To The Philippine Youth
by Dr. José Rizal
(English version of “A La Juventud Filipina”)
Hold high the brow serene,
O youth, where now you stand;
Let the bright sheen
Of your grace be seen,
Fair hope of my fatherland!
Come now, thou genius grand,
And bring down inspiration;
With thy mighty hand,
Swifter than the wind's violation,
Raise the eager mind to higher
station.
Come down with pleasing light
Of art and science to the fight,
O youth, and there untie
The chains that heavy lie,
Your spirit free to blight.
See how in flaming zone
Amid the shadows thrown,
The Spaniard'a holy hand
A crown's resplendent band
Proffers to this Indian land.
Thou, who now wouldst rise
On wings of rich emprise,
Seeking from Olympian skies
Songs of sweetest strain,
Softer than ambrosial rain;
Thou, whose voice divine
Rivals Philomel's refrain
And with varied line
Through the night benign
Frees mortality from pain;
 Sa Kabataang Pilipino
ni Dr. José Rizal
(Tagalog version of “A La Juventud Filipina”)
Itaas ang iyong noong aliwalas, O, ikaw na iyang may pakpak ng nais
Mutyang Kabataan, sa iyong paglakad; At handang lumipad sa rurok ng
Ang bigay ng Diyos sa tanging liwanag
langit,
Ay pagitawin mo, Pag-asa ng Bukas.
Upang kamtan yaong matamis na
Ikaw ay bumaba, O katalinuhan, himig,
Mga puso namin ay nangaghihintay; Doon sa Olimpo'y yamang nagsisikip.
Magsahangin ka nga't ang aming
isipa'y Ikaw na ang tinig ay lubhang mairog,
Ilipad mo roon sa kaitaasan. Awit ni Pilomel na sa dusa'y gamot
Lunas na mabisa sa dusa't himutok
Taglayin mo lahat ang kagiliw-giliw Ng kaluluwang luksa't alipin ng
Na ang silahis ng dunong at sining; lungkot.
Kilos, Kabataan, at iyong lagutin,
Ang gapos ng iyong diwa at Ikaw na ang diwa'y nagbibigay-buhay,
damdamin. Sa marmol na batong tigas ay
sukdulan,
Masdan mo ang putong na At ang alaalang wagas at dalisay
nakasisilaw, Sa iyo'y nagiging walang-kamatayan.
Sa gitna ng dilim ay dakilang alay,
Ang putong na yaon ay dakilang alay, At ikaw, O Diwang mahal kay Apeles,
Sa nalulugaming iyong Inang Bayan. Sinuyo sa wika ni Pebong marikit,
O sa isang putol na lonang makitid
Nagsalin ng kulay at ganda ng langit.
 A La Juventud Filipina
por José Rizal y Alonso
(Original text in Spanish)
Alza su tersa frente, Ve que en la ardiente zona
Juventud Filipina, en este día! Do moraron las sombras, el hispano
Luce resplandeciente Esplendente corona,
Tu rica gallardía, Con pia sabia mano,
Bella esperanza de la Patria Mia! Ofrece al hijo de este suelo indiano.

Vuela, genio grandioso, Tu, que buscando subes,

Y les infunde noble pensamiento, En alas de tu rica fantasía,
Que lance vigoroso, Del Olimpo en las nubes
Mas rápido que el viento, Tiernisima poesía
Su mente virgen al glorioso asiento. Más sabrosa que néctar y ambrosía.

Baja con la luz grata Tu, de celeste acento,

De las artes y ciencias a la arena, Melodioso rival Filomena,
Juventud, y desata Que en variado concento
La pesada cadena En la noche serena
Que tu genio poético encadena. Disipas del mortal la amarga pena.
A la juventud filipina (English Translation: To The Philippine Youth) is a poem written in Spanish by
Filipino writer and patriot José Rizal, first presented in 1879 in Manila, while he was studying at the
University of Santo Tomas.

"A la juventud filipina" was written by Rizal when he was only eighteen years old,[1] and was dedicated
to the Filipino youth which he describes as "the fair hope of my motherland."

The Poem address the Filipino youth as the one who can bring about change and progress to the nation.
It encourages them that they have the potential to achieve great things, "Come now, thou [Youth]
genius grand, And bring down inspiration." In this poem, it is the Filipino youth who are the
protagonists, whose "prodigious genius" making use of that education to build the future, was the "bella
esperanza de la patria mía" (beautiful hope of the motherland). Spain, with "pious and wise hand"
offered a "crown's resplendent band, offers to the sons of this Indian land."

The poem was presented in 1879 in Manila at a literary contest held in the Liceo Artistico Literario de
Manila (Manila Lyceum of Art and Literature),[4] a society of literary men and artists, where he won the
first prize, composed of a feather-shaped silver pen[2][4] and a diploma.