Hi there, folks! Can you imagine we’re in the last stretch of May? That means we’ve already used up the first five months of 2025. It will soon be June, my dear friends, wasn’t that fast? We were just celebrating New Year’s like yesterday. Oh well, that’s how we roll in this very fast paced world.

Looking at it positively, we still have the next seven months so we better use them right. That means having SMART goals (Specific-Measurable-Achievable-Relevant-Time Bound), creating a timeline and developing a plan of the things we want to achieve before the year ends.

As for me, I have set some goals that I want to tick off by the end of the year. After all, we can either use the next six months for progress or for excuses, so choose wisely. A goal achieved is like a banner you can raise to yourself after all your sacrifices. Wouldn’t it be nice to be waving your flag by December? That’s something to look forward to in the next months.

Speaking of flags, did you know that every year from 28 May to 12 June, the Philippines celebrates what we call National Flag Days? It is not just a protocol but a statement of presence, Filipino pride, and identity. It starts with a flashback with the commemoration of the Battle of Alapan in Imus City which happened on 28 May 1898 and culminates in the celebration of Philippine Independence Day on 12 June.

According to Dr. Emanuel R. Paredes, head of the City Tourism and Heritage Office of Imus, the battle of Alapan resulted in a critical Filipino victory over Spanish forces during the second phase of the Philippine Revolution.

The battle, which saw combat as far as Laguna and Batangas, occurred during a daring attack by Filipino revolutionaries led by Emilio Aguinaldo against a Spanish garrison in Alapan. The day’s battle sealed the end of Spanish power in Cavite.

In celebration, Aguinaldo unfurled the newly created national flag at the Teatro Caviteño in the Port of Cavite (now Cavite City) before the gathered public. (See? Ports played a huge part in Philippine history). And yes, you read that right. Cavite City used to be a port city where the Spanish fleet anchored and where traders and shipbuilders thrived, a place of ships and uprising. More than a maritime checkpoint, it was a strategic launchpad for both revolution and liberation.

This year of the flag days, the ports are considered to be more than just the gateways for trade and people; they are a symbol of our unity in an archipelagic state. Ports are extensions of the same spirit our flag represents — freedom, peace, and valor that are observed in our daily lives through free trade, diplomacy, and safe travels.

The Philippine Ports Authority as the nation’s premiere maritime agency managing the country’s ports participated in commemorating the historical flag day. The Philippine flag waves at the ports of Bataan, Aurora, Agusan, Lanao del Norte, Iligan, in Northern Luzon, NCR South, Palawan, Bicol, Masbate, and Marinduque and Quezon.

PPA general manager Jay Santiago said patriotism can be seen in the diligence of all the employees and workers at the ports, from the crane operators to the security guards, all serving under one flag.

So the next time you go through a port, take a moment to appreciate our flag and be grateful for the freedom that we enjoy today. The flag is a reminder of the battles we fought to protect what’s ours, while the ports are a symbol of our freedom and openness to the world.

Happy national flag days, everyone!

May we keep the spirit of patriotism and the flag alive wherever we may be traveling via land, air, or sea. It is in the heart of every Filipino for we are all in the same boat!