And then I shouted

It was my first actual flag raising ceremony after all the trimmings of welcome programs.

And then, out of patriotism and the urge to command discipline, I shouted for order and demanded total adherence to the Philippine flag. I reprimanded one student.

Later, I found out that he was of the good batch. He was indeed part of the honor roll by the end of the school year. But then, nothing stopped me from singling him out in that morning.

If one can't even stand still at a few-minute flag raising activity, how can one expect to be loyal and proud of the Philippine flag in our real life experience?

I may have gone overboard at that first brush of command. But I had no regrets and won't bat an eyelash at people who playfully pull some pranks during flag ceremonies.