"Kundiman"

by José Rizal

(English version of "Kundiman" translated by Nick Joaquin)

Now mute indeed are tongue and heart:
love shies away, joy stands apart.
Neglected by its leaders and defeated,
the country was subdued and it submitted.

But, O, the sun will shine again!
Itself the land shall disenchain;
and once more round the world with growing praise
shall sound the name of the Tagalog race.

We shall pour out our blood in a great flood
to liberate the parent sod;
but till that day arrives for which we weep,
love shall be mute, desire shall sleep.

See also the original Tagalog version (Kundiman) of this Philippine song by José Rizal.