A poem by
Jose Rizal, the
Philippine's national hero. This poem was written in Rizal's youth, and shows us a glimpse of his
nationalistic sentiments.
Sa Aking Mga Kabata
Kapagka ang baya'y sadyang umiibig
Sa kanyang salitang kaloob ng langit,
Sanglang kalayaan nasa ring masapit
Katulad ng ibong nasa himpapawid.
Pagka't ang salita'y isang kahatulan
Sa bayan, sa nayo't mga kaharian,
At ang isang tao'y katulad, kabagay
Ng alin mang likha noong kalayaan.
Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang salita
Mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda,
Kaya ang marapat pagyamaning kusa
Na tulad sa inang tunay na nagpala.
Ang wikang Tagalog tulad din sa Latin
Sa Ingles, Kastila at salitang anghel,
Sapagka't ang Poong maalam tumingin
Ang siyang naggawad, nagbigay sa atin.
Ang salita nati'y huwad din sa iba
Na may alfabeto at sariling letra,
Na kaya nawala'y dinatnan ng sigwa
Ang lunday sa lawa noong dakong una
Tanslation follows: (note I'm not good at translations, but this will have to do until someone does it better)
To my fellow youth
When a nation truly loves
His language, a gift from the heavens
Freedom will also be desired,
Like a bird soaring in the sky
Because language is an edict
To nation, country, and kingdoms,
And a person is the same
As his inherent freedom
He who does not love his language
Is worse than animals and rotting fish
Therefore we should nurture it
Like a mother would
The Tagalog language is the same as Latin
English, Spanish, and the language of angels,
Because the Lord all knowing
Created it, and gave it to us.
Our language is like others
With an alphabet and letters,
But was lost because there came a storm
Over the boat on the lake in times long gone.