As the country gears up to celebrate Independence Day, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued an order directing government offices and public schools to include the singing of the “Bagong Pilipinas” hymn and reciting of the pledge during flag rites, “to further instill the principles of the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance and leadership” among state personnel and employees.
Memorandum Circular No. 52 directs all national government agencies and instrumentalities, including GOCCs and educational institutions, such as state universities and colleges, and encouraging local government units, “to integrate the recital of the Bagong Pilipinas Hymn and Pledge in the conduct of the weekly flag ceremonies, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.”
The circular, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, takes effect “immediately” and contains a copy of the hymn and pledge.
Bagong Pilipinas is Marcos Jr.’s brand of governance and leadership which is supposedly characterized by “principled, accountable and dependable government, reinforced by unified institutions of society [and] envisioned to empower Filipinos to support and participate in all government efforts in an all-inclusive plan towards deep and fundamental social and economic transformation in all sectors of society and government.”
Filipinos participating in flag ceremonies already have the Lupang Hinirang and Panatang Makabayan, which thankfully, are hymns and pledges that do not subscribe to any politician’s branding, no matter how well intended it may be. At this point in time, another hymn and pledge doesn’t sound like a good idea, especially when the President’s father and namesake also turned to his chosen theme of a “Bagong Lipunan,” which coincidentally also came with its own tune, during his reign as a dictator.
Whatever the real purpose of a Bagong Pilipinas hymn and pledge may be, it cannot help but leave a bad taste in the mouth, especially for those who know their Philippine history and do not want a repeat of one of its darkest chapters. It would probably serve the present Marcos administration better to simply focus on the country’s more pressing problems instead of pushing unnecessary branding to a proud people who have done well so far without a “Bagong Pilipinas” hymn and pledge.*
