Law Summary
Penalties for Disrespect under Commonwealth Act No. 634
- Penalties include fines ranging from 25 to 1,000 pesos or imprisonment up to one year for the first offense.
- Both fines and imprisonment apply for second and subsequent offenses.
- Disrespect includes improper utterance, writing, acts, omissions, and use in inappropriate venues or contexts.
Guidelines for Performing the National Anthem
- The performance must strictly follow Julian Felipe’s arrangement as adopted by law.
- The anthem should not be altered in tempo, melody, harmony, embellishment, or syllabication.
- The Department of Education, Culture and Sports is responsible for distributing the official arrangement.
Protocol During Public Performances
- The public is enjoined to sing with feeling and fervor when the anthem is played or sung publicly.
- Persons must stand at attention, face the Philippine flag if displayed, and salute with the right palm over the left chest at the first note.
- Military, scouting, and security personnel shall render salutes according to their respective regulations.
- The salute ends on the last note of the anthem.
- The anthem must not be used for amusement or entertainment purposes.
Enforcement and Compliance for Government Personnel
- All government officials and employees, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations and educational institutions, must comply with the guidelines.
- Compliance is mandatory during state celebrations, public gatherings, and formal civic ceremonies.
- Heads of offices must disseminate this Executive Order within their jurisdictions.
- Non-compliance by officials or employees will lead to administrative sanctions.
Educational Responsibility
- The Department of Education, Culture and Sports must ensure that all elementary students memorize the anthem.
- The anthem is to be performed during flag ceremonies in schools.
- The department shall provide official vocal, piano, and band scores to all schools and interested entities.
Broadcasting and Cinema Responsibilities
- Playing the anthem during sign-on and sign-off on radio and television is jointly managed by the Office of the Press Secretary and the Kagawaran ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas.
- Cinema houses have a joint responsibility with the Motion Picture and Television Review and Classification Board and the Movie Producers and Distributors Association of the Philippines for anthem performance.
Effectivity and Repeal of Conflicting Orders
- The Executive Order takes immediate effect upon issuance.
- All previous executive orders, rules, or regulations that conflict with this order are repealed or modified accordingly.