MOVIE piracy is a serious crime and cinema owners have exerted effort to tell the public that. But what about teaching moviegoers to stand up and respect the national anthem?
Thirty-four persons learned the hard way the price of not standing up for the national anthem when it was played inside the cinema prior to the last full show. They might have thought it cool to stay relaxed while others have to stand up, or they could have imagined they were expressing their freedom of choice, akin to freedom of expression, by not getting off their butts. They were wrong on both counts, and there is a price to pay.
The arrest of the 34 persons happened inside the cinema in Batangas City but the news report on it surged to the top as one of the most viewed by people on websites and Facebook last Thursday. It reminded people of their civic duty to stand up when the national anthem is played as a sign of respect to the nation.
The practice of not standing up for the anthem happens in cinemas in other places, not only Batangas. You see people in Cebu cinemas not caring at all, not even trying to hide as others rise from their seats.
Those arrested in Batangas were cited for violation of Republic Act 8491, or an “Act prescribing the code of the national flag, anthem, motto, coat-of-arms and other heraldic items and devices of the Philippines.” The law is also known as the Flag and Heraldic Code that was approved by then President Ramos on Feb. 12, 1998.
The law provides penalties ranging from a fine of P5,000 to P20,000.00 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both fine and imprisonment.
The Code is silent on the responsibilities of third parties like cinema owners who can do their part to ensure compliance. But it seems cinema owners are more concerned with people stealing movies than those disrespecting the country.
Cinemas can help educate the public on this. With many minutes devoted to house advertising against piracy, a few minutes on the flag code would help prevent violations. There will be those who would test the limits of their so-called freedom to choose not to stand and wait until a security person approaches them. There are also others who may not be aware of the law.
One would expect foreigners to violate the law out of ignorance than out of disrespect. But comments on the news report on the arrests showed foreign nationals willing to abide by the law because, as they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans. But Filipinos disrespecting the anthem out of laziness and the wish to test limits, have no excuse.
Reminding them of the rule, in the same way that cinema owners vehemently discourage the use of cameras or camera phones to record the movie, could prevent violation of the law. Educating the public is a sure way to require compliance. Tell moviegoers piracy is illegal and not standing up for the national anthem means a fine or days in prison.