12/06/2026
"๐๐น๐ฒ๐ท๐ช๐ฐ๐ต๐ช๐ซ๐ช๐ท ๐ท๐ฒ๐ต๐ช ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ท๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ต๐ช๐ถ๐ช๐ท๐ฐ ๐ช๐ท๐ฐ ๐ด๐ช๐ต๐ช๐๐ช๐ช๐ท, ๐ด๐พ๐ท๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ช๐ท๐ฐ ๐ญ๐ช๐ท๐ฐ๐ช๐ต ๐ท๐ฐ ๐๐ท๐ช๐ท๐ฐ ๐๐ช๐๐ช๐ท"
In Southeast Asia, where oceans gleam,
Lies a nation of more than seven thousand islands woven in a dream,
Cradled by the Pacific winds and blessed by nature's grace,
Kissed by the sun and held by the sea in an embrace.
From the ancient terraces of Banaue, carved by patient hands- both ancient and grand,
To the crystal waters of Palawan with ivory sand.
From Bohol's green hills to Mayon's bright flame,
Nature has blessed abundance into this archipelago's name.
Its rivers nourish life and endless wonders,
Beneath the mountains standing yonder.
Its seas teem with treasures beneath the waves,
In which the land's nature itself engraves.
Yet greater than its mountains and seas
Are the people who call this nation home,
Where strangers traverse its land to roam,
Filipinos give warmth and offer love into their domes.
Filipinos are known for their resilience in adversity,
Their warmth that welcomes strangers as family,
Their unwavering faith amidst uncertainty,
A nation shaped by struggle, yet bound by unity.
But the freedom we cherish, the life that we know, was fought by our ancestors long ago.
Nurtured by their sacrifices in trudging through war, a cry for freedom till their throat gone sore.
For the path we now walk, unburdened and bright,
Was paved by our heroes who chose to fight.
For beneath every banner that proudly waves,
Beneath every anthem sung with honor,
A nation that our people desperately craves,
Lie the blood, sweat, and tears of those who learned to stand stronger.
Though many would never see victory's dawn,
Their dreams lived on when their lives were gone.
Their courage became the foundation we stand on today,
A legacy left that not any can take away.
So let every flag be raised and every anthem sung,
Honor the brave, both old and young,
For they gave us not just a ray of hope and freedom,
But a nation with a free kingdom.
LAYOUT: Jamie Pauline Martinez
CAPTION: Giuliana Marie Puzon
