Sen. Tito Sotto wants slight revision to Philippine national anthem

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III yesterday proposed a revision in the lyrics of the Philippine national anthem.

In his interpellation during plenary debates on the proposed amendment to Republic Act 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, Sotto described the last line of Lupang Hinirang, “Aming ligaya na pag may mang-aapi, ang mamatay ng dahil sa ‘yo,” as defeatist.

A composer himself, Sotto suggested that the line “ang mamatay ng dahil sa ‘yo” be replaced with “ang ipaglaban ang kalayaan mo.”

Sen. Richard Gordon co-sponsored Senate Bill 102, which aims to increase the number of rays in the sun on the Philippine flag from eight to nine to represent Muslim leaders.

RA 8491 covers not only the Philippine flag but also the National Anthem in Chapter 2, Section 36.

Gordon did not oppose Sotto’s suggestion to revise the national anthem.

Gordon agreed that the last line of the anthem is defeatist and should be revised.

He said a famous quote by the late senator Benigno Aquino Jr., “The Filipino is worth dying for,” should be added to the anthem.

Julian Felipe composed Lupang Hinirang in 1898. A year after, Jose Palma wrote its lyrics.