In a crowded room: Only 3  stood up for the national anthem

NATIONAL ANTHEM. A retired banker yesterday watched a live telecast of the boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera at the second floor of a popular restaurant in Banilad. When Kyla began singing the national anthem, he and his wife stood up. Another guy in the room did the same. When he looked around the crowded room, only three stood up for the national anthem. Afterwards, he said, “There are only three Filipinos in this room.”

A SIMPLE GESTURE OF PATRIOTISM. The retired banker later told The Ear, “It turned out that the other guy who stood up wasn’t even a Filipino. It’s a pity. Standing during a national anthem is the simplest gesture of patriotism.”