Philippine History -- The Philippine National Anthem: Filipinas

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The Filipino Spirit
The Philippine National Anthem: Filipinas

Filipinas

for Jose Palmas

Tierra adorada
Hija del sol de Oriente
Su fuego ardiente en ti latiendo esta.
Patria de amores!
Del heroismo cuna,
Los invasores
No te hallaran jamas.

En tu azul cielo, en tus auras,
En tus montes y en tu mar
Esplende y late el poema
De tu amada libertad.
Tu pabellon, que en las lides
La victoria ilumino
No vera nunca apagados
Sus estrellas y su sol.

Tierra de dichas, del sol y amores,
En tu regazo dulce es vivir.
Es una gloria para tus hijos,
Cuando de ofenden, por ti morir.

The Making of Filipinas

Inside a railway depot at Bautista, in Bayambang, Pangasinan, a young poet-soldier, Jose Palma wrote a Spanish poem and called it Filipinas. It was unanimously acclaimed as the lyrics for the Marcha Nacional Filipina. Said Rafael Palma, brother of Jose:

During the leisure hours allowed by the daily fidget, and especially at night after the day's work, the members of the staff of the La Independencia seeking to amuse themselves and to be relieved from their physical weariness, used to assemble together and sing of play on musical instruments. Their souls afflicted by the military situation, which was growing worse every day.
It was in one of those occasions that Jose Palma saw the necessity of writing a poem for the words of the Marcha Nacional Filipina. Although this march was known since the beginning of the revolution, and was hummed by everybody, it had not yet then any words accompanying it. To suit its music, he wrote a poem Filipinas, which was published for the first time in the issue of the first anniversary of La Independencia on September 3, 1899. The spirit of his verses glowed with an optimistic faith in the future because it was the general belief that it would be impossible for the American forces to dominate the entire archipelago.

Source:
The Philippine National Flag and Anthem
Sonia Magbanua Zaide,
Modesta Grey Lugos

1898 : National Anthem Melody : Marcha Nacional Filipina
1899 : National Anthem in Spanish : Filipinas
1934 : National Anthem in English : The Philippine Hymn
1956 : National Anthem in Filipino: Lupang Hinirang

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