Editorial

Loving our dear flag 

News have it that four vendors were arrested at Luneta Park in Manila for selling Chinese flags but which the National Parks Development Committee said had been “staged.” It came at a time when the nation celebrates June 12 as Philippine Independence Day and in a situation where our country is at rift with China over territorial claims on the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea.

The NPDC said the vendors were “seemingly being paid to pose as if they were selling Chinese flags.” Is it because of the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day? Will there be also selling of American flags on July 4 in observance of the Philippine-US Friendship Day, the date when USA celebrates its Independence Day and also the date when our country was granted independence in 1946 as promised by America after the Philippine Commonwealth period? 

But who ordered the staging of the selling of the Chinese flags for a fee? Isn’t this an act of treason?  These vendors should instead sell Philippine flags for the June 12 Independence Day celebration, the day when we reflect on the state of our independence as a nation and to what extent we have imbibed in us that high sense of nationalism and patriotism.

Our flag represents and symbolizes our dear country and the nation’s sovereignty, the same way other countries do likewise of their own. We give due respect to the national emblem as an act or show of love of one’s country and never desecrate it lest we face the penalty of law. We stand at attention and vehicles halt when there is flag raising-retreat ceremony because we give reverence to our flag while we join singing the National Anthem and put substance on the lyrics. Take note, too, when we dishonor the flag of other nations, we are also castigated and howled with indignance… this is how sacred is the national flag.

Let it be a lesson, we don’t sell other nation’s flag. Better, we buy our own Philippine Flag and keep it home and have it displayed when we celebrate Independence Day to show our sense of nationalism and patriotism. Remember, our forefathers fought with their lives to free us from colonialism and for our country to be free as a sovereign state as other countries would also defend their own against threat to security and annihilation.

As we celebrate Independence Day, let us renew our sense of duty and dedication to one’s country in whatever way we can even so simple it could be. Respect to our Philippine National Flag and being a good citizen would be the best there could be. Love our Flag.