The Philippine National Anthem is something I never expected to see a lot of interest in on this blog. After all, I’m an American and a guest here and also, in common with Japan and a number of other foreign countries I have lived in, the Lupang Hinirang (Philippine National Anthem) is seldom heard here. In fact I can clearly remember the last time I heard it played on the TV … in Las Vegas, Nevada upon the occasion of Manny (Pac Man) Pacquiao’s last fight against Erik Morales, where the Mexican, Filipino and US nation anthems were played during the opening ceremonies. However, this is one of the most searched for items on the blog, so here it is, for all those who wanted to know, in Pilpino and in English. The English version is always good for an argument or two, because there are words in Tagalog/Pilipino which don’t always translate directly … one of the reasons that English is still one of the Philippine official languages.
By the way, I do not believe the common rumor among foreigners that to become a naturalized Filipino you have to be able to sing the anthem … I believe that is just an urban legend. But, then, again, I haven’t applied for naturalization, yet.
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 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 iyo. |
Beloved country, Pearl of the Orient,
The heart’s fervor, In your bosom 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 azure skies, There is splendor in the poem And songs of beloved freedom. The sparkle of your flag Is shining victory. Its stars and sun Forever will never dim. Land of glory, the sun of our affections, Life is heaven in your arms; When someone oppresses you, it is our pleasure To die for you. |
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This was the first time I have heard the PI National Anthem. See…another reason to keep coming back to your excellent vault of information I find useful and interesting. Cheers!
Thanks for the kind words. Actually this post has already caused some family strife .. dear wife says that is a horrible rendition of the song and insists I find a better one soon. She also disagrees, as do many Filipinos as to some of the translation. Not really a disagreement, but there are Tagalog words in the song that are not used by most Filipinos nevr use … especially if they are Ilocano or Bisayan speakers … and no one can really say if the English translation is correct or not, since the meaning of the word in Tagalog is not always clear. But it certainly is a striking and dramatic song.
That was not the English version of the Philippine National Anthem…
You just translate it literally…
This is the real English Version:
Land of the morning,
Child of the sun returning,
With fervour burning
Thee do our souls adore.
Land dear and holy,
Cradle of noble heroes.
Never shall invaders
Trample thy sacred shore.
Ever within thy skies and through thy clouds,
And over 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 shinning 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.
@Velarde, L: Hi, I tried to write you privately on this but apparently you never got the mail. I don’t want to appear as if I am arguing with you, but I didn’t want to hold your comment forever waiting for the chance to speak with you privately.
I’ve gone ahead and letyour version go with the one I posted, in the interest of fairness. But so far as an “English Translation”? Don’t believe that makes sense or can be authoritative. The original wordswere written in Spanish and then translated to English during the American occupation. The song was not created in Tagalog. During President Magsaysay’s time the first Tagalog version, translated from the English was produced offically.
For those who may not yet realize it, it is very difficult to make exact translations. One expert has one opinion of the Taglog word that shuld be used and another expert recommends a different word. neither person is actually right or wrong, becuase there is no exact meaning. There are many Pilpino words in the versionI wrote that are difficult, even for educated Filipinos becuase they are obscure words that are seldom used in mdern conversation.
So please understand that one version may be as valid as another …but it is not a matter of English translation, because the song was offically in English before it was in Tagalog/Pilipino.