Awit sa Bohol
The Awit sa Bohol or Bohol Hymn is the official provincial hymn of the province of Bohol, Philippines. The lyrics and music were written by Justino Romea [1] and arrangement was made by Ms. Maxelende Ganade. The original lyrics are in Boholano with an available English version. The Cebuano translation is credited to Ms. Maxelende Ganade.[1]During every program or gatherings, the Boholanos sing the Bohol Hymn after the Philippine National Anthem. [2]
According to Bohol.ph: "The Boholanos are a freedom loving and independent people, who take pride in their Island, wherever they are. No wonder, the province even has its own provincial anthem".[1]
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[edit] History
It was during the administration of then Gov. Lino Chatto that the provincial government of Bohol undertook the initiative to formally identify the provincial symbols and seals, including the Bohol flag and hymn.
Justino 'Ning" Romea, a writer of the Bohol Chronicle and composer of the RPC Song (now the UB Hymn) and the Bohol Provincial School of Nursing Hymn, was commissioned to pen the Bohol Provincial Hymn.
It was first sung publicly by a female choir of the College of Holy Spirit of Tagbilaran on March 1, 1970 in time for the unfurling of the Bohol Flag during the opening ceremonies of the 1970 East Visayan Athletic Association held in Tagbilaran City.
On September 24, 1970, the Provincial Board passed Resolution No. 215 adopting it as the official song of the province of Bohol.
As the hymn's original version was in English, the Provincial Board, a few years after, endeavored to have it translated into the vernacular. A competition was launched and the entry of Maxelende Ganade emerged as the best and was adjudged the winner. With some modifications by the Board of Judges in consultation with the authorities in music authorities Mrs. Enriquita Borja-Butalid and Mrs. Maria Fe Rocha-Lumayag, then Division Supervisor and music consultant, the Boholano version was adopted by the Provincial Board in Resolution No. 151 dated September 13, 1974.
While the lyrics and music of the Bohol Hymn (English version) is credited to Romea, the Awit sa Bohol (Boholano version) is largely attributed to Ganade.
[edit] Awit sa Bohol
(Lyrics in Boholano)
Yuta kong minahal
Hatag ni Bathala
Sa adlaw'g gabii
Taknang tanan
Dinasig sa
kinaiyahan
Sa mga bayani yutawhan
Imong kalinaw giampingan
Lungsod sa bungtod nga matunhaw
Ug matam-is nga kinampay
Puti ang kabaybayonan
Walog sa suba binisbisan
Bahandi ang dagat ug kapatagan
Gugma ang tuburan
Sa kagawasan sa tanan
Panalanginan ka
Ihalad ko lawas ug kalag
Sa mutya ko'ng Bohol
[edit] Bohol Hymn
(English version)
This is our land I love,
The land God gave to me,
Caressed by the sun,
Bathed by the sea,
And kissed by the cool breeze
Night and day.
Here’s where the early heroes lived,
Here’s where they wrought peace and here they bled,
Here rise the marvelous cone-shaped hills,
Here’s sweet kinampay grows.
Blessed with white sandy beaches,
Rivers that water valleys,
Seas teem with fishes and cows graze
on the plains,
In ev’ry home love reigns,
God keep my homeland always free,
Let her forever be,
I pledge my strength, my heart and soul,
To my dear home, Bohol
[edit] Composer
Justino "Ning" Romea is a native of Barangay Napo, Loon, Bohol. He is the composer of the Bohol Hymn "Awit sa Bohol". He is also the composer of the Rafael Palma College or RPC Song (now UB Hymn) and many other school anthems. He is best remembered for the love song "Ako Kang Paabuton", the folk song "Sa Daplin sa Baybayon" as well as most of the songs featured in the annual 'drama' presentations in his native Napo for which he served as writer, director and musical arranger. [3]
[edit] Translator
Ganade started playing the piano while in Grade 3, encouraged by her parents who are both musicians. She graduated Bachelor of Music from the College of Holy Spririt in Manila and she had rendered performances, helped in musical shows and had written compositions.
[edit] Trivia
- There are contentions that the vernacular version is short of the poetry and rhyme of the English lyrics, such that the lines "Caressed by the sun, bathe by the sea and kissed by the cool breeze night and day" simply turned out "Sa adlao'g gabii taknang tanan, dinasig sa kinaiyahan." However, it must be the touching simplicity of the Boholano lyrics that stirs up the emotions in every Boholano's soul with the words suggesting images that tell about the basic character of a native Boholano son or daughter
- While the Boholano lyrics Ganade wrote are being sung in every program, and daily in schools, Ganade walks unnoticed as she reports to Holy Spririt School to teach piano lessons to the students a job she has been doing for many years now.
- Eddie Florano wrote an alternative song called Bohol Islands from the "Looking Back" album (2007).
- Another song "Balik sa Bohol" composed by Filipino blind composer and hymnist One Oclarit was created as another patriotic song for Bohol.
[edit] Other Bohol provincial symbols
While the Philippines has its national bird (the Agila or the Philippine Eagle), flower (Sampaguita, Jasminium sambac), dance (Cariñosa), leaves (anahaw), and tree (narra), Bohol has also declared its own provincial symbols.
[edit] Provincial Seal
The provincial seal features the Chocolate Hills which are Bohol's famous tourist attraction symbolizing the abundance of natural beauty in Bohol. The green color symbolizes that Bohol is an agricultural province with most of its people depending on farming for livelihood. The Blood Compact between Sikatuna and Legaspi symbolizes the Boholano's love for peace.
[edit] Bohol flag
In the official flag of the province of Bohol has several symbolism. For colors, the blue stands for nobility, the white for purity and red for courage. The bolos commemorate the Tamblot and Dagohoy rebellions. The two arms in the middle depict the blood compact between Datu Sikatuna and Miguel López de Legazpi, and behind that are shown the world famous Chocolate Hills. The lone star in the top left is to honour Carlos P. Garcia, the Boholano president of the Philippines.
The independent trait of the Boholanos is well known, through its history of resistance against the Spanish, American and Japanese invaders, and is expressed by the prominent placement of two large bolos (local swords) on the official provincial flag.
The independence of the Boholano also reflects itself in the relative absence of large landownership on the island: most farmers still own their own often small, patch of land, a big contrast to some other islands, such as Negros, where large areas of land are held by a few families.
[edit] Provincial bird
The provincial bird is the antolihaw or dimodlaw (Oriolus chinensis), a bright yellow bird which can be found all over the province especially during the summer when it will make a loud noise: 'waw-waw-waw'.
[edit] Provincial tree
The molave (Vitex parviflora) is declared the provincial tree. A small tree, it is richly branched with trifoliate leaves. The flowers are violet-colored and the fruits pea-sized and dark purple to black. It is a native to Bohol, and grows well on its limestone soils.
[edit] Provincial Fruit
The provincial fruit is the Bohol mangga, or mango, (Mangifera indica Linnaeus), which does very well in Bohol. The limestone soil is responsible for the sweet and tender fruit, which is said to be the sweetest in the Philippines. About half a million mango trees grow in Bohol.
[edit] Provincial Plant
The ubi kinampay (The purple Boholano yam; Dioscorea alata Linnaeus) is a rootcrop chosen as the provincial plant. This plant's meat ranges from white to light to dark purple color with an excellent aromatic taste. It is eaten cooked, alone or mixed with other vegetables. It is also dried and then used to flavor ice cream, candies and cakes. Even before declaring the ubi as the provincial plant, the annual Ubi Festival has been celebrated every January.
[edit] Provincial flower
The white gumamela (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linnaeus) is the provincial flower. This white flower symbolizes the characteristic innocence and naturalness of the Boholano. Its long bowing styles bring about a language of welcome, its tender structure with pollens characterize the people's simple tastes and modest needs. The greenish, close-knit petals represent the loyalty and constancy of the Boholano family towards each of its members, conscious of the bond that joins them together in the good and bad times.
[edit] Provincial Hero
The provincial hero Francisco Sendrijas, most popularly known as Francisco Dagohoy or Dagohoy. He led the Dagohoy Rebellion which is considered as the longest revolt in the Philippine history.
[edit] Provincial Dance
The provincial dance is the Kuratsa Boholana
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Provincial Symbols of Bohol www.bohol.ph Retrieved 8 December 2006.
- ^ Provincial Symbols of Bohol www.bohol-island.com Retrieved 8 December 2006.
- ^ Loon's Leading Lights www.bohol-island.com Retrieved 25 January 2007.
