The House of Representatives approved on third and final reading by a unanimous vote of 212-0 House Bill (HB) 5224, which updates, among others, the rules on the rendition of the National Anthem, expressly repealing Republic Act 8491 on the “Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines”.
HB 5224 ostensibly has the laudable objective to “inculcate in the minds and hearts of people a just pride in their native land, fitting respect and affection for the national flag and anthem, and the proper use of the national motto, coat-of-arms and other heraldic items and devices” (Section 2, Declaration of Policy, HB 5224).
I was surprised to learn that we have a national motto—“Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa” (Section 40, HB 5224), which was also found in the old Flag Law, Republic Act 8491, Section 40. I have not seen this national motto displayed prominently anywhere, not in Malacañang, the official residence of the President, not in government-owned structures or offices, Philippine embassies and consulates anywhere. It would have been a better House Bill if the prominent display of our national motto were made mandatory in all official government structures and offices as a reminder to our elected and appointive public officials of their duty to serve God, People, Environment and Country. HB 5224 further prescribes not only the recital of the Pledge of Allegiance (Section 23) (“Panatang Makabayan” in my childhood school days) but also adds an Oath of Patriotism to the Philippines (Section 24), which shall be recited by students in all levels in addition to the Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine Flag.
Furthermore, HB 5224 specifically provides for the correct rendition and manner of singing of our National Anthem, to wit:
n Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State that reverence and respect shall, at all times, be accorded the flag, the anthem, and other national symbols, which embody the national ideals and traditions and which express the principles of sovereignty and national solidarity. The heraldic items and devices shall seek to manifest the national virtues and to inculcate in the minds and hearts of our people a just pride in their native land, fitting respect and affection for the national flag and anthem, and the proper use of the national motto, coat-of-arms and other heraldic items and devices.
n Section 36. Rendition of the National Anthem. The rendition
of the National Anthem shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe, in 2/4 beat when played; and within the range of 100 to 120 metronome, in 4/4 beat when sang. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), in coordination with the proper government agency, shall disseminate an official music score sheet that reflects the manner in which the national anthem should be played or sung.
n Section 37. Manner of
Singing the National Anthem. When the national anthem is played at a public gathering, whether by a band or through the playing of a recording in any format, the attending public shall sing the national anthem. The singing shall be mandatory and must be done with fervor.
As a sign of respect, all persons shall stand at attention and face the Philippine Flag, if there is one displayed, and if there is none, they shall face the band or the conductor. At the first note, all persons shall execute a salute by placing their right palms over their left chests. The military and those in military training and security guard in uniforms shall give the salute prescribed by their regulations. The salute shall be completed upon the last note of the anthem.
Individuals, whose faith or religious beliefs prohibit them from singing the National Anthem, must, nonetheless, show full respect when the anthem is being sung or played on record by standing at attention.
The National Anthem shall not be played and sung preceding events of mere recreation, amusement or entertainment purposes except on the following occasions:
a) International competitions where the Philippines is the host or has a representative;
b) National or local sports competitions;
c) During the “signing off” and “signing on” of radio and television broadcasting stations;
d) Before the initial and last screening of films and before the opening of theater performances: Provided, that the owners and management of the establishments shall be mandated to enforce proper
decorum and implement the pertinent provisions of this Act; and
e) Other occasions as may be
allowed by the NHCP.
The wrong rendition and manner of singing “Lupang Hinirang” is not only a ground for administrative discipline of all government officials and employees (Section 38), but any person can go to jail of up to one year and/or pay a fine of not less than P50,000 nor more than P100,000 if convicted (Section 49, HB 5224). This is an amendment to the old flag law, where the penalty was “public censure, which shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation” (Section 48) imprisonment of not more than one year and/or a fine of not less than P5,000 and not more than P20,000 (Section 50).
Public reaction in social media by netizens went viral. To quote a few (Facebook addresses withheld):
“What utter idiocy is this? Why should it be mandatory to sing the anthem? What about senior citizens who are suffering from memory lapses or Alzheimer’s disease? How can you compel them to sing a song if they
cannot remember the lyrics? Useless and worthless congressmen, we have.”
“More nonsense being perpetuated by the House.”
“To our lawmakers: Coming up with stupid legislation does not count as output! You are a waste of taxpayers’ money.”
I am inclined to agree this time with our netizens. For indeed, how is patriotism instilled by criminalizing the wrong singing of the National Anthem? How can Congress mandate singing with “fervor”? How do you even measure “fervor”? How can our Congress legislate “pride in our native land” and “national virtues in the minds and hearts of our people”?
Perhaps, rather than legislate ineffectual legislation, our lawmakers should just be reminded of our national motto “Maka-Diyos, Maka-Tao, Makakalikasan at Makabansa”. I dream of the day when a peoples Congress would mete out not only a P100,000 fine and one-year imprisonment, but a lifetime in jail for all legislators (and public officials) who violate public trust by not living out our national motto.
For me, that is a hideous crime more serious than singing the
National Anthem without fervor!