Philippine Revolutionary Literature

For our selections of literature from the National Capital Region (Metropolitan Manila), we will have a survey of literature written during the Philippine Revolution against Spain. Literature was very much part of the fight for reforms and eventually independence as are weapons. The  Propaganda Movement in Spain, composed of the likes of Graciano López Jaena, Marcelo H. del Pilar, and José Rizal published the newspaper La Solidaridad to press for reforms in the Spanish legislature. When Dr. Rizal returned home, he founded the La Liga Filipina, as the Manila chapter of the Propaganda Movement. Andrés Bonifacio was originally a Liga member, founded the Katipunan to fight for independence through armed revolt. Even so, literature was still part of the fight of the Katipunan for independence.

A mural of Andres Bonifacio painted by National Artist Carlos "Botong" Francisco.

"LOVE OF COUNTRY"

by Andres Bonifacio

The poem “Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Bayan” (‘Love of One’s Country’) is a poem written by one of the founders of the Katipunan, Andrés Bonifacio, and was published on the only issue of the newspaper Kalayaan (‘Freedom’) in March 1896. While generally viewed as a practical man, contrary to popular notion, he was not illiterate. Although he did not finish formal education, he was self-educated. Her read books on the French Revolution (which was his inspiration to establish the Katipunan), and novels like Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, and José Rizal's Noli Me Tángere and El Filibusterismo. He also could speak a little English, which he learned while working at J. M. Fleming & Co.

 

Below is the Tagalog text from Jose P. Santos’ Si Andres Bonifacio at ang Himagsikan (‘Andres Bonifacio and the Revolution’) published in Manila in 1935. The English translation was written by Teodoro Agoncillo in his The Writings and Trial of Andres Bonifacio (1963).

TAGALOG	ENGLISH
1. 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.	What love can be purer and greater than love of country? What love? No other love, none.
2. Ulit-ulitin mang basahin ng isip at isa-isahing talastasing pilit ang salita’t buhay na limbag at titik ng isang katauhan ito’y namamasid.	Even when the mind repeatedly reads and try to understand the history that is written and printed by humanity, this (love of country) can be seen.
3. Banal na pag-ibig pag ikaw ang nukal sa tapat na puso ng sino’t alinman, imbit taong gubat, maralita’t mangmang nagiging dakila at iginagalang.	Holy love! when born of a pure heart, the humble and the backwoodsman, the poor, the unlettered become great and respected.
4. Pagpuring lubos ang nagiging hangad sa bayan ng taong may dangal na ingat, umawit, tumula, kumatha’t sumulat, kalakhan din nila’y isinisiwalat.	Love of country is always the desire of a man with honor; In songs, in poetry, in his writings the greatness of the country is always the theme.
5. Walang mahalagang hindi inihandog ng pusong mahal sa Bayang nagkupkop, dugo, yaman, dunong, tiisa’t pagod, buhay ma’y abuting magkalagot-lagot.	Nothing dear to a person with a pure heart is denied to the country that gave him birth: blood, wealth, knowledge, sacrifices, E'en if life itself ends.
6. Bakit? Ano itong sakdal nang laki na hinahandugan ng buong pag kasi na sa lalong mahal kapangyayari at ginugugulan ng buhay na iwi.	Why? what is this that is so big to which is dedicated with utmost devotion, all that is dear and to which life is sacrificed.
7. Ay! Ito’y ang Inang Bayang tinubuan, siya’y ina’t tangi na kinamulatan ng kawili-wiling liwanag ng araw na nagbibigay init sa lunong katawan.	Ah, this is the Mother country of one's birth, she is the mother on whom the soft rays of the sun shine, which gives strength to the weak body.
8. Sa kanya’y utang ang unang pagtanggol ng simoy ng hanging nagbigay lunas, sa inis na puso na sisinghap-singhap, sa balong malalim ng siphayo’t hirap.	To her one owes the first kiss of the wind that is the balm of the oppressed heart drowning in the deep well of misfortune and suffering.
9. Kalakip din nito’y pag-ibig sa Bayan ang lahat ng lalong sa gunita’y mahal mula sa masaya’t gasong kasanggulan. hanggang sa katawan ay mapasa-libingan.	Entwined with this is love of country, everything that is dear to the memory, from the happy and careless childhood to the hour of death.
10. Ang na nga kapanahon ng aliw, ang inaasahang araw na darating ng pagka-timawa ng mga alipin, liban pa ba sa bayan tatanghalin?	The bygone days of joy, the future that is hoped will free the slaves, where can this be found but in one's native land?
11. At ang balang kahoy at ang balang sanga na parang niya’t gubat na kaaya-aya sukat ang makita’t sasa-ala-ala ang ina’t ang giliw lampas sa saya.	Every tree and branch of her fields and forest joyful to behold, 'tis enough to see them to remember the mother, the loved one, and the happiness now gone.
12. Tubig niyang malinaw sa anak’y bulog bukal sa batisang nagkalat sa bundok malambot na huni ng matuling agos na nakaa-aliw sa pusong may lungkot.	Her clear waters -- they come from the mountain springs, the soft whisper of the rushing wavelets enlivens the sorrowing heart.
13. Sa kaba ng abang mawalay sa Bayan! gunita ma’y laging sakbibi ng lumbay walang ala-ala’t inaasam-asam kundi ang makita’ng lupang tinubuan.	How unfortunate to be separated from the country! Even memory is in sorrow's embrace, nothing is desired but to see the country of one's birth.
14. Pati na’ng magdusa’t sampung kamatayan waring masarap kung dahil sa Bayan at lalong maghirap, O! himalang bagay, lalong pag-irog pa ang sa kanya’y alay.	Misfortune and death seem lighter When we suffer them for our country And the more that for it we suffer, The more our love grows – oh, marvel! *
15. Kung ang bayang ito’y nasa panganib at siya ay dapat na ipagtangkilik ang anak, asawa, magulang, kapatid isang tawag niya’y tatalikdang pilit.	If this country is in danger and she needs defending, Forsaken are the children, the wife, the parents, the brothers and sisters at the country's beck and call.
16. Datapwa kung bayan ng ka-Tagalogan ay nilalapastangan at niyuyurakan katwiran, puri niya’t kamahalan ng sama ng lilong ibang bayan.	And if our land, Filipinas, ** is offended and her honor, reason, and dignity outraged, by a traitorous foreign country;
17. Di gaano kaya ang paghinagpis ng pusong Tagalog sa puring nalait at aling kaluoban na lalong tahimik ang di pupukawin sa paghihimagsik?	What unhappiness and grief will invade the heart of the Filipino? ** And will not even the most peaceful Rise to avenge her honor?
18. Saan magbubuhat ang paghihinay sa paghihiganti’t gumugol ng buhay kung wala ring ibang kasasadlakan kundi ang lugami sa ka-alipinan?	Where will the strength to take revenge and to throw away life come, if none can be relied upon for help, but those suffering from slavery?
19. 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	If his suffering and slavery are in the mire of deceit and oppression, one holds the whip, the chains that bind, and only tears are allowed to roll down.
20. Sa kanyang anyo’y sino ang tutunghay na di-aakayin sa gawang magdamdam pusong naglilipak sa pagka-sukaban na hindi gumagalang dugo at buhay.	Who is there to whom her condition Will not fill the soul with sorrow? Will the heart most hardened by treachery Not be moved to give her its life blood?
21. Mangyari kayang ito’y masulyap ng mga Tagalog at hindi lumingap sa naghihingalong Inang nasa yapak ng kasuklam-suklam na Castilang hamak.	Will not, perchance, her sorrow Drive the Filipinos ** to come to the rescue of the mother in agony, trampled underfoot by the mean Spaniards?
22. Nasaan ang dangal ng mga Tagalog, nasaan ang dugong dapat na ibuhos? bayan ay inaapi, bakit di kumikilos? at natitilihang ito’y mapanuod.	Where is the honor of the Filipino? where is the blood that should be shed? The country is being oppressed, why not make a move, you are shocked witnessing this.
23. Hayo na nga kayo, kayong ngang buhay sa pag-asang lubos na kaginhawahan at walang tinamo kundi kapaitan, kaya nga’t ibigin ang naaabang bayan.	Go, you who have lived in the full hope of comfort, and who reaped nothing but bitterness, Go and love the oppressed country.
24. Kayong antayan na sa kapapasakit ng dakilang hangad sa batis ng dibdib muling pabalungit tunay na pag-ibig kusang ibulalas sa bayang piniit.	You who, from the stream of your breast, have lost the holy desire to sacrifice, Once more let true love flow, express that love for the imprisoned country.
25. Kayong nalagasan ng bunga’t bulaklak kahoy niyaring buhay na nilant sukat ng bala-balakit makapal na hirap muling manariwa’t sa baya’y lumiyag.	You from whom the fruit and flowers of your life have been plucked by intrigues and incomparable sufferings, once more freshen up and love thy country.
26. Kayong mga pusong kusang [inihapay] ng dagat at bagsik ng ganid na asal, ngayon magbangon’t baya’y itanghal agawin sa kuko ng mga sukaban.	You, [whose hearts are brought low] of cheating and oppression of the mean in actions, now rise up and save the country, snatch it from the claws of the tyrant.
27. Kayong mga dukhang walang tanging [palad] kundi ang mabuhay sa dalita’t hirap, ampunin ang bayan kung nasa ay lunas sapagkat ang ginhawa niya ay sa lahat.	You who are poor [whose only lot] except to live in poverty and suffering, protect the country if your desire is to end your sufferings, for her progress is for all.
28. Ipaghandog-handog ang buong pag-ibig hanggang sa mga dugo’y ubusang itigis kung sa pagtatanggol, buhay ay [iubos] ito’y kapalaran at tunay na langit.	Dedicate with all your love -- as long there is blood -- shed every drop of it, If for the defense of the country life is [spent] this is fate and true glory.

Notes:

Words in [square brackets] are illegible from Jose P. Santos but interpolated from a manuscript from the General Military Archives in Madrid.

* Bonifacio calls the country “Katagalugan” and the people “Tagalog”, but here rendered as “Filipinas” and “Filipino(s)” respectively.

** The fourteenth stanza has been left out of the Agoncillo translation perhaps due to a printing error. The translation supplied here is from the Philippine Review (January-February 1918).

For a study on the Tagalog texts of this poem and its English translations, check out the article in Google Drive here.

 

THE PRIMER OF THE KATIPUNAN

by Emilio Jacinto 

The Kartilya ng Katipunan (‘Primer of the Katipunan’), originally written by Andres Bonifacio and revised by Emilio Jacinto, the “Brains of the Katipunan”, was a guidebook for new members of the Katipunan. It was written in the form of the Ten Commandments.

TAGALOG	ENGLISH
1.    Ang buhay na hindi ginugugol sa isang malaki at banal na kadahilanan ay kahoy na walang lilim, kundi damong makamandag.	1.   A life that is not spent in the service of a great and noble cause is like a tree without a shade, or like a poisonous weed.
2.    Ang gawang magaling na nagbuhat sa paghahambog o pagpipita sa sarili, at hindi talagang nasang gumawa ng kagalingan, ay di kabaitan.	2.   The good work that is done out of self-interest and not for its own sake has no merit.
3.    Ang tunay na kabanalan ay ang pagkakawang-gawa, ang pag-ibig sa kapwa at ang isukat ang bawat kilos, gawa't pangungusap sa talagang Katuwiran.	3.   True piety consists in doing good to others, in loving one’s neighbor and in making right reason the rule for every action, work and word.
4.    Maitim man o maputi ang kulay ng balat, lahat ng tao'y magkakapantay; mangyayaring ang isa'y hihigtan sa dunong, sa yaman, sa ganda...; ngunit di mahihigtan sa pagkatao.	4.   All men are equal whether the color of their skin be white or black. One man may surpass another in wisdom, wealth or beauty, but not in that which makes him a man.
5.    Ang may mataas na kalooban, inuuna ang puri kaysa pagpipita sa sarili; ang may hamak na kalooban, inuuna ang pagpipita sa sarili kaysa sa puri.	5.   The magnanimous man puts honor before self-interest; the mean-spirited man, self-interest before honor.
6.    Sa taong may hiya, salita'y panunumba.	6.   The word of a man of sensibility is as good as an oath.
7.    Huwag mong sayangin ang panahon; ang yamang nawala'y mangyayaring magbalik; ngunit panahong nagdaan ay di na muli pang magdadaan.	7.   Do not squander time, for wealth lost may be recovered, but time that has passed you by will not come your way again.
8.    Ipagtanggol mo ang inaapi; kabakahin ang umaapi.	8. Champion the oppressed and defy the oppressor.
9.    Ang mga taong matalino'y ang may pag-iingat sa bawat sasabihin; matutong ipaglihim ang dapat ipaglihim.	9.   An intelligent person is one who is careful with one’s words, and knows how to keep a secret.
10. Sa daang matinik ng buhay, lalaki ang siyang patnugot ng asawa at mga anak; kung ang umaakay ay tungo sa sama, ang pagtutunguhan ng inaakay ay kasamaan din.	10. In this hazardous life, it is the father who is the leader of the family; if the one leading is headed towards evil, then those following such leader are led into evil as well.
11. Ang babae ay huwag mong tingnang isang bagay na libangan lamang, kundi isang katuwang at karamay sa mga kahirapan nitong buhay; gamitin mo nang buong pagpipitagan ang kanyang kahinaan, at alalahanin ang inang pinagbuharan at nag-iwi sa iyong kasanggulan.	11. Women should not be looked upon as a mere objects for amusement; but should be treated with respect and be recognized as a partner in this hazardous life; in being with her, remember your mother who gave birth to you in this life.
12. Ang di mo ibig gawin sa asawa mo, anak at kapatid, ay huwag mong gagawin sa asawa, anak at kapatid ng iba.	12. That which you do not want to be done to your wife, children, or siblings, do not do unto the wife, children, or siblings of others.