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[av_heading heading=’EDITORIAL | Singing from the heart’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Friday, June 30, 2017
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SINGING the national anthem out of obligation is one thing; singing it by heart is another.
The House of Representatives approved House Bill 5224 updating, among others, the rules on the rendition of our national anthem. It must be sung with fervor following the prescribed lyrics and with a salute – with all persons standing at attention with their right palms over the left chests.
Really, how many of us know our national anthem by heart? Man-on-the-street interviews of television networks show some cannot sing it correctly. It’s pathetic.
The national anthem is taught as early as Filipino citizens start grade school. But years of being away from school probably make many of us experience “lapse in memory” when singing “Lupang Hinirang” (It’s not “Bayang Magiliw”, dear).
Remember singer Christian Bautista? A decade ago at an exhibition match between world bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa and NABF bantamweight champion Bernabe Concepcion at the Metropolis Mall in Alabang, he missed a few lines while singing the national anthem. After that incident, he issued a public apology. He said he had a “lapse in memory.”
Students in schools are forced to memorize the lyrics. They have to sing it every day during the flag ceremony. Some teachers even include the song in their exams.
Government offices hold flag ceremonies, too – every Monday and employees attend but only to avoid being reprimanded. In other words, Jose Palma and Julian Felipe’s obra maestra – which expresses the sufferings and victory of Filipinos in poetry and music – is not viewed by many as a triumph of freedom that deserves to be celebrated regularly. Perhaps some of us think singing it is mundane.
The school, the first institution responsible in shaping our patriotic attitude, should not just ram the lyrics down the students’ throats and force them to memorize it sans explanation. It would be a big help if teachers expound the story of the Filipinos’ struggles to make our beloved country free. This way, our national anthem will be etched in the deep recesses of our hearts and we appreciate its true value.
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