National Flag Days start today

By Anthony Giron

IMUS, Cavite – The 15-day period that is known as National Flag Days starts today, May 28, and will be until June 12, Philippine Independence Day.

The Department of Interior and Local Government and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) have called on government offices, business establishments, schools and other institutions and private homes to display the Philippine flag during the period.

The declaration of the 15-day National Flag Days is contained in Republic Act No. 8491 or the “Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines” and House Bill 5224 which were approved by Congress.

The 15-day Flag Day period is also declared in Executive Order 179 issued by President Fidel V. Ramos.

The EO had set the extension of the commemoration of the national flag from May 28 to the days leading to Freedom Day on June 12. It also called on officials and residents to display the Philippine flag distinctly during the period.

The Flag Day is being celebrated on May 28 in Imus district, which was where the new Philippine flag was first raised and waved in victory by the revolutionaries, according to Philippine history.

The flag, designed by Aguinaldo, was sewn in Hong Kong by Marcela Agoncillo, her daughter Lorenza, and Delfina Herbosa de Natividad, a niece of Dr. Jose P. Rizal.

Battle of Alapan

The “Battle of Alapan” on May 28, 1898 was a hard-fought encounter of the revolutionaries under General Emilio F. Aguinaldo against the Spanish force prior to the proclamation of the Philippine independence on June 12, 1898.

The battle in Barangay Alapan I was a victory for Aguinaldo and the revolutionaries after the return of the general to the Philippines on May 18, 1898 from exile in Hong Kong.

Aguinaldo and the other revolutionaries also displayed the Philippine flag at Teatro Caviteño in Cavite Nuevo (now Cavite City) following the capture of more than 270 Spanish soldiers in the “Battle of Alapan.”

PH Independence Day

The flag was also waved in victory by Aguinaldo and the other revolutionaries by the window (now a veranda) at the General’s residence in Kawit during the proclamation of independence.

The country commemorated the Flag Day and anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence on June 12 from 1941 to 1964.

In 1965, President Diosdado Macapagal ordered the commemoration of the day of the flag moved to the date when it was first unfurled – May 28 – through Proclamation No. 374.

Flag Display Festival

Imus is the only city which had commemorated Flag Day with pomp and colorful program with its own “Wagayway” (Flag Wave or Display) Festival.

Imus was tagged as “Flag Capital of the Philippines” citing the historical Alapan encounter with the revolutionaries and the Philippines flag at the fore.

Officials said that some 3,000 Philippine flags would be displayed in Imus’ plaza, roads and public edifices, during the Flag Day celebration.

Organizers in Imus have set a month-long program of activities for the celebration, which started May 5.

The flags will remain on display in the city until June 12.

Nationalism and patriotism

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday assured that it will continue to strengthen initiatives that will instill nationalism and patriotism among learners.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that the DepEd continues to ensure that students are educated about the country’s history so they will have better appreciation of the greatness of the Filipino race.

DepEd enjoined all schools to display the Philippine Flag in the respective classrooms, offices and residences of all teaching and nonteaching personnel from May 15 to June 30, 2019.

In particular, these special discussions should take place when teaching subjects such as Sibika at Kultura, HEKASI, Araling Panlipunan, Values Education, Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health (MAPEH), Filipino and English at least once a week for the whole school year.

Flag Campaign in Schools

Earlier, DepEd – in partnership with Ayala Foundation Inc., Chooks-to-Go of Bounty Agro Ventures Inc., and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) – also distributed 163 Philippine flags to the Schools Division of Quezon City to kick off the #MagingMagiting Flag Campaign.

10,000 flags

The NCR Flag Campaign is the first of 17 on-ground flag distribution events that will be done in all 17 regions nationwide. The goal of the campaign is to distribute 10,000 flags to public schools nationwide by 2019. (With a report from MERLINA HERNANDO-MALIPOT)

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/05/27/national-flag-days-start-today/