Lupang Hinirang

Lupang Hinirang

English: Chosen Land
Music Shhet of Lupang Hinirang
National anthem of Philippines
Lyrics	José Palma, 1899
Music	Julián Felipe, 1898
Audio sample
Lupang Hinirang (Instrumental) file help

Lupang Hinirang (Tagalog, “Chosen Land”) is the national anthem of The Philippines. Its music was composed in 1898 by Julián Felipe, and the lyrics were adapted from the Spanish poem Filipinas, written by José Palma in 1899. Originally written as incidental music, it did not have lyrics when it was adopted as the anthem of the revolutionary First Philippine Republic and subsequently played during the proclamation of Philippine independence on June 12, 1898.

During the American Colonial Period, the Flag Law of 1907 prohibited public display flags, banners, emblems, or devices used by revolutionaries in the Philippine-American War. Under color of this law, the colonial government banned the song from being played. The Flag Law was repealed in 1919. During the Commonwealth era, Commonwealth Act No. 382, approved on September 5, 1938, officially adopted the musical arrangement and composition by Julian Felipe as the Philippine National Anthem.

The Spanish lyrics were translated into Tagalog beginning in the 1940s, and a final, Pilipino version from 1956 was revised in the 1960s to the present lyrics. Over the years, several English versions came into use. On February 12, 1998, Republic Act No. 8491, officially set out Tagalog lyrics as the National Anthem, abandoning use of the Spanish and English versions.

Some English language sources erroneously translate Lupang Hinirang as "Beloved Land" or "Beloved Country"; the first term is actually a translation of the incipit of the original poem Filipinas (Tiérra adorada), while "Beloved Country" is a translation of Bayang Magiliw, the current version's incipit and colloquial name. Some sources assert that an English version of anthem lyrics titled "Philippine Hymn" was legalized by Commonwealth Act No. 382. That Act, however, only concerns itself with the instrumental composition by Julian Felipe.

History

Julián Felipe and José Palma

The Lupang Hinirang began as an instrumental march which Emilio Aguinaldo commissioned for use in the proclamation of Philippine independence from Spain. This task was given to Julián Felipe and was to replace a march which Aguinaldo found unsatisfactory. The title of this new march was Marcha Filipina Mágdalo ("Magdalo Philippine March"), and was later changed to Marcha Nacional Filipina ("Philippine National March") upon its adoption as the national anthem of the First Philippine Republic on 11 June 1898, a day before independence was to be proclaimed. It was played by the San Francisco de Malabon marching band (now known as General Trias) during the proclamation rite on 12 June.

In August 1899, José Palma wrote the poem Filipinas in Spanish. The poem was published for the first time in the newspaper La Independencia on 3 September 1899. It was subsequently adopted as the lyrics to the anthem.

Philippine law requires that the anthem always be rendered in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julián Felipe, but the original holograph cannot be located. In the 1920s, the time signature was changed to 4/4 to facilitate its singing and the key was changed from the original C major to G.

After the repeal of the Flag Law (which banned the use of all Filipino national symbols) in 1919, the American colonial government decided to translate the hymn from Spanish to English. The first translation was written around that time by Paz Marquez Benitez of the University of the Philippines, who was also a famous poet during that time. The most popular translation, called the "Philippine Hymn", was written by Senator Camilo Osías and an American, Mary A. Lane.

Tagalog translations began appearing in the 1940s, with the first known one titled Diwa ng Bayan ("Spirit of the Country"), which was sung during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. The second most popular one was O Sintang Lupa ("O Beloved Land") by Julian Cruz Balmaceda, Ildefonso Santos, and Francisco Caballo ; this was adopted as the official version in 1948. Upon the adoption of Diwa ng Bayan, the song Awit sa Paglikha ng Bagong Pilipinas and the Japanese national anthem Kimigayo were replaced.

During the term of President Ramon Magsaysay, Education Secretary Gregorio Hernández formed a commission to revise the lyrics. On 26 May 1956, the Pilipino translation Lupang Hinirang was sung for the first time. Minor revisions were made in the 1960s, and it is this version by Felipe Padilla de León which presently used. The Filipino lyrics have been confirmed by Republic Act No. 8491 (the "Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines") in 1998, abandoning use of both the Spanish and English versions.

As historian Ambeth Ocampo has noted, some of the original meaning of the poem Filipinas has been lost in translation; for example, the original Hija del sol de oriente literally means "Daughter of the Orient (Eastern) Sun." It becomes "Child of the sun returning" in the Philippine Hymn and "Pearl of the Orient" in the present official version.

Other anthems

Lupang Hinirang was not the first Filipino national anthem to be conceived. The composer and revolutionist Julio Nakpil penned Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan (Honourable Hymn of the Katagalugan), which was later called Salve Patria (“Hail Fatherland”). It was originally intended to be the official anthem of the Katipunan, the secret society that spearheaded the Revolution. It is considered a national anthem because Andrés Bonifacio, the chief founder and Supremo of the Katipunan, converted the organisation into a revolutionary government–with himself as President–known as the Repúblika ng Katagalugan (Tagalog Republic) just before hostilities erupted. The Katipunan or Republika ng Katagalugan was superseded by Aguinaldo's República Filipina. The anthem, later renamed Himno Nacional, was never adopted by Aguinaldo for unspecified reasons. It should be noted that the term "Katagalugan" in the anthem referred the Philippine Islands as a whole and not just Tagalophone Filipinos.

The translation of Lupang Hinirang was used by as his inspiration for Awit sa Paglikha ng Bagong Pilipinas, commissioned as a replacement anthem by the Japanese-controlled Second Philippine Republic during World War II, and later adapted during the Martial Law Era under Ferdinand Marcos.

Lyrics

The following Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino and English versions of the national anthem have been given official status throughout Philippine history. However, only the most recent and current Filipino version is officially recognised by law. The Flag and Heraldic Code, approved on 12 February 1998 specifies, "The National Anthem shall always be sung in the national language within or without the country"; violation of the law is punishable by a fine and imprisonment .

Official Tagalog lyrics: Lupang Hinirang (1958, rev. 1960s)

Unofficial English translation: Chosen Land

Bayang magiliw, Perlas ng Silanganan Alab ng puso, Sa Dibdib mo'y buhay. Lupang Hinirang, Duyan ka ng magiting, Sa manlulupig, Di ka pasisiil. Sa dagat at bundok, Sa simoy at sa langit mong bughaw, May dilag ang tula, At awit sa paglayang minamahal. Ang kislap ng watawat mo'y Tagumpay na nagniningning, Ang bituin at araw niya, Kailan pa ma'y di magdidilim, Lupa ng araw ng luwalhati't pagsinta, Buhay ay langit sa piling mo, Aming ligaya na pag may mang-aapi, Ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo.

Country Beloved, Pearl of the Orient, The burning of the heart In Thy chest is alive. Chosen Land, Cradle Thou [art] of the valourous. To the invaders, Thou shalt never submit. In seas and mountains, in air, and in skies of Thine azure, There is beauty in the poem And ode to freedom beloved. The sparkle of the flag of Thine Is victory that is shining. Its Stars and Sun Forevermore shall never dim. Land of the sun, of glory, and loving, Life is Heaven in Thine embrace. 'Tis our joy, when there be oppressor, To die because of Thee.

Original Spanish version: Filipinas (1899)

Commonwealth-era English version: The Philippine Hymn (1938)

Tierra adorada, hija del sol de Oriente, su fuego ardiente en ti latiendo está. Tierra de amores, del heroísmo cuna, los invasores no te hollarán jamás. En tu azul cielo, en tus auras, en tus montes y en tu mar esplende y late el poema de tu amada libertad. Tu pabellón que en las lides la victoria iluminó, no verá nunca apagados sus estrellas ni su sol. Tierra de dichas, de sol y amores en tu regazo dulce es vivir; es una gloria para tus hijos, cuando te ofenden, por ti morir.

Land of the morning, Child of the sun returning, With fervor burning, Thee do our souls adore. Land dear and holy, Cradle of noble heroes, Ne'er shall invaders Trample thy sacred shore. Ever within thy skies and through thy clouds And o'er thy hills and sea, Do we behold the radiance, feel the throb, Of glorious liberty. Thy banner, dear to all our hearts, Its sun and stars alight, O never shall its shining field Be dimmed by tyrant's might! Beautiful land of love, o land of light, In thine embrace 'tis rapture to lie, But it is glory ever, when thou art wronged, For us, thy sons to suffer and die.

Official Japanese-era Tagalog version: Diwa ng Bayan (1943)

Unofficial English translation: Spirit of the Country

Lupang mapalad, Na mutya ng silangan; Bayang kasuyo, Ng sangkalikasan. Buhay at yaman, Ng kapilipinuhan; Kuha't bawi, Sa banyagang kamay. Sa iyong langit, bundok, batis, dagat na pinalupig; Nailibing na ang karimlan, Ng kahapong pagtitiis. Sakit at luha, hirap, Sisa at sumpa sa pagaamis; ay wala nang lahat at naligtas, Sa ibig manlupit. Hayo't magdiwang lahi kong minamahal, Iyong watawat ang siyang tanglaw; At kung sakaling ikaw ay muling pagbantaan, Aming bangkay ang siyang hahadlang.

Land that is blesséd, that is Pearl of the East; Nation in union with [the whole of] nature. The life and riches Of the Filipino people Taken and reclaimed From foreign hands. In Thy skies, mountains, Springs, seas that were invaded Buried already is the darkness Of yesterday's suffering. Pain and tears, hardship, Difficulty and curse of oppression Are all gone and [we] are saved From those who wish to be cruel [to us]. Come, let us celebrate, my beloved race, Thy flag shall be our guiding light; And should Thou be once more threatened, Our corpses shall block the way.

Official post-World War II Tagalog version: O Sintang Lupa (1948)

Unofficial English translation: O Beloved Land

O sintang lupa, Perlas ng Silanganan; Diwang apoy kang Sa araw nagmula. Lupang magiliw, Pugad ng kagitingan, Sa manlulupig Di ka papaslang. Sa iyong langit, simoy, parang. Dagat at kabundukan, Laganap ang tibok ng puso Sa paglayang walang hanggan. Sagisag ng watawat mong mahal Ningning at tagumpay; Araw't bituin niyang maalab Ang s'yang lagi naming tanglaw. Sa iyo Lupa ng ligaya't pagsinta, Tamis mabuhay na yakap mo, Datapwa't langit ding kung ikaw ay apihin Ay mamatay ng dahil sa 'yo.

O beloved land, Pearl of the Orient, A fiery spirit art thou Coming from the sun. Land of our affection, Cradle of bravery, To the conquerors Thou shall never fall. Through thy skies, air, meadows, Seas and mountains, Widespread is the heartbeat For eternal freedom. Thy dear flag symbolizes Brilliance and victory; Its radiant sun and stars Will always be our guiding light. In thee, land of joy and affection, Sweet life in thine embrace. Though heaven will it be too, if thou art oppressed To die because of thee.

Usage and regulation

Article XVI, Section 2 of the present Philippine Constitution specifies that "The Congress may, by law, adopt a new name for the country, a national anthem, or a national seal, which shall be truly reflective and symbolic of the ideals, history, and traditions of the people. Such law shall take effect only upon its ratification by the people in a national referendum." At present, the 1998 Republic Act (R.A.) 8491. (the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines) regulates the usage of the Philippine national anthem. It also contains the complete lyrics of Lupang Hinirang.

R.A. 8491 specifies that Lupang Hinirang "shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julián Felipe." However, when literally followed, this means that the national anthem should only be performed by a pianist or by a brass band, as these were the only versions that were produced by Julián Felipe. Moreover, because the original version was composed in duple time (i.e. in a time signature of 2/4) as compared to the present quadruple time (4/4), it is uncertain if this will either slow down or even double the music's speed, making it difficult for singers to keep up with the music. Regardless of this, the national anthem is still sung with the lyrics. R.A. 8491 also states that Lupang Hinirang "shall always be sung in the national language" regardless if performed inside or outside the Philippines, and specifies that the singing must be done "with fervor".

The National Anthem is usually played during public gatherings in the Philippines or in foreign countries where the Filipino audience is sizable. R.A. 8491 also provides that it be played at other occasions as may be allowed by the National Historical Institute. R.A. 8491 prohibits its playing or singing for mere recreation, amusement, or entertainment except during the following occasions:

1. International competitions where the Philippines is the host or has a representative;
2. Local competitions;
3. During the "signing off" and "signing on" of radio broadcasting and television stations; and
4. Before the initial and last screening of films and before the opening of theater performances.

R.A. 8491 specifies fine or imprisonment penalties for any person or juridical entity which violates its provisions. A public or government official or employee who fails to observe the regulations of R.A. 8491 may face administrative sanctions in addition to the penalties imposed by law. This also applies to persons connected with government-held corporations, public schools, and state colleges and universities.

In the late 1990s, then-Chief Executive Officer of GMA Network Menardo Jimenez, proposed that various recording artists record their respective versions of the national anthem. This did not push through, as any alteration to the official arrangement and public performance thereof would violate R.A. 8491.

See also

• Flag of the Philippines
• Oath of Allegiance (Philippines)
• Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine Flag

External links

• The Philippines: Lupang Hinirang - Audio of the national anthem of the Philippines, with information and lyrics
• Philippine studies - Historical notes : The Philippine National Anthem
• Philippine American war - Arnaldo Dumindin