MAYOR Celso Lobregat enjoined Monday all sectors to display the Philippine flag in support of the National Flag Day celebration from Monday to June 12.
At the same time, Lobregat lauded the Knights of Columbus (KOC) Nuestra Senora La Virgen del Pilar Assembly for spearheading the yearly observance of the National Flag Day.
"Indeed you are practicing what you preach. Patriotism, the love of country, is one of the tenets of the Knights of Columbus."
The Philippine flag is the symbol of country, be it in the battlefield or in the sports arena, according to Lobregat.
The designation of May 28 as the National Flag Day is by virtue of Proclamation 146 signed by President Diosdado Macapagal on March 6, 1965. It enjoins the nationwide display of the Philippine flag to mark the observance of the 10th anniversary of Philippine Independence on June 12.
The flag embodies the noble ideals of the country as symbolized by its colors.
The National Historical Institute (NHI) website states: "the white triangle stands for equality; the upper blue stripes stands for peace, truth and justice; the lower red stripe calls for patriotism and valor. The yellow sunburst of eight rays inside the triangle represents the eight provinces declared under martial law in 1896. The three stars symbolize Luzon, Visayas (Panay) and Mindanao."
Since he got elected as mayor of Zamboanga, Lobregat has joined the observance of the Flag Day for the fourth time yesterday. "I'm going to be with you for many more flag days to come and I thank you for your support and help during the last election."
In his message during the program Monday, Lobregat also called for unity now that the elections are over. He admitted that the church in Zambanga was very much affected by the recently concluded mid-year polls, as one of its members ran for the highest local post.
"It is time to unite. I know the Church was very much affected in the last elections and I hope that the Church in Zamboanga hopes that this will not happen again," Lobregat said.
The KOC is an international organization of Catholic men dedicated to charity, unity, fraternity, patriotism, and family life. (SE)
