COTABATO CITY — To foster a sense of unity and reverence among the Bangsamoro community, Bangsamoro lawmakers have introduced a bill that aims to establish rules of conduct and decorum during the singing of the Bangsamoro Hymn.
The BTA Bill No. 175, known as the Bangsamoro Hymn Decorum Act, emphasizes the significance of the hymn as a cultural symbol of the region.
MPs Mohagher Iqbal, Engr. Aida Silongan, Atty. Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, and Suharto Esmael jointly filed the bill, reflecting their commitment to promoting the utmost respect for the Bangsamoro Hymn and preserving its sanctity during public performances.
The proposed measure would apply to all individuals present during the playing or singing of the Bangsamoro Hymn, including ministries, government offices, agencies, educational institutions, local government units, and government-owned or controlled corporations situated in the region.
Outlined within the bill are specific guidelines that attendees must adhere to while the hymn is being performed.
Attendees must stand upright and face the direction in which the Bangsamoro flag is displayed, if present. In instances where the flag is not visible and the hymn is pre-recorded, individuals should face the direction of the sound.
If the person singing the hymn is visible, the crowd must face the person, and pay full attention throughout the performance of the hymn.
As soon as the singing of the hymn is announced, physically able individuals are expected to stand and place a closed fist across their chests. This gesture signifies respect and should be observed by all attendees, regardless of their ability to stand.
The lawmakers underscored the significance of placing the right hand over the chest, emphasizing that it symbolizes dignity and honor to the Bangsamoro people. They further clarified that the prescribed decorum should be followed by men, women, children, and the elderly in attendance, with the exception of those wearing religious or culture-related headwear.
Uniformed men are required to perform a military salute at the start of the singing of the hymn and maintain this posture until the hymn concludes.
The bill does not include punitive measures for non-compliance with the decorum guidelines. However, the authors of the bill emphasized the importance of respecting the courageous Mujahideen and Mujahiddat who fought for the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people and honoring the symbols of the region by observing the prescribed etiquette. (LTAIS-Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)