The Philippine National Anthem was the product of a joint effort of a poet and a musician. They worked independently,but both were moved by the same spirit of patriotism; and their works were brought together as a legacy of the Philippine Revolution.
Om June 5, 1898, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo requested Julian Felipe, a musician (a pianist and composer) and a native of Cavite, to compose a national march. Six days later, Felipe went back to Aguinaldo's residence and played the first draft of the march he composed, entitled Marcha Nacional Filipina.
When Aguinaldo proclaimed the independence of the Philippines in Kawit,Cavite, on June 12,1898, the Philippine National Flag was officially hoisted for the first time. And for the first time also, the Marcha Nacional Filipina was played as the flag was being raised.
Meanwhile, a young poet, Jose Palma imbued with the revolutionary spirit of the period - wrote a poem entitled "FILIPINAS", expressed to suit the music of Julian Felipe's Marcha.
| LUPANG HINIRANG |
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| 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'y kailan pa may di magdidilim | Lupa ng araw, ng luwalhati't pagsinta | Buhay ay langit sa piling mo; | Aming ligaya, na pag ma'y mang-aapi | Ang mamatay nang dahil sa iyo. |
Please click here for English and Spanish translation.
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