PRESS RELEASE
PR-001-2016
Philippine Embassy in Riyadh Celebrates the
119th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal
(Riyadh, 30 December 2015) The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh held a simple ceremony in celebration of the 119th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.
The celebration was held at the Liwasang Bonifacio Grounds at the Philippine Embassy premises and was also attended by members of the Order of the Knights of Rizal – Central Region Chapter (OKOR-CRC) and representatives from the Philippine Curriculum Schools in Riyadh.
During the program, First Secretary and Consul Christopher Patrick T. Aro gave the opening remarks while Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago read the Message of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino for the celebration.
Some of Rizal’s poems were also recited during the program. Assistant Labor Attache Dominador Salanga recited the “Himno Al Trabaho” wherein Rizal wrote about the industriousness of the people of Lipa, Batangas and that the youth must follow the footsteps of their hardworking elders for them to be worthy of praises given to them. On the other hand, Attache Eujames A. Acopan recited “Kundiman” which was a love letter written by Rizal for his Motherland, the Philippines.
A Wreath Laying Ceremony followed and was led by Ambassador Tago and First Secretary and Consul General Iric C. Arribas.
In his short inspirational speech, Ambassador Tago reminded all Filipinos in the Kingdom that the best way to commemorate Dr. Jose Rizal’s martyrdom is to read Rizal’s teaching and apply it in their daily lives.
Ambassador Tago also attended two events organized by the Knights of Rizal, Riyadh Chapter and Eastern Province Chapter, on 01 January and 02 January 2016.(END)
Hymn to Labor
Source: http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/Himno_Al_Trabajo
English translation by Nick Joaquin
CHORUS:
For the Motherland in war,
For the Motherland in peace,
Will the Filipino keep watch,
He will live until life will cease!
MEN:
Now the East is glowing with light,
Go! To the field to till the land,
For the labour of man sustains
Fam'ly, home and Motherland.
Hard the land may turn to be,
Scorching the rays of the sun above...
For the country, wife and children
All will be easy to our love.
(Chorus)
WIVES:
Go to work with spirits high,
For the wife keeps home faithfully,
Inculcates love in her children
For virtue, knowledge and country.
When the evening brings repose,
On returning joy awaits you,
And if fate is adverse, the wife,
Shall know the task to continue.
(Chorus)
MAIDENS:
Hail! Hail! Praise to labour,
Of the country wealth and vigor!
For it brow serene's exalted,
It's her blood, life, and ardor.
If some youth would show his love
Labor his faith will sustain :
Only a man who struggles and works
Will his offspring know to maintain.
(Chorus)
CHILDREN:
Teach, us ye the laborious work
To pursue your footsteps we wish,
For tomorrow when country calls us
We may be able your task to finish.
And on seeing us the elders will say:
"Look, they're worthy 'f their sires of yore!"
Incense does not honor the dead
As does a son with glory and valor.
Kundiman (English Translation)
Source: http://allpoetry.com/Kundiman-(English-Translation)
Now mute indeed are tongue and heart:
love shies away, joy stands apart.
Neglected by its leaders and defeated,
the country was subdued and it submitted.
But O the sun will shine again!
Itself the land shall disenchain;
and once more round the world with growing praise
shall sound the name of the Tagalog race.
We shall pour out our blood in a great flood
to liberate the parent sod;
but till that day arrives for which we weep,
love shall be mute, desire shall sleep.
