TO THE FILIPINO YOUTH

Unfold, Oh timid flower!

Lift up your radiant brow, You of heavenly harmony,

This day, Youth of my native strand, On a calm unperturbed night,

Your abounding talent show Phinomel’s match in melody,

Resplendently and grand, That in varied symphony

Fair hope of my Motherland Dissipate man’s sorrow’s blight;

Soar high, oh genius great, You at th’ impulse of your mind

And with noble thoughts fill their mind; The hard rock animate

The honor’s glorious seat, And your mind with great pow’r consigned

May their virgin mind fly and find Transformed into immortal state

More rapidly than the wind. The pure mem’ry of genius great;

Descend with the pleasing light And you, who with magic brush

Of the arts and sciences to the plain, On canvas plain capture

Oh Youth, and break forthright The varied charm of Phoebus,

The links of the heavy chain Loved by the divine Apelles,

That your poetic genious enchain And the mantle of Nature;

See that in the ardent zone, Run! For genius’ sacred flame

The Spaniard, where shadow stand, Awaits the artist’s crowning

Doth offer a shining crown, Spreading far and wide the fame

With wise and merciful hand Throughout the sphere proclaiming

To the son of this Indian land. With trumpet the mortal’s name
Oh, joyful, joyful day

You, who heavenward rise The almighty blessed be

On wings of your rich fantasy, Who, with loving eagerness

Seek in the Olympian skies Send you luck and happiness.

The tenderest poesy,

More sweet than divine honey;