DepEd amends Panatang Makabayan: ‘Nagdarasal’ to ‘nananalangin’

The Department of Education (Deped) has made an alteration to the national pledge Panatang Makabayan, changing the terminology “nagdarasal” to “nananalangin.”

According to DepEd Order 004 series of 2023, signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, various experts and linguists were consulted with regard to this amendment.

The agency said that the Linguistic Society of the Philippines found the proposal for the use of “nananalangin” to be “well-written and sufficiently rationalized,” while the Pambansang Samahan sa Linggwistika at Literaturang Filipino agreed that the same term is “well thought of and extensively researched.”

Citing representatives from Indigenous Peoples and those belonging to the Muslim and Moro communities, DepEd furthered that “dalangin” and its equivalents may be more preferable than “dasal” since “dalangin is more spiritual and universal.

Native words are also preferred when the Bible is being translated into different Philippine languages, according to the Philippine Bible Society.

“With these consultations, OUCT (Office of the Undersecretary for Curriculum and Teaching) recommended that nananalangin be used instead of nagdarasal primarily because the nanalangin is inherent and integral in Filipino identities as it is rooted in Tagalog,” the DepEd Order read.

“Likewise, it is more inclusive and appropriate as it does not refer to or specify religions, and at the same time, it encompasses indigenous belief systems,” it added.

Panatang Makabayan is usually recited in all public and private schools, and DepEd Offices, during the flag-raising ceremonies, classes, or as part of school activity programs.

Below is the amended Panatang Makabayan, as specified in DepEd Order 004 series of 2023:

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.

 —KG, GMA Integrated News