The composer of Mabuhay — My Philippines — usually sung and played upon the arrival of the President — is the legendary Tirso Cruz. The marching hymn was first performed on May 16, 1931 at The Manila Hotel, where Cruz was ‘mainstay’ — conductor of The Manila Hotel Orchestra. Cruz was then the most popular and highest paid orchestra leader in Manila.
Words were written by James King Steele.
Remember When? prints the complete lyrics of Mabuhay — My Philippines.
Deutschland toast with pros-it
Sweden answers skoll
England says here’s cheerio
And lifts the flow-ing bowl
Japan shouts her ban-zai
But out in the Phil-ip-pines
You hear this cheer-ry cry
Chorus
We say Ma-bu-hay
We say Ma-bu-hay
Under the blue sky
When our friends sit by
Gree-ting a farewell
A toast that will wear well
We lift our glass-es and say
Ma-bu-hay!
Gol-den days of trop-ics
Where the blue waves toss
Gleam like gorgeous jewels
Neath the South-ern Cross
Soft brown eyes are spark-ling
Lus-cious lips come near
If you lis-ten close-ly
This is what you hear
Chorus
Sunny lands of laughter
Set in South-ern Seas
I long to be back again
Be-neath your man-go trees
When I’m in the is-lands
Where I’m going to stay
We will raise a brim-ming glass
And this is what we’ll say
The descendants of Cruz are, to date, all over showbiz, especially music.
Think of Tirso Cruz III (Pip) and the other Cruzes, including: Carding, Joey, Diana, Jeffrey, Sunshine, Donna, Sheryl, Renzo, Geneva, Rayver, Rodjun, Melody and Jesse (Ricky Belmonte). — RKC