FEB.

28, 2014

NR # 3391

Bill declares adobo as national food

A lawmaker has filed a measure officially declaring and recognizing adobo as the national food, bakya as the national slippers, bahay kubo as the national house and the jeepney as the national vehicle. Under House Bill !"# authored by $ep. $ene $elampagos %&st 'istrict, Bohol(, chairman of the House )ommittee on *ourism, the song Bayan Ko shall also be declared and recognized as the national song and Maka-Diyos, Maka-tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa as the national motto. $elampagos filed the bill to lay the basis for the declaration and recognition of the +hilippine national symbols. ,-ational symbols represent its country, its people, its history and its culture. .n the +hilippines, there are around twenty national symbols being taught in school. However, of these symbols, only ten are official, that is with basis either in the )onstitution, $epublic Acts and +roclamations,/ $elampagos said. $elampagos said this leaves the other national symbols unofficial or blatantly colorums, for having no basis for their declaration. ,$izal now becomes the unofficial national hero, carabao the unofficial national animal, mango the unofficial national fruit, bangus the unofficial fish, the barot saya as the unofficial national costume and so on,/ $elampagos stressed. $elampagos said the bill aims to develop and instill nationalism and unity, ensure respect, promotion and preservation of the national symbols, correct the unofficial status of these symbols as taught in schools, provide guidelines for their use, care and conservation and to promote +hilippine tourism through these symbols, among others. .n filing the measure, $elampagos cited the declared policy of the 0tate to inculcate patriotism, nationalism and appreciation of the role of national heroes and symbols in the historical development of the country. $elampagos said the 0tate must give priority to education, science and technology, arts and culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress and promote total human liberation and development. Under the bill to be known as the ,+hilippine -ational 0ymbols Act of "1&2,/ the color blue, white and red flag with an eight3rayed golden3yellow sun and three five3 pointed stars shall be declared the national flag of the +hilippines.

*he )ity of 4anila shall be declared the national capital of the +hilippines, 4alaca5an +alace as the national seat of government, 6ilipino the national language and Lupang Hinirang the national anthem. *he bill further declares as national symbols the 7reat 0eal as the national seal8 the national coat3of3arms shall have paleways of two pieces, azure and gules, +hilippine peso the national currency and 9ose +rotacio $izal 4ercado y Alonso $ealonda as the national hero. Under the measure, arnis shall be declared the national martial arts and sport, cariosa as the national dance, the +hilippine monkey3eating eagle as the national bird, Kalabaw as the national animal, Bangus as the national fish and Narra the national tree. *he bill also declares the +hilippine +earl as the national gem, Sampaguita as the national flower, nahaw as the national leaf and mango as the national fruit. *he 'epartment of :ducation %'ep:d(, )ommission on Higher :ducation %)H:'(, the -ational )ommission for )ulture and the Arts %-))A( and the -ational Historical )ommission of the +hilippines %-H)+( are directed to give primordial importance to the respect, promotion, preservation, conservation, cultivation and usage of these national symbols, as appropriate, including dissemination through the ;uad3media. % 1( lvc