Tradition and politics do not mix

The 151st birth anniversary of our country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal, was quietly observed yesterday at his hometown in Calamba City, Laguna. It was one of the few places where special commemorative activities were held to mark this most important event in the life of our country’s national hero: being born a Filipino on that glorious day.

It was celebrated as an official holiday yesterday all over Laguna by virtue of Proclamation No. 399 that was signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa “by authority of the President.” It was declared a special non-working day “for residents of Laguna to give the opportunity to celebrate Rizal’s birth anniversary.”

Of course, the Knights of Rizal did not let this special day pass without fanfare. They joined Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim as they observed this with traditional wreath laying at the monument of the national hero yesterday in Luneta which had been long renamed as Rizal Park.

According to the National Park Development Committee (NPDC), an estimated 15,000 people went to Rizal Park yesterday not only to personally see the ongoing improvements there, but also to offer flowers at the monument of the national hero. On an ordinary day, NPDC executive director Juliet Villegas disclosed about 2,000 visit Rizal’s monument. But people are restricted from approaching the monument.

Villegas noted people from all over the country and from all walks of life took advantage of the celebration yesterday as they were temporarily allowed to approach and offer flowers at the Rizal monument. Floral offering at the monument is only allowed whenever heads of state or very important state guests visit Manila as part of protocol activities.

But would you believe that up to this time, there is no statute or law that recognizes Rizal as the national hero of the Philippines? This we confirmed no less than from the office of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

From the NHCP website, we got this bit of information, to wit: “The Americans, to win the sympathy of the Filipinos, and to convince them that they were pro-Filipinos more than the Spaniards, gave Rizal official recognition. This was to make them conform to the new government. Rizal acquired the official title of Philippine National Hero in 1901 under the country’s first American civil governor, William Howard Taft.

“On the recommendation of Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, the Taft Commission renamed the district of Morong into the Province of Rizal through Act 137 on June 11, 1901. This was one of the first official steps taken by the Taft Commission to honor Rizal. Since then, Jose Rizal came to be known as the National Hero.”

Malacañang Palace, however, did not have any commemorative activity for Rizal’s birth anniversary that involved President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. There is NO law that requires the President to do so. Traditionally though, Rizal’s birth anniversary – not just his death anniversary which martyrdom we observe nationally every December 30 – has always been reserved for a presidential activity to honor the memory of the national hero.

It is really not a big deal. However, when one sees things done not in accordance with tradition, it becomes too obvious not to be noticed, nor glossed over, and neither can it be ignored. At times it seems to ring alarm bells when traditions are flippantly set aside just like that.

Traditions though are not mandatory like statutes that are embedded in the country’s Constitution and laws of the land. But traditions followed through the years have become part of the country’s culture and way of life, if not part of history.

When we observed the 114th anniversary of Philippine Independence last week, the theme of the celebration was worded following the administration slogan of President Aquino: “Pananagutan ng Bayan Para Sa Tuwid Na Daan.” 

To his credit, P-Noy continued his predecessors’ tradition of celebrating Independence Day in other historic places outside Metro Manila. 

P-Noy first marked his Independence Day in flag-raising rites at the Aguinaldo Shrine. But this year, the President moved it to the Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan where the first Philippine Congress convened following the country’s independence from Spain.

In the past, the President traditionally led the flag-raising rites at Rizal’s monument in Luneta. It was former President Fidel V. Ramos who moved the venue to the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite where the Philippine flag was first raised in 1898. This change of venue to the original site of this historic event capped the Centennial Independence Day celebration in 1998.

And traditionally also, simultaneous flag-raising rites are held in key historic places in the country to kick off the Independence Day program of activities. The main flag-raising event, of course, is always and must be led by the President.

Specific government officials are also assigned to particular places for the simultaneous flag-raising rites from the Vice President, the Chief Justice, the Senate president, the House Speaker and other designated officials. However, certain Independence Day traditions were ostensibly dispensed with. 

In the past years, the Chief Justice led the flag-raising at the Bonifacio National Monument in Caloocan City. But this year, it was assigned to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

Incidentally, De Lima was nominated last week before the Judicial and Bar Council for the vacant Chief Justice post.

I would like to believe it was coincidence only.

The most senior justice of the Supreme Court (SC), Antonio Carpio, took over as “acting” Chief Justice after Renato Corona was impeached last May 29. A check made with the office of SC spokesperson Gleoresty Guerra curiously turned out the “acting” Chief Justice was not invited to any Independence Day flag-raising rite.

Like oil and water, tradition and politics do not quite mix. Oil sticks out of the water so it becomes quite easy to detect. So don’t make it too obvious because it shows.