If you are a bit on mature side, you might be one of the students who had the chance to sung the Philippine National Anthem in Cebuano. Do you still remember the lyrics?
There was a time in late 80s when the whole Province of Cebu including the key cities Cebu City, Mandaue City, and Lapu – Lapu City had their students sing the national anthem in Binisaya. But it was stopped when a law was passed prohibiting the singing of the national anthem in any other language but Filipino. But of course, we all know that the Filipino official language is anchored mainly on the Tagalog language. So we stopped singing “Yutang tabunon.. Mutya nga masilakon..” and switched to Lupang Hinirang.
It is no wonder then that most of the younger generations of Cebuanos today may not even know that we have our own version of Lupang Hinirang.
*There is also an English version that starts with “Land of the morning, Child of the sun returning…”
In case you are curious, these are the words of our National Anthem in Cebuano or Binisaya.
Yutang tabunon
Mutya nga masilakon
Putling bahandi
Amo kang gimahal
Mithing gisimba
Yuta’s mga bayani
Sa malupigon
Padagapigan ka
Ang mga bungtod mo ug lapyahan
Ang langit mong bughaw
Nagahulad sa awit, lamdag sa
Kaliwat tang gawas
Silaw sa adlaw ug bitoon
Sa nasudnong bandila
Nagatimaan nga buhion ta
Ang atong pagkausa
Yutang maanyag, duyan ka sa pagmahal
Landong sa langit ang dughan mo;
Pakatam-ison namo kon maulipon ka
Ang kamatayon sa ngalan mo
Did you ‘sing’ it while reading? ?
May we never forget how beautiful the Cebuano language is. Proud na taga Cebu!
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