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 Read), 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.
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
This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 30th, 2007 at 6:58 pm and is filed under Announcements. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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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.
Alex: 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.
Frank: 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!
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