The literary piece entitled “To the Filipino Youth” highlighted the pivotal role of the

Filipino youth in nation building towards a brighter future. Rizal as a propagandist during the
Spanish colonization period, utilized his talent, wit, and skills in literature as a form of sword in
fighting the tyranny of the imperialist Spaniards. During his early years in education, Rizal
witnessed on how his fellow youth were silenced, oppressed, and be seen as a threat because of
their huge desire on continuing education for the Filipino masses. Through his poetic literary
piece like this, his built up hope & enthusiasm about the Filipino youth becoming a catalyst
towards societal change has been forwarded each lines.
The illustration above is the accurate reflection of the fascinating literary piece of Rizal.
Starting from the portrayal of Rizal as a holder of a modern microphone, he used his voice that is
still amplifying up until this day to highlight the integral role of the Filipino youth—to be the
hope of our nation, the tool towards nation building, and the heart for the Filipino masses. With
the youth standing up together with raised fists, it is a clear manifestation that the youth as
mentioned by Rizal has to break the silence in our society. They are the catalysts towards change
that would break loose the chains of our Filipino people from colonialism, imperialism, and
feudalism that have continuously enslaved our people and country. The power of the youth is the
most powerful formation of the Filipino people. If the youth would stand up against youth
oppression, human rights violation, and societal issues that is very rampant today, the hopes and
expectations of Rizal are met as it should. The current realities of today where killings, fascism,
corruption, exacerbated healthcare workforce is happening, the youth has the power to stand up
together as it was described in Rizal’s piece as “Run! For genius' sacred flame awaits the artist's
crowning”. The power of the youth to “run” and exceed their brilliant talents and skills in being
radical and crucial was discussed on this part therefore correlating it in the illustration above as
the glowing aura/ shadow portrayal of the youth. The symbol of purity, excellence, and power of
the youth that could create a ripple effect within our nation. The aura of truth that some people
might see threatening but only is a symbol of a progressive change in our country as Rizal once
desired. The youth of today are a threat only to those who are oppressive, criminals, and corrupts
because they’re scared to be overpowered and outcasted by the collective voices and stand of the
youth. Rizal, as a youth who grasped the realities of Spanish oppression during his early days,
utilized his youth to expound his knowledge in further understanding our society for a better
country. He used his platform, his education, and mind to shatter the fascist and dictators, to
enlighten the masses. Just like Rizal, the youth has this outstanding power as well. A power that
would impact our future. A power for the people.
With the 2022 elections coming near to our country, the literary piece can also be
correlated about the significance of the youth in electing deserving leaders that would genuinely
forward the people, uphold human rights, and improve our exacerbated healthcare system. That
is why on the illustration above, the thumbmark logo on Rizal’s background symbolized the
crucial role of the youth for our country—and that is to elect deserving government officials. The
youth of today are brilliant, smart, and articulate just as how Rizal described it in his literary
piece. That would be of importance and essentiality when the youth are smart on electing and
choosing leaders that would lead the country. The youth are instruments for good governance
that our Filipino people deserve. If the youth are misled, silenced, and stripped of their rights, the
backward progression and societal issues in our country would not be resolved. The illustration
and Rizal’s poetry piece provide the youth a validation that they are too young to do something
for our country. Patriotism is not just limited to sacrificing your life for our nation, patriotism can
be manifested starting from our youth. Through becoming radical towards progressive change,
becoming educated, and electing leaders to not repeat the ill history of bad governance. This is
the right moment for the youth to speak, fight, and stand upon what is right. Jose Rizal urged the
youth to be catalysts for change through his propaganda movement via his poems, literary pieces,
and write-ups. As the youth of today, let us be like what Jose Rizal had hope us to be like. Youth
for the Filipino people, youth for change, --- and youth for the country.