TO THE PHILIPPINE YOUTH

In this poem of Rizal, he encourages the youth by telling them to hold their heads high for they possess talents and abilities that would make their country proud. As a Filipino youth, Rizal always believed that we have something more to show and also a brilliant as those in any other nation. We are able to conquer anything with even the strongest powers if we only set our mind to making most of what we already have for our country.

Unfold, oh timid flower!

Lift up your radiant bow,

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.