Pag-Ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa ni Andres Bonifacio Review

Andres Bonifacio, known as the Supremo ng Katipunan, has been overshadowed by more famous Filipino
heroes (Rizal, for example) because of many reasons. Others say that he has not undergone formal
education and thus, not capable of becoming the country's national hero. What many people don't know is
how his burning love for his motherland has influenced thousands of his fellowmen and how he expressed
patriotism through literature.

One of his sought-after poems is entitled "Pag-Ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa," which talks about his
willingness to offer his entire life to the Philippines and to the Filipino people. I have encountered this
several times already in the past - students reciting it during the celebration of the Buwan ng Wika and
performers singing it in various nationalistic programs. And it has never failed to bring back hope to the
Filipinos who are striving to uphold their nation's future.

"Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya

sa pagka-dalisay at pagka-dakila
gaya ng pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa?
Alin pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga, wala."

The first stanza of the piece reveals Bonifacio's incomparable passion for his country. No other
thing can surpass his great affection to the Philippines. He grew in the midst of the Spanish regime and
knew that he needed to make a move. He would not let invaders abuse them and leave them with nothing.
He wanted their suffering to be put to an end. He wanted his country to be free.

The next parts that followed revolves around why he thinks the Philippines is worth fighting for.
It is where he was born and raised. It is also the same country where he would die; and he would do
whatever it takes to save it.

The final lines of the poem reminds me of the lyrics of our National Anthem, the line "Ang
mamatay ng dahil sa'yo." This proves that Bonifacio lives his life for his country and not for anything else.
His immeasurable desire to defend his country from its colonizers led him to believing that he could make
a change. And because of his faith, he made a huge difference. He fought against the Spaniards til his very
last breath.

Imagining all the things that our forefathers went through during that time really makes me
realize many things. How blessed we are to have such brave heroes, how thankful we should be, and how
we should not waste all their efforts in trying to uphold our country's current situation.

Sadly, many people do not think about the debt that we owe to the people who believed in the true
potential of our country and its people. We tend to take for granted all their sacrifices for our sake. Many
people are living for fame and power. But that's not how things should be. We should look up to these
people and follow their footsteps in giving back to the country which sheltered us. After all, no matter
what we do and no matter where we go, the Filipino culture still remains in our hearts and in our minds.

Ref:

Sherina, A. (1970, January 1). Pag-Ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa ni Andres Bonifacio Review.
Retrieved from http://annesherinalazarte.blogspot.com/
 Review on the poem Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa by Andres C. Bonifacio

This poem was written in Tagalog by one of the heroes of the Philippines but there are
English translations as well,probably since it is a very good poem that not only Filipinos can
read and appreciate it but other nationalities can too.

Some lines that struck me are:

“Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya

sa pagkadalisay at pagkadakila gaya ng pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa?

Aling pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga, wala.”

This stanza translates to- ‘What love can surpass purity or greatness like love of country?
None.’

It can be seen in the first part of the poem. I like the message of this because it will be
agreeable to most people. When we think of it, if you love your country, it means you do not only
think of yourself, but all the people around you. You care for the well-being of other people, and
only wish them well. You try to help others in the best way you can. If you love your country, it
means you are loyal and committed and that you are too with the people you encounter in your
life.

Overall, this poem is about being proud of one’s nationality and country. We have to
love, praise, and fight for our own country and appreciate the things that it has to offer for us.

This poem makes me proud to be a Filipino and proud to have a hero like Andres
Bonifacio who fought and battled to save his fellowmen and country. He was not only thinking
of himself, but also the sake of other people. We should be just like him and start loving our
country and not complain about things we don’t like in it since it will not do anyone good
anyway, instead we should start helping out in our own simple ways to make our country a
better place.

Ref:

Diaz, I. (2013, January 15). Review on the poem Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa by Andres C.
Bonifacio. Retrieved from https://diazisabellablog.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/review-
on-the-poem-pag-ibig-sa-tinubuang-lupa-by-andres-c-bonifacio/
 Pagsusuri sa Pag-Ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa

Pagsusuri Sinulat ang “Pagibig sa Tinubuang Lupa” noong 1896 bago pumutok ang
Rebolusyong 1896, at sa mga natitirang araw na mga iyon, kasarinlan para kay Bonifacio ang
hindi maghimagsik. Hindi mo lubos akalain na si Andres Bonifacio na mas kilala natin sa
himagsikan ay makagagawa ng tulang kagaya nito. Sa titulo pa lamang ng tulang ito ay makikita
mo na ang nais ipabatid ng may-akda ang kanyang lubos na pagmamahal sa kanyang
kinamulatang lupa, ginamit niya ang salitang “lupa” na tumutukoy sa ating bansang Pilipinas.
Kitang-kita rin ang pagka-Tagalog ni Bonifacio sa tulang ito. Marahil rehiyonalismo pa ang
kaugalian ng mga Pilipino dahil hindi pa tayo nakakatikim ng kalayaan sa panahong iyon.
Bagamat alam ng karamihan ngayon na ang rehiyonalismo ay sinaunang konsepto dahil isang
bansa na tayo, sikolohiya ng Pilipino gawin pa rin itong tradisyon lalo na sa pagkikiling ng mga
kababayan kumpara sa iba. Tinukoy sa tula ang salitang “Castilang hamak” na pumapatungkol
sa mga sumakop na Kastila. Ginamit ang tulang ito para himukin ang mga Pilipinong maging
makabayan. Lubos na nakaapekto ang paligid na ginagalawan ni Bonifacio upang isulat ang
tulag ito. Gumamit siya ng mga salitang pagka-busabos, kapaitan, kasuklam-suklam at iba pa na
tumuko sa kawalang-hiya

5. ng mga sumakop sa atin. Tila ba naghihingalo ang bansang Pilipinas sa mga ginamit ni
Bonifacio na kataga sa kanyang tula. Nasaan ang dangal ng mga Tagalog, nasaan ang dugong
dapat na ibuhos? bayan ay inaapi, bakit di kumikilos? at natitilihang ito’y mapanuod. Datapwa
kung bayan ng ka-Tagalogan ay nilalapastangan at niyuyurakan katwiran, puri niya’t kamahalan
ng sama ng lilong ibang bayan. Makikita na ang may-akda ay nagsasaad ng mga hinaing sa
panahong iyon. Ang paghihirap ng mga Pilipino ay mariing naiphayag sa tulang ito. Gumamit ng
mga salitang ngaglalarawan sa mga pighating nagyari sa mga Pilipino. Kung ang pagka-baon
niya’t pagka-busabos sa lusak ng daya’t tunay na pag-ayop supil ng pang-hampas tanikalang
gapos at luha na lamang ang pinaa-agos Sa kanyang anyo’y sino ang tutunghay na di-aakayin sa
gawang magdamdam pusong naglilipak sa pagka-sukaban na hindi gumagalang dugo at buhay.
Mangyari kayang ito’y masulyap ng mga Tagalog at hindi lumingap sa naghihingalong Inang
nasa yapak ng kasuklam-suklam na Castilang hamak. Inilarawan ni Bonifacio ang mga Kastila
na kasuklam-suklam. Dahil na rin sa mga nangyari kay Andres Bonifacio kaya nailarawan niya
ang mga Kastila sa mga ganoong kataga. Ang tulang ito ay naaangkop sa teoryang historikal
sapagkat tinatalakay sa tulang ito ang mga tunay na pangyayari sa panahon ni Bonifacio.
Maraming mga akdang pampanitikan ang maaaring suriin sa teoryang historical subalit ang
tulang ito ay isa sa mga pinaka-angkop sa yeoryang ito. Maaari din itong suriin sa teoryang
sosyolohikal dahil marami mga kataga o salita na pumatungkol sa paghihirap ng mga Pilipino.
Hindi matatawaran ang mga akdang pampantikan ng ating mga bayani. Ang mga ito ay
nagsisilbing gabay natin upang lubos na malaman ang ating tunay na kasaysayan.

Ref:

Moreno, R. (2013, November 2). Pagsusuri sa Pag-Ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa. Retrieved from
https://www.slideshare.net/RodelPascualMorenoJr/pagsusuri-27829717