Palace requires recital of Bagong Pilipinas hymn and pledge

CEBU, Philippines —  Malacañang has ordered all national government agencies and instrumentalities to include the recital of the Bagong Pilipinas hymn and pledge in their weekly flag ceremonies, a move reminiscent of a similar requirement to sing the Bagong Lipunan anthem during Martial Law.

The directive, which also covers government-owned and controlled corporations and educational institutions, is contained in Memorandum Circular No. 52 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin by the authority of President Marcos last June 4.

Bagong Pilipinas is the governance brand of the Marcos administration that aims to achieve a deep transformation in society and emphasizes the government's commitment to undertake policy reforms.

Malacañang said the campaign is "characterized by a principled, accountable and dependable government, reinforced by unified institutions of society."

The memorandum directed all national government agencies and instrumentalities and encouraged local governments to "integrate the recital of the Bagong Pilipinas hymn and pledge in the conduct of weekly flag ceremonies, subject to existing laws and rules and regulations."

The order aims "to further instill the principles of the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance and leadership among Filipinos," the memorandum added.

"For this purpose, the heads of all national government agencies and instrumentalities shall ensure that the Bagong Pilipinas hymn and pledge, which are annexed to this circular, are properly disseminated within their respective institutions and offices,” the memorandum read.

Section 18 of the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines required all government offices to hold a flag raising ceremony every Monday morning and flag lowering ceremony every Friday afternoon.

The Presidential Communications Office, the government's lead communication arm, was tasked to relay and disseminate the Bagong Pilipinas hymn and Pledge to all government offices and the public.

A similar directive was issued during the time of the President's late father and namesake Ferdinand Marcos, who put forward a vision for "new society" or bagong lipunan.

The elder Marcos' administration required the singing of "Bagong Lipunan," an anthem about a new country and a new movement striving for progress, during flag ceremonies. The song was commissioned by then first lady Imelda Marcos shortly after Martial Law, which has been tied to human rights abuses and suppression of liberties, was declared in 1972.

Its music was composed by National Artist for Music Felipe Padilla de Leon, Sr. while its lyrics were written by National Artist for Music and Literature Levi Celerio. A modern version of the song was used during the campaign sorties of the younger Marcos during the 2022 elections.

While Marcos supporters describe the song as a patriotic hymn that calls for a positive transformation, human rights advocates view it as a propaganda that reminds them of the abusive practices during Martial Law.

Last year, Malacañang directed agencies to adopt the Bagong Pilipinas branding through Memorandum Circular no. 24.

During the Bagong Pilipinas kickoff rally held in Manila last January 28, the younger Marcos said the campaign is not a "partisan coalition in disguise" but a set of ideals all Filipinos can coalesce around.

"To those whose overheated imagination has been poisoned by toxic politics, Bagong  Plipinas is no trojan horse. It conceals no agenda.It is a program of many workhorses driven by the love of country," the President said. (CEBU NEWS)