RELEVANCE OF “TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH” IN THE MODERN YOUTH

ACTIVIST GROUPS

By
Bartolome, Tricia Collin
Duroy, Edvenjoy
Guzman, Jazmin
Velasco, Vanessa Vera-May

ABSTRACT

This research paper is opinion based on the topic of the relevance of Jose Rizal’s
poem entitled “To the Filipino Youth” in the context of the youth activism in the
modern world. Activism during the Spanish colonial era was prominent due to the
oppression brought by the Spaniards to the Indios. During that era, Jose Rizal
believed in the power of the youth possess. He wrote the poem “To the Filipino
Youth” as a green light on activism in the part of the Filipino youth.Today, Youth
Activism became prominent as the youth are more engaged in political, economic,
and social issues. As seen in the modern world, the words of Jose Rizal and his
belief on the youth now can be observed as an echo of then. The researchers
believe in the idea that the poem “To the Filipino Youth” is timely in the state of
the modern world and that Jose Rizal’s poem is a timeless piece of literature that
is relevant in a local setting and international setting as well.

Keywords: Jose Rizal, Youth activism, Filipino youth, colonial literature

INTRODUCTION
 Jose Rizal’s poems are often riddled and heavily influenced by nationalistic themes.

He wrote the poem “To the Philippines”, “Our Mother Tongue”, “Education Gives Luster

to the Motherland”, and many more. By just the title of his poems, it is safe to say that

he has a lot of opinions about the status of the Philippines during the Spanish colonization

era.

The Patriot, José Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was only eighteen in year, 1879

and a student in University of Santo Tomas when he wrote the poem entitled “A la

juventud filipina” (English translation: “To the Filipino Youth”) The poem was a

submission to a literary contest that was held in Liceo Artistico Literario de Manila (Manila

Lyceum of Art and Literature). Jose rizal was awarded first place for his poem and

received a silver feather-shaped pen and a diploma.

The poem “To the Filipino Youth” is a piece of literature that have transcended

many generations. The 140 year old poem written in a different political-social climate

can still be relevant in the modern world. The poem is about the awakening of the youth

and the role that they partake in creating change. Jose Rizal often reflects on the hope

that the youth holds.

History is littered with the youth showing sacrifices to achieve freedom and fight

oppression (Lina 2016). Jose Rizal is among the examples of activism found in history to

fight oppression and achieve freedom. The fight on oppression against colonizers is
mirrored today by the oppression against the government. An example of youth activism

against oppression today is the current issue on climate change.

Youth activist groups play an important role in today’s society as groups such as

Anakbayan and League of Filipino Students (LFS) fight against the acts of exploitation,

oppression, inequality, corruption, foreign domination, and other social ills that could

arouse public anger. Youths have always been at the forefront of the fight for social

change. This comes from the ideas and information they gain upon awakening to the

works or those heroes such as Jose Rizal, in which they are told to emulate.

This paper looked into the similarities of youth activism of the modern world and

to the poem “To the Filipino Youth” written by Jose Rizal. This paper sought to answer

the following questions:

1. What is Rizal’s poem “To the Filipino Youth” all about?

2. How are today’s modern youth activist group characterized?

3. What is the relevance of “To the Filipino Youth” to the modern youth activist

groups?

Methodology
 To the Philippine Youth

By Jose Rizal

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!

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.

What is “To the Filipino Youth” all about?

 The youth is to be the regulator of change. It is said that hope is within the youth

to bring According to Jose Rizal, “The youth is the hope of the future for changing and

bringing an ideal nation. According to Jose Rizal, “The youth is the hope of the future”,

But how can it be changed by the future if it is surrounded by corrupts.

Rizal’s poem entitled “To the Filipino Youth” is a message to the Filipino people to

tell the importance of one’s love and appreciation to his language, for it is the way of

connecting people’s country to each other. He commended on the present and coming

generations. His first presentation if his nationalism is observed in this poem that he

made.

As he wrote the poem, he referred to the Philippines as his home or motherland.

He dedicated his poem to the people of his motherland. He wanted the Filipinos to make

use of their skills, abilities and talents to stand out for their own peace and success. Rizal

also mentioned the Filipino youth to develop their talents and potentials in arts and

sciences so that they may use this as they fight for their rights. The poem is a very brave

message encouraging every Filipino that he or she is a big hope of our country, that his

talents, potentials and abilities is great help in protecting his freedom against other

countries.

Presently, President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law last August declaring November

17 of every year as National Students' Day in an effort to acknowledge the invaluable

contribution of student activism to Philippine democracy.", but in the midst of all this
multiple youth activists are being attacked and shunned by the society and especially the

authorities for fighting for their truths.

Members of the groups are reported missing and are scared to show themselves

due to threats of harassment, abduction, and assassination, according to leaders of

activist groups. Kara Taggaoa, national spokesperson of LFS, said this history of police

abuse of youth activists adds fear and worry to their members, in addition to negative

reactions and threats made on social media.

Being a member of these youth groups, you are deemed as violent and worrisome

when in fact Sheryl Alapad, now secretary-general of the National Union of Students of

the Philippines (NUSP) when asked about the violence of the protests said that "It is also

not alien to the public that mainstream media and the government have massively

portrayed activism as violent. When in fact, rallies are not necessarily violent. Most rallies

become violent due to police and military instigation,".

The modern history of the Philippines is a history of the youth fighting for freedom

and democracy. Youths played key roles in the Propaganda Movement, the 1896

Revolution, the Filipino-American War, the anti-Japanese resistance, the fight against the

Marcos dictatorship, and in the confrontations with post-Marcos regimes that continued

to betray the Filipino people. Elected officials, would like less or no activism at all. Because

a Philippines without activists and activism would be a paradise for the corrupt, the

exploiters, traitors, and the tyrants.

Results & Discussions

In these times where filipino activists continue to disappear and die for their cause

to make a change in the society, or to his/her fellow filipino people, where these people

risk their lives in order to fight for what they believe in, it is now that Rizal’s work

especially “To the filipino youth” in which he dedicated it to the youth of the Philippines,

is very much needed and is lived on by modern youth activist groups. The message of

the poem was to urge the youth of future generations, to use their talents and skills to

stand up for their country. He challenged the youth to be courageous and to be the

change they want to happen for their country and countrymen, especially for those who

are in need.

Through the work and sacrifices of our heroes, activism in recent years have

played an active role in stimulating nationalism in both organizational and ideological

sense. Youth activism was a response to the prevailing social conditions and a

demonstration of discontent to the status quo. The works of Rizal and the illustrados,

nurtured subversive ideas to the students and instilled in them a strong nationalist

ideology. They took us to the road of independence by fostering strong nationalistic

mood, which is apparent in today’s youth groups and what they believe in.
 Jose Rizal is known for his activism on the quest of the liberation of the Philippines

against the Spaniards. His way of expressing his disconscent is through writing, although,

he is not only known for his literary works as he wears many hats. His writing is become

a catalyst to invoke nationalism in the Filipino community.

Conclusion

Jose Rizal is said to have first expressed his sense of nation, and of the Philippines

as a nation separate from Spain, as a young student in Manila. Proof of this, it is said,

can be found in two of his writings. In his poem “To the Philippine Youth”, which he

wrote in 1879, when he was 18 years old (and which won a prize from the literary group),

Rizal speaks of the Filipino youth as the “Fair hope of my Motherland”, and of the “Indian

land” whose “son” is offered “a shining crown”, by the “Spaniard… with wise and merciful

hand”. Still in this poem, Rizal considered Spain as a loving and concerned mother to her

daughter Filipinas.

Activism is needed now, more than ever, for the time is changing and so is our

leaders who have seemed to find ways in order to become more and more greedy and

against the public’s wants and needs. Although it is a difficult job, being an activist, and

comes with a lot of risks, it is an important role to partake in order to achieve what is

needed in the country.

From those who have come and sacrificed before us, namely Jose Rizal whom

dedicated his life to his motherland and urged the youth to do the same, it is important

to take note of what they have accomplished. Those members of the modern activist

groups take the life and works of all the heroes who fought and sacrificed for our country

and translates it to our setting presently and transforms it to what society needs in order

for it to change for the better.

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