COTABATO CITY --- The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA)
Parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) held
last October 23 the ceremonial signing of the region’s adopted official flag
and emblem or the Autonomy Acts No. 1 and 2.
Chief
Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim led the ceremonial signing together with
Parliament Speaker Pangalian Ali Balindong during the Parliament’s regular
session last October 23 and the Chief Minister’s Hour delivered by the former.
The
signing ceremony was also witnessed by the Members of the Parliament (MP).
The
BTA Parliament passed previously Parliament Bill No. 7, which is also known as
“An Act Adopting an Official Flag of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao.” The measure was passed on its third and final reading on August 22,
2019 and was signed into law on August 28, 2019 by Chief Minister Ebrahim as
Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 1.
The
Bangsamoro flag is reflective of its people’s “identity, history, heritage,
struggles, and aspiration.” It has four colors, a crescent, a seven-rayed star,
and a kris.
The
top side portion of the flag is green, symbolizing Islamic teachings and
principles that the majority of the BARMM population adheres to. The middle
part is white, signifying peace, sakina or tranquility (sakina is a principle
in the Qur’an), and righteousness.
The
bottom side portion is red, which symbolizes the blood of the fallen mujahideen
or those who had fought for the recognition of identity and self-determination
of the Bangsamoro.
The
crescent with a seven-rayed star in its center foregrounds the flag’s middle.
The crescent symbolizes principles that guided the Bangsamoro people who had
fought for self-determination. The star’s seven rays represent the seven
provinces and cities that are part of the region: Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur,
Sulu, Tawi-tawi; the cities of Marawi, Lamitan, and Cotabato; as well as the 63
barangays that were previously part of North Cotabato.
Furthermore,
the middle of the red portion is a “Kris” which symbolizes the protection and
resistance of the Bangsamoro and other indigenous people in the Bangsamoro
territory against “oppression, tyranny, and injustice.”
The
law requires all Bangsamoro offices, public and private schools, colleges and
universities, public offices, government-owned or controlled corporations, and
other government instrumentalities to display the new flag.
On
the other hand, the BTA also passed previously Parliament Bill No. 8, which is
known as “An Act Adopting an Official Seal of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region
in Muslim Mindanao.” The measure was passed on its third and final reading on
August 29, 2019 and was signed into law on September 6, 2019 by Chief Minister
Murad Ebrahim as Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 2.
The
official Bangsamoro seal is circular in design. The words “Bangsamoro
Autononomous Region in Muslim Mindanao” is clearly printed at the upper portion
and the same are preceded and ended by stars. The year of creation of the BARMM
“2019” is printed at the lower portion.
The
outermost part of the official Bangsamoro seal is bordered by a rope. In its
center shall be a crescent with a seven-rayed star to its right.
The
rope, the crescent, and the seven-rayed star is golden yellow in color. There’s
a strip, slightly red in color, in the inner portion of the rope. The crescent
and the star is set against a green background. The words describe therein is
written in green with white as its background.
The
rope symbolizes the unity of the Bangsamoro, non-Moro indigenous people, and
other people in the BARMM, as inspired by verse 3:103 of the Quran, which
states: “Hold tight to the rope of Allah, together. And be not divided”.
The
strip, slightly red in color, represents the blood of the fallen Mujaheddin who
fought recognition of identity and self-determination. The crescent stands for
the “guiding principles” of the region’s people who fought for
self-determination.
Meanwhile,
the seven-rayed star represents the component local governments of the region;
the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi Tawi,
Cotabato City, and the Bangsamoro barangays in North Cotabato. The seal
contains the full name of the Bangsamoro region in English. An Arabic version
of the Bangsamoro seal is also considered official.
Under
the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the Parliament is permitted to adopt its own seal
and symbol. (COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA UNIT, BTA PARLIAMENT / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
No comments:
Post a Comment