January 23, 2010

We await you still

This statue of the young Jose Rizal, Philippine national hero, is in the Ateneo de Manila High School and a gift of Class 1997. The inscription at the base is a quotation from Rizal's second novel El Filibusterismo, published in 1891, and spoken by the priest Father Florentino in the concluding chapter:
    Where are the youth who will consecrate their golden hours, their dreams, 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, youth, who will embody in yourselves the vigor of life that has left our veins, the purity of ideas that has been contaminated in our brains, the fire of enthusiasm that has been quenched in our hearts? We await you, O Youth! Come, for we await you!

statue of the young Jose Rizal at the Ateneo de Manila High School

18 comments:

Clueless in Boston said...

Great looking statue. Is it made of copper that it turned green, or was it deliberately colored green?

Chattahoochee Valley Daily said...

Nice shot, Hilda. I like the blue light coming thru the windows.

Louis la Vache said...

It is interesting how the green of the statue and the green of the tree behind it complement each other.
Moving quotation - it speaks to the struggle for independence from Spain.

Lowell said...

Wow, that's powerful stuff, and I'm not sure I understand it...the part about the crime and abomination, nor do I understand the need for "victims" who are "pure and spotless."

Interesting statue, too...he looks so bright, so determined, as if he's about to burst from his clothing!

Anonymous said...

If only students would start to understand that teacher are there, for their good.

Brilliant photography indeed.
Please have a nice weekend.

George said...

What a wonderful statue and quote from the book. I think we're all waiting for some of those youth.

Don and Krise said...

The way I understand it he's calling for the youth to basically step up to the plate and make a change.
(Or something like that.)

Wonderful statue Hilda.

crocrodyl said...

Beautiful scuplture and excellent shot! I like the lights in the background!
Regards:)

James Mark said...

Yes to all of the above!

Cezar and Léia said...

Very nice that they made his young self calling upon youth! :)
God bless you!
Cezar

Chuck Pefley said...

You've made a very nice image of a lovely statue. By the way, we have a Joseph Rizal park here in Seattle which gives a wonderful view over the city from the south edge of downtown.

VP said...

Interesting to see a young version of Joseph Rizal, sorry that youth isn't like that anymore...

Hilda said...

CIB:
I didn't look at it very closely, but I think it's just paint and it's leaching onto the steps he's sitting on. Look at the area under his feet.

shaker said...

Great shot !
I like the composition with the lights.

AB said...

Great composition and an interesting bit of Philippine history

escape said...

i never knew about this statue. it's nice that you took a shot of it at night. it added a bit of mystery as to who the boy become and what he did for the country.

brattcat said...

what a beautiful capture!

Lio Popov said...

Interesting photos and story!