In 1884, the Filipino community in Madrid was abuzz with excitement after two Filipino painters garnered some of the coveted awards during the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes de Madrid (Madrid National Exhibition of Fine Arts). Juan Luna won one of the gold medals for his painting “El Expoliarium”, while Félix Resurreción Hidalgo won one of the silver medals for his painting “Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho.” It was a bittersweet win since the highest honours were neither conferred on Luna or Hidalgo, however, a victory still considering the important commissions they garnered after.

Filipino nationalist José Rizal delivered a toast at a banquet in the Restaurant Ingles in Madrid in honour of both painters. This is one of his most iconic speeches meant not only to celebrate both painters but to put across an important point that resonates among all people of colour to this day.

The speech was originally delivered in Spanish and was first published in the magazine, Ambos Mundos, Madrid on the same year it was delivered. It later reprinted in a brochure called Homage to Luna, published by José Rodón y Abella in 1888.

One of the most widely-accepted English translations was done by Filipino historial Encarnación Alzona for the Rizal Centennial Commission. I thought of revisiting the original Spanish version to work on a Lit Critter English translation of this iconic speech.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://thelitcritter.com/2021/05/05/an-homage-to-the-filipino-painters/