Who composed the music of the Philippines’ national anthem, “Lupang Hinirang”?

Julian Felipe composed the music of the Philippines’ national anthem, “Lupang Hinirang.” He wrote the original instrumental march in 1898, before the anthem received its Filipino lyrics.

The composition was first known as the “Marcha Nacional Filipina.” Emilio Aguinaldo asked Felipe to create music for the newly declared Philippine nation, and the march was played during the independence proclamation in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898. José Palma later wrote the Spanish poem “Filipinas,” whose text became the basis for the anthem’s words.

The title “Lupang Hinirang” means “Chosen Land.” The current Filipino lyrics were adopted in the twentieth century after earlier Spanish and English versions. A common error is crediting Felipe Padilla de León, who arranged the anthem for later official use; Julian Felipe is the original composer of the melody.