MANILA, Philippines - I posted the Philippine Flag Law?Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines?on my blog (http://jethernandez.multiply.com/reviews/item/83) for this reason:

I?ve noticed that some moviegoers at SM cinemas don?t show respect to the Philippine National Anthem while it?s being played. In one instance, I called the attention of a moviegoer who remained sitting and eating with his wife and kid as the anthem was ?video-played.? He just snapped back, ?How can I stand, I?m eating.?

SM management might want to read the law. It imposes on violators a penalty of P5,000 to P20,000 or one year of imprisonment or both. May I then suggest the following:
1. Require your staff, including your security officers, to stay on theater aisles to watch for violators and to place them under citizen?s arrest.
2. Flash on screen the salient points of the law immediately before and after the anthem?s music video.
3. Require policemen assigned at the malls to stay near the theaters during the first and last show so that your staff and security can immediately turn over the violators to them.
4. The singing of our national anthem should be treated as a sacred and solemn act, not unlike the singing of a prayer to God.
Minus all the economic and political b.s. in our country, the singing of the Philippine National Anthem should provide the only sane moment that reminds a Filipino that he or she is still a Filipino, and everyone else in this country that he or she is still in the Philippines.
Kaya kung ayaw mong magbigay-pugay sa pambansang awit, get out of the Philippines. This country is not for you.

?JET HERNANDEZ,via e-mai