IF truly a people dearly love br The tongue to them by Heaven sent, br They'll surely yearn for liberty br Like a bird above in the firmament. br br BECAUSE by its language one can judge br A town, a barrio, and kingdom; br And like any other created thing br Every human being loves his freedom. br br ONE who doesn't love his native tongue, br Is worse than putrid fish and beast; br AND like a truly precious thing br It therefore deserves to be cherished. br br THE Tagalog language's akin to Latin, br To English, Spanish, angelical tongue; br For God who knows how to look after us br This language He bestowed us upon. br br AS others, our language is the same br With alphabet and letters of its own, br It was lost because a storm did destroy br On the lake the bangka 1 in years bygone.