MANILA - Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Wednesday he wants to tweak the lyrics of the Philippine national anthem "Lupang Hinirang" to give it a more positive meaning.

Sotto said he was mulling over filing a resolution that proposes a slight change in the closing lyrics of the song.

Instead of this line, which talks of the Filipinos' willingness to sacrifice their life for the nation in the face of oppression:

"Aming ligaya na 'pag may mang-aapi,
Ang mamatay nang dahil sa'yo"

Sotto prefers this line, which changes the final message with Filipinos' commitment to defending the country's independence:

"Aming ligaya na 'pag may mang-aapi,
Ang ipaglaban kalayaan mo"

The lawmaker explained that he thinks the current lyrics of the national anthem have a defeatist message.

“My suggestion is perhaps the proper Senate Committee should study and we can consult the NCCA (National Commission for Culture and the Arts) to look at that possibility," he said.

Sotto also called upon Filipinos to sing the national anthem properly and to practice proper pronunciation.

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

-- report from Abner Mercado, ABS-CBN News