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Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa

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The coat of arms of the Philippines from 1978 to 1985, during which "Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" appeared on the banderole.

"Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" ("One Country, One Spirit" in Filipino) was the national motto of the Philippines from 1978 to 1986, during the rule of President Ferdinand Marcos. It was adopted on June 9, 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1413. The motto has been criticized and has been denounced as "the slogan of a fascist regime".

History

"Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" was adopted on June 9, 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1413,[1] a key element in Marcos's vision of building his "New Society". When the new motto was finally unveiled three days later on Independence Day during the 1978 State of the Nation Address, Marcos claimed that it was imperative for the nation to build a united though diverse political community.[2]

It shall remain the paramount concern of our government to unite our country behind the cause of justice and dignity, to lift those who live in conditions of poverty, ignorance and lack of opportunity, so that together they may form one united political community. And regardless of differences in our views, we shall strive to be one nation, in which one will be free to disagree with another without undermining national unity. We shall be a nation with one purpose, no matter how differently individuals express themselves.

The precise meaning and rationale of "Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" remains disputed, although it has been argued that the motto was part and parcel of the state's projection of its political power towards building the New Society, especially with the imposition of Martial Law in 1972. The motto in turn arguably embodied the New Society's cultural consciousness, developed in part through First Lady Imelda Marcos's socio-cultural projects.[3] It was incorporated into the national coat of arms, and even a patriotic song from the period, Ako ay Pilipino ("I am Filipino") by George Canseco, incorporated the new motto in its chorus.[4]

Abolition

Following Marcos's ouster in the People Power Revolution, "Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" was abolished by his successor, Corazon Aquino, on September 10, 1986 by virtue of Memorandum Order No. 34, which revoked the decree making the motto official.[5] References to the motto in other media were removed thereafter; for example, the motto was officially removed from the coat of arms the following year with the passage of the Administrative Code of 1987.[6] The Philippines would not have another national motto until 1998, when the current motto, "Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa" ("For God, People, Nature and Country") was adopted under Republic Act No. 8491 (the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines), under the rule of Fidel V. Ramos.[7]

Criticism

"Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" has been criticized and denounced as being "the slogan of a fascist regime".[4]

Architect and author Gerard Lico claims that the motto builds on a narrative of national palingenesis, with the motto being seen as the culmination of the Marcoses' desire to build a single national identity — an identity that ultimately centered around their cult of personality.[8] Meanwhile, Dr. Michael Tan, Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Diliman, criticized the motto for embodying a predominantly Christian, Tagalophone monocultural national identity that came at the expense of the country's other religions, ethnic groups and languages.[9] The Tagalophone aspect of this identity was further criticized by Philippine Star columnist Bobit Avila, who claimed that the motto embodied poorly-executed Jacobinist thought.[10]

The motto however is not without its defenders. Columnist Kitch Ortego, writing in the Manila Standard, invoked "Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" as being representative of a former culture of consensus in Philippine politics,[11] while former Senator and Marcos-era Information Minister Francisco Tatad, writing in the Manila Times, claimed that the motto was unfairly victimized by Corazon Aquino administration's vilification of Marcos's achievements — part of a larger claim that he makes accusing her, former Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. and their son, President Benigno Aquino III, of being overly vindictive towards Marcos and his family.[12]

References

  1. ^ Republic of the Philippines. (Enacted: June 9, 1978). PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1413 – DECLARING THE THEME "ISANG BANSA, ISANG DIWA" AS THE NATIONAL MOTTO OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND INCORPORATING IT IN THE NATIONAL SEAL. Retrieved April 8, 2016 from the LawPhil Project.
  2. ^ Marcos, Ferdinand E. (June 12, 1978). A Bold Experiment: Message of His Excellency, Ferdinand E. Marcos, President of the Philippines, to the Congress on the State of the Nation (Speech). The 1978 State of the Nation Address delivered at the opening of the Interim Batasang Pambansa. Quezon City. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  3. ^ Navarro, Raul C. (2008). "Ang Bagong Lipunan, 1972–1986: Isang Panimulang Pag-aaral sa Musika at Lipunan". Humanities Diliman (in Filipino). 5 (1–2). University of the Philippines Diliman: 47–77. ISSN 2012-0788. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Remollino, Alexander Martin (December 18, 2008). "Nasyunalismo at Panitikan: Balik-tanaw sa Isang Porum at sa Paksa Nito". Philippine Studies (in Filipino). Emanila.com Pty Ltd. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  5. ^ Republic of the Philippines. (Enacted: September 10, 1986). MEMORANDUM ORDER No. 34 – REVOKING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1413 “DECLARING THE THEME ‘ISANG BANSA, ISANG DIWA,’ AS THE NATIONAL MOTTO OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND INCORPORATING IT IN THE NATIONAL SEAL”. Retrieved April 9, 2016 from the Official Gazette.
  6. ^ Republic of the Philippines. (Enacted: February 24, 1987). EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 292 – The Administrative Code of 1987, Book I, Chapter 4: National Symbols and Official Languages. Retrieved April 9, 2016 from the Official Gazette.
  7. ^ Republic of the Philippines. (Enacted: February 12, 1998). REPUBLIC ACT No. 8491 – AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE CODE OF THE NATIONAL FLAG, ANTHEM, MOTTO, COAT-OF-ARMS AND OTHER HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES OF THE PHILIPPINES. Retrieved April 9, 2016 from the ChanRobles Virtual Law Library.
  8. ^ Santos, Roselle. "BOOK REVIEW: EDIFICE COMPLEX: POWER, MYTH, AND THE MARCOS STATE ARCHITECTURE". Artes de las Filipinas: Purveyor of Knowledge and Emerging Publisher of Philippine Art. EACOMM Corporation. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  9. ^ Tan, Michael L. (October 21, 2015). Cultural Diversity and ASEAN Regional Integration: Challenges for Filipino and Asian Educators (PDF) (PowerPoint presentation).
  10. ^ Avila, Bobit S. (August 22, 2013). "Make language part of our inclusive growth". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  11. ^ Ortego, Kitch (August 29, 1987). "Consensus & confrontation". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. Retrieved April 10, 2016 – via Google News.
  12. ^ Tatad, Francisco S. (February 28, 2016). "Why is Aquino so afraid of Marcos?". The Manila Times. Manila Times Publishing Corporation. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
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