By Liezelle Soriano
MANILA — Former Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Atty. Domingo Cayosa said Tuesday (11 June 2024) that singing and reciting the Bagong Pilipinas Hymn and Pledge is not illegal.
Cayosa commented on the memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin which mandates national government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and educational institutions to integrate the recital of the Bagong Pilipinas Hymn and Pledge in the conduct of weekly flag ceremonies.
“Minimum requirement ‘yung pagbigay-pugay sa ating watawat sa Monday and Friday at ‘yung pagkanta ng Lupang Hinirang at [pagbigkas] ng Panatang Makabayan. Di pwedeng tanggalin ‘yan,” he said on Tuesday (June 11, 2024) in a radio interview, citing Republic Act No. 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.
“Pero meron din namang authority at pribilehiyo ang namumuno sa Executive branch na hikayatin ang mga nasa gobyerno na idagdag…’yung nagawa [o] nabuo nilang Bagong Pilipinas Hymn at saka pledge,” Cayosa added.
Reciting those during flag ceremonies is not wrong, provided that it will not replace the National Anthem “Lupang Hinirang” and oath “Panatang Makabayan,” the former IBP president said.
(el Amigo/mnm)