I was talking to Rafi a while ago. I asked him if he knows his provincial hymn. He said no. Actually he doesn’t even know if they have a provincial hymn. I grew up in the province and we have a provincial march and provincial hymn. That is like saying state march or state hymn.

The saying “Ang hindi lumingon sa katotohanan ay hindi makakarating sa patutunguhan” or roughly translated to English, “Those who don’t look back where they came from will never reach their destination”. I am saying this now because we all aspire to become rich. In our case to earn money online. Why do we need to look back and recognize our roots? It’s a simple gesture of thanks because whatever we are right now, we owe it from where our roots are. Or to put it in another perspective, to have something to compare with. Your goals and your past.

I am a provincial girl. Although I spent only 12 years of my life there and 13 years here in Manila already, I still consider myself a provincial girl. With this in mind, i’d like to share to you our hymn and march as I remember them.

Isabela Hymn

Isabela a home endeared by men, upright and free.
A land where peace and love abide, where men of truth reside
Endowed with rich and glorious past, a heritage known and vast
From Palanan to Jones they stood, for freedom and for truth.

Her shining rivers teem with fish and mountains lush with trees
Her fertile fields abound with yields are blessings for our meals.
Bless Isabela gracious Lord and keep her in your fold.
In unison we all proclaim her providential fame.

Isabela March

We’re Isabela’s true and loyal children
And we take pride in her great name
We’re marching out to tell all men
Of our lovely province’s name

From old San Pablo to Cordon Town
Mallig Plains to Palanan
Bless with bountiful wealth
Mental and body Health
Other blessings from above

So come join this happy throng
Come Isabelans come
Sing and shout her glorious one
And love her til years to come.

So how about you? Do you still remember where you come from?