Edith Joaquin and I were at this Thai resto at SM City Cebu when we heard Arnel Pineda sing the National Anthem at the Pacquiao-Clottey fight. I loved Journey when Steve Perry was still their lead singer, and I can’t be more proud that Arnel Pineda, a Filipino, became their front man. But the moment he came to the end of the National Anthem, Jette and I looked at each other and said, “bawal ‘yan”.
Every time Pacquiao fights, the person who sings the national anthem gets reprimanded by the NHI for singing the wrong notes. And it makes me wonder, lagi na lang pinagagalitan ang mga naunang singers kapag binabago ang tono ng kanta, pero bakit lagi pa rin nilang binabago ang tono ng kanta kapag sila na ang kumakanta? Lagi na lang. Lagi na laaaaang.
I’m all for artistic or creative license. As a matter of fact, I like how Arnel Pineda sang the National Anthem. He did it with fervor, and I actually had tears in my eyes after the song… and Martin NIevera for that matter, but the law… THIS law:
“Sec. 37. The rendition of the National Anthem, whether played or sung, shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe.”
states that we can not Journey-fy the Philippine National Anthem. Bakit, bakit??? hindi matuto ang mga singers na kumakanta ng national anthem natin sa mga laban ni Pacquiao? Ang dami nang laban niyan… ang dami nang kumanta, ang dami nang napagsabihan, pero bakit hindi pa rin natuto!? Bakit?! BAKIT?!
Sana sa susunod na laban, umayos naman na ang susunod na kakanta ng National Anthem… parang mas mabuti kung si Manny na lang mismo ang kumanta.
Pero, papa Arnel… I lab you ha. Okay lang sa ‘kin ang pagkanta mo… bawal lang talaga.









I liked his rendition, really. Na-touch ako kaso pag dating sa dulo… ready na ako pumalakpak kaso… napa-pfft nalang ako. Still, it was better than the birit queens and at least he didn’t forget the lyrics.
Why do they have to stylize the national anthem anyway? Hay, my suggestion? The next time someone will sing for Pacquiao’s fight, get NHI to sit with that singer & tell them how to “properly” sing it.
dapat open arms na lang kinanta niya para nakabirit pa siya talaga!
@ Kat: Ako din eh. Naluha talaga ako kaya lang, ayun nga. Magandang birit sana kaso bawal. Sa States ba hindi bawal na gawing RnB ang national anthem nila? hehe Dapat may training muna sila sa NHI bago kumanta ano?
@ Kuku: Oo! O kaya Faithfully! Panalo sana.