Jun 29 2017 : The Times of India (Chennai)
Soon in Philippines: Sing anthem with spirit or go to jail
Daniel Victor
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NYT NEWS SERVICE
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Filipinos will be required to sing the national an them when it is played in public -and to do so with enthusiasm -under a bill that the House of Representatives approved on Monday .If the bill, which will be considered by the Senate, is approved and signed into law, a failure to sing the anthem, “Lupang Hinirang,“ with sufficient energy would be punishable by up to year in prison and a fine of $1,000 to $2,000. A second offence will include both a fine and prison time, and violators will be penalised by “public censure“ in a newspaper. “The singing shall be mandatory and must be done with fervour,“ the bill states.
The law will also mandate the tempo of any public performance of the anthem -it must fall between 100 and 120 beats per minute. Schools will be required to ensure students have memorised the song.
It's not unusual for a nation to value its national anthem but it is rare for respect to be le gally required. The Supreme Court in India ruled in November that movie theatres would be required to play the national anthem before screenings, and that moviegoers would be required to stand.
In Thailand, the anthem is played at 8am and 6pm on loudspeakers in schools, offices and train stations. People are expected to stand still and be silent. A Thai man and woman were charged with offending the dignity of the monarch after not standing as the anthem was played in a theater in 2007. In 2007, Thai lawmakers considered a bill that would require motorists to stop their cars when the anthem was played, but it wasn't passed.
Last week, Chinese lawmakers drafted laws to restrict where the anthem could be played and crack down on malicious performances. Violations would be punishable by 15 days in detention. While there are no binding laws in the US, the code says people should “stand at attention facing the flag with right hand over the heart“.
The law will also mandate the tempo of any public performance of the anthem -it must fall between 100 and 120 beats per minute. Schools will be required to ensure students have memorised the song.
It's not unusual for a nation to value its national anthem but it is rare for respect to be le gally required. The Supreme Court in India ruled in November that movie theatres would be required to play the national anthem before screenings, and that moviegoers would be required to stand.
In Thailand, the anthem is played at 8am and 6pm on loudspeakers in schools, offices and train stations. People are expected to stand still and be silent. A Thai man and woman were charged with offending the dignity of the monarch after not standing as the anthem was played in a theater in 2007. In 2007, Thai lawmakers considered a bill that would require motorists to stop their cars when the anthem was played, but it wasn't passed.
Last week, Chinese lawmakers drafted laws to restrict where the anthem could be played and crack down on malicious performances. Violations would be punishable by 15 days in detention. While there are no binding laws in the US, the code says people should “stand at attention facing the flag with right hand over the heart“.
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