Misamis Oriental LGU in hot water over Bisaya singing of Lupang Hinirang

The Misamis Oriental local government unit is in hot water over a video showing a flag ceremony with the Philippine national anthem sung with Bisaya lyrics.

A 24 Oras report by Cedric Castillo showed a ceremony in front of the capitol where Bisaya lyrics to Lupang Hinirang are sung.

The report also showed footage from a video called "Bisayang National Anthem," which included the logo of the Misamis Oriental Provincial Information office at the end.

"We would like to inform you that your proposal to sing the Lupang Hinirang in Cebuano is not in conformity with the provisions of the R.A No. 8491 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations," said Oro Tri Media Government Watch in a letter to the NHCP.

Section 20 of Republic Act No 8491, or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines states: "The observance of the flag ceremony in official or civic gatherings shall be simple and dignified and shall include the playing or singing of the anthem in its original Filipino lyrics and march tempo."

"The Lupang Hinirang or National Anthem should only be sung in Filipino. Whatever the translation is from Spanish, the Filipino lyrics should still be sung in the ceremony," said Teddy Atienza, the chief of Heraldy Sectiion at the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP)

While the NHCP said it encourages the teaching of translations of the lyrics, only the Filipino lyrics are allowed to be sung.

In March, Rene Escalante, the chairman of the NHCP, wrote a letter to the Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano, reminding him and his office "that the National Anthem should be sung in Filipino in his provincial government office as well as in other offices and schools within your jurisdiction."

Atienza said that the NHCP hasn't received any response from the Misamis Oriental LGU.

"We already have a letter addressed to the Department of Interior and Local Government," he said.

According to RA 8491, "any person or judicial entity which violates any of the provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than Five thousand pesos (5,000.00) not more than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00), or by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court." —Angelica Y. Yang/JST, GMA News