Bohol Hymn: Awit sa Bohol

Note: This is an attempt to interpret and translate the “Awit sa Bohol.” Unlike the other translation, which is included below and is easily available in the Internet, my own small work is not meant for singing but for showing the literal meaning of the song, whenever possible. I never realized that this hymn takes on a different meaning after going through this process of interpretation. I used the official visayan version that the provincial government adopted in its Administrative Code. The version has this line -- “Bahandi sa dagat ug kapatagan” – that is different from this line: “Bahandi ang dagat ug kapatagan” (underscoring supplied). This interpretation, of course, is far from perfect. The errors are mine alone.

Bohol Hymn

Land that I love,

Bestowed by God,

Each day and night,

All the time,

Inspired by nature.

By the native heroes,

Your peace is nurtured.

And that of the town in hills, which are everlasting,

With sweet aromatic purple yam.

White are the beaches,

Valleys the rivers drench;

Wealth in the seas and plains,

Love is the source.

With freedom for all

You shall be blessed.

I offer my body and soul

To my pearl (treasure), Bohol.

Awit sa Bohol

Yuta kong minahal,
Hatag ni Bathala;
Sa adlaw’g gabi-i,
Taknang tanan
Dinasig sa kina-iyahan
Sa mga Bayani yutawhan
Imong kalinaw gi-ampingan
Lungsod sa bungtod nga matunhay
Ug matam-is nga kinampay
Puti ang kabaybayunan
Walog sa suba binisbisan
Bahandi sa dagat ug kapatagan
Gugma ang tuburan
Sa kagawasan sa tanan
Panalanginan ka
Ihalad ko lawas ug kalag
Sa mutya kong Bohol.

Another Translation from the Internet

This is our land I love,
The land God gave to me,
Caressed by the sun,
Bathed by the sea,
And kissed by the cool breeze
Night and day.
Here’s where the early heroes lived,
Here’s where they wrought peace and here they bled,
Here rise the marvelous cone-shaped hills,
Here’s sweet kinampay grows.

Blessed with white sandy beaches,
Rivers that water valleys,
Seas teem with fishes and cows graze
on the plains,
In ev’ry home love reigns,
God keep my homeland always free,
Let her forever be,
I pledge my strength, my heart and soul,
To my dear home, Bohol