Webmaster's Note: Tigz commentary is on a recent effort or discussion
in an off-butuanon.org-DB yahoo mailing list to translate "Bayang
Magiliw" from the original tagalog to butuanon.
Happy Independence Day..Mabuhay!
Collecting the scattered debris of once a moving and opulent culture is
magnificent. To retrace and compile a vanishing language once openly spoken
commonly by a loving and amiable people is inspiring. To promote it back to
usage to present day Butuan though seemingly an uphill undertaking deserves
support. However, to translate the National Anthem into local Butuanon
vernacular is going a little too far. And to begin singing it in city
ceremonial occasions suggest irreverence and impiety towards our country.
Our country is still one and indivisible. Regardless of condition, it remains
to be wholly the land of our fathers. We adore and respect it.
Ideological and religious variances tend to pull us apart. We already have
enough problems of our own. It's sensible to avoid encouraging regional radical
sentiment that possibly could debilitate our nation. We shall work instead to
make it united and strong rather than engage in an awkward innovation to make
it weaker. We shall be Filipino first before anything else.
Language is where nation rides. History teaches us that discarding common
language eradicates people's identity and ultimately the way of life. An
effective unifying medium of our country is the National Anthem. It is in
Tagalog amidst dozens of dialects. This makes sense as Tagalog being our
national language is comprehensible to almost all inhabitants of the
archipelago. So why tinker on an established order when it seems to be the only
one working well in the country today?
Tagalog was the choice in our anthem's composition after freedom was gained. It
was in this fashion where learned patriots poured out their dreams. To reword
it into other mode of expression lessen its meaning. It is not entirely the
same. Hamlet translated to other languages is not Shakespearean anymore. There
is a unique sense of worth and distinction to originality that none could ever
duplicate.
The anthem is by itself an identity of a free loving people with courage and
devotion to protect. It is you and I and all of us. It defines what we are and
were and what we shall be. It's revered and priceless that to dabble it even
for good intention is being reckless and impious.
Lately, the Star Spangle Banner was sung in Spanish. Americans were up in
protest causing a bill in congress to declare that English is the only official
language in all United States despite the immense Latino population.
There are things in life, which need not be talked about nor tinkered with. It
could not be the finest there is and neither most pleasing, but its existence
alone anchors powerful meaning on so many. It is unalterable and irreplaceable.
Our anthem is one of these. Many did make sacrifices for what it stands for.
Their willingness to serve was inspired by the lyrics of Lupang Hinirang. It
was also their companion to harden courage when duty called for people and
country. Many didn't make the day. They paid the ultimate price. They knew the
reason why. It was all for Bayang Magiliw.
There was a time when singing the anthem meant instant death from foreign
enemies. Yet our fathers sang it in secret. It was their strength to endure
enslavement and a beacon of hope for peace and freedom.
The anthem is not just a series of musical notes and phrases. It's more than
that. It shelters blissful and painful memories. It harbors longing from
despair. It absorbs loneliness and craving of a nation to be free and blessed.
It deserves solemnity and highest regard. It should not be fooled around to any
shape or form nor shall it be mutilated by translation to local jargon or to
any other vernacular.
The purpose of the translation is difficult to perceive. It's vague to assume
that it be for better and thorough comprehension of its content. It then makes
no sense to translate it from common language into a local dialect where not so
many understand. It has no practical usefulness. It instead humiliates its
sanctity and subjects our valued anthem to derision. It also shrinks its domain
to just within the city's elite circle of kinship.
The only rational explanation is to make it as material for learning and
promoting the dialect. It is indeed an effective teaching device. It is also
powerful in advocating support. But there are things to be considered. Our
National Anthem embodies the identity of more than eighty million Filipinos.
By using it as a learning aid to study Binutuanon is by itself dragging its
category to school grade level of Pepe and Pilar.
This living piece of history is more than just a teaching tool. It is a
component to our existence. It's a precious possession and dwells in the heart
of Filipinos anywhere. We oblige it with passion and fervently embrace it with
ardor. We stand at attention when we hear it. We put our hand over heart in
esteem and faithfulness.
We are people with regional adherences. We speak different dialects and
languages. None is common to all than Tagalog. It becomes an acceptable medium
of communication amongst Filipinos. The system works and there's no reason to
reinvent the wheel. Yes, the National Anthem is ours, but it isn't for anyone
to play around.
Let's keep it as it is.
