THE militant Makabayan bloc yesterday said the new “Bagong Pilipinas” slogan of the Marcos Jr. administration is an attempt to freshen up the country’s image which is still hounded by negative publicity over the Marcos Sr. dictatorship.
“What essentially is happening now is that the current administration is trying to deodorize the infamous Marcos dictatorship using the resources of the Filipino people. They are trying to write over what has already been written, reviving defunct projects of the old dictator like the Kadiwa stores, Masagana 99, and now the Bagong Pilipinas,” said Rep. France Castro (PL, ACT).
Castro likened the new slogan to the “Bagong Lipunan” of the late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., as she underscored the need to scrutinize the campaign during the upcoming budget hearings “to ensure the responsible use of public funds and to safeguard against the rewriting of history.”
She emphasized the significance of learning from history and ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated: “We must not forget the human rights abuses, corruption, and repression that characterized the Marcos regime. Any attempt to glorify or revise this dark period in our history must be met with vigilance and opposition.”
“Rather than being fixated on the form and other superficialities, President Marcos Jr. should focus on the substance,” Castro said.
Rep. Arlene Brosas (PL, Gabriela) said that instead of wasting government resources on rebranding projects, the Marcos Jr. administration should act on the demands of ordinary Filipinos for lower prices and higher wages.
“What’s next? A logo for Maharlika Investment Corporation? The administration must cut its obsession for rebranding projects and buckle down to work to address mounting calls for decent jobs, higher wages and lower prices,” Brosas said.
“Kahit anong bihis pa ang gawin ng gobyernong Marcos Jr., hindi nito mabubura ang matinding kasalanan ng kaniyang pamilya sa mamamayang Pilipino. Hindi malilimot na anak siya ng diktador na nagnakaw sa kaban ng bayan (Whatever window-dressing the Marcos Jr. administration makes, it won’t erase the many sins of their family against the Filipino people. It won’t be forgotten that he’s a son of a dictator who stole from the country’s coffers).”
LOGO
Amid the flak that the new logo of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) has received, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said it conducted a complete staff work to ensure the adherence of the Bagong Pilipinas logo to the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.
It added the government did not spend a single centavo on the production of the logo for the brand.
The President, through a Memorandum Order dated July 3 and signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, approved the Bagong Pilipinas logo and directed all national government agencies (NGAs) and instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) and state universities and colleges (SUCs), to adopt the Bagong Pilipinas campaign in their programs, activities and projects.
The President also ordered all government agencies, including GOCCs and SUCs, to incorporate the new logo in their letterheads, websites, official social media accounts, and other documents and instruments pertaining to flagship programs of the government.
“Overall, the Bagong Pilipinas logo embodies the Marcos Administration’s vision for the country, emphasizing unity, involvement, and the bayanihan culture as the main fibers and components for its full realization. The logo was produced internally by the Presidential Communications Office and underwent complete staff work to ensure adherence to the heraldic code. This was accomplished without any cost to the government,” the PCO said in a statement.
PCO said the Bagong Pilipinas logo depicts various stages of development in the Philippines’ journey towards its aspirations for the future.
It features three red stripes, which symbolizes major development periods throughout history, namely the post-war agricultural and rural development, the post-colonial period, and the current metropolitan development; and two blue stripes that stands for the country’s future goals for the future which is a “progressive Philippines that leverages technological advancement in pursuing sustainable industrial development.”
The logo also features a rising sun that symbolizes the dawn of a new Philippines and the country’s desire to take the center stage in the global market and community of nations.
PCO said the weave pattern in the logo stands for the “interconnectedness and unity of the Filipino people, as the vision of a Bagong Pilipinas can only be achieved through collective effort, collaboration, and a shared commitment to progress.”
“Just as individual strands come together to form a strong and intricate weave, the Filipino people, with their diverse backgrounds and talents, as well as rich cultural heritage, contribute to the strength of the nation,” it added.
The Bagong Pilipinas campaign will serve as the overarching theme of the Marcos administration, characterized by a principled, accountable, and dependable government reinforced by unified institutions of society with the objective to realize the goals and aspirations of every Filipino.
The theme calls for the deep and fundamental transformations in all sectors of society and government and fosters the country’s commitment towards the attainment of comprehensive policy reforms and full economic recovery.
The release of the government brand comes at the heels of the fiasco surrounding the Philippine tourism brand, “Love Philippines.” — With Jocelyn Montemayor