Stiffer penalties in store for incorrect rendition of Lupang Hinirang

The House of Representatives approved on its final reading a bill regarding the rules on the correct rendition of the Philippine National Anthem, Lupang Hinirang.

House Bill (HB) No. 5224 seeks to repeal Republic Act (R.A.) 8491, or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines in an effort to keep up with the times.

HB 5224 imposes stiff penalties of Php 50,000 to Php 100,000 on “any person or entity which violates any provision” of the proposed law – three times heftier than R.A. 8491’s Php 5,000 to Php 20,000 fine.

Seal. House of Representative’s seal./ IMAGE congress.gov.ph

The House bill wants to provide space for people whose religious beliefs forbade them from singing. The House measure states that these people “must, nonetheless, show full respect… by standing at attention.”

Under the proposed measure, singing along when the anthem is played at gatherings “shall be mandatory and done with fervor.” The word “mandatory” is not noted in the current flag code in 1998.

As a sign of respect, everyone must stand at attention facing the Philippine flag (if it is displayed), the band, or the conductor. Civilians can show their respect by placing their right palm over their left chest.

The House bill also seeks to standardize the proper rendition of Lupang Hinirang in accordance with Julian Felipe’s musical arrangement.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines is mandated to disseminate an official musical score sheet to observe the correct way of singing the anthem. The proposed flag code will also oblige the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to “ensure that the national anthem… shall be committed to memory by all students” of both public and private schools.

It also strikes out the current flag code’s prohibition on the display of the Philippine flag in front of “buildings and offices occupied by aliens.”

Failure to observe the rules on the proper rendition of the anthem and display of national symbols will also lead to administrative discipline for the employees of all government offices and privately-owned entities displaying the flag.

The bill won by a unanimous vote of 212-0. It now moves to the Senate for consideration. Rep. Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) was the principal author of the bill.

---

Sources: Philippine Daily Inquirer, congress.gov.ph

Image grabbed from: Wikimedia, Wikimedia, Pacific Air Forces