DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 12 June) — No “Bagong Pilipinas” hymn nor pledge was performed during the Independence Day celebration at the Rizal Park here on Wednesday.
Vice President Sara Duterte attends the Independence Day rites in Davao City on Wednesday (12 June 2024). MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO
This despite the encouragement by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “to integrate the recital of the Bagong Pilipinas Hymn and Pledge in the conduct of weekly flag ceremonies” during flag ceremonies in national and local government offices, as well as educational institutions.
The policy was stated in Memorandum Circular No. 52, signed by executive secretary Lucas Bersamin, which was uploaded to the Official Gazette, the public journal and main publication of the government of the Philippines, on Sunday.
Vice President Sara Duterte, who is also education secretary, graced the flag-raising and the wreath-laying ceremonies here together with Vice Mayor Jay Melchor Quitain Jr.
Her younger brother, Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, was absent during the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the celebration of Independence Day in Luneta, Manila, which was attended by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and First Lady Lisa Araneta-Marcos, included the Bagong Pilipinas hymn and pledge.
When reporters asked the vice president for comments regarding the passage of the circular, Duterte smiled and said “no comment.”
During her speech, Duterte said Independence Day must be a day of remembrance and recognition of the Filipino heroes’ “sacrifices for freedom and independence.” (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)
