October 10, 1943

To create the impression that independence is genuine, the Philippine flag will be raised and the national anthem played. Up to this time, both have been banned. The Japanese authorities were against restoring the old insignia because the subversives in the mountains and the exiled government are waving the same insignia. But Dr. Laurel and his Commission were insistent that any other insignia would not be respected by the people. The Japanese authorities had to give in. A Tagalog version was made of the national anthem which is now considered official, but the translation has changed both the letter and the spirit of the original.