"Bagong Pagsilang" ( en, New Birth Rebirth), also known as "Bagong Lipunan" ( en, New Society) and the "March of the New Society", is a Filipino song commissioned during the

presidency A presidency is an administration or the executive, the collective administrative and governmental entity that exists around an office of president of a state or nation. Although often the executive branch of government, and often personified b ...

of Ferdinand Marcos that explicitly extols the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan or New Society Movement introduced by Marcos upon the declaration of

martial law Martial law is the imposition of direct military control of normal civil functions or suspension of civil law by a government, especially in response to an emergency where civil forces are overwhelmed, or in an occupied territory. Use Marti ...

in 1972. The lyrics were written by

Levi Celerio Levi Celerio (April 30, 1910 – April 2, 2002) was a Filipino composer and lyricist who is credited with writing over 4,000 songs. Celerio was recognized as a National Artist of the Philippines for Music and Literature in 1997. He is also known ...

and the music was composed by

Felipe Padilla de León Felipe Padilla de León (May 1, 1912 – December 5, 1992) was a Filipino classical music composer, conductor, and scholar. He was known for composing different sonatas, marches and concertos that reflect the Filipino identity. De Leon was also ...

in 1973. The anthem is not to be confused with "Awit sa Bagong Lipunan" (English: "Hymn to the New Society" or "Hymn of the New Society", among other title variations), which was written by the same composer. The song would be later used by Marcos' son, Bongbong Marcos, during his 2022 presidential campaign (although, a new version was sung by rock band Plethora).

Compositional history

According to the composer's eldest son, Felipe Mendoza de Leon, two days after the declaration of

, at 2 a.m., two military trucks came to their house asking for a "hymn and a march for the New Society" as requested by First Lady

Imelda Marcos Imelda Romualdez Marcos (; born Imelda Remedios Visitacion Trinidad Romualdez; July 2, 1929) is a Filipino politician who served as the First Lady of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986, wielding significant political power during the dictato ...

to be delivered by Sunday. Felipe asked his son for help, with the father focusing on the hymn and the son working on the first 16-bars of the march. After the hymn was finished, he completed the rest of the march his son has started. The composer is said to have put subversive elements to Bagong Pagsilang, just like he did on his 1942 "Awit sa Paglikha ng Bagong Pilipinas". According to his eldest son on a lecture, the composer secretly quoted a portion of the protest song " Bayan Ko" in a part of the song. The march, hymn, and other patriotic songs were published in 1974 in a book called ''Mga Awit sa Bagong Lipunan'' (Songs in the New Society).

Official lyrics

References

{{authority control Presidency of Ferdinand Marcos 1973 in the Philippines 1973 songs Tagalog-language songs Filipino patriotic songs Songs with lyrics by Levi Celerio Songs with music by Felipe Padilla de León Philippine anthems