Fernando María Guerrero

Fernando María Guerrero (1873-1929) is one of the most outstanding Filipino poets, journalists, politicians, lawyers, polyglots and educators during the Philippine's golden era of Spanish literature, a period ranging from 1890 to the outbreak of World War II. [http://www.comcentrum.ph/whoswho_journalism/Guerero,%20Ma.%20Fernando/works.htm Fernando Ma. Guerrero (1873-1929), Filipinos in History, Vol. 1, pp. 218-221, National Historical Institute and Comcentrum.ph, 1989] , retrieved on: June 13, 2003]

Biography

Guerrero wrote during the years 1898 to 1900. As a lawyer-educator he taught natural law, criminology and forensic oratory. He served as chairman of the board of examiners at the law school "La Jurisprudencia". He was a Manila councilor, Secretary of the Senate and Secretary of the Philippine Independence Commission. He was also a director of the "Academia de Leyes". Apart from Spanish, Guerrero spoke Latin and Greek. He was once an editor of "El Renacimiento", "La Vanguardia" and "La Opinion". He was a member of the First Philippine Assembly, the Academia Filipina and also became an appointee to the Municipal Board of Manila. He was also a correspondent to the association "Real Española de Madrid". His book of Spanish poems, "Crisalidas", was published in 1914, which was considered as one of the ten best books written about the Philippines by the "Enciclopedia Filipinas". His other poems written after the year 1914 appeared in a compilation called "Aves y Flores". Guerrero died on June 12, 1929, coinciding with that year's anniversary of the Philippine Republic. A school in Paco, Manila, Philippines was named after him in his honor.

Guerrero's poetry

A 1913 poem written by Fernando Maria Guerrero:

Original in Spanish

cquote|"A Hispania"

"Oh, noble Hispania!"
"es para ti mi canción,"
"canción que viene de lejos"
"como eco de antiguo amor,"
"temblorosa, palpitante"
"y olorosa a tradición"
"para abrir sus alas cándidas"
"bajo el oro de aquel sol"
"que nos metiste en el alma"
"con el fuego de tu voz"
"y a cuya lumbre, montando,"
"clavileños de ilusión,"
"mi raza adoró la gloria"
"del bello idioma español,"
"que parlan aún los Quijotes"
"de esta malaya región,"
"donde quieren nuevos Sanchos,"
"que parlemos en sajón." [http://members.aol.com/Efaro26164/Julio.html Farolan, Edmundo (Director). Philippine Spanish, Philippine Poetry, La revista, Tomo 1 Número 7, Julio 1997 and AOL.com] , retrieved on: 10 June 2007]
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English translation

cquote|To Spain O, Noble Spain! This song is for thee A song that comes from afar Like an old love Trembling, palpitating Fragrant with tradition To open thy candid wings Under the goldness of thy sun Which we've received into our souls With the fire of thy voice In whose brightness ride The keys of hope, My race adored the glory Of the beauty of the Spanish tongue That is spoken even by the Quijotes From this Malay region, Where New Sanchos are longed for Instead of speaking in Saxon tongue. |

ee also

*Lourdes Castrillo Brillantes
*Jose Rizal
*Ilustrados

References