Bagong Pagsilang

{{distinguish|Bagong Silang|Bagong Silangan}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Use Philippine English|date=December 2022}} {{Infobox anthem | title = Bagong Pagsilang | image = Coat of arms of the Philippines (1985-1986).svg | image_size = 100px | caption = | prefix = Unofficial march | country = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Philippines (1985–1986).svg}}The New Society (''Ang Bagong Lipunan'') | author = Levi Celerio | lyrics_date = 1973 | composer = Felipe Padilla de León | music_date = 1973 | adopted = 1973 | until = 1986 | sound = Bagong Pagsilang (March of the New Society).oga | sound_title = Instrumental and vocal version of Bagong Pagsilang }} "'''Bagong Pagsilang'''" ({{langx|en|New Birth {{noitalic|or}} Rebirth}}), also known as the "'''March of the New Society'''" and incorrectly referred to by its chorus "'''Sa Bagong Lipunan'''" (In the New Society), is a march commissioned during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos for the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan or New Society Movement, a movement introduced by Marcos upon the declaration of martial law in 1972. The lyrics were written by Levi Celerio and the music was composed by Felipe Padilla de León in 1973.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009 |title=Bagong Lipunan (Hymn of the New Society) |url=http://www.himig.com.ph/songs/4241-bagong-lipunan-hymn-of-the-new-society |access-date=October 21, 2016 |publisher=Himig}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 20, 2012 |title=Bagong Lipunan: The song, the vision, and the nightmare |url=http://interaksyon.com/article/42958/bagong-lipunan-the-song-the-vision-and-the-nightmare |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920203449/http://interaksyon.com/article/42958/bagong-lipunan-the-song-the-vision-and-the-nightmare |archive-date=September 20, 2016 |access-date=October 21, 2016 |publisher=InterAksyon}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Galarpe |first=Karen |date=September 12, 2012 |title='Bagong Lipunan', the Metrocom, and my other memories of Martial Law |url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/274796/opinion/bagong-lipunan-the-metrocom-and-my-other-memories-of-martial-law |access-date=October 21, 2016 |publisher=GMA News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 11, 2015 |title=Bagong Pagsilang |url=https://archive.org/details/bagong-pagsilang |access-date=October 21, 2016 |website=Internet Archive |publisher=Presidential Museum and Library}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2009 |title=Bagong Pagsilang (March of the New Society) |url=http://www.himig.com.ph/songs/4242-bagong-pagsilang-march-of-the-new-society |access-date=October 21, 2016 |publisher=Himig}}</ref>

A new rendition of the song was performed by the rock band Plethora and was used as the campaign anthem by his son, Bongbong Marcos, during his 2022 presidential campaign. This was even used as an inspection march of President Bongbong Marcos during the 78th Leyte Landing Anniversary on October 20, 2022, and during his camp visit to the Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City on October 27, 2022.

== Compositional history == According to the composer's eldest son, Felipe Mendoza de Leon, two days after the declaration of martial law, 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 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 had started.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mirano |first=Elena Rivera |title=Felipe Padilla de Leon: Memories of my Father. An interview with Felipe de Leon Jr. |journal=Musika Jornal |volume=10 |pages=77–78}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chua |first=Xiao |title=Project Vinta: Felipe Padilla de Leon, kompositor ng Pasko na Naman |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STe92OgsL_I |access-date=November 30, 2020 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

The march, along with its complementing hymn ("''Bagong Lipunan''") also composed by Felipe Padilla de Leon,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/biblio/98665/ | title=Filipinas Heritage Library | Biblio }}</ref> was featured on the 1973 proprietary vinyl album ''Mga Awitin At Tugtugin Ng Pilipinas Sa Bagong Lipunan'' performed by The Philippine Constabulary Band and The Philippine Constabulary Choral Ensemble.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://soundcloud.com/govph/bagong-lipunan-by-the-philippine-constabulary-choral-ensemble-with-band-accompaniment?in=govph/sets/songs-and-music-of-the | title=Bagong Lipunan by the Philippine Constabulary Choral Ensemble with Band Accompaniment }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/release/12474715-Philippine-Constabulary-Band-Philippine-Constabulary-Choral-Ensemble-Mga-Awitin-At-Tugtugin-Ng-Pilip/image/SW1hZ2U6MzU5NTQ2MTQ= | title=Philippine Constabulary Band, Philippine Constabulary Choral Ensemble - Mga Awitin at Tugtugin Ng Pilipinas Sa Bagong Lipunan | website=Discogs | date=February 23, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/biblio/36309/ | title=Filipinas Heritage Library | Biblio }}</ref> The march, hymn, and other patriotic songs were published in 1974 in the book "''Mga Awit sa Bagong Lipunan''" ("Songs in the New Society").<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hila |first=Antonio C. |title=The Musical Arts in the New Society |year=2007 |pages=79}}</ref>

== Broadcast == {{Further|Ferdinand Marcos's cult of personality|Historical distortion regarding Ferdinand Marcos}} During martial law, the song was played every day on all radio and television stations.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |date=September 11, 2018 |title=Listen to 'Bagong Silang,' the Most Famous of Marcos-Era Propaganda Songs |url=https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/music/the-bagong-lipunan-anthem-is-now-up-on-a-pro-fascism-youtube-channel-a00203-20180911 |access-date=2025-07-17 |website=Esquire}}</ref> In 2018, the song and an accompanying music video was up on the Youtube channel The United States of Fascism.<ref name=":0" /> The song was played at political campaign rallies for Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte in 2022.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Subingsubing |first=Krixia |date=2022-02-11 |title=Martial law anthem’s revival sounds sinister to victims |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1553254/martial-law-anthems-revival-sounds-sinister-to-victims |access-date=2025-07-17 |website=Philippine Daily Inquirer |language=en}}</ref>

According to writer Boni Ilagan, the song, whose lyrics proclaimed the dictator's vision of a new society, was heard daily while he was jailed as a political detainee.<ref name=":1" /> According to Judy Taguiwalo, the song reminds her of the torture, killings, and other human rights abuses of the Marcos dictatorship.<ref name=":1" />

==Lyrics== {| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto;" !width="350"|"'''Bagong Pagsilang'''" Official Filipino lyrics !width='350'|"''New Society''" Literal English translation |- valign="top" | <poem> '''Koro:''' May bagong silang. May bago nang buhay, Bagong bansa, bagong galaw Sa Bagong Lipunan! Magbabago ang lahat, tungo sa pag-unlad, At ating itanghal: Bagong Lipunan!

'''''Koro'''''

Ang gabi'y nagmaliw nang ganap, At lumipas na ang magdamag. Madaling araw ay nagdiriwang. May umagang namasdan. Ngumiti na ang pag-asa Sa umagang anong ganda!

'''''Koro''''' </poem> | <poem> '''Chorus:''' There is new birth. There is now a new life, A new country, a new movement In the New Society! Everything will change towards progress And let us extol: [A] New Society!

'''''Chorus'''''

The night has departed completely, And the midnight has passed. The dawn celebrates, For morning was seen. Hope smiles down upon On this morning, oh so beautiful!<ref>The phrase "''anong ganda''" is an exclamation.</ref>

'''''Chorus''''' </poem> |}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Category:1973 in the Philippines Category:1973 songs Category:Songs in Tagalog Category:Filipino patriotic songs Category:Songs with lyrics by Levi Celerio Category:Songs with music by Felipe Padilla de León Category:Philippine anthems Category:Philippine nationalism