04/06/2024
Cavite City celebrates National Anthem Day to honor its composer โ Prof. Julian Felipe
In May 1,1898 Professor Julian Felipe left his home at the Port of Cavite together with his family and headed to San Francisco de Malabon and lived at General Triasโ house till June. Upon the recommendation of Gen. Trias, Felipe went back to Cavite Puerto to ser General Emilio Aguinaldo who resided in the house of Maximo Inocencio (one of the 13 Martyrs shot in Cavite in 1896) at the Arsenal Street. Upon learning that Felipe is a pianist and a music composer, Aguinaldo asked Felipe to create a national march, majestic to take the place of Spanish Royal March. After six days, Saturday, June 11, at a meeting with Gen. Aguinaldo with other generals Mariano Trias, Baldomero Aguinaldo took the written draft to his house. Seeing Professor Felipe entering the room while the meeting is on-going, Gen Trias asked him what had brought him there. Felipe answered that he wanted then to hear the music Gen. Aguinaldo had asked him to compose. Professor Felipe played his composition on the piano again and again that it might be appreciated by all. General Aguinaldo instructed General Trias to accompany Professor Felipe to San Francisco de Malabon for rehearsals with the band. On Sunday morning of June 12, the High Mass was celebrated by Father Manuel Trias and during the consecration, the national march was played by the band to the surprise of everyone present. They called the attention of the band leader because the march is intented for the afternoon declaration at Kawit, Cavite. The leader replied that they had to play it in lieu of the Spanish, so the National March eas inaugurated in the town of San Francisco de Malabon to pay tribute to God in the supreme instant of Consecration. Under the direction of its composer it was played in Kawit, Cavite during the proclamation of the Philippine independence and the hoisting of our flag.
[SOURCE: Gervacio Pangilinan, The Historic Cavite 1926 translated by Lourdes Arespacochaga in 2001; Alfredo Saulo and Esteban de Ocampo, The History of Cavite.
ยฉ Historia Caviteรฑa (HC) 2019