“To the Filipino Youth”

Lift up your radiant brow,

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

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.

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.

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.

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;

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;

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;
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.

I. Poem Analysis
 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.
The second verse can be rearranged in contemporary English to say: "Oh genius great, soar high;
and fill their mind with noble thoughts. May their virgin mind fly and find the honor's glorious
seat more rapidly than the wind." Here, Rizal calls to genious 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. 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.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
labelled 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."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."
Speaking to the youth, Rizal says that by the very impulse of their mind, they are capable of
bringing to life or animating even someting 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."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.
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.

The poem is a message primarily to tell the importance of one’s love and appreciation to
his dialect or language, for it is the bridge and intermediary connecting people’s country to each
other. Rizal praised the rising generation. This poem can be considered as Rizal’s first testimony
and presentation of his nationalism. In this literary piece, he clearly referred to the Philippines as
his home/motherland, he thought in the poem relates to the role of the youth with the nation
building. He composed the poem to dedicate to the youth of the Philippines. He wanted the
Filipino youth to use their capabilities, talents and skills to stand out not only for their own praise
and success but also for the praise and success of their own motherland, the Philippines. Dr. Jose
Rizal wanted the Filipino youth to build up their abilities and use them to help those who are in
need. Also, he challenged the youth through this poem to refine and nurture their talents in the
arts, to invigorate and reinforce their knowledge of the sciences, and to look forward and
comminute their chain of servitude. On the other hand, the message this poem tries to convey is
holding a very strong one; strong enough to persuade/induce those who are to be
persuaded/induced. As one of those individuals, I could really feel the nationalistic courage
within me glow brighter the moment I finished reading the poem. It was like telling me that I am
one of the existing hopes of our country and that through my skills, abilities, expertise and
knowledge of things, I am capable of protecting its freedom against oppressive forces that may
come through. Moreover, it was like telling me that together with my co-youth, I am responsible
for preserving the Philippines as a nation for me and the rest of the Filipinos and not for the
foreigner

II. Title Analysis

The poem the Filipino youth carries out that from the tittle it is addressed to the future youth
of the Philippines. It strong enough to persuade those who are to be persuaded—the Filipino
youth themselves. As one of those individuals, I could really feel the nationalistic spirit within
me glow brighter the moment I finished reading the poem. It was like telling me that I am one of
the existing hopes of our dear country and that through my abilities, expertise and knowledge of
things, I am capable of protecting its freedom against oppressive forces that may come through.
Furthermore, it was like telling me that together with my fellow youths, I am responsible for
preserving the Philippines as a nation not for the foreigners but for me and the rest of the
Filipinos.

III. Speaker Identification

The poem was in the person of Dr. Jose Rizal. When he was studying in UST, he submitted a
poem entitled “To the Filipino Youth” for the poetry contest which had been organized for
Filipinos by the Manila Lyceum of Art and Literature, and though he was but eighteen years of
age (1879), he won the first prize, a silver pen. This poem, one of his most famous and most
difficult to translate, was dedicated to the Filipino Youth. It was originally written in Spanish
entitled “A la juventud filipina”

IV. Mode and Tone

As to the manner of writing, if I were to base my judgments to the poem’s English

translation, I can personally describe it as a “real poem”—that is, something that beautifully
incorporated the essential elements of poetry. When I was trying to read it aloud, I felt like its
rhythm sounded excellent and with drama. That thing made me feel more eager to continue
reading it. The meter of the poem then followed a certain rule which I totally love for it showed
the utmost effort of the author. The mode of the author was ecstatic, mellow and heartfelt since
the poem itself speaks to the heart. The tone also endures a benevolent, meditative and optimistic
one.

V. Poetic Devices

The figures of speech such as personification, alliteration and metaphor were somewhat
perfectly laid down, making the poem more emotional, appealing, deep and colorful. On the
other hand, the rhyming of the words also astonished me; the symbolisms then that were used
such as the deities Phoebus and Apelles as symbols of their respective realms, were superb for it
made the poem have a blending of Western and Eastern cultures.

“To the Filipino Youth”

By:

Centino, Annie Mae S.

Aliperio, Kristel Marie

Perez, John Jefferson

Alde, Jenard

Submitted to:

Dr. Jeffrey Ballaret