It’s just a piece of cloth. The Flag has been used for everything from jackets to social networking avatars to computer wallpaper to boxer shorts and yes, boxers’ shorts. Yet the difference between ordinary pieces of cloth and the Flag is that the latter evokes emotions, stirs the national conscience, and establishes the national consciousness. Among many things, it is what makes us Filipino.
I’m not a patriotic flag-waver: it’s been a very long while since I waved the Philippine Flag, and there are few-and-far-between flag ceremonies for me to pay my reverence and respect to the country’s national symbol. Yet Sen. Richard Gordon authors a bill – and it passes in Congress – to add a ninth ray to the Sun of the Flag. He defends his bill by saying:
This is a great step in recognizing the fact that we had Muslims such as Lapu-Lapu, Sultan Kudarat, Amai Pakpak, Sorongan, who kept fighting the Spaniards long before this country thought of a revolution against Spain. This would foster unity, make sure that nobody is excluded. If we are to have national unity in this country it must begin in our flag, it must be symbolized in our flag.
There’s an old saying that goes: Patriots wrap themselves around the Flag to protect it, yet scoundrels wrap themselves with the Flag to be protected.
