POSSIBLE revisions to the country's national anthem will be up to Congress, Malacañang said on Thursday, September 20.

"Iniiwan na po namin 'yan sa Kongreso. Mas maraming mas matitinding problema na dapat harapin. Bahala na po ang Kongreso diyan (We leave it to Congress. There are more serious problems that we have to face. Let Congress decide on it)," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in an interview with Palace reporters.

During Wednesday's (September 19) plenary debates on the proposed amendment to Republic Act 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, Senate President Vicente Sotto III proposed to make slight changes on the closing lyrics of the national anthem.

Sotto described as "defeatist" the last line of the Philippine national anthem "Lupang Hinirang," which says, "Aming ligaya na 'pag may mang-aapi, ang mamatay nang dahil sa'yo."

The Senate leader then suggested that the last line of the national anthem "ang mamatay nang dahil sa'yo" be replaced with "ang ipaglaban kalayaan mo."

"Lupang Hinirang" was composed by Julian Felipe in 1898. Its lyrics were written by Jose Palma a year later. (SunStar Philippines)