A face mask bearing design elements inspired by the Philippine Flag became an emblem of heroism and nationalism, especially during the time of COVID-19.
Ayala Foundation, in partnership with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, officially launched on May 28 the Magiting Face Mask, which bears the colors of the Philippine flag and the eight-rayed sun.
The face mask serves to honor our Filipino front-liners and essential workers who are making a huge sacrifice for the nation to contain the spread of the pandemic.
The Magiting Face Mask was one of the key features of the commemoration of the Battle of Alapan in Imus, Cavite. All guests, including the honor guards from the Philippine Navy, wore the mask to commemorate the first unfurling of the Philippine Flag in 1898.
The mask was also simultaneously launched at the First Digital Magiting Conference organized by Ayala Foundation, the Department of Education, and the NHCP on the same day. The conference, which gathered 200 Araling Panlipunan and Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao teachers from Region III, discussed teaching tools, methods, and other resources to teach history and love of country, as the education system prepares for the “new normal.” The conference was also viewed by over 1,500 participants through Facebook Live.
“We hope to distribute the Magiting Face Mask to our front-liners and essential workers, in recognition of their heroism during this time,” said Ruel Maranan, president of Ayala Foundation. “Inaanyayahan rin namin kayo na patuloy na ipagmalaki ang ating bansa kahit kailan, kahit saan. Sama-sama tayong maging magiting—sa isip, sa salita, at sa gawa.”
Said NHCP Chairman Rene Escalante: “Sa taong ito, sa halip na mamigay ng maliliit na watawat ang NHCP, sa tulong ng Ayala Foundation, ay mamimigay kami ng face mask na may nakaguhit na simbolo ng ating bandila. Nawa’y pag nakita niyo ito, maalala nyo ang kabayanihan ng mga rebolusyonaryong Filipino noong 1898 at ng mga COVID-19 front-liners natin sa kasalukuyang panahon.”
The Magiting Face Mask is part of Ayala Foundation’s Maging Magiting program, which calls on Filipinos to express their love of country by giving our national symbols, especially the Philippine flag, the respect they deserve.
In 2019 Ayala Foundation and its partners distributed Philippine flags to 10,000 public schools, police stations, military camps, and other government offices across all 17 regions of the country.
This year, the foundation and its partners seek to distribute the face mask to community front-liners and essential workers. The DepEd teachers who participated in the Digital Magiting Conference were among the first to receive the masks.
Ayala Foundation President Ruel Maranan also officially turned over Magiting Face Mask to the Philippine National Police, through Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar of the Interagency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Magiting Face Masks were also delivered to veterans of the Philippine military. Receiving the masks from Maranan were Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu, undersecretary for Civil, Veterans, and Reservists Affairs of the Department of National Defense; Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina, administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office; and Retired Commodore Salvador Esguerra, vice president for operations of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines. Also present at the turnover was NHCP executive director B. Gen. Restituto Aguilar.
At the turnover Usec. Mapagu thanked Ayala Foundation for the face masks, which, he said, will help “protect our most important national resource—our citizens.”
For his part, Usec. Carolina noted the value of “continuing partnership between the public and private sector” during this time.”