In 1899, poet Jose Palma Y Velasquez wrote the poem “Filipinas” in Bautista, Pangasinan and was published in the newspaper, “La Independencia.” The poem, which was originally written in Spanish, became the lyrics to the tune of the “Marcha Nacional Filipina.”
In 2015, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) granted the town of Bautista a National Historical Marker as the site where Jose Palma wrote “Filipinas.” The historical marker was unveiled in December 2017, alongside the statue of the poet, Jose Palma.
