After consultations with linguists and experts, the Department of Education (DepEd) released an amended version of the “Panatang Makabayan.”
In DepEd Order No. 004 series of 2023, signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, the department directed the “immediate dissemination of and strict compliance” of the amended version of the “Panatang Makabayan” which featured a change in terminology.
In the amended “Panatang Makbayan,” the word “nagdarasal” was changed into “nanalangin.”
DepEd said that through the initiative of the Office of the Undersecretary for Curriculum and Teaching (OUCT), various organizations were consulted about the change of terminology in “Panatang Makabayan” --- in particular the use of “nanalangin” instead of “nagdarasal.”
The Linguistic Society of the Philippines, DepEd said, “found the proposal for the use of ‘nananalangin’ to be well-written and sufficiently rationalized.”
DepEd said that the Pambansang Samahan sa Linggwistika at Literaturang Filipino also agreed with the use of “nananalangin” because it is “more inclusive, more solemn, and the choice for nananalangin is well thought of and extensively researched.”
While the Language Study Center of the Philippine Normal University had a “different opinion” on this move, DepEd noted that it still “expressed its support for the final decision” of OUCT on the matter.
Following these consultations, OUCT recommended that “nananalangin” be used instead of “nagdarasal” primarily because it is “inherent and integral in Filipino identities as it is rooted in Tagalog.”
“Nanalangin,” DepEd added, is also “more inclusive and appropriate as it does not refer to specific religions, and at the same time, it encompasses indigenous belief systems.”
As expressed by the focal persons representing the Indigenous Cultural Communities/ Indigenous Peoples and the individuals belonging to Muslim and Moro communities, DepEd stressed that “dalangin and its equivalents may be more preferred than dasal since dalangin is more spiritual and universal.”
“Finally, based on the data provided by the Philippine Bible Society, native words are preferred when Bible is being translated into different Philippine languages,” DepEd said.
The amended “Panatang Makabayan” is now as follows:
Iniibig ko ang Pilipinas, aking lupang sinilangan
tahanan ng aking lahi;
kinukupkop ako at tinutulungang
maging malakas, masipag at marangal.
Dahil mahal ko ang Pilipinas,
diringgin ko ang payo
ng aking mga magulang,
susundin ko ang tuntunin ng paaralan,
tutuparin ko ang tungkulin
ng mamamayang makabayan;
naglilingkod, nag-aaral, at nananalangin
nang buong katapatan.
Iaalay ko ang aking buhay,
pangarap, pagsisikap sa bansang Pilipinas.
DepEd reminded the schools and all others concerned that the “Panatang Makabayan” shall be recited during the flag-raising ceremony, during class, and as part of the daily school activity program in all public and private schools and DepEd Offices.
In pushing for the amendment to the “Panatang Makabayan,” DepEd cited Republic Act (RA) No. 1265, known as An Act Making Flag Ceremony Compulsory in All Educational Institutions that authorizes the Secretary of Education to “issue or cause to be issued rules and regulations for the proper conduct of the flag ceremony.”
DepEd added that the RA 8491 known as the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines and its Implementing Rules and Regulations both reiterated the authority of DepEd to “issue orders on the observance of the flag ceremony for primary and secondary schools and other institutions of learning.”