You could face jail time for ignoring the national anthem in cinemas

Republic Act No. 8491, Section 50 imposes a fine of ₱5,000 to ₱20,000, imprisonment of up to one year, or both for violators.

Singing and standing up for the national anthem is a lesson Filipinos learn as early as elementary school through weekly flag ceremonies and classroom discussions. Thus, it should be common knowledge that it is one of our civic responsibilities.

However, a Threads user’s experience inside a movie theater has called into question whether Filipinos still observe this practice, as they recounted that only two people in the cinema, including themselves, stood when the national anthem was played.

“Tumatayo ba kayo kapag nag play ang Lupang Hinirang sa [sinehan]? Ang dami namin sa [sinehan pero] 2 lang kaming tumayo.”

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Many users shared that they always stand for the national anthem, arguing that it is a basic act of respect for the Philippine flag and the nation.

Some even said they actively encourage fellow movie watchers to do the same. “Halos lagi [akong] sa likod nakaupo sa sinehan. ‘Pag may nakita akong hindi tumayo, sumisigaw ako na dapat tumayo ang lahat,” one commented.

Another shared that they would call out, ‘[Tumayo] po tayo para sa pambansang awit,’ whenever the national anthem began playing. While some would stand, others remained seated and continued talking throughout the anthem.

Legally, such acts may constitute a violation of Republic Act No. 8491, the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines. Stated under Section 38(d), everyone present at a public gathering must stand and sing the national anthem “with fervor,” including “before the initial and last screening of films and before the opening of theater performances.”

Violators may also face consequences as stated under Section 50, including a fine of ₱5,000 to ₱20,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year, or both, at the court’s discretion.

The law was also enforced back in 2018, after 34 people in Batangas were arrested by the police for not standing up during the national anthem at a screening of ‘The Hows of Us.’

Beyond the legal implications, such an incident raises questions about whether we still consistently observe this basic civic practice as Filipinos.