Jose Palma
The Brains of the Philippine National Anthem
(1876 - 1903)
José Palma y Velásquez (Spanish: [xoˈse ˈpalma]: June 3, 1876 – February 12, 1903) was a Filipino poet and soldier. He authored the Spanish patriotic poetry "Filipinas" while working for La Independencia. On September 3, 1899, it was initially published in the issue of La Independencia, which celebrated its first anniversary. Julián Felipe's instrumental composition "Marcha Nacional Filipina" complemented the poem, which has since served as the foundation for all translations of the Philippine National Anthem.
Early Life
The youngest child of Hilaria Velásquez and Don Hermogenes Palma, a clerk at the Intendencia Office, Palma was born in Tondo on June 3, 1876. Rafael Palma, his older brother, was a journalist, politician, and scholar who was elected as the University of the Philippines' fourth president.
Palma continued his education at the Ateneo Municipal after completing his primera enseñanza (first studies) at Tondó. He began writing verses while he was a student at Ateneo. "La cruz de Sampaguitas" (literally, "The Cross of Jasmines") was one of his first compositions. He wrote it in 1893, the same year he fell in love with Florentina Arellano. However, the girl's parents disapproved of him and ended their relationship. Following that, he became gay and remained thus for the rest of his life. Palma kept himself occupied with his reading passions.
Being a Katipunan Member and Joining the Revolution
Palma focused on writing more poetry as underground revolutionary activity increased. He joined the Katipunan in 1894, but he refrained from fighting during the 1896 Philippine Revolution. When the Philippine–American War broke out in 1899, he finally joined Colonel Rosendo Simón's revolutionary forces and fought in the battles of Ángeles and Bambán under Colonel Servillano Aquino's leadership. He frequently stayed in camps and performed kundiman, a traditional Filipino lyrical and musical art form, for the soldiers because he was unable to physically handle the hardships of war.
During their marches away from the pursuing American forces, Palma and his colleagues in the paper often entertained themselves with songs and poetry while resting in camps or other locations. Palma's poetic spirit was raised to a new level during one of their pauses in Bautista, Pangasinan. when he heard Julian Felipe's Triumphant March in Kawit, Cavite. The hymnal melody, which is currently the official Philippine National Anthem, served as his inspiration. He composed the poetry "Filipinas" to go with Julian Felipe's "Marcha Nacional Filipina" music.
When the Philippine-American War broke out in 1899, he eventually joined Colonel Rosendo Simon's revolutionary forces and fought in the battles of Angeles and Bambang under Colonel Servillano Aquino's leadership. He frequently stayed in camps and performed kundiman, a traditional Filipino lyrical and musical art form, for the soldiers because he was unable to physically handle the hardships of war. He became a member of the Tagalog staff of La Independencia, a revolutionary newspaper. This gave him the opportunity to vent his patriotic feelings and fight the Americans in a way that he couldn't on the battlefield.
Becoming a La Independencia Journalist
Eventually, he started working for the revolutionary daily La Independencia's Tagalog-language department. This gave him the opportunity to vent his patriotic feelings and fight the Americans in a way that he couldn't on the battlefield. During their marches away from the pursuing American forces, Palma and his newspaper colleagues frequently entertained themselves with music and poetry while resting in camps or other locations.
Writing of Filipinas
The Spanish ode "Filipinas" was the result of Palma's lyrical mood during a break for the Bautista, Pangasinán newspaper workers. Palma wrote "Filipinas" in Doña Romana G. vda. de Favis' home at Sitio Estación Barrio Nibaliw, Bayambang (now Barangay Población West, Bautista, Pangasinan). In honor of Saint John the Baptist, Nibaliw was renamed "Bautista" on June 24, 1900, and separated from Bayambang as an independent town.
The instrumental piece "Marcha Nacional Filipina," written by Julián Felipe as incidental music for the Declaration of Philippine Independence in Kawit, Cavite, a year prior, was eventually adapted to the appropriate lyrics. On September 3, 1899, "Filipinas" appeared in La Independencia's inaugural anniversary issue.
COMPLETE LYRICS
Tierra adorada,
hija del sol de Oriente,
su fuego ardiente
en ti latiendo está.
Patria de amores,
del heroísmo cuna,
los invasores
no te hollarán jamás.
En tu azul cielo, en tus auras,
en tus montes y en tu mar
esplende y late el poema
de tu amada libertad.
Tu pabellón que en las lides
la victoria iluminó,
no verá nunca apagados
sus estrellas ni su sol.
Tierra de dichas, de sol y amores
en tu regazo dulce es vivir;
es una gloria para tus hijos,
cuando te ofenden, por ti morir.
Death
José Palma died of tuberculosis on February 12, 1903, aged 26. No historical accounts are known to where his resting place is, however, his remains were believed to be interred inside the Maria Clara Parish Church of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente in Santa Cruz, Manila.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_Palmahttps://pilipinaskongminamahal.blogspot.com/2011/05/jose-palma-y-velasco.html
https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1160/today-in-philippine-history-june-3-1876-jose-palma-was-born-in-tondo-manila
