Literary figures weigh in on Rizal's 'Mi Retiro'

LAST week, we talked about José Rizal's lesser-known Dapitan poem "Mi Retiro" as the swan song before "Mi Ultimo Adios." They are complementary and can be appreciated if taken together and constitute Rizal's long goodbye to the nation. A copy in Rizal's own handwriting was sold last Saturday at León Gallery.

What makes this poem important aside from its authorship is the discourse, albeit varied, that goes around it.