Pinoys urged to lower Phl flag to half-staff tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday called on the public to lower the Philippine flag to half-staff tomorrow in commemoration of the death anniversary of national hero Jose Rizal.

“We take this opportunity to once again remind our government bodies of Republic Act 229, which requires all institutions to lower the flag to half-mast in solemn commemoration of Dr. Rizal’s ultimate sacrifice,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

She also called on Filipinos to reflect on how Rizal’s legacy “has reverberated throughout our people’s collective narrative.”

“This year’s Rizal Day likewise marks the centennial of the Rizal Monument, built as the tomb and memorial to Dr. Rizal and which has since then served as the de facto symbol of our nationhood,” she said.

RA 229 also prohibits cockfighting, horse racing and jai alai games every Dec. 30, and imposes fines or imprisonment or both on violators.

In a related development, Valte said the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office will launch a website on the Rizal Monument tomorrow as part of its contribution to this year’s Rizal Day commemoration.

“It will feature a comprehensive essay, archival photo galleries, an architectural retrospective and contextual maps focusing on the Rizal Monument and on the Bagumbayan of history – a tract of land that has been an integral part of the narrative of Philippine independence,” she said.

She said the website will also feature a full translation of the essay, The Tagalog Hamlet, by Miguel de Unamuno, one of the earliest and most influential reflections on Rizal.  Unamuno immortalized Rizal as “The Tagalog Christ.”

Valte said the website, which has “multimedia features,” was done in collaboration with the National Historical Institute, National Library, National Parks Development Committee, architectural scholars and historians and heritage enthusiasts.

She said the website will be part of the Official Gazette or the official government website.