A video showing a student desecrating the Philippine flag by using it like one does a floor mop went viral on February 9.
I was among the first to view and share the video which has since been shared over a million times in the internet. Undoubtedly, the video has angered and incensed a lot of people.
As what usually happens to viral videos or photos, people do their darnedest best to find out who the source is. In the case of the particular video, people wanted to find out the identity of the student and, if possible, castigate him for his blatant disrespect of the Philippine flag which, to them, is the symbol of the Filipino people as a nation.
About two days after the uploading of the video, a name surfaces, that of a certain Ro Jard Brit but who claims to be “Rogieme Olorvida Villaflores.”
“Ikaw ba ‘yung trending (na) estudyante ng UE na ginawang mop ‘yung bandila ng Pilipinas? Mali talaga ‘yung ginawa mo. ‘Di ka na rin siguro menor-de-edad para magmaang-maangan sa ginawa mo. May nilabag kang batas at may parusa ‘yun,” wrote one Dune Vienes Karen Rafael at Ro Jard Brit’s wall which, surprisingly, remained public unlike other Facebook accounts that are deactivated in anticipation of a harsh and relentless bashing from the public.
In all his comments and replies to the numerous negative comments from people most of whom are unknown to him, Ro Jard Brit seemed unperturbed and unrepentant. He would even get to the point of replying with mockery, all the more making the public infuriated.
At one point, he placed on his wall a photo foster against cyber bullying. People got all the more angry, quickly telling him he deserved all the hounding as a consequence of is action.
At one point, acting like he was remorseful, Ro Jard Brit said, “Sorry inatake lang ng kasamaan.” But his comments remained loaded with cynism.
A netizen, Dean Red Forio Fadriquela, aptly reminded the people of the importance of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Philippine Flag as found in Republic Act No. 8491:
“Ako ay Filipino, buong katapatang nanunumpa sa watawat ng Pilipinas at sa bansang kanyang sinasagisag, na may dangal, katarungan, at kalayaan, na pinakikilos ng sambayanang maka-Diyos, makatao, makakalikasan at makabansa.”
The student is definitely paying a high price now for what could be the most important lesson of his life. In a positive light, it showed the Filipinos how they easily become one if the values and traditions they hold dear are attacked. BEEN THERE DONE THAT/JOSEPHINE JARON-CODILLA
