The inauguration of the President of the Philippines marks the beginning of a new term of the President of the Philippines.
Contents |
Tradition has it, since the restoration of democracy after the martial rule, the president-elect will fetch the incumbent president in Malacañan Palace. The president-elect will wait for the incumbent president at the State Entrance of the Malacanan Palace. The incumbent president will then descend from the grand staircase and would be greeted by the president-elect at the bottom of the stairs. Both will then proceed to the inauguration venue riding a presidential vehicle. Following a protocol, the incumbent president will take the back right seat of the vehicle and the president-elect will sit on his/her left side.
At the inauguration venue, the incumbent president will be welcomed with arrival honors. Then, a symbolic shake of hands between the president-elect and the incumbent president will be shown to the public. The incumbent president will then leave the inauguration venue riding a private vehicle. From there, the proper inauguration rites will take place. that includes The National Anthem will be play, and some Ecumenical Invocation and Musical Ensemble . This tradition was broken by Fidel Ramos on June 30, 1992, where Corazon Aquino stayed until the end of the inaugural speech. The same was observed by Joseph Estrada on June 30, 1998. For the third time, it was also observed once more by Benigno Aquino III.
Traditionally, since the third republic, the vice-president-elect takes the oath of office first before the president-elect to immediately establish a constitution-mandated successor. However, during the inauguration of Manuel L. Quezon, the president-elect took the oath of office first to mark a "new start"[1]. After the vice-president took the oath of office, it is the turn of the president-elect. A 21-gun salute is performed and the Four Ruffles and Flourishes and presidential anthem "We Say Mabuhay" is played as soon as the new president took the oath of office in honoring him as the new chief executive. Then the newly declared President delivered his/her Inaugural Address.
After the ceremonies a formal possession of Malacañang, which is the president's official residence, takes place. It symbolizes the new tenancy of the palace[1]. Images associated with the new President's formal entry into the Palace is that of him or her ascending the grand staircase leading to the Ceremonial Hall. Juan Luna's painting, the Blood Compact is currently displayed at the at the top of the staircase.
The president's new cabinet is inducted on the same day. the first Cabinet meeting will follow. Inaugural Reception for foreign and other dignitaries who wish to call on the new President. The term vin d'honneur will no longer be used, reverting to the premartial law practice of simpler official receptions. There will also be no Inaugural Ball (the last Inaugural Ball was for the 1981 Marcos inaugural, which was also the last time the Rigodon de Honor was danced in the Palace until June 12, 2009, when it was again danced on June 12 of that year). The President of the Philippines will offer a toast as a gesture of amity to the nations that maintain diplomatic relations with the Philippines.
The new president is to be inaugurated at noon of June 30 as mandated by the 1987 consititution[2]. However, in the past, there were different dates for the inauguration of the new president. The nation's first president, Emilio Aguinaldo, was inaugurated on January 23, 1899. Presidents under the 1935 constitution presidents were inaugurated at noon of December 30. They were Manuel L. Quezon (first inaugurated on November 15, 1935, inaugurated for a second term on December 30, 1941), Quirino (1949), Ramon Magsaysay (1953), Carlos P. Garcia (1957), Diosdado Macapagal (1961) and Ferdinand E. Marcos (1965, 1969). Only 2 president under the 1935 constitution was not inaugurated on December 30, namely, Osmeña and Roxas. However, Marcos changed the inauguration date to June 30 and every president after him, except Corazon C. Aquino, was inaugurated on that date.
The inauguration is usually held at the Quirino Grandstand in the Luneta. Many presidents were inaugurated here, namely, Quirino, Magsaysay, Garcia, Macapagal, Marcos, Ramos and Aquino III. Presidents Estrada and Arroyo only delivered their inaugural addresses there. And to date, Estrada and Arroyo were the only presidents to take the oath of office and inaugural addresses in two different locations.
Other presidents such as Aguinaldo and Estrada were inaugurated at the Barasoain Church; Quezon, Laurel and Roxas were inaugurated in front of the Legislative Building; and Aquino in Club Filipino, Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila[3]. Arroyo took her first oath as president at the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City. Presidents, who became president upon the death of their predecessor, namely, Osmeña took the oath of office in the United States, Quirino and Garcia took the oath of office in the Malacañan Palace.
In addition to the public the following are the attendants of the Inauguration:
Under Article 7, Section 5 of the Philippine Constitution, before the president and vice-president enters on the execution of his/her office, the President shall take the following oath or affirmation:
| “ | I,_______________, do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfill my duties as President [or Vice-President or Acting President] of the Philippines, preserve and defend its Constitution, execute its laws, do justice to every man, and consecrate myself to the service of the Nation. So help me God. | ” |
[In case of affirmation, last sentence will be omitted]
The oath from the Filipino language version of the constitution was used for the inauguration of Presidents Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Benigno Aquino III:
| “ | Ako si_______________, ay taimtim kong pinanunumpaan (o pinatotohanan) na tutuparin ko nang buong katapatan at sigasig ang aking mga tungkulin bilang Pangulo (o Pangalawang Pangulo o Nanunungkulang Pangulo) ng Pilipinas, pangangalagaan at ipagtatanggol ang kanyang Konstitusyon, ipatutupad ang mga batas nito, magiging makatarungan sa bawat tao, at itatalaga ang aking sarili sa paglilingkod sa Bansa. Kasihan nawa ako ng Diyos. | ” |
(Kapag pagpapatotoo, ang huling pangungusap ay kakaltasin.)[4]
Traditionally, the oath of office is administered by the Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court but that is not required.[5]
Every president since Emilio Aguinaldo delivered an inaugural address. Presidents, who became president upon the death of their predecessor, also delivered an address. It is usually delivered after the new president took the oath of office. However, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivered the inaugural address first at the Quirino Grandstand and then took the oath of office in Cebu[6].
|
||||||||