Indung Kapampangan

 

Kapampangan misapwak
King legwan na ning alaya
Gabun ding pantas at marangal
Sibul ning lugud, karinan ning tepangan
Batis ning katalaruan at panamdam makabalen
Ligaya mi ing mie payapa
King malugud mung kandungan
Kapampangan, sale ning legwan
Kapampangan, sandalan ning katimawan
Kilub ning pusu mi atin kang dambana
Luid ka! Luid ka!
Palsintan ming Kapampangan

NOTWITHSTANDING THE lack of understanding of the amanung sisuwan among many Kapampangans themselves, most especially the young generation nurtured in Taglish, the Himno still carries deep stirrings in the hearts of the cabalen. Stirrings of pride rising straight out of the greatness of this race.

A race that produced revolutionaries in all epochs of Philippine history from Tarik Soliman to Francisco Maniago onto Maximino Hizon and Jose Alejandrino, from Don Pedro Abad Santos to Luis Taruc. A race that readily offered its own sons at the altar of martyrdom in Jose Abad Santos, Jose B. Lingad, and Ninoy Aquino.

A race that birthed the first Filipino priest and nun, hence most naturally be the one to produce the first Filipino cardinal – Rufino Jao Santos.

A race of literary giants in Juan Crisostomo Soto, Monico Mercado, Jose Gallardo, Amado Yuson, to cite but a few. A race that produced two Philippine presidents in Diosdado Macapagal and beloved daughter Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and a Senate President in Gil J. Puyat.

A race of legal eagles that made the Department of Justice and the Supreme Court as their exclusive aeries – Vicente Abad Santos, Renato Puno, Estelito P. Mendoza, Artemio Panganiban, to name the most prominent.

A race of intrepid mediamen from Jose Lansang and Jose Luna Castro to the current crop managing editorial desks and broadcast networks. A race of artists, from Vicente Manansala, Galo Ocampo and E. Aguilar Cruz to BenCab, Rafael Maniago, and Willy Layug.

And of actors: Rogelio de la Rosa, the first “King of Philippine Movies” himself, leading a pantheon of stars in the celluloid world, further enhanced in brilliance by the director Brillante Mendoza, first Filipino to win at Cannes.

A most beautiful race – as much for the number of titlists in all national pageants as for the blushing comely barrio maidens.

Indeed, a race to be proud of. Luid ya ing Kapampangan!