Dr. Jose Rizal's poem "To the Filipino Youth" is largely intended to demonstrate the value of one's love and admiration for his dialect or language, as it serves as a bridge and mediator linking people's countries. Rizal commended the coming generation in his poem. He hoped they would help their country by spreading the use of the language.
Rizal was born on April 20, 1872 in San Francisco de Assisi, Italy to José Rújeles and Doña Maria Antoinette Campos. His family moved to the Philippines when he was young. He went to school in Manila where he learned English and Latin. In 1890, he entered the University of Santo Tomas where he studied law. But after one year, he dropped out to focus on his writing career.
In 1893, Rizal published his first book titled Noli Me Tangere which means "Touch Me Not". The book was acclaimed by critics and readers alike. It earned Rizal enough money to stop working as an attorney and continue writing. Over the next few years, he wrote several more books that were also very successful. In 1896, he was invited by President Aguinaldo to come back to the Philippines and serve as an official in the government but he refused because of poor health. Instead, he stayed in Europe where he continued to write about social issues such as corruption, violence, and injustice plaguing the country.
The poem "To the Filipino Youth" was written by Jose Rizal and dedicated to the youth of the Philippines. He wished for the Filipino young to use their abilities, talents, and skills to distinguish themselves not only for their personal acclaim and success, but also for the praise and success of their country, the Philippines. In his poem, Rizal calls on the youth to be courageous and strong in character so that they can face up to any challenge or situation that may arise.
Some parts of the poem are as follows:
Ere dawn the day, be sure your armor's bright;
Your sword unblunted, your stance light and gay;
For you know well how Fate often brings forth frightful storms;
Whose fury no one can foretell or count;
Except him who rides in its path, prepared with courage and faith.
So let us rise before the break of day,
And go forth to meet the coming battle.
If we die, at least we'll die like men instead of slaves;
Who knows but what he comes here today
In his poem "To the Philippine Youth," written when he was 18 years old (and which received a literary group prize), Rizal refers to the Filipino youth as the "Fair Hope of my Motherland," as well as the "Indian country," whose "son" is granted "a dazzling crown" by the "Spaniard... with wise and kind... laws."
Rizal calls on the young people of the Philippines to take up arms against the Spaniards and win their freedom. He also asks them to remain loyal to the nation after it has won its independence.
The poem is written in prose at first, then suddenly switches to blank verse. This indicates that Rizal was inspired to write this poem while traveling on a ship to Spain. The theme of the poem is loyalty - both to one's family and country. It is important to be loyal to those who have taken care of you, but at the same time, you should look toward your future and work hard to achieve your goals.
Here are some of the major ideas contained in "To the Philippine Youth":
1. The Indian race is noble. Its sons should not be ashamed of being Indians.
2. The Spanish are cruel oppressors who must be fought against.
3. It is necessary to be armed with knowledge before fighting for your rights.
Jose Rizal penned "My Fellow Children" to encourage young people to use their skills and be the best they can be. He also composed it to inspire young people to be proud of who they are, and the first step in doing so is to communicate or talk in their mother tongue or native language.
Rizal's essay comes at a time when many countries around the world are falling behind economically. The Philippines was not immune to this problem and suffered greatly from it. However, Rizal believed that his country could still come out on top through its youth. By encouraging them to pursue knowledge and skill sets necessary for success, he hoped to see more Filipinos take charge of their own future.
In addition, Rizal wrote about the importance of being honest with yourself and others. He believed that only by being truthful with ourselves and others can we grow as individuals and help those around us.
Last, but not least, Rizal urged young people to have courage in seeking change. He wanted them to know that even if their efforts were not seen immediately, they had made a difference in the world around them.
Today, "My Fellow Youth" is considered one of the most important essays in the English language. It has been cited by many writers from different backgrounds and disciplines including Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Albert Einstein.
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