Reaction of "Like the Molave"

(May 14, 2016)

LIKE THE MOLAVE

BY: Rafael Zulueta da Costa

 

Not yet, Rizal, not yet. Sleep not in peace;There are a thousand waters to be spanned;There are a thousand mountains to be crossed;There are a thousand cross to be borne.Our shoulders are not strong; our sinews areGrown flaccid with dependence, smug with ease

Under another‘s wing. Rest not in peace;

 Not yet, Rizal, not yet. The land has needOf young blood

 –

 and, what younger than your own,Forever spilled in the great name of freedom.Forever oblate on the altar ofThe free? Not you alone, Rizal. O souls And spirits of the martyred brave - arise! Arise and scour the land! Shed once againYour willing blood! Infuse the vibrant redInto our thin anemic veins; untilWe pick up your Promethean tools and strong,Out of the depthless matrix of your faithIn us, and on the silent cliffs of freedom,We carve, for all time your marmoreal dream!Until our people, seeing, are becomeLike the Molave, firm, resilient, staunchRising on the hillside, unafraid,Strong in its own fiber; yes, like the Molave! 

REACTION:

 Like The Molave is one regarding how the people of the Philippines must work to make the nation stronger. The poem states that a region of the Philippines - Rizal - cannot yet rest, as there is still much work to be done to make the area successful. At the beginning of the poem, the poet outlines how the Philippines is dependent on other nations, and must work towards becoming independent in the future in order to support its citizens. Like The Molave also highlights the importance of the younger generation, and how they must fight for their country and improve the Filipino way of living. The poet believes this will grant the nation freedom. Like The Molave also talks about heroes and how they inspire regular Filipinos to be great themselves and join them on the quest to make the Philippines a more prosperous place. The poem states that whilst many Filipinos are achieving great things for their country, there is still much more to be done and more residents must contribute to the efforts. In short, Like The Molave is about inspiring the Filipino nation to improve their country and make it self-sufficient.