Madonna could be banned from Philippines

For disrespecting its flag

Performing in Manila in sold-out shows Wednesday and Thursday on the “Rebel Heart” tour, the pop icon, 57, wrapped herself in the country’s flag.

“She ridiculed our flag,” said Teodoro Atienza, chief of the heraldry section of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines on Friday.

Madonna’s gesture violates a law prohibiting the wearing of the Philippine flag “in whole, or part, as a costume or uniform,” Atienza said.

While draping herself in the flag, it touched the floor, another violation.

People who do so “may face deportation and might not be able to return to the country,” Atienza continued.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai...anned-philippines-flag-play-article-1.2544824

Idiots. She was probably trying to show respect to the people there.

honoring / dishonoring flags varies cross culturally and according to context. Burning a US flag is considered dishonorable when it is a Filipino leftist or something doing it, but when a faded flag US is to be disposed of, the accepted best way of disposing it honorably, is by burning it.

it's the same with Korans. When some non-Muslim nut burns a Koran in the US it is considered dishonorable by Muslims. But in Saudi, the way to dispose of old, faded Korans honorably is by burning. You can't just throw them in the trash anywhere.

obviously wrapping yourself in a US flag is not considered dishonorable by Americans like Madonna, and plenty of other nationalities also have no problem walking around dressed in their countries flags. Every US gold medal winner at the Olympics does it. Madonna can't be blamed for getting this wrong - if this Filipino 'heraldic expert' has it right, that is. She can't be expected to be familiar with the minutaie of Filipino protocol.

frankly the story shows all the usual signs of being a bit of the juvenile anti-Americanism that manifests itself in the Philippines from time to time.

whilst I accept that the Philippines hierarchy need at times to grow a set and move with the times in some instances,equally Madonna who I am sure has a team of advisors PR people etc should respect a nations traditions and protocol.
I think she is great by the way so not anti Madonna

I highly doubt whether this 'heraldric expert' guy would be complaining if a Filipino draped his or herself in the Philippines flag after winning Gold at the Olympics.

he wasn't whining at protocol being broken when this happened either :

http://sports.inquirer.net/files/2015/06/cray-06101.jpg

or this, when it's Manny himself :

http://mymindonsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/pacquiao-with-philippine-flag.jpg

he's just being a pompous asshole.

the difference is that these 2 instances are Filipino nationals!

The 'heraldric expert' doesn't say anything about only foreigners shouldn't be doing this.

If you disrespect the Thai king, you are in trouble with the law if you trample his likeness underfoot, whether you are Thai, or a foreigner. It doesn't matter. Why is this different?

I wish she'd get banned from everywhere

“She ridiculed our flag,” said Teodoro Atienza, chief of the heraldry section of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines on Friday.

Madonna’s gesture violates a law prohibiting the wearing of the Philippine flag “in whole, or part, as a costume or uniform,” Atienza said.

While draping herself in the flag, it touched the floor, another violation.

The 2 photo examples you @whipstar have shown neither are wearing the flag one is holding it aloft the other has it draped over one shoulder, she had it as a cloak from the pictures Ive seen so as the guy suggests it would appear in his view she has violated the law prohibiting the wearing of the flag in whole or part as a costume or uniform,I note she has also managed to upset some chinese folk on her Thailand leg on the same tour.
Personally I think she has been ill advised or not advised at all about this

I must admit I cringe a little when I see her perform nowadays, she's older than I am for God's sake, she should be toning it down a bit at her age

I must say though she does deserve the recognition for her early years work, I just wish that these old biddies would learn when to call it a day.

@Timmers shes younger than me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

international rock stars, of which Madonna is one, are going to continue to give the Philippines a wide berth, if they continue to get this kind of pointless, and silly, juvenile attitude, from Filipino people in prominent positions.

they haven't forgotten, that the Beatles got kicked out of the Philippines 50 years ago.

I think we can confidently predict, that Madonna and the substantial amount of foreign investment this tour bestowed, is not going to return.

other foreign artists are going to notice this, They are are going to say, why should we bother with this nonsense (the Philippines).

they haven't learned anything.

Whipster, why was the beatles kicked out of the Philippines.

Because they unknowingly blanked President Marcos?

Its high time that these high profile foreign artists boycott the Philippines and make a big deal about doing so IMO.
I doubt any of them would care very much if the basket case politicians or bishops gave them a life ban for whatever BS reason..

they didn't attend a reception in the palace because the appointment was just a figment of Imelda Marcos's imagination.

her husband, Ferdinand, had absolutely no knowledge of this.

Imelda's power, even then, was so great that she was able to make life, very difficult for the Beatles. And they the Filipinos took all the money of course at the airport. The Beatles made a substantial loss, on the Philippines section of the tour which they didn't expect. Like most foreign investors, they expected to make a profit, But what happened was that the Filipinos stole all the money from them.

if you were Filipino and offended them and not foreigners like the Beatles were, she Imelda, wouldn't have just stolen your money. She'd have killed you too.

From what I understand The Beatles inadvertently snubbed Imelda Marcos by declining a breakfast invitation which was at the time their managers policy as a result they had their police protection withdrawn,as they were making their way to the airport they were treated pretty badly by locals and police and the airport people even extorted huge airport taxes by all accounts they left of their own accord fearing for their own and their entourage safety.Hope this link helps

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_in_1966

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/02/the-beatles-worst-experience/

Forced to carry their own bags, the small group hastily made tracks for the gates, but were soon greeted by a huge, hostile, bloodthirsty mob of furious Filipinos.

As the frazzled group made a mad dash for the gates, the Beatles and their aides were kicked, punched, spit on and yelled at with angry epithets. “We treat you like ordinary passenger! Ordinary passenger!”, the airport personnel unsympathetically informed them. (Strangely, the Beatles aides were all attacked more furiously than the Beatles themselves- the boys were to remember their hapless chauffeur, Alf, getting kicked, bloodied, and pushed down a flight of stairs.)

John and Ringo ran for sanctuary behind a small group of Catholic nuns, while George ran for refuge behind a nearby Buddhist monk. (Thank goodness for the ever present airport clergy.) Ringo got decked by an uppercut and was kicked on the ground. He also suffered a sprained ankle from the melee.

By a strange “coincidence”, the escalator was “out of order”, so the beaten-up young men ran as quickly as they could, up the steps to relative safety. Bruised and bloodied, they all finally made it on board the plane. The terrified group waited nervously in the severe humidity- afraid for their lives.

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2013/02/the-beatles-worst-experience/

Ferdinand the actual president, didn't know that there was anything wrong until he'd got come back from his command centre where his numerous mistresses knew where to assemble when he got off work. He was working. He didn't know his wife had been making a right nuisance of herself.

when he got back the next day and the Beatles were out of the country, the Marcos's issued this apology. But nobody in the rock and roll world really believed it.