THE SONG OF THE TRAVELER

Great was Rizal's joy in receiving the gladsome new from Malacanang. At last, he was free! once more, he was going to travel - to Europe and then to Cuba. It was with this joyous thought of resuming his travels that he wrote his heart-warming poem "El Canto del Viajero"(The song of the Traveler).

Rizal wrote a letter to Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco December 17, 1895, offering his services as a military doctor in Cuba.

Then when Rizal reach Manila "there the Minister of War will assign you to the Army of Operations in Cuba, detailed to the Medical Corps".

Blanco was forced to deal with the independence movement led by Katipunan. On the whole, Blanco adopted a conciliatory stance, seeking to improve Spain’s image in the face of world opinion. Nevertheless, he placed eight provinces under martial law. These were Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, Batangas, and Nueva Ecija. They would later be represented in the eight rays of the sun in the Philippine flag. Arrests and interrogations were intensified and many Filipinos died from torture.

6th Stanza

Home may the pilgrim return in the future,

Back to his loved ones his footsteps he bends ;

Naught wìll he find but the snow and the ruins,

Ashes of love and the tomb of his friends,

7th Stanza

Unexpected letter

The letter from Governor Blanco

dated July 1, 1896

Pilgrim, begone ! Nor return more hereafter,

Stranger thou art in the land of thy birth ;

Others may sing of their love while rejoicing,

Thou once again must roam o'er the earth.

Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco

- came to manila because Antonio Canovas del Castillo sent him(1893)

-leaved philippines (December 13 1896)

The letter notifies Rizal for the acceptance of his offer.

-The letter reached Rizal July 30th, also stated that the Politico-military commander of Dapitan would give him a pass so that he could come to Manila, where he would be given a safe conduct to spain.

3rd Stanza

Ever impelled by the invisible power,

Destined to roam from the East to the West ;

Oft he remembers the faces of loved ones,

Dreams of the day when he, too, was at rest.

THE SONG OF THE TRAVELER

1st Stanza

Like to a Leaf that is fallen and withered

Tossed by the tempest from pole unto pole;

Thus roams the pilgrim abroad without purpose,

Roams without love, without country or soul.

2nd Stanza

Following anxiously treacherous fortune,

Fortune which e 'en as he grasps at it flees ;

Vain though the hopes that his yearning is seeking,

Yet does the pilgrim embark on the seas.

"The Song of the Traveler"

"El Canto del Viajero"

Rizal wrote to Gov. Gen. Ramon Blanco

Blumentrit's advice

Blumentrit adviced him to volunteer as army physician in Cuba.

4th Stanza

5th Stanza

Often the sorrowing pilgrim is envied,

Circling the globe like a sea-gull above ;

Little, ah, little they know what a void

Saddens his soul by the absence of love.

Chance may assign him a tomb on the desert,

Grant him a final asylum of peace ;

Soon by the world and his country forgotten,

God rest his soul when his wanderings cease !

THANK YOU!

"El Canto del Viajero"

The Song of the Traveler

Jose Francisco Maria C. Santos

8th Stanza

Conclusion

Pilgrim, begone ! Nor return more hereafter,

Dry are the tears that a while for thee ran ;

Pilgrim, begone ! And forget thine affliction,

Loud laughs the world at the sorrows of man

If we're going to summarize the whole poem, Rizal is talking about the life of a Traveler. Being a traveler encounters allot of obstacles (the ups and downs of your life). But it is not just about travelling, it's about on how you manage the obstacles in your life.

WE SHOULD LEARD TO FIGHT OUR OBSTACLES AND NOT TO SKIP IT