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Friday, June 12, 2009

Happy Independence Day to All Filipinos

I think I've already mentioned here that as an undergrad majoring in Spanish I fell in love with the patriotic soldier and poet José Palma. Anyway, behold the beauty of his poem which became the words to the Philippine national anthem. I personally prefer the original version although the Filipino version is also good. However, some nuances are always lost in translation, so nothing beats the original. I'm sorry to say though that the English translation is awful. I don't know if it's because the Spanish language can just verbalize ardor and passion better or the efforts of the translator were just not up to par. Anyway, I've always had this theory that mush and cheese aren't as bad if uttered in Spanish, lol. Like I'd be listening to a Spanish song, unconsciously translating the words to English, and I'd realize that the sentiments just don't sound right in English. Take for instance Alex Ubago's "Sin Miedo a Nada" (a song I'm embarrassed to say I really like - he sang this with Amaya Montero of Oreja de Van Gogh, a band I love), there's a line there that says "besarnos hasta desgastamos nuestros labios", which translated to English is "kiss each other until we wear out our lips"... It was okay in Spanish, but when you think about it in English, it's kind of gross, lol. Okay, whatever. I obviously don't know what I'm talking about. Anyway, let's go back to my discussion of the Philippine National Anthem. Here are the words. You be the judge.


FILIPINAS - letras por José Palma *heart*


Tierra adorada
Hija del sol de Oriente,
Su fuego ardiente
en ti latiendo está.

¡Tierra de amores!
Del heroísmo cuna,
Los invasores
No te hollarán jamás.

En tu azul cielo, en tus auras,
En tus montes y en tu mar
Esplende y late el poema
De tu amada libertad.

Tu pabellón, que en las lides
La victoria iluminó,
No verá nunca apagados
Sus estrellas y su sol.

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


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 nang dahil sa 'yo.


ENGLISH VERSION (I don't even know the proper title)


Beloved Country,
Pearl of the Orient,
The heart's fervor
In your bosom is ever alive.

Chosen land,
You are the cradle of the brave.
To the conquerors
You shall never surrender.

Through the seas and mountains,
Through the air and your azure skies,
There is splendor in the poem
And song for dear freedom.

The sparkle of your flag
Is shining victory.
Its stars and sun
Forever will never dim.

Land of the morning, of glory, of our affection,
Life is heaven in your arms;
When someone oppresses you, it is our pleasure
To die for you.

For those who don't understand Filipino or Spanish, believe me, the words and composition are really beautiful...

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