Teachers’ groups: ‘Lupang Hinirang’ enough for flag ceremonies

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<p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">MANILA — Teachers’ groups are calling a Palace order including the Bagong Pilipinas hymn and pledge at flag ceremonies in government offices and state schools impractical, unnecessary and an attempt at indoctrination reminiscent of Martial Law.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">A memorandum circular signed earlier this month directs national government agencies, state firms, and state universities and colleges to include the hymn and pledge in their flag-raising ceremonies to “further instill the principles of the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance and leadership among Filipinos.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/9/palace-orders-inclusion-of-bagong-pilipinas-hymn-pledge-in-flag-raising-ceremonies-946">READ: Palace orders inclusion of Bagong Pilipinas hymn, pledge in flag-raising ceremonies</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition has criticized the move as superficial, saying “true nationalism and patriotism cannot be enforced through hollow rituals, or the blind worship of national symbols, let alone a piece of propaganda.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">It said that “Lupang Hinirang”, the national anthem, is “the most fitting song” for flag ceremonies and that the best way to teach students patriotism and nationalism is by showing them leaders and heroes who “live by example.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/03/23/23/meet-the-teacher-championing-mentoring-mentors">RELATED: Amazing Women: Filipino teacher champions training for fellow mentors in provinces</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro, meanwhile, urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to rescind the order and have the government instead focus on raising wages and lowering food prices.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“We should just stick with the ‘Lupang Hinirang’ and ‘Panatang Makabayan’,” she said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The Bagong Pilipinas hymn has been a staple in events Marcos Jr. attends. Before the issuance of the memorandum, the hymn was used to signify the President&#x27;s arrival at a venue.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><strong>‘BAGONG LIPUNAN’ COMPARISON</strong></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">TDC and ACT Teachers Party-List both pointed out that the order is reminiscent of the government requiring the singing of the “Bagong Lipunan” hymn at flag ceremonies during the Martial Law period under ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the President’s father.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“We find this move impractical, and unnecessary, and it is reminiscent of the political propaganda tactics seen during the Martial Law years,” TDC said.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Castro said the memorandum circular is “reminiscent of Marcos Sr.’s directive then for people to sing praises to the Bagong Lipunan.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The Bagong Lipunan march, or a remix of it, was often played at UniTeam campaign events for the 2022 elections.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><strong>WHAT CSC SAYS</strong></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p>The President&#x27;s directive is “well within his power”, according to Civil Service Commission Chairperson Karlo Nograles.</p><p>He, however, noted that for offices outside the executive branch, like the CSC, the practice is only “encouraged” by the President. The Commission will still have to discuss whether or not to implement it.</p><p>“As the chief executive of the Republic of the Philippines, ‘yung Pangulo natin, it is well within his prerogative and his power to impose sa lahat ng executive offices under the executive branch. That being said, nakalagay naman doon, nire-require niya sa lahat ng offices within the executive branch. Sa LGUs, it is highly encouraged,” Nograles said.</p><p>“Sa amin, we are aconstitutional body, so we’re not strictly under the executive. So this is something na kailangan pa namin pag-usapan as a commission,” he added.</p><p>Nograles said he sees nothing wrong with the principles and advocacies pushed for by the Bagong Pilipinas Hymn and Pledge, as well as with efforts to ensure that government workers are aligned with the administration’s goals.</p><p>“Binasa ko naman ‘yung lyrics and the words in the hymn and doon sa pledge... ‘Yung mga isinusulong na principles, mga isinusulong na adhikain nito, ‘yung isinusulong niyang gustong ma-internalize ng ating government workers, it is something that is of positive note naman. It is something that makatutulong sa pag-serbisyo ng ating mga government employees and government workers sa bayan at sa ating mga kababayan. So there’s nothing there that indicates na hindi naman tama ‘yung mga isinusulong nitong mga prinsipyo at adhikain,” the CSC Chair said.</p><p>“Importante rin para sa ating government workers to know what direction of the administration is lalung lalu na mayroon tayong Philippine Development Plan. Lalung lalu na mayroon tayong mga isinusulong din na goals and objectives, and vision and mission for the country under this administration… Kung tied up din siya doon sa bagong Philippine Development Plan, then I don’t see anything that is wrong in ensuring that everybody in the government is aligned in the goals and principles being pushed for by the administration,” he added. </p><p>Marcos&#x27; order is &quot;legal&quot;, added Enrique Dela Cruz, Jr., senior partner at DivinaLaw. </p><p>&quot;Kasama siya sa kapangyarihan ng presidente na magpatupad ng mga existing na mga batas,” dela Cruz said.</p><p>&quot;’Pag binasa mo memorandum doon naman siya naka address e. Hindi siya naka-address sa taumbayan. Naka-address lang siya sa mga opisyales, hepe ng opisina ng ehekutibo na nasasailalim ng kapangyarihan ng presidente.&quot; </p><p>Dela Cruz also sees no violation of the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.</p><p>“Ito ay karagdagan lamang sa pamamaraan katulad ng pagtatakda ng panibagong hymn o pandagdag. Hindi naman kasi tinanggal yung mga nakalagay sa Flag Law. Dinagdagan lamang ng memorandum yung mga dapat sundin ng mga nasa ehekutibo including local governments, state colleges and universities. So sa tingin ko hindi ito lumalabag sa batas. Ito ay pagpapatupad lamang po ng batas,” dela Cruz said.</p><div><span id="isPasted" style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span style="vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><strong>– With reports from Vivienne Gulla and Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News</strong></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RzUw5goyf_U?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>“True nationalism and patriotism cannot be enforced through hollow rituals, or the blind worship of national symbols, let alone a piece of propaganda,” the Teachers' Dignity Coalition said.</p>

“True nationalism and patriotism cannot be enforced through hollow rituals, or the blind worship of national symbols, let alone a piece of propaganda,” the Teachers' Dignity Coalition said.

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Teachers’ groups: ‘Lupang Hinirang’ enough for flag ceremonies

Teachers’ groups: ‘Lupang Hinirang’ enough for flag ceremonies

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 10, 2024 09:51 AM PHT

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Updated Jun 10, 2024 04:55 PM PHT

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Bagong Pilipinas

Lupang Hinirang

Teachers Dignity Coalition

ACT Teachers Party-List

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