The coat of arms of the Philippines from 1978 to 1985, during which "Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" appeared on the banderole.

Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa (Filipino for "One Nation, One Spirit") was the national motto of the Philippines from 1978 to 1986, during the presidency of President Ferdinand Marcos. It was adopted on June 9, 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1413. The motto has been criticized and has been denounced as "the slogan of a fascist regime".

History

"Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" was adopted on June 9, 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1413,[1] a key element in Marcos's vision of building his "New Society". When the new motto was finally unveiled three days later on Independence Day during the 1978 State of the Nation Address, Marcos claimed that it was imperative for the nation to build a united though diverse political community.[2]

It shall remain the paramount concern of our government to unite our country behind the cause of justice and dignity, to lift those who live in conditions of poverty, ignorance and lack of opportunity, so that together they may form one united political community. And regardless of differences in our views, we shall strive to be one nation, in which one will be free to disagree with another without undermining national unity. We shall be a nation with one purpose, no matter how differently individuals express themselves.

The precise meaning and rationale of "Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" remains disputed, although it has been argued that the motto was part and parcel of the state's projection of its political power towards building the New Society, especially with the imposition of Martial Law in 1972. The motto in turn arguably embodied the New Society's cultural consciousness, developed in part through First Lady Imelda Marcos's socio-cultural projects.[3] It was incorporated into the national coat of arms, and even a patriotic song from the period, Ako ay Pilipino ("I am Filipino") by George Canseco, incorporated the new motto in its chorus.[4]

Abolition and present-day use

Following Marcos's ouster in the People Power Revolution, "Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" was abolished by his successor, Corazon Aquino, on September 10, 1986 by virtue of Memorandum Order No. 34, which revoked the decree making the motto official.[5] Public usages of the motto were quickly removed thereafter; for example, the motto was dropped from the coat of arms with the passage of the Administrative Code of 1987.[6] The Philippines would not have another national motto until 1998, when the current motto, "Maka-Diyos, Maka-tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa" ("For God, People, Nature and Country") was adopted under Republic Act No. 8491 (the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines), promulgated during the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos.[7]

Despite its abolition, unofficial use of the motto has persisted. "Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" has been invoked in the speeches of prominent politicians and government officials, including Manila mayor Isko Moreno,[8] Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque,[9] and Philippine ambassador to Switzerland Denis Lepatan,[10] while presidential candidate Eddie Gil used it for the name of his political party in the 2004 Philippine presidential election.[11] The motto has also been referenced in a song about the rehabilitation of Marawi,[12] and is also invoked by persons and groups who remain loyal to Ferdinand Marcos,[13] even being used by Marcos' son, Bongbong Marcos, to forward his own political ambitions.[14]

Reception

"Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" has been criticized and denounced as being "the slogan of a fascist regime".[15][16][17]

Architect and author Gerard Lico claims that the motto builds on a narrative of national palingenesis or rebirth, with the motto being seen as the culmination of the Marcoses' desire to build a single national identity that ultimately centered around their cult of personality.[18] Meanwhile, Dr. Michael Tan, Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Diliman, criticized the motto for embodying a predominantly Catholic, Tagalophone monocultural national identity that came at the expense of the country's other religions, ethnic groups and languages.[19] The Tagalophone aspect of this identity was further criticized by Philippine Star columnist Bobit Avila, who claimed that the motto embodied poorly executed Jacobinist thought.[20]

The motto however is not without its defenders. Columnist Kitch Ortego, writing in the Manila Standard, invoked "Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" as being representative of a former culture of consensus in Philippine politics,[21] while former Senator and Marcos-era Information Minister Francisco Tatad, writing in the Manila Times, claimed that the motto was unfairly victimized by Corazon Aquino administration's vilification of Marcos's achievements — part of a larger claim that he makes accusing her, former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and their son, President Benigno Aquino III, of being overly vindictive towards Marcos and his family.[22]

References

  1. ^ Republic of the Philippines. (Enacted: June 9, 1978). PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1413 – DECLARING THE THEME "ISANG BANSA, ISANG DIWA" AS THE NATIONAL MOTTO OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND INCORPORATING IT IN THE NATIONAL SEAL. Retrieved April 8, 2016 from the LawPhil Project.
  2. ^ Marcos, Ferdinand E. (June 12, 1978). A Bold Experiment: Message of His Excellency, Ferdinand E. Marcos, President of the Philippines, to the Congress on the State of the Nation (Speech). The 1978 State of the Nation Address delivered at the opening of the Interim Batasang Pambansa. Quezon City. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  3. ^ Navarro, Raul C. (2008). "Ang Bagong Lipunan, 1972–1986: Isang Panimulang Pag-aaral sa Musika at Lipunan". Humanities Diliman (in Filipino). 5 (1–2). University of the Philippines Diliman: 47–77. ISSN 2012-0788. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  4. ^ Gil, Baby A. (June 12, 2009). "The Pilipino in popular music". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  5. ^ Aquino, Corazon (September 10, 1986). "Memorandum Order No. 34, s. 1986 | GOVPH". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  6. ^ Republic of the Philippines. (Enacted: February 24, 1987). EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 292 – The Administrative Code of 1987, Book I, Chapter 4: National Symbols and Official Languages. Retrieved April 9, 2016 from the Official Gazette.
  7. ^ Republic of the Philippines. (Enacted: February 12, 1998). REPUBLIC ACT No. 8491 – AN ACT PRESCRIBING THE CODE OF THE NATIONAL FLAG, ANTHEM, MOTTO, COAT-OF-ARMS AND OTHER HERALDIC ITEMS AND DEVICES OF THE PHILIPPINES. Retrieved April 9, 2016 from the ChanRobles Virtual Law Library.
  8. ^ Aro, Andrea (March 12, 2021). "PMA adopts Mayor Isko as new member of 'Sanlingan Class 2005'". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 25, 2022. "We may have differences in languages, culture, and traditions and in fact naturally we have been divided by nature that isang Pilipinas tayo nothing more, nothing less. isang bansa, isang diwa sa puso natin, tayong lahat ay Pilipino (One country, one spirit in our hearts, we're all Filipinos)," Domagoso said.
  9. ^ "Press Briefing of Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque" (Press release). Office of the Presidential Spokesperson. March 1, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2022. This is our new hope at alam naman namin na may awa ang Diyos at makakaraos din tayo. Kapit lang! Isang bansa, isang diwa, sama-sama, walang away-away. Vaccination is the solution to the nation. [This is our new hope and we know anyway that the Lord has compassion and we will get through this. Let's hold on! One nation, one spirit, together, no arguments. Vaccination is the solution to the nation.]
  10. ^ "PH Embassy in Berne, Filipino Community Commemorate PH Independence in Switzerland" (Press release). Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. June 4, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2021. He added that, "It was the will and determination of the people that made us a nation "isang bansa, isang diwa (one country, one spirit)".
  11. ^ Frialde, Mike (May 25, 2004). "And the winner is…Eddie Gil". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  12. ^ Cruz, Mariel (July 12, 2017). "WATCH: Sundalo, sumulat ng isang awitin para sa pagbangon ng Marawi" (in Filipino). DZIQ. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  13. ^ Cepeda, Maria (November 19, 2016). "Marcoses hold Mass with 2,000 loyalists at Libingan". Rappler. Retrieved July 25, 2022. Every supporter was handed a sticker bearing the former president's face and with the words "Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa #SalamatApo."
  14. ^ Pazzibugan, Dona Z. (February 10, 2016). "Miriam: Corrupt will be given choice of jail–ordinary, business or first-class". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 25, 2022. Marcos vowed to lead a movement to restore unity for "Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa, Isang Gawa" a slogan his father used under his campaign for a so-called New Society during his martial law regime.
  15. ^ Remollino, Alexander Martin (December 18, 2008). "Nasyunalismo at Panitikan: Balik-tanaw sa Isang Porum at sa Paksa Nito". Philippine Studies (in Filipino). Emanila.com Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  16. ^ Campoamor II, Gonzalo A. (2018). Wika at Pasismo: Politika ng Wika at Araling Wika sa Panahon ng Diktadura [Language and Fascism: Politics of Language and Language Studies in the Time of Dictatorship] (PDF) (in Filipino). Quezon City: University of the Philippines Sentro ng Wikang Filipino. p. 344. ISBN 978-971-635-060-9. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  17. ^ Carranza, Ruben (March 5, 2022). "Tell it to SunStar: Can there be unity without accountability?". SunStar Cebu. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  18. ^ Santos, Roselle. "BOOK REVIEW: EDIFICE COMPLEX: POWER, MYTH, AND THE MARCOS STATE ARCHITECTURE". Artes de las Filipinas: Purveyor of Knowledge and Emerging Publisher of Philippine Art. EACOMM Corporation. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  19. ^ Tan, Michael L. (October 21, 2015). Cultural Diversity and ASEAN Regional Integration: Challenges for Filipino and Asian Educators (PDF) (PowerPoint presentation).
  20. ^ Avila, Bobit S. (August 22, 2013). "Make language part of our inclusive growth". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  21. ^ Ortego, Kitch (August 29, 1987). "Consensus & confrontation". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. Retrieved April 10, 2016 – via Google News.
  22. ^ Tatad, Francisco S. (February 28, 2016). "Why is Aquino so afraid of Marcos?". The Manila Times. Manila Times Publishing Corporation. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
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