The Philippine Hymn

The Philippine National Anthem, then known as Marcha Nacional Filipinas or the Himno Nacional Filipino was played in 1898 without words. Jose Palma, in 1899 gave it its first lyrics in Spanish, with the inspiring Filipinas

In the 1920s, after the repeal of the Flag Law, it became necessary to translate the lyrics. The American colonial government commissioned the translation of the Spanish lyrics to English. A Filipino writer, Camilo Osias, and an American, A.L. Lane, translated Filipinas. The Philippine Commonwealth officially adopted the Filipino translation of the National Anthem in 1934. An entire pre-war generation of Filipinos thus grew up singing the National Anthem in English. Finally, during the term of Pres. Ramon Magsaysay, the National Anthem was translated by Julian Cruz Balmaceda and Ildefonso Santos. On May 26, 1956, the National Anthem, Lupang Hinirang was finally sung in Filipino. MInor revisions were made in 1962, and it is this final version which is in use today.

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