Dr. José Rizal, our national hero whose death anniversary is commemorated on December 30, is honored for his reformist writings and revolutionary ideas, as exemplified in his masterpieces Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. The nation also celebrates his poetry, a cornerstone of Filipino literature. His poems reflect his patriotism, love for freedom, and profound intellect. Among his most acclaimed works is “Mi ultimo adios” (My Last Farewell).

On the afternoon of December 29, 1896, a day before his execution, 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 an unsigned, untitled, and undated poem. The Rizals reproduced copies of the poem and sent them to Rizal’s friends in the country and abroad. In 1897, Mariano Ponce, a member of the Propaganda Movement, had the poem printed in Hong Kong with the title “Mí último pensamiento.” Fr. Mariano Dacanay, an Ilocano priest who received a copy of the poem while a prisoner in jail with Rizal, published it in the first issue of La Independencia on September 25, 1898 with the title “Mi ultimo adios.” (reference: Phil. Daily Inquirer, December 30, 2002)

In his treatise titled “Jose Rizal in Filipino Literature and History” (Ateneo de Manila University, 2011), historian Ambeth R. Ocampo wrote, “The most celebrated of Rizal’s poems is his last. This unsigned, undated, and untitled poem, now known as Mi ultimo adiós (My Last Farewell), is believed to have been composed on the eve of his execution. The original manuscript is in the National Library of the Philippines, measures 9.5 x 15 cm. and is written on both sides, without blotches, in Rizal’s clear and legible handwriting. This long valedictory poem of 14 quintillas or five eight syllable lines with two consonant rhymes is an expression of patriotism that is now part of Filipino history. It has been translated into English, Filipino and all the major languages of the Philippines, as well as into German, French, Bahasa Indonesian, Czech and other languages.

Professor Ocampo concludes, “José Rizal was primarily a writer and an artist, not a politician. His life comes through clearly in his works of fiction, in his poetry and in his essays. Often misread and misinterpreted as a reformist who sought assimilation rather than separation from Spain, Rizal was a true revolutionary who saw reform as a step towards the eventual independence of his country and his people. Reform, for him, was a means and not the destination. He defended his ideas with pen and ink, rather  than with sword or cannon, and his critics belittle him for  that, but his influence was understood and feared by the judge who sentenced him to death in 1896 for being, as the trial  records indicate, “the main party responsible for, the living  soul of the rebellion” (autor principalísimo y alma y vida  de la sublevación presente). Then, as now, in life and death, Rizal’s writings endure: his works continue to be studied and analyzed, praised, and criticized. It is a fact that he reaches out to us through the pages of his books as a constant reminder of the past and a continuing inspiration for the Filipino people.”

“Mi último adiós” has been interpreted into 46 Philippine languages, including Bicol and as of 2005, at least 35 English translations known and published (in print). The most popular English iteration is the 1911 translation of Charles Derbyshire, inscribed on bronze. Also on bronze at the Rizal Park in Manila, but less known, is the 1944 one of novelist Nick Joaquin. In 1927, Bicolano Luis G. Dato translated the poem from Spanish to English in rhymes. Dato called it “Mí último pensamiento.” Dato was the first Filipino to translate the poem.

The Bicol translation of “Mi último adiós” is one of the poems contained in the book titled “Mga Rawitdawit ni Jose Rizal.” The collection of poems was published by the Commission on the Jose Rizal Centennial in 1962. The foreword and introduction were written by Eulogio B. Rodriguez, Director of the National Library, and Jaime C. de Veyra, in his capacity as researcher for the National Library. The latter was known to have established the canon of Rizal’s poetry in his compilation Poesías de Rizal. We at Dateline Ibalon thank Irvin Parco Sto. Tomas, President of Parasurat Bikolnon, for providing us a digital copy of this book, courtesy of the Knights of Rizal, Naga City Chapter, Rizalian Library. He is also an organizer at the PhilWiki Community, whose aim is to feature the works of Jose Rizal in digitized form on the WikiSource platform for easy access to the public.

Mi Ultimo Adios

(Original version by Jose Rizal)

Adiós, Patria adorada, región del sol querida,
Perla del mar de oriente, nuestro perdido Edén!
A darte voy alegre la triste mustia vida,
Y fuera más brillante, más fresca, más florida,
También por ti la diera, la diera por tu bien.

En campos de batalla, luchando con delirio,
Otros te dan sus vidas sin dudas, sin pesar;
El sitio nada importa, ciprés, laurel o lirio,
Cadalso o campo abierto, combate o cruel martirio,
Lo mismo es si lo piden la patria y el hogar.

Yo muero cuando veo que el cielo se colora
Y al fin anuncia el día tras lóbrego capuz;
si grana necesitas para teñir tu aurora,
Vierte la sangre mía, derrámala en buen hora
Y dórela un reflejo de su naciente luz.

Mis sueños cuando apenas muchacho adolescente,
Mis sueños cuando joven ya lleno de vigor,
Fueron el verte un día, joya del mar de oriente,
Secos los negros ojos, alta la tersa frente,
Sin ceño, sin arrugas, sin manchas de rubor.

Ensueño de mi vida, mi ardiente vivo anhelo,
¡Salud te grita el alma que pronto va a partir!
¡Salud! Ah, que es hermoso caer por darte vuelo,
Morir por darte vida, morir bajo tu cielo,
Y en tu encantada tierra la eternidad dormir.

Si sobre mi sepulcro vieres brotar un día
Entre la espesa yerba sencilla, humilde flor,
Acércala a tus labios y besa al alma mía,
Y sienta yo en mi frente bajo la tumba fría,
De tu ternura el soplo, de tu hálito el calor.

Deja a la luna verme con luz tranquila y suave,
Deja que el alba envíe su resplandor fugaz,
Deja gemir al viento con su murmullo grave,
Y si desciende y posa sobre mi cruz un ave,
Deja que el ave entone su cántico de paz.

Deja que el sol, ardiendo, las lluvias evapore
Y al cielo tornen puras, con mi clamor en pos;
Deja que un ser amigo mi fin temprano llore
Y en las serenas tardes cuando por mí alguien ore,
¡Ora también, oh Patria, por mi descanso a Dios!

Ora por todos cuantos murieron sin ventura,
Por cuantos padecieron tormentos sin igual,
Por nuestras pobres madres que gimen su amargura;
Por huérfanos y viudas, por presos en tortura
Y ora por ti que veas tu redención final.

Y cuando en noche oscura se envuelva el cementerio
Y solos sólo muertos queden velando allí,
No turbes su reposo, no turbes el misterio,
Tal vez accordes oigas de cítara o salterio,
Soy yo, querida Patria, yo que te canto a ti.

Y cuando ya mi tumba de todos olvidada
No tenga cruz ni piedra que marquen su lugar,
Deja que la are el hombre, la esparza con la azada,
Y mis cenizas, antes que vuelvan a la nada,
El polvo de tu alfombra que vayan a formar.

Entonces nada importa me pongas en olvido.
Tu atmósfera, tu espacio, tus valles cruzaré.
Vibrante y limpia nota seré para tu oído,
Aroma, luz, colores, rumor, canto, gemido,
Constante repitiendo la esencia de mi fe.

Mi patria idolatrada, dolor de mis dolores,
Querida Filipinas, oye el postrer adiós.
Ahí te dejo todo, mis padres, mis amores.
Voy donde no hay esclavos, verdugos ni opresores,
Donde la fe no mata, donde el que reina es Dios.

Adiós, padres y hermanos, trozos del alma mía,
Amigos de la infancia en el perdido hogar,
Dar gracias que descanso del fatigoso día;
Adiós, dulce extranjera, mi amiga, mi alegría,
Adiós, queridos seres, morir es descansar.

My Last Farewell

(English Translation by Encarnacion Alzona & Isidro Escare Abeto)

Farewell, my adored Land, region of the sun caressed,
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.

Huring Paaram

(Bicol translation by Jaime C. de Veyra, Comision nin Centenario ni Jose Rizal)

Paaram, mutyang Banwaan, ronang payaba kan Alday,
Mutya in Dagat Sirangan, naware nyamong muraway.
Mamongayang dolot simo an buhay kong malipungaw,
Kun masalinggaya kuta, langubo asin mabansay,
Sakuya na idodolo kun simong ikakarahay.

Sa mga dagang labanan, sa mabangis na iriwal,
Mga daing pagalangan, buhay simo dinodusay,
Maging cipres, maging lirio, bitayan, bukas na hukay,
Mangirhat na kagadanan, mabangis na kasakitan,
Magkakaiyo mansana kun hihagad kan Banwaan.

Ginhawa ku mapapatod, sa langit pagalagaag
Kan masalingayang aldaw, katakingkasan tang halat,
Kun nagkaipo kang pula sa pagtugma kan liwanag,
An dugo ko pabolosa, pabayae na lumanag,
Asin simong paningninga kan banggraw mong nagmomondag.

Mga pangatorogan ko kan aki pa akong sadang,
Kan saro nang barobata, maginhawa, panong buhay,
Iyo na ika makita, Perlas nin Dagat Sirangan,
Mamara an matang itom asin an angog mabansay,
Bakong korot, bakong koros, mayong digtang kasopganan.

Pangatorogan nin buhya, sakong malaad na horot,
Mabuhay! Olay kan kalag, madale nang tumalikod;
Abaang ogmang mapukan tangani kang makalayog;
Magadan na mabuhay ka, kan simong langit sa tangog,
Asin sa saimong daga sagkod lamang kumatorog!

Kun sa sakuya na hukay makita mo sarong aldaw,
Sa mahibogon na doot mahoyong bukar lumataw,
Ranihan sa simong ngabil, kan kalag ko ta hahadkan,
Mamatean ko sa angog, sa malipot kong linubngan,
An malodok mong hinangos, an mainit mong pagmahal.

Pabayae na an Bulan somongko sakong banayad,
Togote an daliwawa omalay sakong banaag,
Pabay-eng magsiloksigok, doros tumangis na hayag,
Asin kun may sarong yamon na sa cruz nyako lumupad,
Pabayae na iawit katiwasayan na labat.

Pabayae na mahubas an oran na ihinolog,
Sa langit ibalik liwat, inagrangay ko kasunod,
Pabay-eng an katapusan pagtangisan nin katood,
Sa hapon na matiwasay, kun may pabiming idolot,
An pahingalo ko, Banwa, sa Dios man simong iapod.

Pamibian na bulanos an gabos na napahamak,
Siisay man na nagtios padusang daing kasugad,
An sstuyang mga ina kan luha napapakigdag,
Mga ilo, mga balo, bilanggong sinakit nanggad,
Asin simo nang makamtan katalingkasan mong labat.

Kun sa madiklom na banggi mapatos an cementerio,
Daing ibang nagbabantay mga gadan sanang gayo,
Moninong di paglaglaga, di laglaga an misterio,
Sakale, makadangaog ka nin citara o psalterio,
Akon iyan, oh Banwaan, nagaawit sa saimo.

Ngapit kun an sakong hukay malingawan na nin gabos,
Sa sadyang namumugtakan dai nang gapo, daing cruz,
Pabayaeng aradohon, asadolon na bulanos,
An sakuyang kabo-kabo bago maparang padagos,
Sa saimo nganing daga maging alpog man na lubos.

Kun siring daing halaga na ako mo malingawan,
Sakong liliboton gabos, simong angkas, patag, ruwang,
Sa saimo na pagdangog awit ako na dalisay,
Pagkamoot, pagakaogma, hinanakit, inagrangay,
An pagtubod kong matubis ooliton na dayaday.

Bansang pinakamamahal, sakong sakit kasakitan,
Filipinas nyakong mutya, dangga an huring paaram,
Gabos sakong walat simo: ama, ina, pagmamahal,
Rona na daing oripon an sakong padudumanan,
Pagtubod dai magadan na an Dios an hade lamang.

Paaram, magurang, tugang, kan kalag ko maga kabtang,
Katood nin pagkaaki sa pagsadiring nasayang;
Pasalamat ta tapus an malipungaw kong aldaw,
Paaram, dalpleng mahamis, katood ko, kaogmahan,
Paaram ngani sa gabos; Hingalo an Kagadanan.

The header image is the mural titled “The Martyrdom of Jose Rizal” by National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco, located in the Rizal Shrine, Fort Santiago, Manila. Access to the digital files containing Mga Rawitdawit ni Jose Rizal was provided by Irvin Parco Sto. Tomas, co-founder of Philippine Wikimedia Community and President of Parasurat Bikolnon.