House Bill 465: “Sing The National Anthem Correctly or Else . . .”

Now on its second reading in the House, Bill 465 prescribes that the singing or playing of the anthem “[S]hall 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 sung.”

Aside from the National Anthem, the bill — a consolation of House Bills 603 and 465 — also seeks to protect the Philippine flag and other heraldic items of the country.

Whoever are the authors of the bills deserve kudos. They indeed challenge us to be patriotic in spirit and in deed by giving due respect to the symbol of the country and by singing the national anthem strictly in accordance to its author’s composition.

When our top singers like Arnel Pineda, Sarah Geronimo and Martin Nievera gave their  "Bayang Magiliw" rendition as a prelude to the boxing fights of Manny Pacquiao, now a Congressman, a number of government officials and history buffs complained that the beat is not right.

After reading news stories about the bill, if one takes time to analyze its implications, how sure are we that when the national anthem is sung “improperly”, the singer does not respect and love his/her country anymore or that the “improperly” sung anthem disrespects the country? If the bill becomes a law, and Rico J Puno sings it publicly abroad (of course, without his patented “baby”) in the tempo of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, how can Rico Puno be charged with a crime violating the law when the locus of the “crime” is not in the Philippine territory? Do our legislators mean that when Philippine laws are broken abroad, once the suspect comes home, he will be charged? What if a Filipino files her divorce in Las Vegas and contracted a civil marriage there? Does it mean that her marriage  and divorce are illegal here in the Philippines even if she has no divorce papers and marriage contract in our official files? When back in the Philippine territory, can she be charged with concubinage and/or bigamy?

What is next when the singer is an American of Filipino descent singing the national anthem  in California in the beat of a James Taylor’s song? How could an American citizen violate Philippine laws when his allegiance rests in the United States and not in the Philippines?

For sure, Pineda, Nievera and Geronimo were artistic in their rendition. It is their own way of expressing their love to our country. If Julian Felipe were alive today, I am very sure that he would be happy listening different creative renditions of his composition by our top of the line artists. Although sung differently, Felipe knows that nothing is added or subtracted from his composition. What he wrote is what he wrote --- intact!

With respect to flag protocol, we learned them in the elementary grades. It would be enough for the government to re-issue the guidelines.

Stop when in motion when the national anthem is sung. When walking, stand still and erect and press your right hand on your chest where the heart is. Take off the hat/cap or headgear during the singing and hold it unto the chest.  When in a military, Boy Scout or Girl Scout uniform, execute a hand salute.

Those are just few among the many.

Another point; can we force our Jehovah’s Witnesses friends to give respect to our Flag? They don’t  care!  According to them, they only give homage to Jehovah.   Well, the flag has no religious significance at all!  But didn't Jehovah say  "Give what is due to Caesar and  what is due to Jehovah."?

In 1993, the Philippine Supreme Court issued a ruling granting an exemption to the Jehovah's cult in giving respect to our emblem.  That law makes the cult members less patriotic.   I don't understand why the High Tribunal made the ruling giving preferential treatment to the cult.  If some invoke religious freedom in disrespecting the flag as "against their religion", who can stop them then?

If one is constrained by a law to freely exercise his right of expression, free speech and freedom of religion the constitutionality of that law must be scrutinized or even be challenged.  One of these is the singing of the national anthem in any beat or time signature.  The core is on the lyrics and not the tempo.

Our legislators should be our model in respecting our country, the government and its laws by putting the people’s need and welfare first before their own. They took their oath raising their hand before our Flag. They must accept that they are not above any law of the land  and that they are indispensable.  We must come to our senses that it is totally unpatriotic and  even “Judaistic”  to use the law as a shield in doing transgressions. 

That is worse than singing the national anthem with a different beat.

If our Emblem can speak, what would it be saying as it looks at our legislators in the august halls of Congress? -30-