Rizal's Mi Ultimo Adios and the Phl Independence

The Spanish – American War in 1898 which saw the defeat of the Spaniards brought an end to the Spanish colonial rule in the Philippines. The Treaty of Paris in which Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States of America in the amount of $20M sealed the closure of our country being a colony of Spain for more than three hundred years.

Two years earlier on December 29,1896, the Filipino champion for peaceful revolution, Dr. Jose P. Rizal penned his immortal poem, “ Mi Ultimo Adios “ in the darkened room of his prison cell at Fort Santiago. He was condemned to die on charges of sedation the following day December 30,1896 at 7 in the morning before a firing squad. His poem found its way into the hands of his sisters and proved a mighty weapon to fan the flame of freedom in the hearts of Filipino.

“Mi Ultimo Adios” was Rizal’s poetic tribute, his last farewell to the country he loved so much. Rizal died without seeing the dawn of a new day, yet he did see the downing of a new democracy in our country. It was his last farewell, a farewell of the old system, to tyranny and to oppression. It was not just poetry on a piece of paper, it was a heritage of selflessness and nationalism.

After the war the United States of America annexed our country as the Filipinos were perceived as barbarians, incapable of self-government, they did not deserve to be free & independent and independence could never be theirs. However, Henry Allen Cooper, an American congressman from Wisconsin lobbied for Philippine Independence. Standing before his distinguished colleagues at the American House of the

Representatives, He read “Mi Ultimo Adios” a poem of 14 five-line stanza by Dr. Jose P. Rizal. Citing the nobility of the author and the profundity of the poem He persuaded his fellow representatives to enact the Philippine Bill of 1902 later known as the Philippine Organic Act of 1902. This Act created the Philippine Assembly, extended the US Bill of Rights to the Filipino people and eventually laid the foundation for Philippine Independence.

“Mi Ultimo Adios” or My Last Farewell has been translated into many languages and the following is the last stanza of the English translation by Charles Derbyshire.

“Farewell to you all from my soul turn away, Friend of my childhood in the home dispossessed!

Give thanks that I rest from the wearisome day!

Farewell to thee, too, sweet friend that lightened my way;

Beloved creatures all, farewell! In death there is rest!” — Alfredo A. Amasa