Thursday, September 20, 2018

Changing of our flag and national anthem ill-timed

Amid all the problems our country is currently confronted with and at a time when we are grieving over the loss of so many lives -- even as many are still missing, believed to have been buried alive during the mudslide in Itogon, Benguet -- as a result of the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong, some lawmakers are bringing up issues like changing the lyrics of our national anthem or the design of our flag.

Senate President Tito Sotto III had suggested to change the last line of the ‘Lupang Hinirang’ from ‘ang mamatay nang dahil sa ’yo (to die for you)’ to ‘ang ipaglaban ang kalayaan mo (to fight for your freedom).’
On the other hand, Senator Richard Gordon wants to incorporate into the national anthem the line made famous by the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. or ‘Ninoy’ Aquino: ‘The Filipino is worth dying for.’

He also proposes that from eight, the number of sun rays in the Philippine flag must be nine. While the eight rays represent the first provinces which revolted against Spain in the late 19th century, the ninth, according to him, will represent the Muslims who also fought against foreign invasion.

The last two lines of our national anthem goes, ‘aming ligaya na pag may mang-aapi, ang mamatay nang dahil sa ’yo.’ This means that as Filipinos, it would be our joy to give up our lives in defense of our country’s freedom. It is an expression of how far we are willing to go to defend our country and its sovereignty. That the ultimate sacrifice of death would give us joy if it would mean freedom for our country.

The last line was apparently meant to strike a patriotic note among us, Filipinos. Just like in a speech or a joke, it is the so-called ‘punch line’ so it has got to come on strong.

Using Ninoy’s famous line, as suggested by Sen. Gordon, has the same effect as the original lyrics. It is maybe worth pondering on why this line even became famous.

It’s simply because nothing is more patriotic than dying for one’s country.

Our elders of the past have put their heads together to come up with our national anthem and the design of our Philippine flag, taking into consideration the very events that led to our freedom and the conditions of the times then. We should maybe show the respect they deserve by leaving the national anthem and our flag alone.

Touching on the matter may even open the floodgates to a host of weird suggestions such as changing the tempo of the national anthem to pop or rap, just to make ‘Lupang Hinirang’ in keeping with the times.

As it is, several artists have come under fire for changing the tempo of our national anthem and for alerting or ‘playing’ with its tune. Some artists think that the national anthem is just like any other song that they can interpret the way they want.

Not because this is allowed in other countries like the United States, it means that the same can be done here, too. There are countless other songs to play around with, so why dwell on the national anthem which is expected to strike certain sensitive chords with many, if not majority, of Filipinos?

I don’t think this is gonna sit well with most of our countrymen, along with the proposals to change the lyrics of the national anthem and the design of the Philippine flag, specially during these times when the country is facing a host of other more pressing issues like inflation, surging prices of basic commodities and the ‘Ompong’ aftermath.

There is a time for everything. Simply put, the proposals just come at a ‘wrong timing.’

***

Beauty tip -- A mixture of lettuce and spinach juice is good to drink to induce hair growth.  (Source: Dr. Rosary May Canay-Diaz of Californian Bloom Aesthetic Institute and Medical Spa/4108424/4669596/09178038240/ 025053987)

***

Jokjok (from Maryann Crisologo of Sta. Rosa, Laguna) --PEDRO: Oy miss, iso-soli ko na ’tong DVD na nirentahan ko sa shop n’yo! Walang kwenta!/MISS: Baket po sir?/PEDRO: Walang picture, walang sound anu ba naman ’yan! Kala ko pa naman suspense thriller ’tong kinuha ko /MISS: Walang problema sir, palitan natin. Eh ano ho ba ang pamagat ng napili ninyong palabas?/PEDRO: Ayan oh, ‘HEAD CLEANER!’

***

Direct Hit entertains comments, suggestions or complaints. Please have them emailed to itchiecabayan@yahoo.com or text 0927-7169778.

http://www.journal.com.ph/editorial/opinion/changing-our-flag-and-national-anthem-ill-timed

Sotto suggests changing some lines in national anthem

Senate President Vicente Sotto III has raised the possibility of changing the last two lines of the national anthem, which he said sounds like a “defeatist attitude.”

Sotto was referring to the lines: “Aming ligaya na ‘pag may mang-aapi, ang mamatay nang dahil sa’yo [It is our joy to die because of you when oppressors come].”

“Patay na agad eh [It’s about death already]. I have thought of a line that could replace this: ‘Aming ligaya na ‘pag may nang-aapi, ang ipaglaban kalayaan mo [It is our joy to fight for your freedom when oppressors come],’” he said on Tuesday while interpellating on a bill seeking to add a ninth ray in the sun on the design of the Philippine flag.

The Senate leader said he has also been hearing sentiments from composers and writers about the last two lines of the national anthem.

According to Sotto, the Senate could also look into this possibility as they discuss the bill on the flag authored and co-sponsored by Senator Richard Gordon.

Historical records reveal that first President of the Philippine Republic General Emilio Aguinaldo commissioned Juan Felipe in 1898 to compose a “more stirring and majestic” march to inspire Filipinos to fight the enemy, according to the Official Gazette.

Jose Palma wrote the lyrics of the Philippine national anthem a year after. /jpv

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1034391/sotto-suggests-changing-some-lines-in-national-anthem

Quezon Ave., Cebu BRT get DoTr nod

The Department of Transportation on Wednesday said it would be proceeding with the implementation of two out of three Bus Rapid Transit systems—the Cebu BRT system and the Quezon Avenue BRT system.

DoTr Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark de Leon bared this following a recent inspection of both BRT systems’ routes with representatives from the DoTr, the National Economic and Development Authority, and the World Bank— which funds the project.

“The Bus Rapid Transit project of DoTr for Cebu and Quezon Avenue will push through,” De Leon told a press briefing in MalacaƱang.

“We conducted an inspection with World Bank team and also joined by NEDA, and evaluated conditions of the corridor of Cebu and also Quezon Avenue and we found it is possible to run the BRT in these corridors,” he added.

However, De Leon said the EDSA BRT system was “still undergoing evaluation “after its supposed funder backed out of the project.

“We’re undergoing evaluation of the BRT in EDSA,” De Leon said.

“The other two will push through because they have a different funder, it’s under World Bank,” he added.

De Leon said the DoTr had signed the contract for the technical service consultants for the Cebu BRT and had written the Department of Finance about its intention to proceed with the Quezon Avenue BRT.

“We just signed the contract for the TSC in Cebu so we’re already pushing for the BRT to push through. For Manila, we have signed a letter to DoF that we will push through with the program,” De Leon said.

Meanwhile, the agency is now working on the detailed engineering design of both BRT systems.

Last July, DoTr Secretary Arthur Tugade bared that only the implementation of the Cebu BRT would push through, considering Metro Cebu’s road profile and the need for efficient mass transport systems in interconnected cities.
The Cebu BRT is a 23-kilometer system, which will run through Bulacao, Ayala, and Talamban.

Two Metro Manila BTRs—Quezon Avenue and EDSA—were earlier scrapped since the DoTr considered it unfeasible on narrow and congested roads in urban areas.

The Quezon Avenue BRT will run 12.3 km from the Quezon Memorial Circle to Manila City Hall via Elliptical Road, Quezon Avenue and EspaƱa Boulevard.

Meanwhile, the EDSA BRT will run 48.6 km and will have four main corridors—a main line along Edsa and corridors along Ayala Avenue to World Trade Center, Ortigas to Bonifacio Global City, and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The BRT systems are part of the DoTr’s integrated transportation system, one of the solutions to ease traffic. It dedicates lanes for specialized buses and stations.

It is estimated to cost P53 billion.

http://www.manilastandard.net/news/national/275947/quezon-ave-cebu-brt-get-dotr-nod.html