Philippine news: Lupang Hinirang, the Philippine National Anthem

Lupang Hinirang is the national anthem of the Philippines. Its music was composed in 1898 by Julian Felipe, with lyrics in Spanish adapted from the poem Filipinas, written by José Palma in 1899.

Originally written as incidental music, it did not have words when it was adopted as the National Anthem of the Philippines and subsequently played during the proclamation of Philippine independence on June 12, 1898. During the American occupation of the Philippines, the colonial government banned the song from being played with the passage of the Flag Law. The law was repealed in 1919 and the song was translated into English and would be legalized as the "Philippine Hymn". The anthem was translated into Tagalog beginning in the 1940s. A 1956 Pilipino (standardised Tagalog) version, revised in the 1960s, serves as the present anthem.

Lupang Hinirang in Filipino or Tagalog means "Chosen Land" in English. Some English sources erroneously translate Lupang Hinirang as "Beloved Land" or "Beloved Country"; however, "Beloved Land" is a translation of the first line of Filipinas, which would be Tiérra adorada, and "Beloved Country" is likewise a translation of the first line of the current version of the anthem, which would be Bayang Magiliw. The anthem is also colloquially known as Bayang Magiliw.

Lupang Hinirang

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 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 ng dahil sa iyo.