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On Flag Day, Palawan farmers form giant human PHL flag to honor COVID-19 frontliners
Filipinos across the country on Thursday commemorated the Philippine Flag Day in different ways. In Puerto Princesa, Palawan, some 350 employees of a farm tourism destination chose to celebrate the day by holding a simple "flag salute" and forming a giant Philippine flag to pay tribute to frontliners amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Farmers from Yamang Bukid Farm, clad in the four colors of the national flag, erected a flagpole on a clearing in the middle of the farm and lined up to form a giant human Philippine flag while singing the national anthem.
The activity, they said, was meant to “renew their sense of patriotism and encourage them to work for their families and their countrymen.”
“This is our way of showing unity with our frontliners who are out fighting against an unknown but deadly enemy,” said Br. George Maria, Yamang Bukid vice president for community relations.
“Our farmers are our backliners who have been working tirelessly even as the coronavirus pandemic resulted in lockdowns and community restrictions,” he added. “They are our heroes.”
Yamang Bukid Farm also partnered with government and private organizations to distribute free carabao milk to communities, as well as provide vegetable seedlings to communities in Palawan.
Maria said farm tourism “is in the forefront in helping communities cope in these challenging times.”
“We’re proud of our farmers and our frontliners. They are serving our country with utmost dedication in these trying times,” farm general manager Dedac Anjan said.
Over in Manila, frontliners themselves also commemorated Flag Day with health workers from the Sta. Ana Hospital taking time from their busy schedule to celebrate the annual event.
Just a few kilometers from the hospital, personnel of the Philippine Navy celebrated the event a bit differently this year as they wore face masks donned with the Philippine Flag, while they unfurl the national banner during a flag-raising ceremony.
The Philippine Flag Day is celebrated every May 28 of the year to commemorate the very first time the Philippine Flag was unfurled, following the victory of Philippines over Spain in the Battle at Alapan in Imus, Cavite on May 28, 1898.
According to the Philippine Gazette, the Philippine Flag was "sewn in Hong Kong by Filipino expatriates and brought to the country by [Emilio] Aguinaldo" who arrived in the country a few days before, when he returned from exile.
It wasn't until Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine Independence on June 12, 1898 at his residence in Kawit, Cavite that the Philippine Flag was formally presented to the Filipino people. -MDM, GMA News
