Lupang Hinirang

Lupang Hinirang

English: Chosen Land
File:Lupang Hinirang.png Sheet music for Lupang Hinirang
National anthem of Philippines
Also known as	Bayang Magiliw (informal) (English: Beloved Country)
Lyrics	José Palma, 1899
Music	Julián Felipe, 1898
Adopted	1898
Relinquished	present
Audio sample
Lupang Hinirang (Instrumental) file help

Lupang Hinirang is the national anthem of the Philippines. Its music was composed in 1898 by Julian Felipe, with lyrics in Spanish adapted from the poem Filipinas, written by José Palma in 1899.

Originally written as incidental music, it did not have words when it was adopted as the National Anthem of the Philippines and subsequently played during the proclamation of Philippine independence on June 12, 1898. During the American occupation of the Philippines, the colonial government banned the song from being played with the passage of the Flag Law. The law was repealed in 1919 and the song was translated into English and would be legalized as the "Philippine Hymn". The anthem was translated into Tagalog beginning in the 1940s. A 1956 Pilipino (standardized Tagalog) version, revised in the 1960s, serves as the present anthem.

Lupang Hinirang means "Chosen Land" in Filipino. Some English sources erroneously translate Lupang Hinirang as "Beloved Land"; however, "Beloved Land" is a translation of the first line of Filipinas, which would be Tierra adorada.

The national anthem is also informally known as Bayang Magiliw ("beloved country"), from the first line of the anthem.

History

The Lupang Hinirang began as an instrumental march which General Emilio Aguinaldo commissioned for use in the proclamation of Philippine independence from Spain. This task was given to Julian Felipe and was to replace a march which Aguinaldo did not find to be satisfactory. The title of the new march was Marcha Filipina Magdalo ("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 June 11, 1898, a day before the date when Philippine independence was to be proclaimed. It was played by the San Francisco de Malabon marching band during the proclamation on June 12, 1898.

In August 1899, José Palma wrote the poem Filipinas in Spanish. It became the lyrics of the national hymn.

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.

During the 1920s, with the repeal of the Flag Law, which banned the use of all Filipino national symbols, the American colonial government decided to translate the national 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. The "Philippine Hymn" was legalized by an act of the Philippine Congress in 1938.

Tagalog translations started appearing during the 1940s, the first translation was known to be as Diwa ng Bayan ("Spirit of the Country"), which was sung during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines; followed by the most popular being O Sintang Lupa ("O Beloved Land") by Julian Cruz Balmaceda, Ildefonso Santos, and Francisco Caballo. O Sintang Lupa was approved as the national anthem in 1948.

During the term of President Ramon Magsaysay, Education Secretary Gregorio Hernandez formed a commission to revise the Tagalog words. On May 26, 1956, the National Anthem, Lupang Hinirang, was finally sung in Pilipino. Minor revisions were made in the 1960s, and it is this version, made by Felipe Padilla De Leon, which is in use today. The Filipino lyrics have been confirmed by a new national symbols law (Republic Act No. 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines) in 1998, but not the English and Spanish words.

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.

The translation of Lupang Hinirang was used by Felipe Padilla de Leon as his inspiration for Awit sa Paglikha ng Bagong Pilipinas, commissioned by the government of the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines during World War II, and adapted during the Martial Law period under Ferdinand Marcos.

In the late 1990s, the Chief Executive Officer of the GMA Network, Menardo Jimenez, proposed that various recording artists record their respective versions of the National Anthem; this is, however, prohibited by law.

Lupang Hinirang was not the first Filipino national anthem to be conceived. The composer and revolutionist Julio Nakpil composed Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan (Honorable Hymn of Katagalugan), which was intended as the official anthem of the Katipunan independence movement against Spain. It is considered a national anthem because Andres Bonifacio, the chief founder of the Katipunan, converted the organization into a revolutionary government - with him as president - known as the Republika ng Katagalugan (Tagalog Republic) just before hostilities erupted. The Katipunan or Republika ng Katagalugan was superseded by Aguinaldo's Republica Filipina. The anthem, later renamed Himno Nacional, was never adopted by Aguinaldo for unspecified reasons. It should be noted that Katagalugan, in its usage in the anthem, meant the Philippines and not just the Tagalog Filipinos.

Usage and legal 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 Julian 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 Julian 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. Public or government official or employee who fail to observe the regulations of R.A. 8491 may face administrative sanctions, besides the penalties imposed by the same law. This warning also applies to persons connected with government-held corporations, public schools, and state colleges and universities.

Official lyrics

Only the current Filipino version is officially recognized by law. Republic Act No. 8491, the 1998 Flag and Heraldic Code specifies, "The National Anthem shall always be sung in the national language within or without the country", and provides fine and imprisonment penalties for violations.

Filipino

Unofficial English translation

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 nang dahil sa 'yo.

Beloved country, Pearl of the Orient, The heart's fervor, In your chest is ever alive. Chosen land, You are the cradle of the brave. To the conquerors, You shall never surrender. Through the seas and mountains, Through the air and your blue sky, There is splendor in the poem and song For beloved freedom. The sparkle of your flag Is shining victoriously. Its stars and sun Shall forever never dim. Land of the sun, of glory and our affections, Life is heaven in your arms; It is our pleasure, when there are oppressors, To die for of you.

Earlier versions

Filipinas

Poet and soldier José Palma wrote a poem titled Filipinas to suit the music of the Marcha Nacional Filipina. The poem was published for the first time in La Independencia on September 3, 1899.

Tierra adorada
Hija del sol de Oriente
Su fuego ardiente
En ti latiendo está.

Patria de amores
Del heroísmo cuna,
Los invasores
No te hallarán 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 y 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.

The Philippine Hymn

This translation was made by Senator Camilo Osias and Mary A. Lane and was made official by an act of the Philippine Congress in 1938. The country was then a Commonwealth of the United States.

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 star alight
O never shall its shining field
Be dimmed by tyrants 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.

Diwa ng Bayan

The first Tagalog translation, used during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II

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 ng karimlan,
Ng kahapong pagtitiis.

Sakit at luha, hirap,
Susa at sumpa sa pagaamis;
ay wala nang lahat at naligtas,
Sa ibig maglupit.

Hayo't magdiwang Lahi kong minamahal,
Iyong watawat ang siyang tanglaw;
At kung sakaling ikaw ay muling pagbantaan,
Aming bangkay ang siyang hahadlang.

O Sintang Lupa

This version by Balmaceda, Santos and Caballo was used from 1948 (two years after the United States granted independence in 1946) to 1956. It was superseded by the 1956 translation, itself later revised.

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.

External links

• National Anthem of the Philippines (Orchestral Version played during the 2006 Asian Games)
• Different versions of the Philippine National Anthem
• Text of the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines (Republic Act 8491)
• Information on Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan
• Philippines "Lupang Hinirang" (Beloved land)
• Historia de la Marcha Nacional Filipino (History of the Philippine National Anthem, Spanish), Julian Felipe
• Pres. Carlos P. Garcia's Bisayan Version of the National Anthem