Actor and member of Free the Artist Movement Nanding Josef reads Andres Bonifacio’s famous poem, Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa. Josef is a veteran actor and an advocate of promoting Filipino culture through theater. The 73-year-old actor was named best actor in the recent 44th Gawad Urian awards for the movie Lahi, Hayop.

The poem, written by the Father of the Philippine Revolution, under the pseudonym Agapito Bagumbayan, was first published in the first issue of revolutionary publication Kalayaan in 1896. Written at a time when Bonifacio was advocating for a revolution, the poem rivals most romance verses in passion and ardor. It has been since a classic for Filipinos, widely shared during Valentine’s Day and Independence Day.

Read the full text here:

Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa
by Andres Bonifacio

Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya
Sa pagkadalisay at pagkadakila
Gaya ng pag-ibig sa Tinubuang lupa?
Aling pag-ibig pa? Wala na nga, wala.

xxx

Walang mahalagang hindi inihandog
Ng may pusong mahal sa Bayang nagkupkop,
Dugo, yaman, dunong, katiisa’t pagod,
Buhay ma’y abuting magkalagut-lagot.

xxx

Ang nangakaraang panahon ng aliw,
ang inaasahang araw na darating
ng pagka-timawa ng mga alipin,
liban pa ba sa bayan tatanghalin?

xxx

Sa kaba ng abang mawalay sa bayan!
Gunita ma’y laging sakbibi ng lumbay,
Walang alaala’t inaasa-asam
Kundi ang makita’y lupang tinubuan.

xxx

Kayong nalagasan ng bunga’t bulaklak
kahoy niyari ng buhay na nilanta’t sukat
ng bala-balakit makapal na hirap
muling manariwa’t sa baya’y lumiyag.

xxx

Ipahandog-handog ang buong pag-ibig
At hanggang may dugo’y ubusing itigis;
kung sa pagtatanggol, buhay ay mapatid,
Ito’y kapalaran at tunay na langit!

– Rappler.com

Special thanks to Nanding Josef and Free the Artist Movement.