Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell)
Pray for all those that hapless have died,
Farewell, dear Fatherland, clime of the sun caress'd
For all who have suffered the unmeasur'd pain;
Pearl of the Orient seas, our Eden lost!,
For our mothers that bitterly their woes have cried,
Gladly now I go to give thee this faded life's best, For widows and orphans, for captives by torture tried
And were it brighter, fresher, or more blest And then for thyself that redemption thou mayst gain.
Still would I give it thee, nor count the cost.
And when the dark night wraps the graveyard around
On the field of battle, 'mid the frenzy of fight, With only the dead in their vigil to see
Others have given their lives, without doubt or heed; Break not my repose or the mystery profound
The place matters not-cypress or laurel or lily white, And perchance thou mayst hear a sad hymn resound
Scaffold or open plain, combat or martyrdom's plight, 'T is I, O my country, raising a song unto thee.
T is ever the same, to serve our home and country's
need. And even my grave is remembered no more
Unmark'd by never a cross nor a stone
Let the plow sweep through it, the spade turn it o'er
I die just when I see the dawn break, That my ashes may carpet earthly floor,
Through the gloom of night, to herald the day; Before into nothingness at last they are blown.
And if color is lacking my blood thou shalt take,
Pour'd out at need for thy dear sake Then will oblivion bring to me no care
To dye with its crimson the waking ray. As over thy vales and plains I sweep;
Throbbing and cleansed in thy space and air
My dreams, when life first opened to me, With color and light, with song and lament I fare,
My dreams, when the hopes of youth beat high, Ever repeating the faith that I keep.
Were to see thy lov'd face, O gem of the Orient sea
From gloom and grief, from care and sorrow free; My Fatherland ador'd, that sadness to my sorrow lends
No blush on thy brow, no tear in thine eye. Beloved Filipinas, hear now my last good-by!
I give thee all: parents and kindred and friends
Dream of my life, my living and burning desire, For I go where no slave before the oppressor bends,
All hail ! cries the soul that is now to take flight; Where faith can never kill, and God reigns e'er on high!
All hail ! And sweet it is for thee to expire ;
To die for thy sake, that thou mayst aspire; Farewell to you all, from my soul torn away,
And sleep in thy bosom eternity's long night. Friends of my childhood in the home dispossessed !
Give thanks that I rest from the wearisome day !
If over my grave someday thou seest grow, Farewell to thee, too, sweet friend that lightened my
In the grassy sod, a humble flower, way;
Draw it to thy lips and kiss my soul so, Beloved creatures all, farewell! In death there is rest!
While I may feel on my brow in the cold tomb below
The touch of thy tenderness, thy breath's warm power.
Let the moon beam over me soft and serene,
Let the dawn shed over me its radiant flashes,
Let the wind with sad lament over me keen ;
And if on my cross a bird should be seen,
Let it trill there its hymn of peace to my ashes.
Let the sun draw the vapors up to the sky,
And heavenward in purity bear my tardy protest
Let some kind soul o 'er my untimely fate sigh,
And in the still evening a prayer be lifted on high
From thee, 0 my country, that in God I may rest.
eternity !
If over my tomb some day, you would see
blow,
Mi Ultimo Adios A simple humble flow'r amidst thick grasses,
Bring it up to your lips and kiss my soul so,
Farewell, my adored Land, region of the sun And under the cold tomb, I may feel on my
caressed, brow,
Pearl of the Orient Sea, our Eden lost, Warmth of your breath, a whiff of your
With gladness I give you my Life, sad and tenderness.
repressed;
And were it more brilliant, more fresh and at its Let the moon with soft, gentle light me descry,
best, Let the dawn send forth its fleeting, brilliant
I would still give it to you for your welfare at light,
most. In murmurs grave allow the wind to sigh,
And should a bird descend on my cross and
On the fields of battle, in the fury of fight, alight,
Others give you their lives without pain or Let the bird intone a song of peace o'er my
hesitancy, site.
The place does not matter: cypress laurel, lily
white, Let the burning sun the raindrops vaporize
Scaffold, open field, conflict or martyrdom's And with my clamor behind return pure to the
site, sky;
It is the same if asked by home and Country. Let a friend shed tears over my early demise;
And on quiet afternoons when one prays for me
I die as I see tints on the sky b'gin to show on high,
And at last announce the day, after a gloomy Pray too, oh, my Motherland, that in God may
night; rest I.
If you need a hue to dye your matutinal glow,
Pour my blood and at the right moment spread Pray thee for all the hapless who have died,
it so, For all those who unequalled torments have
And gild it with a reflection of your nascent undergone;
light! For our poor mothers who in bitterness have
cried;
My dreams, when scarcely a lad adolescent, For orphans, widows and captives to tortures
My dreams when already a youth, full of vigor were shied,
to attain, And pray too that you may see you own
Were to see you, gem of the sea of the Orient, redemption.
Your dark eyes dry, smooth brow held to a high
plane And when the dark night wraps the cemet'ry
Without frown, without wrinkles and of shame And only the dead to vigil there are left alone,
without stain. Don't disturb their repose, don't disturb the
mystery:
My life's fancy, my ardent, passionate desire, If you hear the sounds of cithern or psaltery,
Hail! Cries out the soul to you, that will soon It is I, dear Country, who, a song t'you intone.
part from thee;
Hail! How sweet 'tis to fall that fullness you may 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 your 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:
acquire;
To die to give you life, 'neath your skies to Aroma, light, hues, murmur, song, moanings
expire, deep,
And in your mystic land to sleep through 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.
HULING PAALAM
Bayaan ang ningas ng sikat ng araw
Pinipintuho kong Bayan ay paalam, ula'y pasingawin noong kainitan,
Lupang iniirog ng sikat ng araw, magbalik sa langit ng buong dalisay
mutyang mahalaga sa dagat Silangan, kalakip ng aking pagdaing na hiyaw.
kaluwalhatiang sa ami'y pumanaw.
Bayaang sino man sa katotong giliw
Masayang sa iyo'y aking idudulot tangisang maagang sa buhay pagkitil;
ang lanta kong buhay na lubhang malungkot; kung tungkol sa akin ay may manalangin
maging maringal man at labis ang alindog idalangin, Bayan, yaring pagkahimbing.
sa kagalingan mo ay akin ding handog.
Idalanging lahat yaong nangamatay,
Sa pakikidigma at pamimiyapis Nangag-tiis hirap na walang kapantay;
ang alay ng iba'y ang buhay na kipkip, mga ina naming walang kapalaran
walang agam-agam, maluwag sa dibdib, na inihihibik ay kapighatian.
matamis sa puso at di ikahahapis.
Ang mga balo't pinapangulila,
Saan man mautas ay di kailangan, ang mga bilanggong nagsisipagdusa;
cipres o laurel, lirio ma'y patungan dalanginin namang kanilang makita
pakikipaghamok, at ang bibitayan, ang kalayaan mong ikagiginhawa.
yaon ay gayon din kung hiling ng Bayan.
At kung ang madilim na gabing mapanglaw
Ako'y mamamatay, ngayong namamalas ay lumaganap na doon sa libinga't
na sa Silanganan ay namamanaag tanging mga patay ang nangaglalamay,
yaong maligayang araw na sisikat huwag bagabagin ang katahimikan.
sa likod ng luksang nagtabing na ulap.
Ang kanyang hiwaga’y huwag gambalain;
Ang kulay na pula kung kinakailangan kaipala'y marinig doon ang taginting,
na maitina sa iyong liwayway, tunog ng gitara't salterio'y magsaliw,
dugo ko'y isaboy at siyang ikikinang ako, Bayan yao't kita'y aawitan.
ng kislap ng iyong maningning na ilaw.
Kung ang libingan ko'y limot na ng lahat
Ang aking adhika sapul magkaisip at wala ng kurus at batong mabakas,
noong kasalukuyang bata pang maliit, bayaang linangin ng taong masipag,
ay ang tanghaling ka at minsang masilip lupa'y asarolin at kahuya’y ikalat.
sa dagat Silangan hiyas na marikit.
Natuyo ang luhang sa mata'y nunukal, Ang mga buto ko ay bago matunaw,
taas na ang noo't walang kapootan, mauwi sa wala at kusang maparam,
walang bakas kunot ng kapighatian alabok na iyong latag ay bayaang
gabahid man dungis niyong kahihiyan. siya ang babalang doo'y makipisan.
Sa kabuhayan ko ang laging gunita Kung magkagayon ma'y, alintanahin
maningas na aking ninanasa-nasa na ako sa limot iyong ihabilin,
ay guminhawa ka ang hiyas ng diwa pagka't himpapawid at ang panganorin,
paghingang papanaw ngayong biglang-bigla. mga lansangan mo'y aking lilibutin.
Ikaw'y guminhawa laking kagandahang Matining na tunog ako sa dinig mo,
akoy malugmok, at ikaw ay matanghal, ilaw, mga kulay, masamyong pabango,
hininga'y malagot, mabuhay ka lamang ang ugong at awit, paghibik ko sa iyo,
bangkay ko'y maisilong sa iyong Kalangitan. pag-asang dalisay ng pananalig ko.
Kung sa libingan ko'y tumubong mamalas Bayang iniirog, sakit niyaring hirap,
sa malagong damo mahinhing bulaklak, Katagalugan kong pinakaliliyag,
sa mga labi mo'y mangyayaring ilapat, dinggin mo ang aking pagpapahimakas;
sa kaluluwa ko halik ay igawad. diya'y iiwan ko sa iyo ang lahat.
At sa aking noo nawa'y iparamdam, Ako'y patutungo sa walang busabos,
sa lamig ng lupa ng aking libingan, walang umiinis at berdugong hayop;
ang init ng iyong paghingang dalisay pananalig doo'y di nakasasalot,
at simoy ng iyong paggiliw na tunay. si Bathala lamang doo’y haring lubos.
Bayaang ang buwan sa aki'y ititig Paalam, magulang at mga kapatid
ang liwanag niyang lamlam at tahimik, kapilas ng aking kaluluwa't dibdib
liwayway bayaang sa aki'y ihatid mga kaibigan, bata pang maliit,
magalaw na sinag at hanging hagibis. sa aking tahanan di na masisilip.
Kung sakasakaling bumabang humantong Pag-papasalamat at napahinga rin,
sa krus ko'y dumapo kahit isang ibon, paalam estranherang kasuyo ko't aliw,
doon ay bayaan humuning hinahon paalam sa inyo, mga ginigiliw;
at dalitin niya payapang panahon. mamatay ay siyang pagkakagupiling!
The Spanish poem was translated into Tagalog by
the Filipino revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio.
When Jose Rizal walked from his prison to the place of his execution, he not only walked proudly for
himself, but he planted the seeds of pride for his people. His last words written in his cell: "MI ULTIMO
ADIOS" or "LAST FAREWELL" were an enduring life giving breath from a man who was about to breath no
more:
Rizal did not ascribe a title to his poem. Mariano Ponce, his friend and fellow reformist, titled it Mi Último
Pensamiento ("My Last Thought") in the copies he distributed, but this did not catch on.
"On the afternoon of Dec. 29, 1896, a day before his execution, Dr. Jose 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), not
alcohol lamp (lamparilla). 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 from the stove a folded paper. On it
was written an unsigned, untitled and undated poem of 14 five-line stanzas. The Rizals reproduced copies
of the poem and sent them to Rizal's friends in the country and abroad. In 1897, Mariano Ponce in Hong
Konghad the poem printed with the title "Mi Ultimo Pensamiento." Fr. Mariano Dacanay, who received a
copy of the poem while a prisoner in Bilibid (jail), published it in the first issue of La Independencia on
Sept. 25, 1898 with the title "Ultimo Adios"." [1]
The cocinilla was not delivered to the Rizal's family until after the execution as he needed it to light the
cell.
After it was annexed by the United States as a result of the Spanish-American War, the Philippines was
perceived as a community of "barbarians" incapable of self-government. U.S. Representative Henry A.
Cooper, lobbying for management of Philippine affairs, recited the poem before the United States
Congress. Realising the nobility of the piece's author, his fellow congressmen enacted the Philippine Bill of
1902 enabling self-government (later known as the Philippine Organic Act of 1902), despite the fact that
the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act was still in effect and African Americans had yet to be granted equal rights
as US citizens.[2] It created thePhilippine Assembly, appointed two Filipino delegates to the American
Congress, extended the US Bill of Rights to Filipinos, and laid the foundation for an autonomous
government. The colony was on its way to independence. although relatively complete autonomy would
not be granted until 4 July 1946 by the Treaty of Manila.
Mi Ultimo Adios by Dr. Jose Rizal: An interpretation From reading the poem composed by our national
hero I could see four main themes that are constantly used, namely that of sacrifice, love (of country),
love of fellowmen, and farewell. The poem starts off with a goodbye engulfed in a great love of one’s
country along with all it has to offer, such as the natural wonders and the like. The poet bids farewell to all
that he loves bout his country and show a great sorrow in doing so, then the mood slowly shifts to that of
sacrifice, mainly focused on what one can give up for his country, and in Rizal’s case, even going as far as
offering his life. After that the poem then gives off a feel that one usually gets when one is remembering
fond memories coupled by some mention of his impending demise and his wish to be one with his country
after his death, in this part of the poem, Rizal is clearly trying to enjoy the moments of the past before his
final departure and expresses wishes of what is it he wanted to be done afterwards. Towards and at the
end, the poem is that of Rizal bidding farewell to the people close to him, as well as giving thanks for that
his can finally have the ultimate rest, after his ultimate farewell, all in all we can see that the poem is
filled with pure love of one’s country and people as well as all the pain, grief, joy, and as well as the
feeling of finally being at ease with the thought of his inevitable doom, from the poem we see a man, who
we see as a hero, yet at the end of the day, he is still a man, who just simply loved his country and was
willing to die for it.
Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell)
This 14-stanza poem of Jose Rizal talks about his “Goodbyes” to his dear Fatherland where his love is dedicated to. He
wrote it on the evening before his execution.
Farewell, dear Fatherland, clime of the sun caress'd
Pearl of the Orient seas, our Eden lost!,
Gladly now I go to give thee this faded life's best,
And were it brighter, fresher, or more blest
Still would I give it thee, nor count the cost.
On the field of battle, 'mid the frenzy of fight,
Others have given their lives, without doubt or heed;
The place matters not-cypress or laurel or lily white,
Scaffold or open plain, combat or martyrdom's plight,
T is ever the same, to serve our home and country's need.
I die just when I see the dawn break,
Through the gloom of night, to herald the day;
And if color is lacking my blood thou shalt take,
Pour'd out at need for thy dear sake
To dye with its crimson the waking ray.
My dreams, when life first opened to me,
My dreams, when the hopes of youth beat high,
Were to see thy lov'd face, O gem of the Orient sea
From gloom and grief, from care and sorrow free;
No blush on thy brow, no tear in thine eye.
Dream of my life, my living and burning desire,
All hail ! cries the soul that is now to take flight;
All hail ! And sweet it is for thee to expire ;
To die for thy sake, that thou mayst aspire;
And sleep in thy bosom eternity's long night.
If over my grave some day thou seest grow,
In the grassy sod, a humble flower,
Draw it to thy lips and kiss my soul so,
While I may feel on my brow in the cold tomb below
The touch of thy tenderness, thy breath's warm power.
Let the moon beam over me soft and serene,
Let the dawn shed over me its radiant flashes,
Let the wind with sad lament over me keen ;
And if on my cross a bird should be seen,
Let it trill there its hymn of peace to my ashes.
Let the sun draw the vapors up to the sky,
And heavenward in purity bear my tardy protest
Let some kind soul o 'er my untimely fate sigh,
And in the still evening a prayer be lifted on high
From thee, 0 my country, that in God I may rest.
Pray for all those that hapless have died,
For all who have suffered the unmeasur'd pain;
For our mothers that bitterly their woes have cried,
For widows and orphans, for captives by torture tried
And then for thyself that redemption thou mayst gain.
And when the dark night wraps the graveyard around
With only the dead in their vigil to see
Break not my repose or the mystery profound
And perchance thou mayst hear a sad hymn resound
'T is I, O my country, raising a song unto thee.
And even my grave is remembered no more
Unmark'd by never a cross nor a stone
Let the plow sweep through it, the spade turn it o'er
That my ashes may carpet earthly floor,
Before into nothingness at last they are blown.
Then will oblivion bring to me no care
As over thy vales and plains I sweep;
Throbbing and cleansed in thy space and air
With color and light, with song and lament I fare,
Ever repeating the faith that I keep.
My Fatherland ador'd, that sadness to my sorrow lends
Beloved Filipinas, hear now my last good-by!
I give thee all: parents and kindred and friends
For I go where no slave before the oppressor bends,
Where faith can never kill, and God reigns e'er on high!
Farewell to you all, from my soul torn away,
Friends of my childhood in the home dispossessed !
Give thanks that I rest from the wearisome day !
Farewell to thee, too, sweet friend that lightened my way;
Beloved creatures all, farewell! In death there is rest!
_________________________________________________________________________
Interpretation
The first stanza speaks about Rizal’s beautiful description of his Fatherland. He used the biblical
Eden to describe the Pre-Hispanic Philippines which is an imaginary time of purity and innocence. He adores
the beautiful country that he and others are fighting for. He said that he is glad to give his life to Filipinas even
though his life was brighter, fresher, or more blest than it is now – pertaining to the time when he wrote the
poem.
The second stanza speaks about the men who gave their life to his beloved country. Rizal said that
their dedication and patriotism to the country is without second thoughts. It doesn’t matter how one struggles,
that all struggles, all deaths, are worth it if it is for the good of the country.
The third stanza speaks about Rizal’s love of liberty. The image of dawn that Rizal used in the first line
signifies the liberation that he adores. In the third and fourth line, he says that if the colour of liberation lacks
his blood, he must die for the country to attain freedom.
The fourth stanza presents the flashback of Rizal’s love for the patria that started when he was young.
He was young when he saw the martyrdom of the GOMBURZA and promised that he would dedicate himself
to avenge one day for those victims. His dreams were to see his country in eminent liberation, free from sorrow
and grief.
The fifth stanza repeats Rizal’s dream of complete liberation. “All Hail!” signifies that he is positively
welcoming the dawn of freedom after his death. He also repeats what he has said in the third stanza that it is
his desire to dedicate his life to the Patria.
The sixth stanza describes the image of Rizal’s grave being forgotten someday. The grassy sod may
represent the country’s development, the growth of liberty, and that with the redemption of the country, he
becomes forgotten. Rizal does not say here that he wants monuments, streets, or schools in his name, just a
fond kiss and a warm breath so he could feel he is not forgotten.
In the seventh stanza, Rizal says he wants to see or feel the moon, dawn, wind, and a bird over his
grave. The moon’s beam may represent a night without its gloom like a country without its oppressors. The
imagery of dawn has been repeated here and its radiant flashes represent the shining light of redemption that
sheds over his honour. Only the wind will lament over his grave. The bird does not lament him but sings of
peace, the peace that comes with liberation and the peace with which he rests below.
In the eighth stanza, the metaphor of the sun drawing the vapors up to the sky signifies that the earth is
being cleansed by the sun like taking away the sorrows and tears that has shed including his last cry. Line 3
reminds us to remember why he died – for the redemption of the country. And he wants to hear a prayer in the
still evening – evening because he may also want to see a beam of light from the moon which he stated in the
stanza 7, and that it is before the dawn. Prayers he stated that will make him rest in peace in God’s hands.
Rizal said in the ninth stanza that he also wants his fellowmen to also pray for others who also have
died and suffered for the country. Also pray for the mothers, the orphans and widows, and the captives who
also have cried and have tortured, and again, for his soul to rest in peace.
The tenth stanza says that Rizal’s tomb is on the graveyard with the other dead people. Rizal says that
in the night, he does not want to be disturbed in his rest along with the others and the mystery the graveyard
contains. And whenever we hear a sad song emanating from the grave, it is he who sings for his fatherland.
In the eleventh stanza, Rizal says a request that his ashes be spread by the plough before it will no
longer take significance. His ashes represent his thoughts, words, and philosophy making it his intellectual
remains. The symbolic ashes should be spread all over Filipinas to fertilize the new free country long after he is
forgotten.
The twelfth stanza again speaks about being forgotten but Rizal does not care about it anymore.
Oblivion does not matter for he would travel far and wide over his beloved fatherland. He keeps his faith with
him as he sings his hymn for the nation.
Rizal says goodbye to his adored Fatherland in the thirteenth stanza. He gives goodbye to his parents,
friends, and the small children. He gives everything to Filipinas. Now, he satisfies his death by saying he will be
going to a place where there is peace – no slaves, no oppressors, no killed faith. He is going to a place where
God rules over – not the tyrants.
Finally, in the last stanza, Rizal cries his farewell to all his fellowmen – his childhood friends, and his
sweet friend that lightened his way. In the last line, he repeats that “In Death there is rest!” which means that
he, being ready to be executed, is happy to die in peace.
