On Friday, June 12, we will observe the country’s Independence Day to commemorate our liberation from Spanish colonization. This year though, our freedom to go out is curtailed by the pandemic with which we are all so familiar by now.
Strange as it is, pieces of music that keep our patriotic hearts beating remain accessible with just a click. Here comes a point in our quarantined life when it’s best to track down songs triggering that innate love for country, no matter how challenging it is to be Filipinos.
Here are ten patriotic songs that have withstood the test of time because they possess recallable melodies and heartfelt lyrics. These songs should not be politicized or given color for they’re naturally great songs, not sounding novelty or fanatical. Hearing these songs will make you love being Filipino, living life in the Philippines, and fighting for Filipinos, in no particular order.
“Bayan Ko”
According to history, Jose Corazon de Jesus penned the lyrics in the 1920s and Constancio de Guzman set them to music. Freddie Aguilar’s version of this song proved definitive and became an anthem against tyranny.
“Ako Ay Pilipino”
Kuh Ledesma’s empowering anthem gives listeners goosebumps as it reaches its climax, in particular, the line “Taas noo kahit kanino.”
“Handog Ng Pilipino Sa Mundo”
APO Hiking Society, led by composer Jim Paredes, initiated this anthem in 1986 and its recording served as the country’s equivalent to Britain’s Band-Aid and USA for Africa but with a freedom-fighting patriot’s theme. Believe it or not, the supergroup that tracked this classic included actress Gretchen Barretto.
“Magkaisa”
The beloved yet perennially bashed Tito Sotto wrote another 1986 classic performed by one named Virna Lisa. What’s with 1986? That year, Filipinos, many of them still alive today, actually went out and dethroned a 20-year-old regime.
“Mga Kababayan”
This breakthrough song turned Francis Magalona into perhaps the coolest patriot in the country.
“Manila”
Hotdog’s signature song is a paean to the country’s metropolitan capital which most foreign concert acts prefer to mention when greeting Filipino audiences. Yes, instead of saying Philippines.
“Hanggang Ngayon”
Top rock figures in the ‘90s, including Ely Buendia, Rico Blanco, and the song’s composer Wency Cornejo, gathered as recording artists to commemorate the centenary of 1896 Philippine revolution.
“Pinoy Ako”
Record producer Jonathan Ong told me he requested for a banduria to be played on this track which became the theme song of reality-TV show Pinoy Big Brother. The program popularized a dance step and turned Sam Milby into a household name.
“Noypi”
This song brought back the local band scene for the first decade of the new millennium as well as rock singer Bamboo Mañalac after he left Rivermaya.
“Tayo’y Mga Pinoy”
Heber Bartolome’s signature piece was finalist in the 1978 Metropop Song Festival that also included Freddie Aguilar’s “Anak” and eventual winner Ryan Cayabyab’s “Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika.”