Jess Vestil’s nasudnong awit

Jess Vestil, Dean of Cebuano Anchors, bequeathed Cebu with the translation of the pambansang awit (national anthem). His is the official version now sung in official events:

NASUDNONG AWIT

Yutang tabunon Mutya nga masilakon Putling bahandi Amo kang gimahal.

Mithing gisimba Yuta’s mga bayani Sa manglulupig Among panalipdan.

Ang mga bungtod mo ug lapyahan Ang langit mong bughaw Nagahulad sa awit, lamdag sa Kaliwat tang gawas

Silaw sa adlaw ug bitoon Sa nasudnong bandila Nagatimaan nga buhion ta Hugpong nga di maluba.

Yutang maanyag, duyan ka sa pagmahal Landong sa langit ang dughan mo; Pagkatam-ison sa anak mong nagtukaw Kong mamatay man sa ngalan mo!

Jess Vestil was born on July 18, 1929. He became manager and news anchor of ABS-CBN from 1962 to 1972. He was the post-war anchor of dyRC in 1949, worked with the United States Information ServiceCebu Office.

He was part of the pioneer corps of professors of the Bachelor of Arts Major in Mass Communication of the University of San Jose-Recoletos under the leadership of Dean Mila Espina.

He married Pacita and had the following children: Annabel, Nicolas, Remedios, Jane, Vivian, Raymundo, Gabriel, Victor, and Albert. He died on April 7, 2006.