As Bonifacio Day nears, we remember the story of what happened to the Katipunan. The Katipunan became irrelevant as a political player when the Magdiwang faction of Andres Bonifacio lost to that of Magdalo Emilio Aguinaldo. Aguinaldo's government eventually became Republica Filipina. Bonifacio was executed in questionable circumstances. One of the casualties of this power play is the National anthem commissioned by Bonifacio in November 1896 perhaps in what is now UP Diliman. Entitled Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan (Honourable Prayer of the Tagalogs) the hymn goes on with these lyrics Mabuhay ‘yang Kalayaan! At Pasulungin ang puri’t kabanalan. Kastila’y mainig ng Katagalugan. At Ngayo’y ipagwagi ang kahusayan. Long live Freedom! Uphold the cause of honor and piety. The Spaniards have been overwhelmed by the Tagalogs. Now fight for order to triumph. (Ambeth Ocampo's translation) The Nakpil anthem had been almost lost to history save for the 1898 centennial celebrations when it...
"It is surely harmful to souls to make it a heresy to believe what is proved" - Galileo