A former student sent me an mp3 file of a rendition of UP Naming Mahal, the university hymn of the University of the Philippines (UP), by progressive artists Noel Cabangon (formerly of Buklod), Cooky Chua (former lead singer of Color It Red), Chikoy Pura (lead singer of The Jerks), Gary Granada and Bayang Barrios (formerly of Joey Ayala at Ang Bagong Lumad). The new version, apparently unofficial, has new lyrics, making the hymn even more socially relevant.
For those who don’t know the history of the UP hymn, the melody was composed by Nicanor Abelardo based on a poem in English by Teogenes Veles titled “U.P. Beloved.” The latter was translated into Filipino by Hilario Rubion and Tomas Aguirre.
You can download the mp3 file of the new version of UP Naming Mahal from Mukamo Philippines. If you want to hear the choral version of the original and official UP Naming Mahal performed by the UP Concert Chorus, you may also download the mp3 file from Nhick Ramiro Pacis’ website.
In any case, please find below the lyrics of UP Beloved and the original and new version of UP Naming Mahal.
U.P. Beloved
Teogenes VelesU.P. beloved, thou Alma Mater dear
For thee united, our joyful voices hear
Far tho we wander, o’er island yonder
Loyal thy sons we’ll ever be
Loyal thy sons we’ll ever be.Echo the watchword, the Red and Green forever.
Give out the password, to the Hall of Brave sons rare.
Sing forth the message, ring out with courage
All hail, thou hope of our dear land,
All hail, thou hope of our dear land.
U.P. Naming Mahal
Hilario Rubion and Tomas AguirreU.P. naming mahal, pamantasang hirang
Ang tinig namin, sana’y iyong dinggin
Malayong lupain, amin mang marating
Di rin magbabago ang damdamin
Di rin magbabago ang damdamin.Luntian at pula, sagisag magpakailanman
Ating ipagdiwang, bulwagan ng dangal
Humayo’t itanghal, giting at tapang
Mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan
Mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan.
Related Posts:U.P. Naming Mahal
New VersionU.P. naming mahal
Pamantasan ng bayan
Tinig ng masa
Ang siyang lagi nang pakikingganMalayong lupain
Di kailangang marating
Dito maglilingkod sa bayan natin
Dito maglilingkod sa bayan natinSilangang mapula
Sagisag magpakailanman
Ating ipaglaban
Laya ng diwa’t kaisipanHumayo’t itanghal
Giting, tapang at dangal
Mabuhay ang lingkod ng taong bayan
Mabuhay ang lingkod ng taong bayanSilangang mapula
Sagisag magpakailanman
Ating ipaglaban
Laya ng diwa’t kaisipanMalayong lupain
Di kailangang marating
Dito maglilingkod sa bayan natin
Dito maglilingkod sa bayan natin
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11 responses to “New, unofficial version of `UP Naming Mahal’”
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[...] wrote this after reading on Rising Sun a new and unofficial version of the UP Hymn. The new version is really more progressive but, at the moment, fails to represent [...]
[...] Danny Arao recently wrote about an unofficial version of UP Naming Mahal by progressive artists Noel Cabangon (formerly of Buklod), Cooky Chua (former lead singer of Color [...]
[...] New, unofficial version of `UP Naming Mahal’ [...]
[...] New, unofficial version of `UP Naming Mahal’ [...]
[...] New, unofficial version of `UP Naming Mahal’ | Rising Sun [...]
[...] New, unofficial version of `UP Naming Mahal’ | Rising Sun [...]
I remember this “UP Naming Mahal” version performed by Chikoy Pura, Bayang Barrios and Noel Cabangon from Gary Granada’s album Lean, his libretto-form biography for Lean Alejandro. Written for Lean’s 10th death anniversary in 1997, the whole album was played on alternative music stations on radio for his 20th death anniversary last September. I guess the song spread from there.
Reply: Thanks for the additional information. I guess the version is not new after all and it’s only recently that it’s spreading around the blogosphere. Cheers.
i do remember a UPLB friend of mine (and also a former high school classmate) jotting down the lyrics of this song during our freshman year (way back 1999). never got to memorize the whole song though, because i didn’t know how the words fit into the music.
what got me interested in the song back then was my friend’s comment that they were singing a “mas mapulang” version of the university hymm in LB.
thank you sir, for posting the song here.
Reply: So nice of you to visit this blog and post a comment. I truly appreciate it. I agree that the mas mapulang” version you heard in 1999 could be the one I posted here which I initially thought to be new. I’m not aware of any other versions of UP Naming Mahal. Keep in touch!
[...] blog entry on the new, unofficial version of UP Naming Mahal (UP Beloved) was mentioned in an article by Dr. Elmer Ordoñez of the Manila [...]
“U.P. Naming Mahal” is supposed to be an ALMA MATER song… and an alma mater song is supposed to give tribute to the school and it’s product (the students/alumni) and not to an ideology (even though it is held/promoted by the school.) If one would analyze the new lyrics, it’s leanings towards an ideology is so blatantly and shamelessly obvious and it fails to give tribute to the school… It’s definitely more of a directive and/or an espousal to a certain frame of mind.
Reply: Thank you for your comment. I do agree that an alma mater song should pay tribute to the school, which is what the lyrics of the current UP Naming Mahal reflect. I must clarify as early as now, however, that the new, unofficial version from the musical Lean does not aim to replace the current one. Given that it’s from a musical that depicts the life of a student leader, it is not surprising that, as you observed, the new lyrics lean towards a particular ideology. This may just be a matter of opinion, but I think the current version (Rubion and Aguirre) not only pays tribute to UP: It also leans towards an ideological bias for serving the country. How else can we interpret the lines “Malayong lupain, amin mang marating/Di rin magbabago ang damdamin”? I think this can also be seen as “ideological” in the sense that it promotes values that a UP graduate must have. I wish you all the best. Cheers!
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