HYMN TO LABOR

This poem highlights the hard work of every Filipino to exhausting labor. It also signifies that all members of society without regard for gender or age, have upheld and honor their country by working. This serves as a poem of an appraisal to everyone who has contributed to the betterment of the country.

For the Motherland in war,

For the Motherland in peace,

Will the Filipino keep watch,

He will live until life will cease!

Now the East is glowing with light,

Go! To the field to till the land,

For the labour of man sustains

Fam'ly, home and Motherland.

Hard the land may turn to be,

Scorching the rays of the sun above...

For the country, wife and children

All will be easy to our love.

Go to work with spirits high,

For the wife keeps home faithfully,

Inculcates love in her children

For virtue, knowledge and country.

When the evening brings repose,

On returning joy awaits you,

And if fate is adverse, the wife,

Shall know the task to continue.

Hail! Hail! Praise to labour,

Of the country wealth and vigor!

For it brow serene's exalted,

It's her blood, life, and ardor.

If some youth would show his love

Labor his faith will sustain :

Only a man who struggles and works

Will his offspring know to maintain.

Teach, us ye the laborious work

To pursue your footsteps we wish,

For tomorrow when country calls us

We may be able your task to finish.

And on seeing us the elders will say :

"Look, they're worthy 'f their sires of yore!"

Incense does not honor the dead

As does a son with glory and valor.