Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Quezon City, Metro Manila 17 FEB 2014

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

38928

HOUSE BILL Nt

Introduced by HON. RENE L. RELAMPAGOS
First District, Bohol

EXPLANATORY NOT

National symbols represent its country, its people, its history and its culture.
In the Philippines, there are around twenty national symbols being taught in school.
However, of these symbols, only ten (10) are “official,” that is, with basis either in the
Constitution (for the national language), Republic Acts (for the national flag, coat of
arms, anthem and motto as well as the national martial arts and sports), and
Proclamations (for the national flower, tree, bird and gem).

That leaves the other national symbols “unofficial” or blatantly, “colorums,”
for having no basis for their declaration. Rizal now becomes the unofficial national
hero, carabao the unofficial national animal, mango the unofficial fruit, bangus the
unofficial fish, the baro’t saya as the unofficial national costume and so on.

This bill, hence, primarily seeks to lay the basis for the declaration and
recognition of the Philippine national symbols. In addition, this bill aims to develop
and instil nationalism and unity; to ensure respect, promotion and preservation of
the national symbols; to correct the “unofficial” status of these symbols as taught in
; to provide guidelines for their use, care and conservation; and to promote
Philippine tourism through these symbols, among others.

Further, the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher
Education (CHED), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and
the National Historical Commis sked to
come up with the implementing rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of
this proposed measure. In doing so, they shall give primordial consideration to the
ect, promotion, preservation, conservation, cultivation and usage of these
national symbols, as appropriate, including proper information dissemination
through the quad-media.

For the above considerations, the immediate passage of this law is earnestly

sought
Mp
RENE om ‘LAMPAGOS



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo, 8926

Introduced by HON. RENE L. RELAMPAGOS
First District, Bohol

“AN ACT
DECLARING THE NATIONAL SYMBOLS OF THE PHILIPPINES”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “Philippine National
Symbols Act of 2014.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to inculcate
patriotism, nationalism and appreciation of the role of national heroes and symbols
in the historical development of the country. Furthermore, the State must give
priority to education, science and technology, arts and culture, and sports to foster
patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human
liberation and development.

SEC. 3. Philippine National Symbols. — The following shall be the
national symbols of the Philippines:

a. National Flag ~ the flag of the Philippines shall be blue, white and red with
an eight-rayed golden-yellow sun and three five-pointed stars, as
consecrated and honored by the people. The other specifications and
regulations for the national flag shall be those under Republic Act No.
8491.

b. National Capital ~ the City of Manila shall be the capital of the Philippines.
It is located in Luzon and is part of the national capital region. It houses
the national seat of government and many of the historical sites in the
country including Intramuros.

¢, National Seat of Government — shall be the Malacajian Palace. Situated in
the old Manila City district of San Miguel, this is the official residence and
office of the President of the Philippines. ‘This is also where formal state
functions are held.

d. National Language ~ the national language of the Philippines is Filipino.
As it evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of
existing Philippine and other languages.



e. National Anthem ~ is entitled Lupang Hinirang and shall always be sung
Jy the national language within or without the country. ‘The following shall
be the lyrics of the National Anthem:

Bayang Magiliw
Perlas ng Silanganan
‘Alab ng puso
Sa Dibdib mo'y buhay
‘Lupang Hinirang,
Duyan ka ng magiting,
‘Sa mantulupig
Dika pasisiil
Sa dagat at bundok,
Sa simoy at sa langit mong bughaw,
May dilag ang tula
At awit sa paglayang minamahal.
‘Ang kislap ng watawat mo'y
Tagumpay na nagniningning;
‘Ang bituin at araw niy
Kailan pa ma'y di magdiditim
Lupang araw, ng huwalhati't pagsinta,
Buhay ay langit sa piling m
Aming ligaya na pag may mang-aapi,
‘Ang mamatay nang dahil sa iyo.

‘The rendition of the National Anthem, whether played or sung, shall be in
accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian
Felipe.

£ National Song - “Bayan Ko” shall be the national song. This Tagalog song
was composed in 1928 when Filipinos were campaigning for independence
from America under the leadership of President Manuel Quezon. ‘The lyrics
are based on a poem by Jose Corazon de Jesus. It was set to music by
Constancio de Guzman who likened that Motherland to a bird set free, the
land returned to the rightful people, the true heirs of the islands.
“Foreigners are intoxicated. with your beauty, my country, my nest of tears
of poverty. My steadfast wish is to set you free.” Originally written
in Spanish by Filipino General José Alejandrino, this kundiman is often
considered the unofficial second national anthem.

g. National Motto ~ shall be “Maka-diyos, Maka-tao, Makakalikasan at
Makabansa.” (“For God, People, Nature and Country”).

bh. National Coat-of-Arms — shall have paleways of two (2) pieces, azure and
gules; a chief argent studded with three (3) mullets equidistant from each
ther; and, in point of honor, ovoid argent over all the sun rayonnant with
ight minor lesser rays. Beneath shall be the scroll with the words
“REPUBLIKA NG. PILIPINAS,” inscribed thereon.

i. National Seal ~ or the Great Seal shall be circular in form, with the arms as
described in the preceding section, but without the scroll and the
inscription thereon, Surrounding the whole shall be a double marginal
Uirele within which shall appear the words “Republika ng Pilipinas.” The
Great Seal shall bear the National Motto.


m.

National Currency ~ the Philippine Peso shalll be the national currency. It
is divided in 100 centavos. As far as practicable, the design of the peso
shall feature famous Filipinos, historical events, prominent places and
landmarks, iconic natural wonders, endemic wildlife and animals and
national symbols. The smallest amount of legal tender/bank note in wide
circulation is 20 pesos and the largest is 1000 pesos while in coins the
smallest is 5 centavos and the largest is 10 pesos. The Philippine Peso sign
shall be P, Php, or simply P.

National Hero ~ shall be José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso
Realonda, born at Calamba, Laguna on June 19, 1861 to Francisco
Engracio’ Rizal Mercado y Alejandro and Teodora Morales Alonso. y
Quintos. Rizal was a nationalist, novelist, poet, ophthalmologist, journalist
and revolutionary. He is the most well-known advocate for reforms in the
Philippines during the Spanish Colonial Era. December 30, 1896, his date
of execution, is remembered as the Rizal Day. And his monument now
stands in Rizal Park. He wrote the poem Mi Ultimo Adios and the books,
Noli Me Tangere, EI Filibusterismo, which books remain an integral part of
the secondary school curriculum. A study of his life and works is mandated
by law to be part of the tertiary level school curriculum,

National Martial Arts and Sport — shall be the Arnis, also known as
Eskrima, Kali, Garrote and other names in various regional languages,
such as Pananandata in Tagalog; Pagkalikali, Thanag; Kabaraon and
Kalirongan, Pangasinan; Kaliradman, Bisaya; and Didja, Mokano, is an
indigenous Filipino martial art and sport characterized by the use of
swinging and twirling movements, accompanied by striking, thrusting and
parrying techniques for defense and offense. This is usually done with the
use of one (1) or two (2) sticks or any similar implements or with bare
hands and feet also used for striking, blocking, locking and grappling, with
the use of the same principle as that with the canes.

National Dance ~ shall be the Carifiosa, a Philippine folk dance of Hispanic
origin. The word carifiosa, in Spanish, means the affectionate one —
characteristic of most Filipina women, This is a courtship dance that
portrays acts of flirtation between a man and a woman, The dancers
perform steps resembling hide-and-seek movements. ‘The woman holds a
handkerchief or sometimes a fan.

National Bird — shall be the Philippine Eagle or the Philippine monkey-
cating eagle with scientific name Pithecophaga jefferyi. It is also referred
to as Haribon or Haring Ibon (Bird King). It is considered as one of the
largest, strongest and most powerful eagle in the world. It is also one of the
rarest with less than 500 birds in the wild. The Haribon is only found in
the rainforests of the Philippines, along steep mountain sides.

National Animal ~ the “Kalabaw,” Carabao or the Water Buffalo shall be
the national animal. With scientific name Bubalus bubalus, these gentle
but hard-working animals are largely used by farmers to pull plows in the
cefields and/or pull transportation carts and have been domesticated
since the pre-hispanic times. A Philippine Carabao Center was established
for research and development of carabaos including carabao-products.



u

National Fish — shall be the “Bangus” or Milkfish. With scientific name
Chanos chanos, it is often found along continental shelves and islands.
Milkfisk aquaculture originated in the Philippines, 800 years ago, and
spread over the Indo-Pacific rim. Bangus is a naturally strong and flexible
fish capable of adapting and thriving were they are raised — in saline
ponds, in fish ponds, in fish pens and in cages even at sea. Bangus is
popular table fare among Filipinos and is prepared and cooked in various
ways.

National Tree — shall be the Narra or the Pterocarpus indicus. This
indigenous tree is a symbol of resilience. Its hardwood is the favorite
timber for the manufacture of fine furniture, cabinetry, cart wheels,
carving, construction, and musical instruments. Apart from these, the
Narra — from its bark and resin extracts, fruit, leaves, flowers — are used
for medicinal as well as aesthetic purposes.

National Gem ~ the Philippine Pearl, internationally known as the South
Sea Pearl, the oldest valued gem is the national gem of the country. This
hard and ideally round and smooth object is naturally produced and is
cultivated or harvested. It is composed of calcium carbonate in
tiny crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The
largest pearl in the world, the Pearl of Allah or the Pearl of Lao Tze (length:
9.4 inches / weight: 14 pounds) was found in Brooke's Point, Palawan. Tt
has a value of $40 million dollars according to Guinness Book of Records.

National Flower — shall be Sampaguita or the Jasminum sambac.
Philippine Sampaguita flower is a white, star-shaped blossom which has a
sweet fragrance. It opens at night and droops in less than a day.
Symbolizing purity, simplicity, humility and strength, the small white
flowers are popular garlands and used as leis, corsages and crowns. The
garlands may be used to welcome guests, or as an offering or adornment in
religious altars. But other than its use for garlands, these flowers are also
Known for their scent and are often used as perfumes. In addition,
Sampaguita has known medicinal use.

National Leaf ~ shall be the Anahaw leaf with scientific name Livistona
rotundifolia. The Anahaw leaf is large, round fan-shaped and is glossy
green in color. It is considered a strong leaf weathering high heat from the
sun as well as the brutal rain and wind. It is often used in awards and
medals to represent high achievement, strength and loyalty. Considered as
one of the most beautiful plants in the Philippines, it is a
common landscaping plant. It is most common uses are as fan during the
hot days, roof for the nipa hut and food wrapping.

National Fruit — shall be the mango or the Mangifera indica. ‘This
delicious and aromatic tropical fruit is available in different shapes, colors,
sizes, and weight. It may be oval, round, elongated, kidney- or heart-
shaped. It may be green, green-yellow or even orange to red in color.
Mango is regarded as the queen of Philippine fruits. The country has
different varieties of mangoes like kalabaw, piko, indiyan, paho, and
supsupin. The Philippine mangoes of the Kalabaw variety are labeled
internationally as Philippine Super Mangoes and are considered as one of



the delicious fruits in the world and are reputedly, in the Guinness Book of
World Records, as the sweetest in the world. Green, unripe mangoes is
popular among the Filipinos. This delicious fruit is best eaten as a ripe fruit
but it can be canned, and dried. Other usual preparations for mangoes
include shakes, juices, jam, jellies, cakes, and sauces. Mangoes make an
exotic addition to fruit salads and can be pureed to make sorbets and ice
cream. Raw mangoes can be made into pickles and chutneys, and serve as
accompaniment for fried fish.

National Food — shall be Adobo. Although it has a name taken from
the Spanish, the cooking method is indigenous to the Philippines. When
the Spanish colonized the Philippines in the late 16th century and carly
17th century, they encountered an indigenous cooking process which
involved stewing with vinegar, which they then referred to as adobo, the
Spanish word for seasoning, or marinade. Dishes prepared in this manner
eventually came to be known by this name, with the original term for the
dish now lost to history. The most common table fare among Filipino
families, nothing beats adobo for its versatility and variety. Whether using,
chicken, pork, fish, squid, kangkong, sitaw, puso ng saging and others as
the main ingredient, there are many ways to cook adobo ~ adobo sa gata,
adobong matamis, adobong tuyo, adobong masabaw, adobo sulipan, adobo
sa pinya, and adobo sa kalamansi, adobong malutong, adobong puti, adobo
flakes, spicy adobo, just to name a few. Adobo can also fill the pandesal,
siopao, and puto, can be a pizza topping and pasta sauce, among others.

w. National Costume ~ For male, the Barong Tagalog (or simply Barong) is
the national costume. It is an embroidered formal shirt, very lightweight
and worn untucked over an undershirt. It is usual attire especially in
formal occasions and important public engagements. The finest Barongs
are made from a variety of indigenous fabrics. They have a sheer
appearance and the best are custom embroidered in delicate folk patterns.
Itis usually paired with dark formal pants.

For female, the national costume shall be the Baro’t Saya (“collarless
blouse and long skirt”). From the original half-naked style of Filipinas, the
upper torso was slowly covered with a short-sleeved, collarless blouse
called “baro.” It has since developed into a many-layered collection: the
kimona or inner shirt; the baro outershirt with its usually gauzy materials,
fine embroidery and wide sleeves; the pafiuelo or piano shawl, starched to
a raised look. On the other hand, the saya, an all-purpose brief
wrap-around skirt metamorphosed and now have layers of petticoats
decorated with eyelet. patterns visible underneath the saya,
the saya proper, laid over the starched petticoat and the tapis, a wrap
covering the upper half of the saya.

x. National Slippers — Bakya shall be the national footwear, the traditional
wooden clogs usually worn with the national costume, the baro’t saya. The
Bakya has reference to the Filipinos humble beginnings.

y. National House ~ Bahay Kubo or the Nipa Hut shall be the national house.
Itisa shelter made out of bamboo and palm leaves, usually the anahaw.



z. National Vehicle — the Philippine jeepney. Originally, the military jeeps left
by the Americans after World War II, the Filipinos extended its body to
accommodate more passengers and put a roof to give shade. Now it is the

most accessible mode of transportation throughout the country.

4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of
on (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Historical
Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. In doing so, they shall give
primordial importance to the respect, promotion, preservation, conservation,
cultivation and usage of these national symbols, as appropriate, including proper
information dissemination through the quad-media,

SEC. 5. Separability Clause. — If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act not otherwise affected shall be valid and
subsisting,

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule and regulation contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended
accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. —'This Act shall be effective fifteen (15) days from the date of
its publication in Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,