Song: Bayan ko

Ang bayan kong Pilipinas

Lupain ng ginto’t bulaklak
Pag-ibig na sa kanyang palad
Nag-alay ng ganda’t dilag.
At sa kanyang yumi at ganda
Dayuhan ay nahalina
Bayan ko, binihag ka
Nasadlak sa dusa.

Ibon mang may layang lumipad

kulungin mo ay umiiyak
Bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag
Ang di magnasang makaalpas!

Pilipinas kong minumutya

Pugad ng luha ko’t dalita
Aking adhika,
Makita kang sakdal laya.

Artist: Freddie Aguilar

Music by Constancio de Guzman, Lyrics by Jose Corazon de Jesus

Background

Bayan Ko’ was composed in 1928, lyrics are based on a poem by Jose Corazon de Jesus.
Enmeshed in the song are the yearnings of a people colonized for over 400 years, first
as a colony of Spain and then as a colony of the United States.

The kundiman is considered the unofficial national anthem of the Philippines. It was
composed for the zarzuela Walang Sugat with music by Constancio de Guzman. It was
first sung by National Artist Atang de la Rama.

This song has accompanied almost every struggle since the turn of the century to
recapture the visions and ideals of the First Republic — from the anti-American protest
movement and millenarian revolts of the 1920’s and 30’s, to the resistance against the
Japanese occupation in the 40’s, the student revolt of the 70’s and more recently, the
1986 EDSA “People Power” revolt that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.