The anthem of Zulia State, “Riding the Waves”, became official by Executive Order of August 15, 1909. It was the result of a public competition sponsored by the then Governor of the State, Jose Ignacio Lares Baralt, who on April 29 of that year, held a lyric and musical contest to select the words and melody of such treasured lyrical piece. The winner of the lyrical category was the famed poet laureate, Udón Perez; in the musical category, the winner was the equally renowned author, Jose Antonio Cháves. The winning entries were officially recognized on the above date, during a ceremony headed by the illustrious governor, but it was not until February 18, 1910 that the anthem was finally distributed throughout the various departments and offices of the State. With its beautiful melody, and a theme built around the ideas of freedom, peace, and hope, the anthem has remained a favorite of the people. It still speaks a revolutionary language - highly critical of dictatorship - and continues to communicate the State’s age-old abhorrence of centralist powers. Lyrics in Spanish Chorus Sobre palmas y lauros de oro yergue el Zulia su limpio blasón; y flamea en su plaustro sonoros del progreso el radiante pendón. I La luz con el relámpago tenaz del Catatumbo, del nauta fija el rumbo, cual límpido farol; el alba de los trópicos, la hoguera que deslumbra cuando al zénit se encumbra la cuadriga del sol no emulan de tus glorias el fúlgido arrebol II En la defensa olímpica de los nativos fueros tus hijos, sus aceros llevaron al confín; ciñendo lauros múltiples los viste, con arrobo, del Lago a Carabobo, del Ávila a Junín; y en Tarqui y Ayacucho vibraron su clarín. III Erguido como Júpiter, la diestra en alto armada, fulgurante la mirada de rabia y de rencor; las veces que los sátrapas quisieron tu mancilla: mirarte de rodilla sin prez y sin honor cayó sobre sus frentes tu rayo vengador. IV Y luego que la cólera de tu justicia calmas, va en pos de nuevas palmas tu espíritu vivaz; en aulas de areópagos, cabildos y liceos; te brindan sus trofeos el numen de la paz; y vese en blanca aureola resplandecer tu faz. V En tu carroza alígera que tiran diez corceles, de cantos y laureles guirnaldas mil se ven. Allí del arte el símbolo del sabio la corona, de Temis y Pomona la