Baguio Insider

Recently, there has been an argument on the beat the Philippine National Anthem should follow. I remember commenting once in a Humanities class, back in the day, with Professor Edru Abraham, how I thought our Pambansang Awit was simply the most beautiful song.

He said, “It’s a marching song! Ours is a militant national anthem.”

Wikipedia mentions that “a national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a country’s government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people… It is usually in the form of a march or a hymn.”

A recent law was passed on the occasion of the Philippine Centennial in 1998:

Section 37 of Republic Act No. 8491 (An Act Prescribing the Code of the National Flag, Anthem, Motto, Coat of Arms, and other Heraldic Items and Devices of the Philippines) says the “rendition of the National Anthem, whether played or sung, shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe.”

President Emilio Aguinaldo commissioned Julian Felipe on June 5, 1898 to prepare a composition which would be played during Independence ceremonies. Thus the “Marcha Filipina Magdalo, was adopted as the official march of the Philippines.

The anthem remained without words until August 1899, when a young poet-soldier named Jose Palma wrote the poem, Filipinas, which became the anthem’s lyrics.

I first heard the Philippine National Anthem being sung as a hymn in the early 1980s by the U.P. Madrigal singers and fell more in love with the Pambansang Awit even more. For almost 30 years, I have watched videos showcasing the beauty of the Philippines through national landmarks or portraying Filipinos from all walks of life, with the Lupang Hinirang sung slowly. I prefer it be a hymn.

I think that, if the national anthem were to represent our struggle as a nation, and the oppressions (from without and within) that have been thrust upon a simple, caring and wonderful people, it should be a soulful hymn, not a war song. Besides, the beat would work for both times of war and times of peace.

“By convention through use by the people” we have been singing the Lupang Hinirang as a hymn. We have never changed the melody or the lyrics, just the beat. Maybe we can amend the law to say “it shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe.”

• The 1998 law did not take into consideration the fact that, by convention, a lot of us have been singing the national anthem with a different beat for almost 20 years by the time it was enacted.
• If it were to be performed in accordance with Julian Felipe’s composition, then there should be no lyrics.

What is actually more offensive, in my opinion, is the change of the sky blue color of the Philippine flag that represents the sky into a dark blue that represents nothing.

Added: 27 May 2008

Ok, I found something even more offensive — that a lot of Filipinos IGNORE the national anthem when it is played. When the Philippine National Anthem is being played, we must stop what we are doing, stand up straight and sing with all our hearts.

I do see people sitting in the movie houses or continuing walking, looking around for available seats. Come on — what example are we setting for the children. Actually, what can we hope to teach our children if we do not ‘walk the talk’ — or in this case, ’stand the stand?’

Above is a recent video created by Mae Paner, a hugely talented member of PAGASA. It was debuted on March 28, 2008 during the forum with Randy David and Nicanor Pelas at PETA in Quezon City. You will be seeing it on many other occasions and venues.

I figured it fitting to mark my reemergence as the most opinionated person in Baguio with this. I didn’t want to wait until June 12 (Philippine Independence Day) to show you this beautiful video.

Mabuhay ang Pilipino, Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!