Monday, September 14, 2009



U.P. Oblation

No symbol is more closely identified with the University of the Philippines than the statue of the Oblation. The naked figure of a young man in a symbolic gesture of sacrificial offering of service to country and humanity has become a landmark in every campus of the University. For the hundreds of thousands of UP Alumni, the Oblation has become their major symbolic link with Alma Mater. The Oblation is also the major rallying point for all kinds of dissent, protest actions, and social criticism, as well as expressions of public service, nationalism, and patriotism. For the autonomous units and all the campuses of the University of the Philippines, the Oblation is the enduring symbol of their unity in mission, vision and traditions.
The Oblation, a masterpiece of Filipino sculptor Guillermo E. Tolentino, was commissioned in 1935 by President Rafael Palma, first Filipino president of the University. His order was for professor Tolentino to translate the second stanza of Rizal's "Last Farewell" into a monument which would be the identifying landmark of the University.

Rizal's "Last Farewell", Second Stanza

*Spanish (original)*
En campos de batalla,
luchando con delirio,
Otros te dan sus vidas,
sin duda, sin pesar,
El sitio nada importa:
cipres, laurel o lirio,
Cadalso o campo abierto,
combate o cruel martirio,
Lo mismo es si lo piden
la patria y el hogar.
- Jose Rizal -


*Filipino*
Ang nangasa digmaang dumog sa paglaban
Handog din sa iyo ang kanilang buhay;
Hirap ay di pansin, at si gunamgunan
Ang pagkaparool o pagtatagumpay.
Bibitaya't madlangmabangis na sakit
O pakikibakang lubhang mapanganib;
Pawang titiisin kung ito ang nais
Ng bayang tahanang pinakaiibig.
- Salin ni Pedro Gatmaitan -

*English*
In barricades imbattled;
fighting with delirium,
others donate you their lives
without doubts, without gloom,
The site doesn't matter;
cypress, laurel or lily;
gibbet or open field,
combat or cruel martyrdom,
are equal if demanded
by country and home.
- /Translated by Nick Joaquin/ -


Inscriptions at the Base

The integral relation among the symbolism of the Oblation, the meaning of National Heroes Day, and the mission and vision of the University of the Philippines is best expressed by the words of Andres Bonifacio and Dr. Jose Rizal, which are inscribed at the base of the bronze Oblation.
Here are the inscriptions:

*FRONT:*
Nasaan ang kabataang mag-aalay
ng kanilang kasibulang buhay,
ng kanilang adhikain at sigasig
sa kabutihan ng bansa?
Nasaan ang siyang puspusang
magbubuhos ng dugo
upang hugasang lariat ang ating kahihiyan,
ang ating mga kalapastanganan,
ang ating kabalintuan?
Tanging yaong dalisay at walang bahid
ang karapatdapat na naging alay upang
matanggap ang kasalantaang ito.


Binigkas ni Padre Florentino sa El Filibusterismo, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, 1891:

Donde esta la juventud que ha de consagrar sus rosadas horas, susilusiones y entusiasmo al bien de su patria? Donde esta la que ha de verter su sangre para lavar tantasverguenzas, tantos crimenes, tanta abominacion? Pura y sin maneha ha de ser la victima parer que elholacausto sea aceptable!
(Translation)
Where are the youth who will consecrate their golden hours, their illusions and their enthusiasm to the welfare of their native land? Where are the youth who will generously pour out their blood to wash away so much shame, so much crime, so much abomination? Pure and spotless must the victim be that the sacrifice may be acceptable, Where are you, Oh youth, who will embody in yourselves the vigor of life that has left our veins, the purity of ideas that has contaminated in our brains,the fire of enthusiasn that has been quenched in our hearts? We await, Oh youth, come, for we await you!- Dr. Jose P. Rizal


*RIGHT: *

*HULING PAHIMAKAS* NI DR. JOSE P. RIZAL

Masayang sa iyo'y aking idudulot
ang lanta kong buhay na
lubhang malungkot:
Maging maringal man at
labis alindog
sa kagalingan mo ay
Akin ding handog.
sa pakikidigma at pamimiyapis
ang alay ng iba'y
ang buhay na kipkip
walang agam-agam
maluag sa dibdib
Matamis sa puso at di ikahapis.
- salin ni Andres Bonifacio


*LEFT:*


*PAG-IBIG SA TINUBUANG BAYAN*
NI ANDRES BONIFACIO
Aling pag-ibig pang hihigit kaya
sa pagkadalisay at pagkakadakila
gaya ng pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa
Aling pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga, wala.
Pagpupuring lubos ang palaging hangad
sa bayan ng taong may dangal na ingat.
Umawit, tumula, kumathat't sumulat
kalakhan din niya'y isinisiwalat.
Walang mahalagang hindi inihando
ng may pusong mahal sa Bayang nagkupkop
dugo, yaman, dunong, katiisa't pagod,
buhay may abuting magkalagot lagot.


*BACK*


Saan man mautas ay di kailangan,
cipres o laurel, lirio ma'y patungan
pakikipaghamok, at ang bibitayan,
yaon ay gayon din kung hiling ng bayan.


Former source: http://www.up.edu.ph/oblation/history.html (this link is defunct).

Topics for Finals

1. Continuation of Noli Me Tangere
2. The Indolence of the Filipinos
3. The Philippines A Century Hence
4. El Filibusterismo
5. Other works of Rizal