One of the best things about Manny Pacquiao is the fact that his bouts are always occasions for Filipino singers to sing the national anthem. However, unlike the National Hysterical Historical Institute that watches these performances waiting for some Aoidean atrocity, I totally enjoy hearing various treatments of the Lupang Hinirang. In fact, one of my guilty pleasures is scouring YouTUBE for these different performances. I particularly like how La Diva sang it for the Pacquiao v. Cotto fight.
Anyway, so there I was, listening to Karyl singing the anthem, when it struck me that it would be a good idea to try and capture in English what the song conveyed so well in Tagalog. Hence was born this post. A word of warning, however. I don’t translate for a living, so any mistakes I make, please forgive.
Having said that, let’s have at it!
Bayang Magiliw
Perlas ng Silanganan,
Alab ng puso
Sa dibdib mo’y buhay.
Beautiful land / Jewel of the morning // with passion / burning in your heart
Lupang hinirang,
Duyan ka ng magiting,
Sa manlulupig,
‘Di ka pasisiil.
Beloved land / cradle of heroes // Never to be conquered
Sa dagat at bundok,
Sa simoy at sa langit mong bughaw,
May dilag ang tula at awit
Sa paglayang minamahal.
Across the seas and mountains / and your blue skies / our songs sing / of our beloved freedom
Ang kislap ng watawat mo’y
Tagumpay na nagniningning,
Ang bituin at araw niya
Kailan pa ma’y ‘di magdidilim.
Victory glimmers across your banner / with stars and the sun / that will never go dark
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.
Land of the sun / of heavenly peace and love / gladly will we rise to fight / and die for you.
It’s a work in progress, alright? LOL
That’s just me getting an english handle on these lyrics. The translation is obviously not lyrical at all yet, but I think that’s what the poem demetaforms to. As far as starting points for translation go, I have to say, I’m happy with this one.