MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 117 PRESCRIBING THE PLAYING OF THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEOS OF LUPANG HINIRANG AND THE ASEAN 2026 SONG "ONE VISION, ONE OCEAN" DURING FLAG CEREMONIES AND OTHER OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT EVENTS March 31, 2026

WHEREAS,Section 18 of Republic Act (RA) No. 8491 or the "Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines" requires all govenrment offices and educational institutions, including local government units (LGUs), to conduct a flag raising ceremony every Monday morning and flag lowering ceremony every Friday afternoon, and provides that such ceremonies shall include the playing or singing of the Philippine National Anthem, entitledLupang Hinirang;

WHEREAS,Section 19 of RA No. 8491 authorizes the Office of the President to issue rules and guidelines for the proper conduct of the flag ceremony;

WHEREAS,during the 43rd Association of Southeast Asean Nations (ASEAN) Summit in September 2023, the ASEAN leaders agreed that the Philippines shall assume the Chairship and host the ASEAN Summit Meetings in 2026 (ASEAN 2026); and

WHEREAS,official music video ofLupang Hinirangand the ASEAN 2026 song "One Vision, One Ocean" have been produced to foster patriotism, strengthen regional solidarity, and amplify the Philippines' leadership and vision as ASEAN Chair in 2026.

NOW, THEREFORE,the following are hereby directed:

To further instill national identity, unity, and pride among Filipinos, all national government agencies (NGAs) and instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and educational institutions, both public and private, are hereby directed, and LGUs are hereby encouraged, to integrate the playing of the official music video rendition ofLupang Hinirangin the conduct of weekly flag ceremonies and other official government events, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.

During the period of the Philippines' Chairship of ASEAN 2026, all NGAs and instrumentalities, including GOCCs, and educational institutions, both public and private, are likewise directed, and LGUs are encouraged, to integrate the playing of the official music video of the ASEAN 2026 theme song, "One Vision, One Ocean," after the conduct of the flag ceremony and during official government events, particularly those organized in connection with ASEAN 2026.

The heads of all NGAs and instrumentalities shall ensure that the official music videos ofLupang Hinirangand the ASEAN 2026 song "One Vision, One Ocean" are properly disseminated within their respective institutions and offices.

For this purpose, the Presidential Communications Office is hereby directed to implement effective measures to communicate and disseminate the official music videos ofLupang Hinirangand ASEAN 2026 song "One Vision, One Ocean" under ANNEX A hereof, to all government offices and the public.

This Circular shall take effect immediately.

DONE,in the City of Manila, Philippines, this 31st day of March in the Year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Six.