Mi último adiós
"Mi último adiós" | |
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by José Rizal | |
Written | 1896 |
Country | Philippines |
Language | Spanish |
"Mi último adiós" (English: "My Last Farewell") is a
Rizal did not ascribe a title to his poem. Mariano Ponce, his friend and fellow reformist, titled it "Mi último pensamiento" ("My Last Thought") in the copies he distributed, but this did not catch on. Also, the "coconut oil lamp" containing the poem was not delivered to the Rizal's family until after the execution as it was required to light the cell.
Background
"On the afternoon of Dec. 29, 1896, a day before his execution, Dr. José Rizal was visited by his mother, Teodora Alonzo; sisters Lucia, Josefa, Trinidád, Maria and Narcisa; and two nephews. When they took their leave, Rizal told Trinidád in English that there was something in the small alcohol stove (cocinilla), as opposed to saying coconut oil lamp (lamparilla), which was intended to provide cover for the transportation of the text. The stove was given to Narcisa by the guard when the party was about to board their carriage in the courtyard. At home, the Rizal ladies recovered a folded paper from the stove. On it was written an unsigned, untitled and undated poem of 14 five-line
stanzas. The Rizals reproduced copies of the poem and sent them to Rizal's friends in the country and abroad. In 1897, Mariano Ponce in Hong Kong had the poem printed with the title "Mí último pensamiento". Fr. Mariano Dacanay, who received a copy of the poem while a prisoner in Bilibid (jail), published it in the first issue of La Independencia on September 25, 1898 with the title 'Ultimo Adios'."[1]
Political impact
After it was annexed by the
Indonesian nationalism
The poem was translated into Indonesian by Rosihan Anwar and was recited by Indonesian soldiers before going into battle during their struggle for independence.[5]
Anwar recalled the circumstances of the translation:
- "The situation was favorable to promote nationalism. [On 7 September 1944,
Asia Rajathe following day.] In that context, I thought it would be good that I could disseminate this story about Jose Rizal among our younger people at that time. It was quite natural; I thought it would be good to tell the story of Jose Rizal, this rebel against the Spanish. And of course the climax, when he was already sentenced to death and then hauled off to face firing squad, and he wrote that [poem] ….”
- "I translated it from the English. Because I do not know Spanish. I know French, I know German, but not Spanish. Then, according to the custom at that time, everything you want to say over the radio station or anything you wanted to publish in a newspaper … everything must go first to the censorship. I sent it to [the] censor, no objection, it's okay. Okay. Then I made an arrangement, with my friend, [an] Indonesian friend, who worked at the radio station, where everything was supposed to be supervised by the Japanese. He gave me a chance to read it, which I did …"[6]
He read "Mi último adiós" over radio in Jakarta on Saturday, 30 December 1944–the 48th anniversary of Rizal's death. That same day, the paper Asia Raja devoted almost half of its back page to a feature and poem on Rizal written by Anwar, accompanied by Anwar's translation.
Poem
Spanish |
English | Tagalog |
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"Mi último adiós" |
"My Last Farewell" Pearl of the Orient Sea , our Eden lost, With gladness I give you my life, sad and repressed; And were it more brilliant, more fresh and at its best, I would still give it to you for your welfare at most. On the fields of battle, in the fury of fight, Others give you their lives without pain or hesitancy, The place does not matter: cypress, laurel, lily white; Scaffold, open field, conflict or martyrdom's site, It is the same if asked by the home and country. I die as I see tints on the sky b'gin to show And at last announce the day, after a gloomy night; If you need a hue to dye your matutinal glow, Pour my blood and at the right moment spread it so, And gild it with a reflection of your nascent light My dreams, when scarcely a lad adolescent, My dreams when already a youth, full of vigor to attain, Were to see you, Gem of the Sea of the Orient, Your dark eyes dry, smooth brow held to a high plane, Without frown, without wrinkles and of shame without stain. My life's fancy, my ardent, passionate desire, Hail! Cries out the soul to you, that will soon part from thee; Hail! How sweet 'tis to fall that fullness you may acquire; To die to give you life, 'neath your skies to expire, And in thy mystic land to sleep through eternity! If over my tomb some day, you would see blow, A simple humble flow'r amidst thick grasses, Bring it up to your lips and kiss my soul so, And under the cold tomb, I may feel on my brow, Warmth of your breath, a whiff of thy tenderness. Let the moon with soft, gentle light me descry, Let the dawn send forth its fleeting, brilliant light, In murmurs grave allow the wind to sigh, And should a bird descend on my cross and alight, Let the bird intone a song of peace o'er my site. Let the burning sun the raindrops vaporize And with my clamor behind return pure to the sky; Let a friend shed tears over my early demise; And on quiet afternoons when one prays for me on high, Pray too, oh, my Motherland, that in God may rest I. Pray thee for all the hapless who have died, For all those who unequalled torments have undergone; For our poor mothers who in bitterness have cried; For orphans, widows and captives to tortures were shied, And pray too that you may see your own redemption. And when the dark night wraps the cemet'ry And only the dead to vigil there are left alone, Don't disturb their repose, disturb not the mystery: If thou hear the sounds of cithern or psaltery, It is I, dear Country, who, a song t'you intone. And when my grave by all is no more remembered, With neither cross nor stone to mark its place, Let it be plowed by man, with spade let it be scattered And my ashes ere to nothingness are restored, Let them turn to dust to cover thy earthly space. Then it doesn't matter that you should forget me: Your atmosphere, your skies, your vales I'll sweep; Vibrant and clear note to your ears I shall be: Aroma, light, hues, murmur, song, moanings deep, Constantly repeating the essence of the faith I keep. My idolized Country, for whom I most gravely pine, Dear Philippines, to my last goodbye, oh, harken There I leave all: my parents, loves of mine, I'll go where there are no slaves, tyrants or hangmen Where faith does not kill and where God alone does reign. Farewell, parents, brothers, beloved by me, Friends of my childhood, in the home distressed; Give thanks that now I rest from the wearisome day; Farewell, sweet stranger, my friend, who brightened my way; Farewell to all I love; to die is to rest. |
"Pahimakas ni Dr. José Rizal" |
Translations
"Mi último adiós" is interpreted into 46
See also
References
- ^ Philippine Daily Inquirer, dated 30 December 2002
- ^ Susan Brewer (2013). "Selling Empire: American Propaganda and War in the Philippines". The Asia-Pacific Journal. 11 (40).
- ^ Fatima Lasay (2003). "The United States Takes Up the White Man's Burden". Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District Library. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
- ^ Pacis, Vicente Albano. "Rizal in the American Congress, December 27, 1952". The Philippines Free Press. Archived from the original on 4 May 2006. Retrieved 28 December 2005.
- ^ "Writer's Bio: Jose Rizal". PALH Books. Archived from the original on 2011-08-28.
- ^ Nery, John (15 February 2011). "Column: Aquino and "the troublemaker"". Blog. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ^ "First Ever Filipino Sign Language Interpretation". Deaf TV Channel. 31 August 2011. Archived from the original on 2013-01-21. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
- ISBN 978-80-254-9746-3.
- ^ Laslo, Pablo (1934). German-English Anthology of Filipino Poets. Carriedo, Manila: Libreria Manila Filatelica. p. 22.
- ^ Talla, Stephen Cenon Dato (2020-07-01). "Rizal's Mi Ultimo Adios English Versions". Makuapo ni Luis G. Dato. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
- Mauro Garcia (1961). 'Translations of Mi Ultimo Adios,' in Historical Bulletin Manila. Philippine Historical Association.
- Hilario, Frank A (2005). indios bravos! Jose Rizal as Messiah of the Redemption. Lumos Publishing House.
- Jaroslav Ludva (2006). Mi último adiós - Poslední rozloučení. Embassy of the Czech Republic in Manila.
- Multiple Authorship (1990). Mi Ultimo Adios in Foreign and Local Translations (2 vol). National Historical Institute.
- Sung by various Artists of Spanish language as a Tribute (more information needed!)