Buhay at Mga Sinulat ni Rizal

(GEED 10013)

To the Filipino Youth

“A La Juventud Filipina”

I. Introduction
A. Background of the poem
• Rizal was 18 years old when he wrote the poem
• He was then a student at University of Santo Tomas (UST)
• He used the poem as his piece at a literary contest held in the Liceo Artistico Literario de Manila
(Manila Lyceum of Art and Literature)
• The poem was presented year 1879 on a contest where the board of judges were Spaniards
• First Spanish poem written by a Filipino and was recognized by the Spanish literary authority
• He won the first prize which he received a silver feather-shaped pen with decorations of gold and a
diploma
• Translators: Charles Derbyshire
Alberto S. Veloso
Nick Joaquin

II. The Poem

“A La Juventud Filipina”
(Spanish Version)

¡Alza tu tersa frente,

juventud filipina, en este día! Tú, de celeste acento,
¡Luce resplandeciente melodioso rival de filomena,
tu rica gallardía, que en variado concento
bella esperanza de la patria mía! en la noche serena
disipas del mortal la amarga pena;
Vuela, genio grandioso,
y les infunde noble pensamiento, Tú, que la pena dura
que lance vigoroso, animas al impulso de tu mente,
más rápido que el viento, y la memoria pura
su mente virgen al glorioso asiento. del genio refulgente
eternizas, con genio prepotente;
Baja, con la luz grata
de las artes y ciencias, a la arena, Y tú, que el vario encanto
juventud, y desata de Febo, amado del divino Apeles,
la pesada cadena y de Natura el manto,
que tu genio poético encadena. con mágicos pinceles
trasladar al sencillo lienzo sueles;
Ve que en la ardiente zona
do moraron las sombras, el hispano ¡Corred! que sacra llama
esplendente corona, del genio el lauro coronar espera,
con pía y sabia mano, esparciendo la Fama
ofrece al hijo de este suelo indiano. con trompa pregonera
el nombre del mortal por la ancha esfera.
Tú, que buscando subes,
en alas de tu rica fantasía, ¡Día, día felice,
del Olimpo en las nubes Filipinas gentil, para tu suelo!
tiernísima Poesía, Al Potente bendice,
más sabrosa que néctar y ambrosía. que con amante anhelo
la ventura te envía y el consuelo.
III. Dissecting the Poem
To the Filipino Youth
(Translation by Nick Joaquin)
STANZA 1
Unfold, oh timid flower!

Lift up your radiant brow,

This day, Youth of my native strand!
Your abounding talents show
Resplendently and grand,
Fair hope of my Motherland!

INTERPRETATION:
The first line, "unfold, oh timid flower," implies that the youth is silent, maybe daunted, and consequently has
not yet gone into full bloom for whatever reason there is that may have silenced them. In the beginning stanza,
Rizal encourages the youth, by telling them to hold their heads high for they possess talents and skills and
abilities that would make their country proud.

STANZA 2
Soar high, oh genius great,
And with noble thoughts fill their mind;
The honor’s glorious seat,
May their virgin mind fly and find
More rapidly than the wind.

INTERPRETATION:
Here, Rizal calls to genius to fill young minds with noble thoughts and hopes that as they release their thinking
from the chains that bind, they may be able to soar swiftly high where the joy of honor is.

STANZA 3
Descend with the pleasing light
Of the arts and sciences to the plain,
Oh Youth, and break forthright
The links of the heavy chain
That your poetic genius enchain.

INTERPRETATION:
Contrary to the second verse, which talked about ascending and soaring to the heights, this third stanza now
talks about descent, and a downward motion of the great genius to fill the earthly strokes of art and science with
their magnificent ideas. Again, Rizal calls them to break the chains that bind their intellect. "Poetic genius" here
does not necessarily pertain to the talent of writing poetry. Instead, the term "poetic" is simply an adjective to
describe genius, meaning that it is deep and mystifying and heavy with meaning.

STANZA 4
See that in the ardent zone,
The Spaniard, where shadows stand,
Doth offer a shining crown,
With wise and merciful hand
To the son of this Indian land.

INTERPRETATION:
Rizal challenges the youth, that in their pursuit of knowledge and wisdom they may humble the hand of Spain,
whose proud chin did not look kindly upon the people whom they labeled as "Indios" and whom they treated
with contempt. He dreams that in their journey to intellectual greatness they may humble even the proudest
nations that look down on them and rightfully deserve "a crown that shines, even where shadows stand."
STANZA 5 and STANZA 6
You, who heavenward rise
On wings of your rich fantasy,
Seek in the Olympian skies
The tenderest poesy,
More sweet than divine honey;

You of heavenly harmony,

On a calm unperturbed night,
Philomel’s match in melody,
That in varied symphony
Dissipate man’s sorrow’s blight;

INTERPRETATION:
In these two stanzas, Rizal calls the youth to seek the beauty of poetry and music, which he himself values
greatly as essentials in every manner of life. He claims that poetry is "more sweet than divine honey," and that
music can "dissipate man's sorrow's blight."

STANZA 7
You at th’ impulse of your mind
The hard rock animate
And your mind with great pow’r consigned
Transformed into immortal state
The pure mem’ry of genius great;

INTERPRETATION:
Speaking to the youth, Rizal says that by the very impulse of their mind, they are capable of bringing to life or
animating even something as lifeless and unmoving as a hard rock. He continues to say that the youth is able, to
immortalize their thoughts and their words through the help of great genius (as he has done himself. This stanza
can be arranged in a more contemporary English structure as follows: "You can animate the hard rock at the
impulse of your mind; and transform, with the great power of your mind, the pure memory of great genius into
immortality.

STANZA 8
And you, who with magic brush
On canvas plain capture
The varied charm of Phoebus,
Loved by the divine Apelles,
And the mantle of Nature;

INTERPRETATION:
Rizal here addresses the youth, comparing their abilities to a magic brush that can capture even the most
majestic views and the most glorious charms on a blank canvas.

STANZA 9
Run ! For genius’sacred flame
Awaits the artist’s crowning
Spreading far and wide the fame
Throughout the sphere proclaiming
With trumpet the mortal’s name

Oh, joyful, joyful day,

The Almighty blessed be
Who, with loving eagerness
Sends you luck and happiness
INTERPRETATION:
The last stanza is a charge, urging the youth to run, for a glorious crown awaits them. The "sphere" here pertains
to the world, showing that Rizal believed the Filipino youth is as brilliant as those in any other nation, and is
able to contend with even the strongest powers if they only set their mind to making most of what they already
have.

IV. The Poem and the Present Youth

A. Message of the Poem

- The poem is for the Filipino youth of the present and future generation. It urges the Filipino youth to
reach their potential by harnessing their skills and talents for the betterment of our countrymen. It
motivates the youth to free Filipinos from ignorance and to seek freedom and human dignity. Rizal wrote
this because he wants the youth to wake up from being under the Spanish rule and do something for a
change.
B. Relating the Poem to the Present Time
- The youth are the backbone of their nation. They can change the future of the society with their will and
vigor. Unfortunately, today we find the youth more interested in material things, immoral acts, and
harmful ways.

C. YOUTH TODAY AS THE FAIR HOPE OF OUR MOTHERLAND

V. Conclusion
A. Lessons of the Poem
• The youth must put an effort in searching and interpreting for hidden meanings.
• Jose Rizal strengthens the concept that we must be always look back to history to gather different
perspectives.
• Rizal strongly believes that the youth could make a massive change
• We must be brave to voice out our stand.

References:

https://prezi.com/p/tmhyapcpae0h/to-the-philippine-youth/

https://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2018/03/interpretation-to-filipino-youth.html?m=1

https://www.tagaloglang.com/a-la-juventud-filipina-jose-rizal/

https://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2018/03/interpretation-to-filipino-youth.html?m=1

https://youtu.be/WZmcQesA5hc

Prepared by:
Daisy V. Lopez
Prescia Mae S. Acabado
Richie Mae Alva

BSCE 2-1