“Dapat Tapat” as primer in loving one’s country
by Rodel Fernando
There are so many ways to look into the depth, meaning, and soul of the song “Dapat Tapat ” composed by Arnold Reyes and interpreted by Star Music’s “Romantic Pop Balladeer” Edward Benosa and New Male Recording Artist of the Year awardee at the most recent PMPC 7th Star Awards for Music 2015.
The song is not one of your sweet version of love as many-splendored thing and it’s neither your catchy familiar pop song of something out to tickle the funny bone.
The lyrics of the song “Dapat Tapat ” like all songs is inspirational, a celebratory piece of something greater than ourselves. The opening bars clearly sends it message, “Nagmula sa puso ang isang pangarap/ Pangarap ang pagsilbihan ang bayan/ Ihanda ang kabataan para sa magandang bukas/ Magandang bayan para sa lahat ng mamayanan…”
The opening lines thus speak of one ardent wish or call it love straight from the heart in which the song for all intents and purposes sets the tone as it appeals to all including perhaps our future statesment of the country, to pave a brighter future for the youth, the “hope of the fatherland” as written in the farewell poem of our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
The song goes on that whoever leads the country in whatever capacity must be someone who is pure in heart and God-fearing. Hence, the title “Dapat Tapat” as the bedrock of one’s political will to serve the Motherland keeping in mind that together “we can do small and big things for the 
country if deep in our hearts we are sincere and honest to ourselves, to serve our fellow countrymen above all other considerations.
The challenge to test one’s love for the country is summed up in a concluding line which says, “Ibibigay ang buhay para sa kanyang bayan/ Sa simula hanggang wakas/Mananatiling tapat.”
“Dapat Tapat” might as well serve as guidepost for all on how to love the country devotedly and selflessly in the eyes of man and God.
