a virtue of enchanting power;

She lifts the motherland to highest stationAnd endless dazzling glories on her

shower.And as the zephyr's gentle exhalation

Revives the matrix of the fragrant flower,So education multiplies her gifts of grace;With prudent hand imparts them to the

human race.

For her a mortal-man will gladly partWith all he has; will give his calm repose;

For her are born all science and all art,That brows of men with laurel fair enclose.As from the towering mountain's lofty heart

The purest current of the streamlet flows,So education without stint or measure gives

Security and peace to lands in which she lives.

Where Education reigns on lofty seatYouth blossoms forth with vigor and

agility;He error subjugates with solid feet,

And is exalted by conceptions of nobility.She breaks the neck of vice and its deceit;

Black crime turns pale at Her hostility;The barbarous nations She knows how to

tame,From savages creates heroic fame.

And as the spring doth sustenance bestowOn all the plants, on bushes in the mead,

Its placid plenty goes to overflowAnd endlessly with lavish love to feedThe banks by which it wanders, gliding

slow,Supplying beauteous nature's every need;

So he who prudent Education doth procure

The towering heights of honor will secure.

From out his lips the water, crystal pure,Of perfect virtue shall not cease to go.

With careful doctrines of his faith made sure,The powers of evil he will overthrow,

Like foaming waves that never long endure,But perish on the shore at every blow;

And from his good example other men shall learn

Their upward steps toward the heavenly paths to turn.

Within the breast of wretched humankindShe lights the living flame of goodness

bright;The hands of fiercest criminal doth bind;

And in those breasts will surely pour delight

Which seek her mystic benefits to find,Those souls She sets aflame with love of

right.It is a noble fully-rounded Education

That gives to life its surest consolation.

And as the mighty rock aloft may towerAbove the center of the stormy deep

In scorn of storm, or fierce Sou'wester's power,

Or fury of the waves that raging seep,Until, their first mad hatred spent, they

cower,And, tired at last, subside and fall asleep, --

So he that takes wise Education by the hand,Invincible shall guide the reigns of

motherland.

On sapphires shall his service be engraved,A thousand honors to him by his land be

granted:For in their bosoms will his noble sons have

savedLuxuriant flowers his virtue had

transplanted:And by the love of goodness ever lived,

The lords and governors will see implantedTo endless days, the Christian Education,

Within their noble, faith-enrapture nation.

And as in early morning we beholdThe ruby sun pour forth resplendent

rays;And lovely dawn her scarlet and her

gold,Her brilliant colors all about her sprays;So skillful noble Teaching doth unfold

To living minds the joy of virtuous ways.She offers our dear motherland the lightThat leads us to immortal glory's height.