See also the category "Talumpati." And whether you found what you were looking for or not, please leave a comment below so I can help you better.Manuel L. Quezon III (MLQ3) writes about Manuel L. Quezon (MLQ), former president of the Philippines and known as the father of the national language, on the latter's birthday. MLQ3 links to a recording of "Message to My People" (mp3), which MLQ delivered in English and Spanish.
According to MLQ3, the speech was "recorded in the 1920s, when he was first diagnosed with tuberculosis and assumed he didn't have much longer to live." This speech, aside from being good for students to recite in the classroom, might be a good reminder to our current leaders in the administration and the opposition.
The text that appears below is from "Nationalism" by MLQ3 (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 19 August 2004). The translation that follows is mine.
Message to My People
Manuel L. Quezon
My fellow citizens: there is one thought I want you always to bear in mind. And that is: that you are Filipinos. That the Philippines are your country, and the only country God has given you. That you must keep it for yourselves, for your children, and for your children's children, until the world is no more. You must live for it, and die for it, if necessary.
Your country is a great country. It has a great past, and a great future. The Philippines of yesterday are consecrated by the sacrifices of lives and treasure of your patriots, martyrs, and soldiers. The Philippines of today are honored by the wholehearted devotion to its cause of unselfish and courageous statesmen. The Philippines of tomorrow will be the country of plenty, of happiness, and of freedom. A Philippines with her head raised in the midst of the West Pacific, mistress of her own destiny, holding in her hand the torch of freedom and democracy. A republic of virtuous and righteous men and women all working together for a better world than the one we have at present.
Mensahe sa Aking Mga Kababayan
Manuel L. Quezon
Mga kababayan ko: may isang kaisipang nais kong lagi niyong tatandaan. At ito ay: kayo ay Pilipino. Na ang Pilipinas ay inyong bayan, at ang tanging bayan na ibinigay ng Diyos sa inyo. Na dapat niyo itong ingatan para sa inyong mga sarili, sa inyong mga anak, at sa mga anak ng inyong anak, hanggang sa katapusan ng mundo. Kailangan niyong mabuhay para sa bayan, at kung kinakailangan, mamatay para sa bayan.If you're wondering why MLQ says, "The Philippines are..." see "The Philippines are or is?" If you have a recording or copy of a speech delivered in Filipino or Tagalog by MLQ, please leave a comment below.
Dakila ang inyong bayan. Mayroon itong dakilang nakaraan, at dakilang kinabukasan. Ang Pilipinas ng kahapon ay naging dakila dahil sa pag-aalay ng buhay at yaman ng inyong mga bayani, martir, at sundalo. Ang Pilipinas ng ngayon ay pinararangalan ng taos-pusong pagmamahal ng mga pinunong di-makasarili at may lakas ng loob. Ang Pilipinas ng bukas ay magiging bayan ng kasaganaan, ng kaligayahan, at ng kalayaan. Isang Pilipinas na nakataas ang noo sa Kanlurang Pasipiko, tangan ang sariling kapalaran, hawak sa kanyang kamay ang ilaw ng kalayaan at demokrasya. Isang republika ng mga mamamayang marangal at may paninindigan na sabay-sabay nagsisikap mapabuti ang daigdig natin ngayon.
Category: Talumpati
