President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (left), ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (MANILA BULLETIN, Facebook)

Makabayan solon ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro is up in arms over  Malacañang's directive for all national government agencies and state universities and colleges (SUC) to recite the "Bagong Pilipinas Hymn and Pledge" during weekly flag ceremonies. 

Castro, a House deputy minority leader, was alluding to Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 52 issued by President Marcos Jr. 

She said the order appears to be an attempt to indoctrinate government personnel and the youth with the Marcos administration's self-styled "Bagong Pilipinas" branding, reminiscent of the martial law period's "Bagong Lipunan" propaganda. 

"His (Marcos Jr.) order is reminiscent of Marcos Sr.'s directive then for people to sing praises to the Bagong Lipunan," said the teacher-solon. 

"It is yet another way to deodorize the Marcos name brand and revise history. We should just stick with the Lupang Hinirang and Panatang Makabayan," added Castro, who described MC No.52 as "self-serving". 

The controversial order--which Castro said should be rescinded--cites the supposed need to "further instill the principles of the Bagong Pilipinas brand of governance and leadership among Filipinos" 

The militant solon brushed it off as a "gimmick", and at the same time reckoned that the Marcos administration was better off addressing the persisting issues of inflation, unemployment, and low wages.