Friday, June 13, 2008 New flag stirs pride, excitement By Annabelle L. Ricalde
THE new Philippine flag unfurled during the 110th Independence Day celebration in Divisoria elicited pride, excitement and even laughter among the hundreds of government employees Thursday.
Measuring 36 feet by six feet, the flag was so huge that it is even higher than the pole it was attached to.
Police officers had a hard time unfurling the flag and at one moment that they have to threw it high so portions of it will not touch the ground.
The flag caught the branches of nearby trees after Mayor Constantino Jaraula and Vice Mayor Vicente Emano pulled the rope to raise it at 6:30 a.m.
But the flag flew high, waving the blue and red colors for all to see.
Below the flagpole, the crowd numbering around 500 sang the Philippine Anthem Bisayan version, placing their right palms on their chest.
The flag, no matter what size, is close to the heart of Filipinos, according to Paulita Roa, chief of the Cagayan de Oro Historical Commission.
"Size does not matter as long as the flag will not touch the ground or any structure. It is the flag law," Roa said.
Acting City Administrator Crisilda Joson said it was only when the flag was unfurled did they realized its huge size.
"kagabii pa gipa-deliver so before pag-start sa program medyo aware na mi nga taas ra gyud (The flag was only delivered the night before and we realized it was big when it was unfurled)," Joson said.
She said they ordered the new flag to replace the old one.
Raising the flag in Divisoria during Independence Day is an old tradition for Cagayan de Oro.
Roa said the first Independence Day rites was held on January 10, 1899, less than a year after General Emilio Aguinaldo raised the flag in Imus, Cavite and declared the country free from the Spanish colonial rule.
In those days, Roa said Kagay-anons celebrated Independence Day with parade, blaring music from marching bands, speeches, and volleys of cannon fires.
She said Kagay-anons also have floats and the best-looking had a blazing sign "La Libertad de Filipinas (The Liberty of the Philippines)."
An excerpt from the historical documents, which the City Government has, said: "On this float was one of the most beautiful women at that time, Miss Isidra Yamomo, holding the Philippine Flag standing on the chain of slavery, symbolizing liberty."
The celebration was capped with local patriot Pedro Akut reciting a poem "Pniahanongod (dedication) written by Cagayan de Oro poet Toribio Chaves.
Thursday's 110th Independence Day celebration was the city's shortest and modest yet a solemn way of commemorating the important event for the Filipino and the entire nation.
But the solemnity of the program while singing the National Anthem and watching the giant Philippine Flag slowly soaring was disrupted because the Centennial Flag is much higher than the pole and in fact, it touches the ground.
Military and policemen continue holding the edge of the flag until the singing of the national anthem has ended because even the blow of the wind could hardly carry the giant flag.
And after a few minutes the flag suddenly went up by the wind blows but it was entangled at the antennae of one of the establishment.
Thus, conceived various reactions and opinion among City Hall employees and of the public as well including some officials in the city though mostly decline to make any comments but the expression of their faces can tell most.
"Sus, nagpresentar lang gyud sa kahimtang sa Pilipinas tungod sa kabug-at wala mokayab," a city hall employee who request animosity said.
On his part, Raul Moldez, another city hall employee, stated that the flag is not appropriate to the height of the flag pole and whoever is the in-charge of the task might overlooked the idea.
City Councilor Alexander Dacer noted jokingly, saying it only shows that there is no corruption.
