En El Bello Oriente, one of Jose Rizal’s poems, was set to music to produce the song Magandang Silangan (In the Beautiful East), also known as Sa Dakong Silangan. 

The poem, which was set to music in 1898 by Pedro Gatmaitan Santos, a composer from Bulacan, Bulacan, tells of how the lyricist treasured and loved a beautiful land in the East and longed for its freedom from oppression.

Below are the lyrics of the song in Filipino and English translations:

Sa dakong sikatan ng masayang araw May lupang sagana’t puspos ng kariktan Na sinisiphayo ng palalong asal Nang makapagliligtas kapalad-palaran Sa dakong sikatan ng masayang araw May lupang sagana’t puspos ng kariktan Anong gawin ko dusa sa libis kong parang Tanging yamang bayan ko, lupang minamahal Mawalay sa kaniya’y ang laking sakit Salat sa ligaya’t, maging sa pag-ibig Araw ay malamlam, at malumbay ang langit Aba kung mamatay, na ’di ka masilip

Where the joyful sun rises Lies a land abundant and full of beauty That is oppressed by a proud character From which we long to be free Where the joyful sun rises Lies a land abundant and full of beauty Whatever suffering I must endure My only treasure is my country, the land I love To be parted from her is such pain Wanting in joy and in love as well The sun is dim, the sky is in sorrow What a pity to die without seeing you

For other music /verses by Jose Rizal from the Himig Collection, click here.

Source:

Kundiman ni Rizal (1997). Tawid Publications.