"Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" ("One Country, One Spirit" in Filipino) was the national motto of the Philippines from 1978 to 1986, during the rule 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".
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History
"Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" was adopted on June 9, 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1413, 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.
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. 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.
Abolition
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. References to the motto in other media were removed thereafter; for example, the motto was officially removed from the coat of arms the following year with the passage of the Administrative Code of 1987. 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), under the rule of Fidel V. Ramos.
Criticism
"Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa" has been criticized and denounced as being "the slogan of a fascist regime".
Architect and author Gerard Lico claims that the motto builds on a narrative of national palingenesis, with the motto being seen as the culmination of the Marcoses' desire to build a single national identity — an identity that ultimately centered around their cult of personality. Meanwhile, Dr. Michael Tan, Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Diliman, criticized the motto for embodying a predominantly Christian, Tagalophone monocultural national identity that came at the expense of the country's other religions, ethnic groups and languages. 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.
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, 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.