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Sotto wants Philippine national anthem revised

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ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Wednesday he wants to tweak the lyrics of the Philippine national anthem &quot;Lupang Hinirang&quot; to give it a more positive meaning. Sotto said he was mulling over filing a resolution that proposes a slight change in the closing lyrics of the song.Instead of this line, which talks of the Filipinos&#x27; willingness to sacrifice their life for the nation in the face of oppression: &quot;Aming ligaya na &#x27;pag may mang-aapi, Ang mamatay nang dahil sa&#x27;yo&quot; Sotto prefers this line, which changes the final message with Filipinos&#x27; commitment to defending the country&#x27;s independence: &quot;Aming ligaya na &#x27;pag may mang-aapi, Ang ipaglaban kalayaan mo&quot;The lawmaker explained that he thinks the current lyrics of the national anthem have a defeatist message.“My suggestion is perhaps the proper Senate Committee should study and we can consult the NCCA (National Commission for Culture and the Arts) to look at that possibility,&quot; he said.Sotto also called upon Filipinos to sing the national anthem properly and to practice proper pronunciation.&quot;Lupang Hinirang&quot; was composed in 1898 by Julian Felipe. Its lyrics were written by Jose Palma a year later.<div>-- report from Abner Mercado, ABS-CBN News</div>

Sotto said he was mulling over filing a resolution that proposes a slight change in the closing lyrics of the song.

Sotto said he was mulling over filing a resolution that proposes a slight change in the closing lyrics of the song.