Himno Al Trabajo (Hymn to Labor)
Chorus: For the Motherland in war, For the Motherland in peace, Will the Filipino keep watch, He will live until life will cease! MEN: Now the East is glowing with light, Go! To the field to till the land, For the labour of man sustains Fam'ly, home and Motherland. Hard the land may turn to be, Scorching the rays of the sun above... For the country, wife and children All will be easy to our love. Chorus: WIVES: Go to work with spirits high, For the wife keeps home faithfully, Inculcates love in her children For virtue, knowledge and country. When the evening brings repose, On returning joy awaits you, And if fate is adverse, the wife, Shall know the task to continue. Chorus: MAIDENS: H ail! Hail! Praise to labour, Of the country wealth and vigor! For it brow serene's exalted, It's her blood, life, and ardor. If some youth would show his love Labor his faith will sustain : Only a man who struggles and works Will his offspring know to maintain. Chorus: CHILDREN: Teac h, us ye the laborious work To pursue your footsteps we wish, For tomorrow when country calls us We may be able your task to finish. And on seeing us the elders will say: 'Look, they're worthy 'f their sires of yore!' Incense does not honor the dead As does a son with glory and valor.
Background
The poem Himno Al Trabajo was written by Jose Rizal at the request of his friends from Lipa, Batangas who wanted a hymn during the elevation of the then, municipality of Lipa to a city in January 1888 through the Becerra Law. The hymn is praise to the zeal and industry of the Lipeños.
Himno Al Trabaho states that the Lipeños will always be willing to work hard for the country. The poem is composed of lyrical conversations of men, wives, maidens and children. The men encourage others to farm; they believe that agriculture is the hope towards progress. The wives, who are always situated at home, are credited for taking care of the household chores and educating their children. The children, on the other hand, yearn for the adults to teach them on how to work productively.
It is also a poem that shows patriotism, wherein Rizal posted another educative challenge: to take place in the attainment of progress by means of hard work and diligence.
