Koko Pimentel: Law needed for 'Bagong Pilipinas' hymn, pledge be part of flag ceremonies

A law must cover the singing and recitation of the "Bagong Pilipinas" hymn and pledge, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said on Monday.

In a text message to reporters, Pimentel explained that a simple executive directive is insufficient as this "involves the way of thinking of the people."

"I suggest that the Executive branch should submit a bill containing those ideas (to sing a new song and recite a new pledge) to amend the existing law(s) governing the National Anthem, Pledge, and Flag Raising ceremonies. The EO is not sufficient. I believe a law is needed in order to authorize that," Pimentel said.

"[T]his involves the way of thinking of the people. Hence(,) such a mandate must emanate from the people’s chosen representatives, their legislators. Also notice that the MC (memorandum circular) involves SUCs (state universities and colleges). The students therein are not even government employees. They all observe the established flag ceremony under existing law," he added.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero likewise shared the need for the Flag and Heraldic Code to be amended if the "Bagong Pilipinas" hymn and pledge will be formally become part of all events in the country.

"'Di 'yan nakapaloob sa Flag and Heraldic Code. Kung nais nilang gawin talagang pormal 'yan at ipatupad sa lahat din ng mga okasyon ng pribadong sektor, ang tamang hakbang ay i-amend ang Flag and Heraldic Code at isama 'yan," Escudero said.

(It is not included in the Flag and Heraldic Code. If they really want it to be included, the right way is to amend the Flag and Heraldic Code and include it in.)

For Escudero, there is nothing wrong in the recent memorandum circular issued by the Palace, noting that there is no personality that was mentioned in the new hymn and pledge.

"Kung ako ang tatanunging, hindi ako tutol doon dahil wala namang personalidad o pangalang binabanggit na pinapaboran. At tulad ng sabi ko, magandang paalala din ito sa ating mga kababayan na ito 'yung listahan na pwede niyong singilin sa mga opisyal at kawani ng pamahalaan," he said.

(If I am to be asked, I am not opposed to it since there is no personality mentioned there who is being favored. But this is a good reminder to the public that this will be in the list that we can hold accountable our government officials and employees.)

"Wala namang masamang awitin o sambitin ang mga katagang dapat meron tayong pag-asa, dapat magtulungan tayo, dapat ambisyunin nating umangat ang ating bansa, dapat magtulungan tayo. Wala naman akong nakikitang masama don," he added.

(There is nothing wrong if we sing, recite terms of hope, that we should be helping one another, aspire for progress. I see nothing wrong with it.)

Escudero likewise explained that the memorandum circular is only applicable to the Executive branch of the government and it is up to the Legislative Department, the Judiciary, and the constitutional commissions if they will follow suit as they are only mandated to follow what is stated under the Flag and Heraldic Code.

Asked if the Senate will follow, Escudero said, "Kung ako... 'di ako tutol dun, pero ibabato ko pa rin sa secretariat para pag-aralan." (I am not against it, but I will let the secretariat study the same.)

According to Escudero, he already referred this to the Senate secretariat and they will study this because they said this would be the first time that it will happen in the chamber.

"Ayon sa kanila, tinanong ko kanina, ito yata ang kauna-unahang panahon na ito ay mangyayari dahil ni-require ang 'Bagong Lipunan' noon at wala yatang Senado noon. Di ba? So ngayon pa lang kung saka-sakali," he said.

(According to them, this will be the first time since when Bagong Lipunan was required then, there was no Senate at that time. So this will be the first time, if ever.)

Escudero was referring to the Bagong Lipunan anthem in which singing was required by the late former President President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the current president's father, during martial law.

New law needed

National Union of People's Lawyers president Atty. Ephraim Cortez agreed with the need for a law on the matter.

"In my opinion, the President cannot simply issue an Executive Order to require the singing of [the] Bagong Pilipinas hymn alongside the National Anthem and the Panatang Makabayan,"Cortez told GMA News Online when sought for comment.

"A law is needed," he later added.

Cortez said that both singing of the National Anthem and the recitation of the Panatang Makabayan is mandated by Republic Act 8491 or Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.

The NUPL president also said that requiring the hymn to be sung alongside the national anthem would raise its status.

"By requiring the new hymn to be sung alongside the National Anthem is raising its status to a  symbol of nationhood," he said.

Malacañang recently directed all national government agencies and educational institutions to make the “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines) hym and pledge a part of weekly flag ceremonies.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 52 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on June 4, the order was made “to further instill the principles of the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance and leadership among Filipinos.”

Republic Act No. 8491 or the “Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines” states that all government offices, including local government units, shall conduct a flag raising ceremony every Monday morning and flag lowering ceremony every Friday afternoon.

In July 2023, the Marcos administration unveiled the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance and leadership campaign in a bid to implement an “all-inclusive plan for economic and social transformation.”

With this, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered all national government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and state universities and colleges (SUCs), to adopt the “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign in planning all their programs and activities; and use its logo in their letterheads, websites, official social media accounts, and other documents and instruments pertaining to flagship programs of the government. — with Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA Integrated News