Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero
MANILA, Philippines—Senate President Francis Escudero sees nothing wrong with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s order to include the “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines) hymn and pledge in the weekly flag-raising rites of government offices and institutions.
As an independent branch of government, however, the Senate is not covered by the President’s new directive, as Escudero pointed out.
“Pero sa ganang akin kung ako tatanungin, wala namang masamang awitin o sambitin ang mga katagang dapat mayroon tayong pagasa , dapat magtulungan tayo, dapat ambisyunin nating umangat ang ating bansa, dapat magtulungan tayo. Wala naman akong nakikitang masama dun,” he said in an interview at the Senate on Monday.
(If you ask me, there’s nothing wrong with singing or saying that we should have hope, help each other, aspire for our country’s progress, and help each other. I don’t see anything wrong with that.)
“At hindi lamang ito ika nga pagpapaalala sa ating mga sarili, pagpapaaalala din ito sa mga opisyal ng gobyerno na ito ang mga bagay-bagay na pwedeng singilin sa amin ng ating mga kababayan na kakanta o aawit nito lalong-lalo na sa mga paaralan,” the Senate chief added.
(And this is not only a reminder to ourselves, but it’s also a reminder to government officials who sing or recite this, that these are the things that our fellow citizens can hold us accountable for, especially in schools.)
Although he is not against it, he said he still referred the matter to the Senate Secretariat to study if it could be considered a part of their flag ceremony.
“Pero kung ako ang tatanungin, hindi ako tutol dun dahil wala namang personalidad o pangalan na binabanggit na pinaboran…,” Escudero stressed.
(But if you ask me, I wouldn’t object to it because no specific personality or name is mentioned.)
Marcos’ order is contained in Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 52, issued on June 4, but was only released to the media on Sunday.
In the MC, all government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and/or controlled-corporations and educational institutions, are directed to “integrate the recital of the Bagong Pilipinas Hymn and Pledge in the conduct of weekly flag ceremonies, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.”
Local government units are, meanwhile, encouraged to do the same.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel believes that the MC is not enough to mandate the singing of the Bagong Pilipinas hymn.
According to Pimentel, the executive branch could file a bill to amend existing laws governing the national anthem, pledge, and flag-raising ceremonies.
Escudero said he is confident a bill amending Republic Act No. 8491, or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, would be lodged since the new order is not yet part of it.
“Kung nais nilang gawin talagang pormal na yan at ipatupad sa lahat din ng mga okasyon ng pribadong sector, ang tamang hakbang ay i-amend yung flag and heraldic code at isama yun,” he said.
(If they really want to formalize that and implement it on all occasions in the private sector, the proper step is to amend the Flag and Heraldic Code.)