Sing anthem properly or face jail
MANILA - PHILIPPINE MPs have backed a proposed law which could see performers jailed for two years for disrespecting the national anthem by singing off-key or deviating from the song's original martial tempo.
Members of parliament were incensed at the way 'Lupang Hinirang' (Revered Homeland) was sung at the boxing matches of seven-time Filipino world champion Manny Pacquiao, Teddy Atienza of the National Historical Commission told AFP.
'Our national anthem is always being vulgarised,' said Mr Atienza, head of the government commission's heraldry division.
The proposal aims to toughen up a 1998 flag law under which performing the anthem inappropriately can be punished with a year's prison and a small fine, officials told AFP.
The new bill, passed on Monday by a parliament that now includes Mr Pacquiao himself, would double the jail term and raise the fines to a maximum of 100,000 pesos (S$3,000 dollars).
But it will only take effect if the Senate passes a similar version and President Benigno Aquino signs it. Mr Atienza admitted a similar Senate bill has not made much progress. -- AFP
