Si Rizal Ba Ang May-akda ng tulang "Sa Aking Mga Kabata?" #philippinehistory #joserizal

Summary

This video explores the authenticity of the famous Filipino saying attributed to Jose Rizal, 'Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa hayop at malansang isda.' It discusses doubts raised by literary experts like Virgilio Almario, citing historical and linguistic inconsistencies. The video examines the possibility that Rizal might not have written the poem, presenting four reasons: differences in language fluency, use of certain words, historical context, and the poem's late publication after Rizal's death. Despite the doubts, the video emphasizes the poem's inspirational message about love for one's language.

Takeaways

• 📜 Most Filipinos are familiar with the saying, 'He who does not love his own language is worse than an animal and a smelly fish,' often attributed to Rizal's poem 'Sa Aking Mga Kabata.'
• 📚 It is often mentioned during National Language Week that this poem was written by Rizal when he was only eight years old.
• ❓ However, some scholars, like Beth Ocampo and Virgilio Almario, doubt that Rizal actually wrote the poem.
• 📝 The use of the letters 'K' and 'W' in the poem is suspicious because during Rizal's youth, Tagalog orthography followed Spanish conventions which did not include these letters.
• 🔄 Rizal suggested changes to Filipino orthography to use 'K' and 'W,' but this became official only in the early 20th century, according to Lope K. Santos.
• 📖 Rizal’s early education was in Spanish, and he often expressed frustration with his fluency in Tagalog.
• 🕵️ The poem uses the word 'Kalayaan,' which Rizal only encountered in 1882 when Marcelo del Pilar translated his essay 'El Amor Patrio.'
• 📅 The poem was first published a decade after Rizal's death, in a book by the poet Hermenegildo Cruz.
• 🔍 Cruz claimed to have received the poem from Gabriel Belete Francisco, supposedly a close friend of Rizal, though Rizal never mentioned this person.
• 🤔 Historians theorize that either Cruz or Francisco might be the actual author of the poem, not Rizal.

Q & A

What is the common saying attributed to the poem 'Sa Aking Mga Kabata'?

The saying is, 'Ang hindi magmahal sa sariling wika ay higit pa sa hayop at malansang isda,' which means, 'He who does not love his own language is worse than a beast and a foul-smelling fish.'

Who is traditionally believed to have written the poem 'Sa Aking Mga Kabata'?

The poem is traditionally believed to have been written by Jose Rizal when he was just eight years old.

What doubts do experts like Beth Ocampo and Virgilio Almario have about Rizal's authorship of the poem?

Experts like Beth Ocampo and Virgilio Almario argue that the use of the letters 'K' and 'W' in the poem is anachronistic because the Tagalog orthography of Rizal’s time was based on Spanish orthography, which did not use these letters.

What was the orthography of the Tagalog language like during Rizal's youth?

During Rizal's youth, Tagalog was written using Spanish orthography, which did not include the letters 'K' and 'W.' Instead, it used 'C' and 'U' or 'Q.'

When did the use of 'K' and 'W' in Filipino orthography become official?

The use of 'K' and 'W' became official in the early 20th century, as suggested by Lope K. Santos, who is considered the father of Filipino grammar.

What challenges did Rizal face in expressing himself in Tagalog?

Rizal expressed in several letters his frustration with his limited fluency in Tagalog, stating that he found it difficult to express himself in the language despite it being his native tongue.

What is the significance of the word 'Kalayaan' in the poem, and why is it an issue for Rizal's authorship?

The poem uses the word 'Kalayaan,' which means 'freedom.' However, the word was first encountered by Rizal in 1882 through Marcelo del Pilar's translation of his essay 'El Amor Patrio,' which casts doubt on the poem being written during his childhood.

When and where was the poem 'Sa Aking Mga Kabata' first published?

The poem was first published a decade after Rizal's death, in a book by the poet Hermenegildo Cruz.

Who is thought to be the true author of 'Sa Aking Mga Kabata' if not Rizal?

Some historians speculate that the true author could be either Hermenegildo Cruz or Gabriel Francisco, as Rizal never claimed the poem, and its publication is attributed to these individuals.

What is the general consensus about the message of the poem 'Sa Aking Mga Kabata' despite the authorship controversy?

Regardless of the poem's true authorship, its message about the importance of loving one’s own language is widely regarded as inspiring and meaningful.