OP ED EDITORIAL & CARTOONS: MANILA- Changing the anthem
The national anthem has undergone changes since Julian Felipe wrote the melody in 1898 and Jose Palma wrote the original lyrics in Spanish in 1899. Apart from being translated into English and finally Filipino, the beat of “Lupang Hinirang” has also been slightly modified.
Its current version, however, is now protected by Republic Act 8491, the 1998 Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, and altering the anthem when it is sung in public can warrant a court indictment and penalties. Any change in the lyrics, as proposed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, will require amending RA 8491 and must be approved in a public referendum.
Another senator has proposed to change the design of the flag, adding a ninth ray to the sun to represent Muslims. At least one historian has pointed out that this would destroy the historical significance of the design, which symbolizes the eight provinces suspected by Spain of joining the revolution against the colonial government.
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If Congress approves the addition of a ninth ray, there is another valid concern: how much will it cost taxpayers to change all flags in government offices and on official documents? This leads to another question: why is any design change needed?
The same questions are being asked in the proposal to tweak the lyrics of “Lupang Hinirang.” Specifically, Sotto is proposing to change the last line from the current one that declares the Filipino’s readiness, when faced with an oppressor, to die for the country – ang mamatay nang dahil sa iyo – into one that vows to defend freedom – ang ipaglaban ang kalayaan mo.
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Perhaps concepts of patriotism and heroism are evolving, and should be reflected in national symbols. Opponents of any change, on the other hand, point out that these symbols reflect significant events in the history of the nation and must be preserved rather than changed. National symbols can be dynamic and the debate over the possible changes is fine. But various quarters are also asking: with so many problems besetting the country and limited time for legislation, don’t senators have more urgent things to do? / The Philippine Star
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ASEANEWS EDITORIAL & CARTOONS:
7.4. The Manila Times – WAR
7.6 The Philippine Star – Changing the anthem
8.0. The Straits Times
The Straits Times says:
ST says: Maintaining momentum in Korea talks
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A year can be a long time in global politics. This time last September, US President Donald Trump went before the United Nations General Assembly meeting to denounce North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as “little rocket man”. Today, when he addresses the General Assembly, the tone will most likely be softer, perhaps even laudatory of the younger man. A series of secret trips to Pyongyang by CIA chief turned Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a Singapore summit between Mr Trump and Mr Kim, robust mediation by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and Mr Kim’s apparent willingness to talk details on “complete and verifiable” denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula have kept the peace process alive.
The leaders of the two Koreas have just concluded their third summit meeting. As much as the optics of a photo opportunity on top of Mount Baekdu, revered by all Koreans, the summit underscored the attempt by the South to retain the initiative on affairs affecting the Korean Peninsula; Mr Kim has been to China thrice this year to meet President Xi Jinping and Western calculations are that the Chinese leader is quietly guiding Mr Kim as he navigates the tangled web woven by seven decades of hostility on the peninsula, where Big Powers have often sought to use the minnows as cat’s paws on the Asian chessboard. If only for this, a key outcome was the Korean defence chiefs agreeing to end all hostile behaviour.
TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE: https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/st-editorial/maintaining-momentum-in-korea-talks
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