Oath of Allegiance (Philippines)

The Flag of the Philippines

The Patriotic Oath (Filipino: Panatang Makabayan) is one of two national pledges of the Philippines, the other being the Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine Flag (Filipino: Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat). It is commonly recited at school flag ceremonies, after the singing of the national anthem (Lupang Hinirang), but before the Pledge of Allegiance.

Recitation of the pledge is required by law at all public schools and at private schools that are meant for or of which the majority of students are Filipinos. This guideline was set in Republic Act No. 1265, one of many national symbols laws, which was approved on July 11, 1955.^[1] The act was implemented in schools through an order of what is now the Department of Education, known as Department Order No. 8, which was approved on July 21, 1955. The pledge was revised in November 2001 by former Department of Education secretary Raul Roco, using shorter lines with more conversational Filipino.

Although Department Order No. 8 states that the Panatang Makabayan may be recited in English or any Philippine vernacular language, the pledge is usually recited today in Filipino. However, there are two versions of the Panatang Makabayan in Filipino: the current version being a shorter, poetical translation and the former version being a direct translation of the English original.

Text of the pledge

Filipino

Current version

Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas,
aking lupang sinilangan,
tahanan ng aking lahi;
kinukupkop ako at tinutulungang
maging malakas, masipag, at marangal.
Dahil mahal ko ang Pilipinas,
diringgin ko ang payo ng aking mga magulang,
susundin ko ang tuntunin ng paaralan,
tutuparin ko ang tungkulin ng mamamayang makabayan;
naglilingkod, nag-aaral, at nagdarasal
nang buong katapatan.
Iaalay ko ang aking buhay, pangarap, pagsisikap
sa bansang Pilipinas^[2]

Original version

Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas
Ito ang aking lupang sinilangan
Ito ang tahanan ng aking lahi
Ako ay kanyang kinukupkop at tinutulungan
Upang maging malakas, maligaya at kapakipakinabang
Bilang ganti, diringgin ko ang payo ng aking mga magulang
Susundin ko ang mga tuntunin ng aking paaralan
Tutuparin ko ang mga tungkulin ng isang mamamayang makabayan at masunurin sa batas
Paglilingkuran ko ang aking bayan nang walang pag-iimbot at nang buong katapatan
Sisikapin kong maging isang tunay na Pilipino sa isip, sa salita, at sa gawa.^[3]

English

Translation of current Filipino version

I love the Philippines,
the land of my birth,
The home of my people,
it protects me and helps me
To become strong, hardworking and honorable.
Because I love the Philippines,
I will heed the counsel of my parents,
I will obey the rules of my school,
I will perform the duties of a patriotic citizen,
Serving, studying, and praying faithfully.
I will offer my life, dreams, successes
To the Philippine nation.^{[citation needed]}

Original version

I love the Philippines.
It is the land of my birth;
It is the home of my people.
It protects me and helps me to be strong, happy and useful.
In return, I will heed the counsel of my parents;
I will obey the rules of my school;
I will perform the duties of a patriotic, law-abiding citizen;
I will serve my country unselfishly and faithfully
I will be a true Filipino in thought, in word, in deed.^[4]

See also

• Flag of the Philippines
• Lupang Hinirang
• Panunumpa ng Katapatan sa Watawat

References

1. ^ "REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1265 - AN ACT MAKING FLAG CEREMONY COMPULSORY IN ALL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS". RP Government. 11 June 1955. http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno1265.html. Retrieved 2007-09-26. 
2. ^ The Revised Panatang Makabayan, DepEd Order No. 54, November 9, 2001.
3. ^ Panatang Makabayan (Pledge of Allegiance), Saint Paul College of Parañaque.
4. ^ Department of Education rules and regulations quoted in Joaquin G. Bernas (1996). The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines: a commentary. Rex Bookstore, Inc.. p. 297. ISBN 9789712320132. http://books.google.com/?id=3WzdhH8P1pYC. .