Pinoy ba si Hesus?

Philippine Independence Day. How paradoxically appropriate is today’s Gospel incident: "At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.’" (Mt. 9: 36-38).

In the midst of our independence as a nation, after many decades of freedom and democracy, we are still where we are. If Christ were physically present with us today, what would he be feeling, saying, and doing – the human, ever-compassionate Christ?

He would know in his heart how we have become this way as a nation – presently suffering through an unstable democracy, deep financial crisis, nationwide corruption side by side with poverty of the masses, and what-have-you. Christ knows only too well our tragic history as a people.

For more than 300 years, we were under the Spanish colonial powers, suffering as we did from poverty to bigotry to all kinds of humiliations and injustices. They "Christianized" us but in such a way that they prevented us from loving and responsibly governing our own, God-given country by ourselves. Finally, a God-inspired revolution took place, triggered off by no less than 3 Filipino priests – Fathers Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora – and carried through by Rizal, Mabini, Bonifacio, and the rest of our national heroes.

But after all that, we became an American colony for almost 50 years. From one set of colonizers to another set of colonizers, not to mention the Japanese invaders who made us suffer through the infamous death-march from Bataan to Corregidor, the terrible concentration camps in Capas, and other unspeakable injustices against our people.

We were really a damaged culture, to say the least. We never developed a national character of our own, nor a deep concern for the common good. These are what we urgently need. Instead, fragmentation and factionalism invaded our cultural psyche. Kanya-kanya. We have tried since then to become a real democratic nation, led by Almighty God through Edsa 1 and Edsa 2. But alas! Our damaged culture is far from being healed.

But the Lord is not giving up on us. Neither should we! Christ is still very much with us – no longer limited by His incarnated physical body – but very much present with us. His Spiritual Self is our closest companion, everywhere and anywhere. This is how much he cares for us. We just have to be aware of it and respond to it.

In his compassion, He identifies with us. He is one among us. He is our kapwa-Pinoy, teaching and doing what is moral; fearless and courageous in his advocacy for social justice; reaching out to the poor and powerless; showing us the HOW to be God’s human presence in the world, in our country, among our people.

Let us follow him all the way. One such way is to be actively involved with a morally-and-spiritually grounded political movement or party that is working for national reform, like the Kapatiran Sa Pangkalahatang Kabutihan (KPK).

When everything is said and done, Christ has the heart of a Pinoy. He is the original Pinoy to the fullest degree.

Remember the "Panatang Makabayan" we were taught in school? This time, let us pray it in God’s presence – that we may live by it till our dying day:

Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas. Ito ang aking lupang sinilangan.

Ito ang tahanan ng aking lahi.

Ako’y kanyang kinukupkop at tinutulungan upang maging malakas, maligaya, at kapaki-pakinabang.

Bilang ganti, diringgin ko ang payo ng aking mga magulang.

Susundin ko ang mga tuntunin ng aking paaralan;

Tutuparin ko ang mga tungkulin ng isang mamamayang makabayan at masunurin sa batas;

Paglilingkuran ko ang aking bayan nang walang pag-iimbot at buong katapatan.

Sisikapin kong maging isang tunay na Pilipino sa isip, sa salita, at sa gawa.

https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2005/06/12/281291/pinoy-ba-si-hesus

Rated K: Memorized mo ba ang Lupang Hinirang, Ako'y Pilipino at Panatang Makabayan?

memorize mo ba ang mga ito?

I yield my space to one of my favorite gadfly Ambassador Rodolfo Arizala, who comments from his perch in Santiago, Chile, on the Philippine House of Representatives Bill No. 5224 updating the rules to standardize the proper rendition of: our national anthem “Lupang Hinirang.” This musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe. It should be in 2/4 beat when played, and within the range of 100 to 120 metronome, in 4/4 beat when sung and “Bayan Ko,” a kundiman considered our unofficial second national anthem and sung by our OFWs abroad. (Assumed to be folk music because of its popularity, its lyrics were used as a protest song by various political groups at various points in Philippine history.)

Ito isa-ulo mo na:

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,
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 'yo.

Bayan Ko

Ang bayan kong Pilipinas
Lupain ng ginto't bulaklak
Pag-ibig na sa kanyang palad
Nag-alay ng ganda't dilag
At sa kanyang yumi at ganda
Dayuhan ay nahalina
Bayan ko, binihag ka
Nasadlak sa dusa

Ibon mang may layang lumipad
Kulungin mo at umiiyak
Bayan pa kayang sakdal-dilag
Ang 'di magnasang makaalpas
Pilipinas kong minumutya
Pugad ng luha at dalita
Aking adhika

Makita kang sakdal laya

Panatang Makabayan

Original version

Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas

Ito ang aking lupang sinilangan

Ito ang tahanan ng aking lahi

Ako'y kanyang kinukupkop at tinutulungan

Upang maging malakas, maligaya at kapakipakinabang

Bilang ganti ay diringgin ko
Ang payo ng aking mga magulang

Susundin ko ang mga tuntunin ng aking paaralan

Tutuparin ko ang mga tungkulin ng
Isang mamamayang makabayan
At masunurin sa batas.

Paglilingkuran ko ang aking bayan nang
Walang pag-iimbot at ng buong katapatan

Sisikapin kong maging isang tunay na Pilipino,
Sa isip, sa salita, at sa gawa.

Current version

Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas,

aking lupang sinilangan,

tahanan ng aking lahi;

kinukupkop ako at tinutulungan

maging malakas, masipag, at marangal.

Dahil mahal ko ang Pilipinas,

diringgin ko ang payo ng aking mga magulang,

susundin ko ang tuntunin ng paaralan,

tutuparin ko ang tungkulin ng mamamayang makabayan;

naglilingkod, nag-aaral, at nagdarasal

nang buong katapatan.

Iaalay ko ang aking buhay, pangarap, pagsisikap

sa bansang Pilipinas

isaulo din, flag retreat song

Pilipinas Kong Mahal (My Beloved Philippines)

Ang bayan ko'y tanging ikaw
Pilipinas kong mahal
Ang puso ko at buhay man
Sa iyo'y ibibigay
Tungkulin ko'y gagampanan
Na laging kang paglingkuran
Ang laya mo'y babantayan
Pilipinas kong hirang

Lupang Hinirang, oo. pero yung Panatang Makabayan, hindi na.

How about the Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat ng Pilipinas, Panunumpa ng Lingkod Bayan and Panunumpa sa Kawani ng Gobyerno?

Old Version

Ako'y nanunumpa sa watatwat ng Pilipinas
At sa Republikang kanyang kinakatawan.
Isang bansang pinapatnubayan ng Diyos,
Buo at di mahahati,
Na may katarungan at kalayaan para sa lahat

New Version

Ako ay Pilipino, buong katapatang nanunumpa
Sa watawat ng Pilipinas at sa bansang kanyang sinasagisag
Na may dangal, katarungan at kalayaan
Na pinakikilos ng sambayanang Maka-Diyos, Makatao,
Makakalikasan at Makabansa.

PANUNUMPA NG LINGKOD BAYAN

Ako’y isang lingkod bayan.
Katungkulan ko ang maglingkod ng buong katapatan at kahusayan / 
At makatulong sa katatagan at kaunlaran / ng aking bayan. / 
Magiging bahagi ako / ng kaayusan at kapayapaan sa pamahalaan / 
At magiging halimbawa ako / ng isang mamamayang masunurin / 
At nagpapatupad ng mga umiiral na batas at alituntunin
Nang pantay-pantay at walang kinikilingan.

Magsisikap akong patuloy na maragdagan / 
ang aking kabatiran at kaalaman. / 
Ang bawat sandali ay ituturing kong gintong butil / 
na gagawing kapaki-pakinabang. / 
Lagi kong isasaalng-alang / ang interes ng nkararami / 
bago ang pansarili kong kapakanan. /

Isusulong ko ang mga programang mag-aangat /
sa antas ng kabuhayan ng mga mahihirap / at aktibo akong makikibahagi / 
para sa mga dakilang layunin sa lipunan. / Hindi ako magiging bahagi /
at isiswalat ko ang anumang katiwalian / na makaaabot sa aking kaalaman. /
Sa lahat ng panahon, / aking pagsisikapang makatugin / sa hamon sa lingkod bayan. / 
Ang lahat ng ito / para sa ating Dakilang Lumikha / sa ating bayan. / 
Kasihan nawa ng Panginoon.

PANUNUMPA NG KAWANI NG GOBYERNO

Ako'y kawani ng gobyerno, / tungkulin ko ang maglingkod / 
nang tapat at mahusay./
Dahil dito, / ako'y papasok nang maaga / 
at magtatrabaho ng lampas sa takdang oras / kung kinakailangan.

Magsisilbi ako nang magalang at mabilis / sa lahat ng nangangailangan./
Pangangalagaan ko ang mga gamit, / kasangkapan / 
at iba pang pag-aari ng pamahalaan./

Pantay at makatarungan / ang pakikitungo ko sa mga lumalapit / 
sa aming tanggapan./
Magsasalita ako / laban sa katiwalian at pagsasamantala./
Hindi ko gagamitin / ang aking panunungkulan / sa sarili kong kapakanan./

Hindi ako hihingi o tatanggap ng suhol, / sisikapin kong madagdagan / 
ang aking talino at kakayahan / upang ang antas ng paglilingkod sa bayan / 
ay patuloy na maitaas./

Sapagkat ako'y isang kawani ng gobyerno / at tungkulin ko ang maglingkod / 
nang tapat at mahusay, / sa bayan ko at sa panahong ito, / 
ako at ang aking mga kapwa kawani / ay kailangan tungo sa isang maunlad, / 
masagana / at mapayapang Pilipinas./

Sa harap ninyong lahat / ako'y taos pusong nanunumpa. 

I used to memorize the Preamble too..

We, the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God, in order to build a just and humane society and establish a Government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, promote the common good, conserve and develop our patrimony, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of independence and democracy under the rule of law and a regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution.

The Pilipino in popular music

Today is Independence Day. Some historians continue to argue on whether the date should be June 12 or July 4 but us ordinary mortals couldn’t really care less. We are all grateful for the holiday and joyfully relish the fact that it is on a weekend this year. Still it will be good for us to give some thought to our country and to what has been happening to the Philippines. Take note I said “to,” not “in.” That means what politicians, businessmen and others in power are doing to this country. Yuck!

You say “in” and the answer you will get will only be worthless trifles that are given so much importance. Another sex video perhaps or the way the National Anthem gets blasphemed by pop artists. I say throw those porn actors wannabes to jail or better yet the loony bin then get rid of the key. Problem solved. As for the Lupang Hinirang controversy, I say mercy to those who choose famous pop stars to sing the song and then complain.

"Aming ligaya na pag may mang-aapi ang mamatay nang dahil sa'yo."

Ang Lupang Hinirang ang ating pambansang awit.

Mahalaga ang pagkakaroon ng national anthem para sa isang bansang malaya, katulad ng Pilipinas.

Simbolo ito ng pagbubuwis ng buhay at hirap na dinanas ng ating mga bayani para makamit ang ating kalayaan.

Simbolo rin ng pagiging Pilipino.

Pero dismayado ang National Historical Commission of the Philippines, maraming kabataan daw ang hindi kabisado ang Lupang Hinirang.

"Mayroong na punda kami na teacher, merong ding estudyante, pero kagipitan na nakakalimutan nila, kaya kailangan natin talaga ang puspusan pagpapaliwanag," sinabi ni Teddy Atienza, Head of the Heraldry Section of NHCP.

With all the controversies surrounding the rendition of Lupang Hinirang during previous fights of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, it is vowed to sing the anthem correctly.

For several times already, the NHCP has given their thumbs down to the renditions of even the country's most popular singers who sang the National Anthem in Pacquiao's fights and other boxing matches. Among these were Concert King Martin Nievera, international singing sensation Charice Pempengco, Asia's Nightingale Lani Misalucha, romantic balladeer Christian Bautista, and Popstar Princess Sarah Geronimo.


NHCP had also warned RnB Princess Kyla, Jennifer Bautista, and La Diva (composed of Jonalyn Viray, Aicelle Santos, and Maricar Garcia) for not following the right tempo of "Lupang Hinirang."

Previous singers like Arnel Pineda and Martin Nievera were among those who faced stinging criticisms from the National Historical Institute for violation of Section 37, Chapter II of Republic Act (RA) No. 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines that states: “The rendition of the National Anthem, whether played or sung, shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe.”

The song Bayan Ko is a wonderful example. It is composed by Constancio de Guzman with lyrics by poet-actor Jose Corazon de la Cruz in 1928. It was first performed by National Artist Atang de la Rama and later immortalized in various recorded versions. The moving lament is now over 80 years old. It has seen Filipinos through the American regime, World War II, the Japanese invasion and Martial Law, during which the word umiiyak in the lyrics was changed to pumipitlag to denote the country’s struggle.

Bayan Ko remains the most potent reminder of how much freedom means to Filipinos. But there are also other songs extolling the country and its people that have surfaced in recent years and which I believe have earned their places in our cultural heritage.

This happened with Mga Kababayan Ko by Francis M, which was the first rap song to hit No. 1 in the Philippines. “Mga kababayan ko/dapat lang malaman nyo/ bilib ako sa kulay ko/ako ay Pilipino/kung may itim o may puti/mayro’n namang kayumanggi/isipin mo na kaya mong/abutin ang ‘yong minimithi.”

The prolific George Canseco came out with a meaningful Ako Ay Pilipino. “Ako ay Pilipino/Ako ay Pilipino/isang bansa isang diwa/ang minimithi ko/sa bayan ko’t bandila/laan buhay ko’t diwa/ako ay Pilipino/Pilipinong totoo/ako ay Pilipino/ako ay Pilipino/taas noo kahit kanino/ang Pilipino ay ako.”

Florante’s take on what’s to be proud of being Pinoy was light and folksy in Ako’y Isang Pinoy: “Ako’y isang Pinoy sa puso’t diwa/Pinoy na isinilang sa ating bansa/ako’y hindi sanay sa wikang mga banyaga/ako’y Pinoy na mayroong sariling wika.”

Manny Pacquiao’s every victory in the ring saw his song Para Sa ‘Yo Ang Laban na ‘To written by Lito Camo getting massive airplay. It dedicates every victory to his country and is also about pride in being a Filipino: Para sa ‘yo ang laban na to/di ako susuko/isisigaw ko sa mundo/Pinoy ang lahi ko/mahal ko ang bayan ko/para sa ‘yo bayan ko.”

Heber Bartolome and his Banyuhay go for the looks, language and the soul of being a Filipino in his Tayo’y Mga Pinoy: “Bakit kaya tayo ay ganito/bakit nanggagaya, mayro’n naman tayo/tayo’y mga Pinoy, tayo’y hindi kano/wag kang mahihiya kung ang ilong mo ay pango.”

Who can forget how the whole country sang and swayed to the infectious rhythm of Pinoy Ako by Orange & Lemons: Pinoy, ikaw ay Pinoy ipakita sa mundo/kung ano ang kaya mo/ibang-iba ang Pinoy/huwag kang matatakot/ipagmalaki mo/Pinoy ako/Pinoy tayo.

And as Bamboo so successfully proved in Noypi, the patriotic Pinoy artist can also rock hard. “Hoy Pinoy ako/buo ang aking loob/may agimat ang dugo ko/hoy, Pinoy ako/may agimat ang dugo ko.”

PHL Nat'l Anthem (Centennial version)

1998-2000 (for ABS-CBN and Studio 23), 1998-June 12, 2003 (for PTV/NBN-4 and IBC-13), 1998-2001 and 2004-2005 for ZOE TV-11, (the Philippine National Anthem Centennial version video is aired on ABS-CBN, PTV/NBN, ABC, ZOE TV (then on channel 11) and IBC, client Philippine National Centennial Commission, creative directors WILLA MAGLALANG, GRACE CHONG and MARK FLORES, Account Management by NORBERT PINEDA, PATRICK SISON and TITUS ARCE, Broadcast Production by BETH MOLINA MAQUILING, directed by Vitt Romero, advertising agency DYR-Alcantara and production house Production Village Corporation. Team PROVILL: Executive Producer LORNA TABUENA and MARI BUENCAMINO, LP: INA LAGMAN, YAYAN CONCEPCION, EMIE RODRIGUEZ and ROSS MISA, PM: CAROLINE FRANCISCO, GINA CHUA and BENG NADRES, Storyboard Artist TANI SANTOS, Supervising Managers JUN GOMEZ, ANA FE MANUEL, CECILE SIA, Technical Manager ANING VIDANES, Studio Manager MANING GARCIA, Catering Manager LOLIT OJAS, Negative Cutter: JUN TUNGOL, In-charge of Editing Studio: LOUIE LAVILLES, Traffic Communications Manager LENI BASCO, Accounting Manager CENG CAPULONG, Chief Electrician BOY CARBONEL, Head Set Man: RITO CAYABO, Transportation Coordinator: EDDIE PAMPILLON, Post Production VIDEOPOST, Colorist JUDE NG, Online Editor JESSICA, Audio by AUDIOPOST, Sound Engineer RONALD DE ASIS, Direk’s Creative Producer Ellen Le Ganda De Guzman, Direk’s Chief Visualizer and Story Consultants Bert Gabiano and Jun De Felipe, Direk’s Staff Ed Bondoc, Greg De Guzman, Bey Vito and Madison Laserna) (digital copy version, super clear high-quality picture (Standard Picture Mode, Normal Color Temperature 4:3 576i PAL version and high-volume audio sound version without any logos and watermarks)

An Igorot playing the national anthem in bamboo flute when the flag was being folded. Meaning the red is on top, a representation of war by the soldiers. The three men walked and the flag was folded. After the drum roll, the male voice-over announcer says “Mga kababayan, awitin natin ang Lupang Hinirang, ang Pambansang Awit ng Pilipinas.” Sa umpisa ng kanta, nakapabilib kami. The tempo is how it should be sung and played as it was originally composed in the March tradition. The main music of the national anthem begins as the blending of the children’s voices to match the "Land of the Morning, Pearl of the Orient" line in the national anthem a cappella and led raising of the Philippine Flag by their two Boy Scouts of the Philippines members with the adult ones show that their patriotism as Filipinos lives on forever, showing the shots of Rizal Monument, the fishermen, the doctors, the employees, the construction workers, the farmers, the policemen, the firemen, the children, the sewing of the First Philippine Flag in Hong Kong by Marcela Agoncillo, her daughter Lorenza and Josefina Herbosa de Natividad, the family, the car factory workers, the carpenters, the port workers, the airline hangar workers, the shot of Bonifacio Monument. While the scenes from the TV commercial of Expo Pilipino titled “Kawit” directed by Vitt Romero and including the Bayani Scenes by Raymond Red with the Rizal’s execution by firing squad at Bagumbayan and as a finale, the male voice-over announcer says “Ang watawat at pambansang awit ay sagisag ng ating pagka-Pilipino. Igalang natin at ipagpitagan ang mga ito” with logo of Philippine Centennial plus there is a Special Thanks to. (Finalist in the prestigious New York Festivals (NYF) International TV and Film Awards 1999)