Gumabay, Kevin Y.

& Samonte, Krizen Nicole

February 26, 2020

CONTROVERSIES IN THE PHILIPPINE FLAG & ANTHEM

These past years there are still controversies which the senate tackles; one is the question if the

Philippine Flag should have a 9th ray and the other one is the issue of changing the Last part of the lyrics of

our National Anthem which is the “Lupang Hinirang”. Diving in the internet there are forums, news and

blogs about these controversies. The online page of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines

(NHCP) posted an article of Chris Antonette Pieda-Pugay which briefly explains the rich history of our

National Flag. Another website also posted the same kind of topic, a news report of ABS-CBN which was

written by Kristine Sabillo that was entiltled “Should the Philippine flag have a 9th ray?”. Meanwhile a blog

of Vernon Joseph Go entitled “A 9th ray to the sun in the Philippine flag” also covers the same topic. The 3

articles raised issues that adding a ninth ray would be a hullabaloo in the senate and it will raise commosions

and other misconception once the 9th ray will be placed. It will also destroy the historical context of the flag

itself.

According to the NHCP article during the 1970’s, House bill No. 7725 sponsored by Rep. Sultan

Omar Dianalan of the 1st District of Lanao del Sur initially petitioned for the addition of 9th ray in the rays

of the sun in the Philippine flag to symbolize the Moslems and the cultural minorities who fought the

Spaniards and waged war against them. While other groups proposed that a crescent be placed beside the

sun as a form of tribute to the pre-colonial past. However, those historians headed by Teodoro Agoncillo

singled out that when Aguinaldo himself designed the flag, he had in his mind the eight provinces which

rise in arms against Spain during the Revolution namely: Manila, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija,

Tarlac, Laguna and Batangas. Recently this controversy was again raised by Senator Richard Gordon,

sponsor of Senate Bill 102, he seeks to add a ninth ray in the flag's sun, argued that there is a need to increase

the rays of the sun to represent Filipino Muslims who fought against the Spaniards. Which reiterates the

petition in 1970’s. to add the 9th ray in our national flag. “I think inclusion should be the policy. To include

our brother Muslims,” Gordon said during the interpellation period. In this matter our reaction is just like

the comment of the historian Xiao Chua which said adding a ninth ray in the Philippine flag would "destroy"

the historical context behind the symbolism.

Gumabay, Kevin Y. & Samonte, Krizen Nicole
February 26, 2020

Which by means it will not only destroy its context but will also cause a commission and

misunderstanding in a class when it is being thought, most especially when teaching it to the next

generation. Imagining the next generations being confused about our rich historical background is very

alarming, it will cause uproar of another controversy in this matter. According to Mr. Go’s blog adding the

9th ray is unnecessary and the senate should focus on its people instead of proposing such petitions. It is

also the same as the controversy of changing the last lyrics of our national anthem “Lupang Hinirang”.

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III commented that they might also consider changing the lyrics of

the National Anthem by amending the same law. "Some people mostly composers have told me the last

two lines of the Philippine anthem sounds...defeatist,” he said during the interpellation. Sotto suggests

using, "Aming ligaya na pag may nang-aapi, ang ipaglaban kalayaan mo” as the last line of the song instead

of “Aming ligaya, na pag may mang-aapi, ang mamatay nang dahil sa iyo.”

Studying the context of the proposed lyrics that Senate President Sotto stated, “Aming ligaya na

pag may nang-aapi, ang ipaglaban kalayaan mo” instead of “Aming ligaya, na pag may mang-aapi, ang

mamatay nang dahil sa iyo.” Seems like a little bit off. Focusing on the proposed lyrics on the part "Aming

ligaya na pag may nang-aapi…” clearly sounds like we the Filipino people will only make a move or will

only defend our country when something or someone will be in a way attacking our motherland. And the

last proposed part “…Ang ipaglaban ang kalayaan mo” sounds like you are only talking to your own self,

you are only fighting for your own freedom not fighting for the freedom of our own country and our own

countrymen. The original lyrics is much better; Aming ligaya, na pag may mang-aapi, ang mamatay nang

dahil sa iyo.”, because we will be bravely defending our own country and our own country when an

impending attacker will come. This lyric is much better because it sounds like we are not defending oneself

but we are defending ourselves, we are not fighting for our own sake but we are fighting for all sake.

In conclusion about these issues. Controversies in the past must not be a hindrance on how a

Filipino should look up to our flag and on how the anthem should be sung because no matter what happens

this flag and this anthem that we have right now has served as the unifying symbol of all Filipinos and this

is the same banner that the freedom fighters served in war and in peace. In general, our flag symbolizes us

as a nation and as a people.