Mayol, Clieza B.

BFA FD 2 History 17 Rizal February 23, 2012 Reaction Paper

RIZALS UNSIGNED AND UNTITLED POEM

The last letter Dr. Jose Rizal wrote upon the day of his execution now commonly known as the Ultimo Adios was a piece of paper given to Trinidad Rizal on the day she met him at his cellar. He handed down a lamparila to his sister, and knowing that the guards did not know English, he said there is something inside. When the Rizals had come home, grevious of that day their brother was executed, they shook and finally opened the lamp, finding a piece of paper containing what is believed to be the very last poem written by the hero. Some historians however claim and theorize that Rizal did not actually write it but rather was from a group of individuals who wished to propagate the ideas of freedom and paternity after Rizals death. These doubts were originated from the queering idea that this very last letter was not titled or signed by Dr. Rizal which he normally did on all of his previous documents. Sadly, access to the original manuscript is now only limited to a few previlaged individuals and is rarely put in public view. This was due to an incident before when some of the original manuscripts of the Noli and El Fili were stolen and held ransom for P1.5 million. It is presently safely locked in a vault in the Filipiniana division of the National Library and only two people know of the combination, the chief of the Filipiniana division and the National Library director.

REACTION

There are no doubt the contents and the message of this writing, believed to be the last piece made by our national hero is greatly moving and inspiring to every Filipino around the world, to be able to reflect on his ideas and love for the country and be able to live out that example in our individual ways as Filipinos. Whether the text was really from Rizal or if the idea that it was from someone else does not really change the great impact of the message if one really understands it. Had Rizal obtained it from someone else, he is still worthy to be credited for being the key to spread the message of it, for if he had not given this to Trinidad, there would have been no copies distributed to the people, and his influence upon the Filipino patriots had given much help in attracting notice to such wonderful words.