Emphasize the essence

The truth is I am ambivalent whether to commend or censure the passing on the third and final reading of a bill that penalizes those who would sing our national anthem inappropriately. I censure because at first glance our lawmakers could have tackled more well-timed issues. But I commend for it brings us to the discussion of respect for our country.

In the bill, the Congress specifies stiff penalties for disrespecting our national anthem. House Bill No. 5224 seeks to impose P50,000 to P100,000 on “any person who, or entity which violates any provision” of the proposed law—much heftier than the P5,000 to P20,000 fine provided for by the current Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.

Under the proposed measure, singing along when the anthem is played at public gatherings “shall be mandatory and must be done with fervor.” Unlike the current flag code, enacted in 1998, the terms “fervor” and “mandatory” are used to mean higher degree of intensity or compliance. Fervor is in terms of feelings toward something, and in this case the singing of the national anthem. Mandatory in terms of making certain that provisions must be followed otherwise stiffer penalties shall be imposed.

For ordinary citizens, especially those who have not gone to school for many years, when asked to sing the national anthem, would either missed some words or change the lyrics. While in schools, since it is part of the morning routines, it is unthinkable for one to commit similar mistake. There are occasions and areas though where disrespecting the national anthem often happens like in cinemas, where customers do not stand for the anthem. In other social gatherings, where singing of the anthem is part of the program, is oftentimes treated as trivial.

But in terms of intensity of emotion probably this is where we need to work on. Letting our students realize that it is all beyond words. It is all beyond placing the right hand on the chest. It is all the more beyond the snappily lifting the right hand and placing it on the right side of the forehead. Rather it is inside this head that we think is more important. It is also inside the chest that we feel is more essential.

It can be noted that in several international competitions, the national anthem has been sung wrongfully, out of tune, missing words or combination of both. This is not the case if and when one is guided with love and pride for the country, with intensity and consistency.

On a similar manner, every time the Philippine flag is raised in an international contest, be it athletic or cultural competitions, we feel such unexplainable fervor, spirit and pride of being Filipino. We can feel the sense of achievement of a race that has been colonized by other countries for many centuries. Yes it is when we interact side by side with other races that we feel that our race has something to be proud of.

“Fervor” or the intensity of it is difficult to quantity. It is however on how we look at ourselves as a race and how others would regard us. But such regard of the outside world on us is largely dependent on how we regard ourselves in the first place. The bottom line here is no one would ever be critical about if for as long as this will show our respect to our country and would be translated into actual love. And so no amount of penalties would be imposed if we know how we think and feel as Filipinos. Most importantly how we translate the lyrics of the hymn to action.

It becomes imperative that we should be nourished by a sense of history. The essence of profoundly knowing the past would mean complete openness with the men and women who made the history. Let us be one with their thoughts, deeds and noble lives.