Shekinah Jedidiah M. Alima

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered all national agencies and state universities and colleges (SUCs) to recite the “Bagong Pilipinas Hymn and Pledge” during flag ceremonies as part of his Bagong Pilipinas vision.

Photos Courtesy of Bloomberg/Danny Pata/ABS-CBN News.

The Office of the President released on Sunday Memorandum Circular 52, which requires the national agencies and SUCs, but the local government units (LGUs) are only encouraged to observe the new flag-raising and lowering ceremony protocol.

Marcos believes that the Bagong Pilipinas principles must be “envisioned to empower Filipinos to support and participate in all government efforts” showcasing his new brand of governance.

Every Monday, all gov’t offices are required to observe the flag-raising ceremony, while the flag-lowering ceremony is every Friday afternoon under Section 18 of Republic Act (RA) 8491 or the “Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.”

Under Section 19 of RA 8491, the president has the authority  to amend rules regarding the proper conduct of flag ceremonies.

Ever since Marcos made his bid for the highest position in the country in 2022, Bagong Pilipinas was declared as his brand of governance to call for “economic and social transformation.”