A Philippine Love Song

#196: Lupang Hinirang

I'm working on a 4-page write-up on the Philippines and it's breaking my heart to see how we continue to lag behind other Asian nations in all possible economic indicators. And not only do we fall behind, our rankings get worse and worse over the years. According to the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, from 2002 to 2006, the Philippines slid nine levels in overall competitiveness from Rank #40 to Rank #49. In terms of Economic Performance, we've slid from Rank#34 in 2002 to Rank #52 in 2006. In terms of Government Efficiency, from Rank#32 in 2002 to Rank#45 in 2006. In terms of Infrastructure, from Rank#47 to Rank#56. In Business Efficiency, Rank#40 to Rank#44. We are also seen as very high in security risk with armed conflict, civil unrest, organized crime and terrorism posted as caveats in our country profile published by The Economist Intelligence Unit.

Look at what has become of the country that was the most developed and most progressive Southeast Asian nation in the late 1950's. When my parents were children, they had reason to stand proud as Filipinos. I, on the other hand, seem to have every reason to bow my head because of my Filipino nose.

I was walking home a couple of weeks ago (in this foreign land with a 9.22/10 rating in terms of quality of life vs. the Philippines' 4.16/10) when I remembered our National Anthem. There is an official English translation that exists somewhere but for my purpose, I wanted to go through the exercise of finding my own words for a song that has, inside of me, somehow died.

"Bayang magiliw
Nation of Joy
Perlas ng Silanganan
Pearl of the Orient
Alab ng puso sa dibdib mo'y buhay.
The beat of my heart in your chest is alive.

Lupang hinirang,
Land of Honor
Duyan ka ng Magiting
Cradle of the Brave
Sa manlulupig
Before conquerors
Di ka pasisiil.
You will not succumb.

Sa dagat at bundok
In your seas and mountains
Sa simoy at sa langit mong bughaw
In your air and skies of blue
May dilag ang tula at awit
There is life in poetry and song
Sa paglayang minamahal.
For the freedom that we love.

Ang kislap ng watawat mo'y
The sparkle of your flag
Tagumpay na nagniningning.
Triumphantly shines.
Ang bituin at araw niyang kailan pa ma'y
Your stars and sun forever
Di magdidilim.
Shall not dim.

Lupa ng Araw
Land of the Morning
Ng luwalhati't pagsinta
Of Glory and Love
Buhay ay langit sa piling mo.
Life is heaven in your arms.
Aming ligaya na pag may mang-aapi
Our joy will be, in the face of the enemy,
Ang mamatay ng dahil sa 'yo.
To lay our lives for you.

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I never realized how beautiful our anthem is until I borrowed foreign words to make them real to me again. I never realized how painful they can be in light of how far away the verses now sound. They seem to come from an era wherein they were true. I live in one where they are not.

I wonder if the day will come when I could sing such love song for my country again.