Which Rizal poem expresses offering one's life for one's country?

• A. A La Juventud Filipina
• B. Song of Maria Clara
• C. Sa Aking mga Kabata
• D. Mi Ultimo Adios

Answer: (D)

Self-sacrifice for the country is the idea at work here. Mi Ultimo Adios is Rizal’s farewell poem, written as he faced execution, and it centers on loyalty to the Philippines, a willingness to give his life for liberty and justice, and hope for the nation’s future. It’s crafted as a personal vow to the homeland, capturing the sense of martyrdom and devotion that comes with dying for one’s country.

The other poems explore different themes: A La Juventud Filipina calls on Filipino youth to strive for national progress, Sa Aking mga Kabata honors language and the speaker’s love for the native tongue, and Song of Maria Clara focuses on the experiences of a character tied to Rizal’s novels rather than on sacrificial devotion to the nation.