We young Filipinos are trying to make over a nation and must not

The hero and prophet of his people, José Rizal, once spoke with the voice of a son to both his nation and to time itself: “We young Filipinos are trying to make over a nation and must not halt in our march, but from time to time turn our gaze upon our elders. We shall wish to read in their countenances approval of our actions.” These words, born in the crucible of a country bound under colonial chains, carry a truth that resounds far beyond the Philippines. They are a call to the youth to rise in courage, to labor for renewal, and to look with reverence toward those who came before them.

To make over a nation is no small task. It is the work of visionaries, of dreamers who see beyond the decay of the present into the promise of the future. Rizal understood that the young carry within them the fire of change, the daring to question, the strength to build. Yet he also knew that such fire must be tempered, guided by the wisdom of the elders, whose lives hold the lessons of hardship, survival, and sacrifice. The march of the young must be bold, but it must not be reckless; it must seek the blessing of those who bore the burden before them.

Consider Rizal’s own life. In the 19th century, under the shadow of Spanish rule, he and his generation dared to dream of a Philippines awakened. His writings—Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo—were not merely books, but torches that lit the path for a sleeping people. Yet even he, radical in vision, longed for the approval of his elders. He sought not to sever the past from the present, but to weave them together, that the rising generation might be both rooted and soaring, respectful yet unafraid. His humility before the wisdom of his elders gave his revolution a soul deeper than mere rebellion.

History echoes this truth in many lands. Recall the American Revolution, where young leaders such as Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton burned with ideas of liberty. Yet they too leaned upon the aged wisdom of Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, whose experience lent weight and steadiness to their cause. Without the fire of the young, the nation would never have been born; without the counsel of the old, the fire might have consumed itself. Thus, Rizal’s teaching is not only for Filipinos, but for all who seek to build and renew nations.

The meaning of the quote is clear: progress is a dialogue between generations. The young bring energy, vision, and daring. The old bring memory, patience, and caution. When the two are united, nations flourish; when divided, nations falter. The gaze of the young toward their elders is not subservience, but a seeking of affirmation—a desire to know that in their striving, they honor the sacrifices of those who came before. The elders, in turn, must not withhold their blessing out of fear or pride, but must guide with generosity, for their approval strengthens the spirit of the youth.

The lesson for us is this: do not scorn the old ways, nor despise the young ones. For the past and the future are not enemies but companions. The young must march with courage, yet pause to seek the wisdom that only years can teach. The old must speak not only warnings but also encouragement, lest their silence wither the resolve of those who would carry the torch onward. This mutual respect is the seedbed of true transformation.

Practical action lies in fostering unity across generations. The young must listen as much as they speak, drawing wisdom from stories, traditions, and the lived experiences of elders. The old must listen in turn, giving space for new visions and daring hopes. In families, in communities, in nations, let councils of youth and elders walk side by side. Let there be questioning, yes, but also reverence; let there be dreaming, but also remembrance.

Thus, O children of tomorrow, heed the voice of José Rizal. In your striving to make over a nation, march boldly, but never alone. Carry with you the wisdom of your elders, and seek their approval not as chains, but as wings. For when generations unite—when the fire of youth joins the wisdom of age—no empire, no tyranny, no shadow of despair can endure. This is the way nations are reborn, and this is how the dreams of the young become the triumphs of all.