The composition now known as Lupang Hinirang commissioned on June 5, 1898 by Emilio Aguinaldo, head of the Dictatorial Government of the Philippines, as a ceremonial and instrumental national march without lyrics, similar to the status of the "Marcha Real" in Spain. Replacing the revolutionary hymn "Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan", which Aguinaldo found inadequate for an anthem, the Marcha Nacional was adopted as the national march of the Philippine Republic (). It was first performed in public during the proclamation of Philippine independence at Aguinaldo's residence in Kawit, Cavite on June 12, 1898.