In what seems like a standard opening ceremony during the Conference on K to 12 Transition held at the Teresa Yuchengco auditorium by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) and the Fund for Assistance to Private Education (FAPE), conference guests were baffled when the Philippine National Anthem was sung in its English lyrics.
Under section 20 of Republic Act (RA) No. 8491, “The observance of the flag ceremony in official or civic gatherings shall be simple and dignified and shall include the playing or singing of the anthem in its original Filipino lyrics and march tempo.”
Section 48 of the said act furthers,
“Failure or refusal to observe the provisions of this Act; and any violation of the corresponding rules and regulations issued by the Office of the President shall, after proper notice and hearing, be penalized by public censure which shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation.
The Department of Education, Culture and Sports and the Commission on Higher Education, upon the recommendation of the Institute and after the proper notice and hearing, shall cause the cancellation of the recognition of permit of any private educational institution which fails or refuses to observe the provisions of this Act for the second time.”
In an official statement from Br. Ricky Laguda FSC, The University has already investigated the incident, and has confirmed that the playing of the English version of the Philippine National Anthem was an accident brought on by technical issues.
Is it a violation?
In interviews with The LaSallian, several professors and students who did not wish to be named admitted that they are not aware of the law and the penalties that come with it.
Director of the Intellectual Property Office Atty. Chris Cruz said the law is unfamiliar but is prescribed in the Heraldic Code of the Philippines, a revised version of which takes the form of RA 8491, “The Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines”.
