A La Juventud Filipina
The Artistic-Literary Lyceum of Manila in 1879 held a literary contest that offered a prize for the best poem. When this event happened, Rizal was only eighteen years old. He submitted his poem entitled A La Juventud Filipina.
The Board of Judges, composed of Spaniards, was astounded by Rizal's poem and awarded him first prize which consisted of:
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a silver pen (feather-shaped and decorated with gold)
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diploma
Rizal was congratulated by the Jesuits especially his former professors in Ateneo, friends and family. It is a classic Philippine literature because it was the first Spanish poem written by a Filipino and was recognized by Spanish literary authority. Another reason is that it expresses that the Filipinos were the "fair hope of the Fatherland" and not the Spaniards.
A La Juventud Filipina is an inspiring poem that states that the Filipino youth are capable of great heights. 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.
This poem may have been written during the Spanish colonization, but the essence of it applies to the our generation as well. Currently, our country's economy is not doing so well. We have a lot of debt and many internal issues unresolved. Only a few years from now, our generation will be handling those problems. But how can we, if we are only sitting around and being satisfied with mediocre work. The poem reminds us that we, as Filipino youth, have a duty to serve our countrymen to our full extent. In order to do this, we must harness talents and skills that we have. We must also take initiative to help our country. Everyone of us can be able to contribute to the better development of our country. The vision that Rizal had for our country can become a reality if and only if we remember our duty
A La Juventud Filipina
Alza su tersa frente,
Juventud Filipina, en este dÃa!
Luce resplandeciente
Tu rica gallardÃa,
Bella esperanza de la Patria MÃa!
Vuela, genio grandioso,
Y les infunde noble pensamiento,
Que lance vigoroso,
Más rápido que el viento,
Su mente virgen al glorioso asiento.
Baja con la luz grata
De las artes y ciencias a la arena,
Juventud, y desata
La pesada cadena
Que tu genio poético encadena.
Ve que en la ardiente zona
Do moraron las sombras, el hispano
Esplendente corona,
Con pÃa sabia mano,
Ofrece al hijo de este suelo indiano.
Tú, que buscando subes,
En alas de tu rica fantasia,
Del Olimpo en las nubes
Tiernisima poesia
Mas sabrosa que nectar y ambrosia.
Tú, de celeste acento, Melodioso rival Filomena, Que en variado concierto En la noche serena Disipas del mortal la amarga pena.
Tú que la pena dura
Animas al impulso de tu mente ,
Y la memoria pura
Del genio refulgente
Eternizas con genio prepotente.
Y tú, que el vario encanto
De Febo, amado del divino Apeles,
Y de natura el manto
Con mágicos pinceles
Trasladar al sencillo lienzo sueles.
Corred! que sacra llama
Del genio el lauro coronar espera,
Esparciendo la Fama
Con trompa pregonera
El nombre del mortal por la ancha espera.
DÃa, dÃa felice,
Filipinas gentil, para tu suelo!
Al Potente bendice
Que con amante anhelo
La ventura te envÃa y el consuelo.
Sa Kabataang Pilipino
Itaas ang iyong noong aliwalas
ngayon, Kabataan ng aking pangarap!
ang aking talino na tanging liwanag
ay pagitawin mo, Pag-asa ng Bukas!
Ikaw ay lumitaw, O Katalinuhan
magitang na diwang puno sa isipan
mga puso nami'y sa iyo'y naghihintay
at dalhin mo roon sa kaitaasan.
Bumaba kang taglay ang kagiliw-giliw
na mga silahis ng agham at sining
mga Kabataan, hayo na't lagutin
ang gapos ng iyong diwa at damdamin.
Masdan ang putong na lubhang makinang
sa gitna ng dilim ay matitigan
maalam na kamay, may dakilang alay
sa nagdurusa mong bayang minamahal.
Ikaw na may bagwis ng pakpak na nais
kagyat na lumipad sa tuktok ng langit
paghanapin mo ang malambing na tinig
doon sa Olimpo'y pawang nagsisikap.
Ikaw na ang himig ay lalong mairog
Tulad ni Pilomel na sa luha'y gamot
at mabisang lunas sa dusa't himuntok
ng puso at diwang sakbibi ng lungkot
Ikaw, na ang diwa'y makapangyarihan
matigas na bato'y mabibigyang-buhay
mapagbabago mo alaalang taglay
sa iyo'y nagiging walang kamatayan.
Ikaw, na may diwang inibig ni Apeles
sa wika inamo ni Pebong kay rikit
sa isang kaputol na lonang maliit
ginuhit ang ganda at kulay ng langit.
Humayo ka ngayon, papagningasin mo
ang alab ng iyong isip at talino
maganda mong ngala'y ikalat sa mundo
at ipagsigawan ang dangal ng tao.
Araw na dakila ng ligaya't galak
magsaya ka ngayon, mutyang Pilipinas
purihin ang bayang sa iyo'y lumingap
at siyang nag-akay sa mabuting palad.
To the Filipino Youth
Hold high the brow serene,
O youth, where now you stand;
Let the bright sheen
Of your grace be seen,
Fair hope of my fatherland!
Come now, thou genius grand,
And bring down inspiration;
With thy mighty hand,
Swifter than the wind's violation,
Raise the eager mind to higher station.
Come down with pleasing light
Of art and science to the fight,
O youth, and there untie
The chains that heavy lie,
Your spirit free to blight.
See how in flaming zone
Amid the shadows thrown,
The Spaniard'a holy hand
A crown's resplendent band
Proffers to this Indian land.
Thou, who now wouldst rise
On wings of rich emprise,
Seeking from Olympian skies
Songs of sweetest strain,
Softer than ambrosial rain;
Thou, whose voice divine
Rivals Philomel's refrain
And with varied line
Through the night benign
Frees mortality from pain;
Thou, who by sharp strife
Wakest thy mind to life ;
And the memory bright
Of thy genius' light
Makest immortal in its strength ;
And thou, in accents clear
Of Phoebus, to Apelles dear ;
Or by the brush's magic art
Takest from nature's store a part,
To fig it on the simple canvas' length ;
Go forth, and then the sacred fire
Of thy genius to the laurel may aspire ;
To spread around the fame,
And in victory acclaim,
Through wider spheres the human name.
Day, O happy day,
Fair Filipinas, for thy land!
So bless the Power to-day
That places in thy way
This favor and this fortune grand !