Cebu Gov’t, Private Entities Mark Start of National Flag Days

Government offices and private establishments in Cebu started Tuesday the 15-day National Flag Days with the simultaneous raising of the Philippine flag and singing of the national anthem.

At the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, military officers and enlisted men, led by their chief of the unified command staff, Col. Vincent Iringan, honored the flag with an early morning military ceremony in front of the Lapu-Lapu monument in Camp Lapu-Lapu here.

Lt. Gen. Noel S. Clement, Centcom commander, in his message read by Iringan, reminded the importance of displaying the flag from May 28 up to Independence Day on June 12.

This year’s celebration is dubbed as “Stop and Salute,” a message sent by Centcom information officer, Maj. Abel Potutan said.

“Ipagdiriwang natin ang national flag day sa pagtataas ng ating watawat, at ang permanenteng paglalantad ng pambansang simbolo na ito simula sa Mayo 28 hanggang sa Hunyo 12 sa lahat ng tanggapan at ahensiya nga gobyerno (Let us celebrate the National Flag Days by raising our flag and permanently displaying it as our nation’s symbol, starting May 28 until June 12 in all offices and agencies of government),” Clement said in a message.

“Let us salute and honor our flag as a sign of patriotism and love of our country,” he added.

The members of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), headed by acting chief Lt. Col. Lorenzo Batuan, have joined city officials and employees in the flag-raising ceremony in Plaza Sugbu, in front of the Cebu City Hall.

City Councilor Margot Osmeña, wife of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, led the officials, employees in the ceremony.

“As I said earlier, hinaot lang unta makahibalo ta nga kining heritage (area) sa atong siyudad, di na kinahanglan mangita ta og mga site for heritage ug culture kay dire lang sa (I wish that the people would know that we have heritage area in the city that we don’t need to look for another site for heritage and culture as they can be found in Plaza Independencia, Fort San Pedro, and Malacañang sa Sugbu, these are all heritage area,” Osmeña said in a radio interview.

Also on Tuesday, the city government opened its first Cebu City Heritage Week, showcasing Cebuano culture and heritage which can be found at this city’s downtown district.

The Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC) of the city government here has prepared a line-up of activities from May 28 to May 31, which includes native games, stories of myths and fables, tartanilla rides, museum visits and heritage talks, said its officer, Bryner Diaz.

Under City Ordinance 2327 declared the last Friday of May as “Gabii sa Kabilin” or Night of Heritage. Ordinance 2474 amended the said ordinance and declared the last week of May as Cebu City Heritage Week.

As private establishments here openly displayed the Philippine flag in various sizes, the Oakridge Business Park in Mandaue had a unique celebration of the opening of the National Flag Days.

Edmun Liu, chief executive officer of Oakride Realty Development Corp. was quoted in a radio report as saying that more than 300 employees, partners, and tenants of Oakridge gathered at the park yard to wave national flags, to mark the observance of the 15-day period of honoring the country’s heraldic symbol.

Capt. Joselito Marquez, chief of the CCPO’s Tourist Police, said their office has prepared a deployment plan to secure local and foreign tourists who are visiting the heritage area in this city’s downtown district. (PNA)