I AM fascinated by presidential inaugurations because like religious rituals, state ceremonies need to be rich in symbols to evoke and remind the people of something that is abstract and unseen such as the concept of democracy. Like the flag and the national anthem, the presidential inauguration also reminds us that we are in one ship of state and that we should all get involved.

Article 7, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution states that the terms of the newly elected president and vice president begin at noon of June 30, following the election. But because Sara Duterte-Carpio chose to hold her inauguration as vice president in Davao City last Sunday, June 19, we now know that it is not legally binding to hold the ceremony on that day or that moment.