NAME: PEARL JYNNE C.

CELESTINO

CODE: 11365

OPENING STATEMENT

Jose Rizal once believed and uttered: "Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan" which can be
translated as "The youths are the hope of our nation." Yes, they should be because the old ones
passed away while the youths are still growing and are capable of making a change. As long as
there are infants who will be born and grow, they become the hope of our future as they can
still do something for the nation. There is still a chance to bring progress for the sake of the
country. It can be done through practicing nationalism, valuing his education, working on
progress, and continually moving to achieve his aspirations for the country. As long as there are
youths, there is still a hope for better leadership, public servants, and Filipino citizens.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 1

In connection to this, Rizal wrote a poem dedicated to them which is entitled as "To The Filipino
Youth". In his reaction paper, Abion (2012) mentioned that Rizal wants the youth to use their
capabilities, talents and skills to standout for the Philippines which Rizal coined as the
motherland. Further, he wanted the youth to build up they abilities in order to serve the
people in need, as well as encouraged the youth to nurture their talents especially in the arts,
reinforce their knowledge of the sciences which we can apply in physical world, and to look
forward for the betterment of the country through themselves who has the chance to serve.

ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION 1

This just showed how Rizal used his skills in writing, intelligence in playing with words, as well as
his soft and honest emotions in delivering his message. Writing a poem is undoubtedly hard but
through education, he was able to develop his talents, nurture it and eventually used it as a
medium of communication to reach the ears and minds of youths from yesterday, today, and
the future. This could be the reason why he includes the power of knowledge in his message. As
the famous quote from Benjamin Franklin says that "an investment in knowledge pays the best
interest." Moreover, he wants the youth cultivate their talents and skills as these will help them
succeed in life and further extend this victory to his "motherland".

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2

Lim (2015) enumerated the interpretations of the poem per stanza. The first line describes the
youth has not yet gone into full bloom for whatever reason that had silenced them. Even so,
Rizal wants the youth: (1) to hold their heads high because they have talents that they can be
proud of; (2) to fill their minds with noble thoughts; (3) cultivate talents in art and science; (4)
humble the proudest nations with their success; (5) seek beauty in poetry and music; (6)
animate truth through their minds like what he has done; and (7) to know they are talented like
a magic brush. The last stanza finally urges the Filipino youth do their best to achieve the better
future that is waiting ahead of them.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION 2

These interpretations just showed that Rizal really believed that the youths are the hope of the
nature. Rizal had encouraged them to bring the best in them and to never back down or quit
dreaming because he saw that the Filipino youths are talented, skilled, and have the required
abilities in order to bring progress and make a difference. Rizal wholeheartedly put his trust to
the Filipino youths as he said that these people can shine and rise even beyond the hardest
circumstances that even the proudest nations like Spain will humble themselves to them. Also,
he believed that cultivating our talents would help us move mountains and bring our
aspirations to life.

GENERAL CONCLUSION

To sum it up, the message of Rizal circulates on his aspirations for the country. He believed that
if we nurture our talents, practice our skills, believe in ourselves, dream for the country, and
acquire enough knowledge, then we can shape a better future ahead of us. Rizal wants the
Filipino youths in each generations to move and continually bring progress for the nation. If
each generation has something to place in the table, then we continually develop our country.
True enough, we would see that those who work hard to cultivate their abilities had landed a
good future just like, for instance, the world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

CLOSING STATEMENT

Even a long time ago, there was already a human being who believed in the capabilities of the
Filipino youths. It would be so shameful to turn down his trust on us. As a Filipino youth myself,
it is so comforting and encouraging to know that someone believed in what I can do, that I can
bring a change, and that I can shine bright. Even at the most little step I make for the country
like doing good in school, I knew I am appreciated. However, looking at every edge of the
Philippines, it is so discouraging to see some Filipino youths who seem to neglect this and the
future ahead. As one of those who take Rizal's words seriously, may we set a good example and
extend our success to them in the future. May Rizal's message continue to reach the hearts of
all Filipino youth in the next generations.

References:

Abion, L.A. (2012). Reaction Paper: “To the Filipino Youth” and Today’s Youth. WordPress
Blogging Site.

https://lesterabion.wordpress.com/2012/08/22/to-the-filipino-youth-and-todays-youth/

Lim, J.R. (2015). Interpretation: To the Filipino Youth. The Life and Works of Rizal.

http://thelifeandworksofrizal.blogspot.com/2013/06/interpretation-to-filipino-youth.html?m=1