SEM. BRYAN S.

VALENZUELA | Discipleship II - Unitas 2027 | Eastern Philosophy

JOURNAL 5
HANDOG NG PILIPINO SA MUNDO

"Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo" (lit. '"The Gift of the Filipinos to the World"'), released
in English as "A New and Better Way—The People's Anthem," is a 1986 song recorded
in Filipino by a supergroup composed of 15 Filipino artists. The song serves to commemorate the
bloodless People Power Revolution which ended President Ferdinand Marcos's 20-year rule, as
well as a benefit single for the rehabilitation of Radio Veritas, a public affairs radio station
instrumental in the revolution. The lyrics of the song are inscribed on a wall of Our Lady of
EDSA Shrine, the center of the revolution.
Achieving freedom has different faces. Our life is a gift, freedom is also a gift that we
have to face and savor. Here in the Philippines, freedom has many faces. In this song that
became the tune during the EDSA People Power 1, the passionate desire of the Filipinos to
achieve true freedom became radiant. The suppression of oppression due to the unjust policies of
the dictatorship fuels our desires to achieve the true concept of freedom. Are we really free?
According to the song, joining hands is the key to achieving true freedom. True freedom
is a state where we don't have to be deaf to the grievances of the majority especially the poor.
The song also says that we are brothers and sisters, that we are all responsible for each other.
The cry of this song is a peaceful way of change, which does not need violence to achieve
freedom. We are all brothers and sisters in the Lord, which we must always remember. The truth
is what we should shout, and until now justice is what everyone wants. We are Filipinos and this
cannot be taken away from us.