By Hannah Torregoza
Senators are now looking into the possibility of revising the lyrics of the country’s national anthem saying it is time that it shifts from a defeatist attitude to a more optimistic tone.
Members of the Senate and House of Representatives sing the Philippine National Anthem. (Mark Balmores/ Manila Bulletin)
It was Senate President Vicente Sotto III who raised the issue when senators were deliberating on the committee report for Senate Bill No. 102 or the measure that seeks to increase the number of the sun’s rays in the Philippine flag from eight to nine, amending for this purpose, Republic Act No. 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.
The measure was filed by Senator Richard Gordon and is now pending on second reading under the Senate committee on Education, Arts and Culture chaired by Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
Sotto said that while senators are debating on the issue of whether or not to increase the sun’s rays in the Philippine flag, they might as well consider taking a “second look” in the lyrics of the national anthem.
“But I am not suggesting (that we do) it right now just saying that you have to look into this. We might as well look into entire law and that includes the entire Philippine National anthem,” Sotto said during the interpellation of the bill.
“Why do I say this Mr, President? Because a number of years already some people and mostly composers who I’ve been rubbing elbows with have told me that the last two lines of the Philippine National anthem sounds like a defeatist attitude because it goes ‘aming ligaya na kapag may nang-aapi, ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo,’—Patay na agad eh,” said the Senate leader.
“I have thought of a line that could replace this by using: ‘aming ligaya na pag may nang-aapi ang ipaglaban kalayaan mo’,” Sotto pointed out.
Gordon said he has no objection to Sotto’s proposal and in fact, shares the observation of the latter.
“I have no objection to that your honor. I share the feeling that very defeatist (that line) yong and mamatay ng dahil sa iyo (to die because of you),” Gordon said.
“It’s like the very famous like of (former) Senator (Benigno) Aquino: the Filipino is worth dying for. We should add that the Filipino is worth living for Mr. President,” he said.
Sotto thanked Gordon and said he would be willing to introduce that amendment in the period of amendments for the measure.
But Gordon said he would be willing to file a measure that would take up the Senate leader's proposal.
“I would be willing to file a bill to look into that and submit another bill right away as soon as I finished this, your honor,” Gordon said.
Meanwhile, Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon suggested that the proposed additional ninth ray in the Philippine flag symbolize not only the Muslims who fought for the country to fight the Spanish authorities but encompass all other provinces who also fought during the Spanish colonial period like the province of Iloilo where he came from.
But Gordon assured that the ninth ray would indeed represent all the provinces, municipalities and the Muslims who were not included in the eight rays of the sun in the Philippine flag but also fought and opposed the Spanish government when it conquered the nation.
Members of the Senate and House of Representatives sing the Philippine National Anthem. (Mark Balmores/ Manila Bulletin)
It was Senate President Vicente Sotto III who raised the issue when senators were deliberating on the committee report for Senate Bill No. 102 or the measure that seeks to increase the number of the sun’s rays in the Philippine flag from eight to nine, amending for this purpose, Republic Act No. 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.
The measure was filed by Senator Richard Gordon and is now pending on second reading under the Senate committee on Education, Arts and Culture chaired by Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
Sotto said that while senators are debating on the issue of whether or not to increase the sun’s rays in the Philippine flag, they might as well consider taking a “second look” in the lyrics of the national anthem.
“But I am not suggesting (that we do) it right now just saying that you have to look into this. We might as well look into entire law and that includes the entire Philippine National anthem,” Sotto said during the interpellation of the bill.
“Why do I say this Mr, President? Because a number of years already some people and mostly composers who I’ve been rubbing elbows with have told me that the last two lines of the Philippine National anthem sounds like a defeatist attitude because it goes ‘aming ligaya na kapag may nang-aapi, ang mamatay ng dahil sa iyo,’—Patay na agad eh,” said the Senate leader.
“I have thought of a line that could replace this by using: ‘aming ligaya na pag may nang-aapi ang ipaglaban kalayaan mo’,” Sotto pointed out.
Gordon said he has no objection to Sotto’s proposal and in fact, shares the observation of the latter.
“I have no objection to that your honor. I share the feeling that very defeatist (that line) yong and mamatay ng dahil sa iyo (to die because of you),” Gordon said.
“It’s like the very famous like of (former) Senator (Benigno) Aquino: the Filipino is worth dying for. We should add that the Filipino is worth living for Mr. President,” he said.
Sotto thanked Gordon and said he would be willing to introduce that amendment in the period of amendments for the measure.
But Gordon said he would be willing to file a measure that would take up the Senate leader's proposal.
“I would be willing to file a bill to look into that and submit another bill right away as soon as I finished this, your honor,” Gordon said.
Meanwhile, Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon suggested that the proposed additional ninth ray in the Philippine flag symbolize not only the Muslims who fought for the country to fight the Spanish authorities but encompass all other provinces who also fought during the Spanish colonial period like the province of Iloilo where he came from.
But Gordon assured that the ninth ray would indeed represent all the provinces, municipalities and the Muslims who were not included in the eight rays of the sun in the Philippine flag but also fought and opposed the Spanish government when it conquered the nation.