Nievera asks 'take 2' to sing national anthem

MANILA, Philippines – Singer Martin Nievera had issued conflicting statements on whether he will apologize or not for his different rendition of the national anthem “Lupang Hinirang” before the start of the bout between Manny Pacquiao and Briton Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas, Nevada last Sunday.

In an interview over ABS-CBN Teleradyo Tuesday, Nievera requested that he will be allowed to sing the national anthem again under the supervision of the National Historical Institute to ensure the proper rendition of the anthem as he expressed his willingness to apologize to those he offended by his style of singing the anthem before the boxing event in Las Vegas.

“I am requesting for a take two, to sing the national anthem,” he said. But yesterday, GMA-7 and radio station dzBB, quoted Nievera as saying that he will not apologize because he was just doing his best as an artist.

During his interview with radio anchors Anthony Taberna and Gerry Baja, Nievera admitted that he was not aware of the existing law on the proper way of singing the national anthem and his rendition was done following the request of people close to Pacquiao to deliver a lively and fast song because the original version is slow and dragging.

The law provides a fine of P5,000 and imprisonment of one year to anybody who will not follow the notes, the lyrics, in the rendition of Lupang Hinirang.

Nievera said he was just expressing his freedom of expression when he deviated from the traditional way of singing it.

He issued the conflicting statements, as Nievera’s version of the national anthem has become a hot topic in the Internet, particularly on the video-sharing site YouTube where the questionable versions of various artists are now posted with the title “Ang Mga Sumeng­plang sa Pag-awit ng Lupang Hinirang.”

The YouTube site uk.youtube.com/comments has generated at least 93,762 hits as of yesterday and the site is expected to generate more comments after Nievera was included among the Lupang Hinirang bloopers.

The YouTube shows Karylle and other artists singing the national anthem in the previous fights of Pacquiao.

The NHI had condemned the distortion of the national anthem by the singers.

Meanwhile, Rep. Elpidio Barzaga of the second district of Cavite doubts if Nievera can be held liable under the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines (RA 8491) after singing a different version of the national anthem, but he plans to file a case against the singer.

“The (Philippine) government cannot impose its authority outside of its territory. I doubt if this law would be applicable. It’s outside the jurisdiction of the Philippines,” he told reporters in the weekly Ayes and Nays forum at Mongkok Restaurant in Quezon City.

Barzaga said he would file a case against Nievera in his district in Cavite to “establish jurisprudence.”

“I will have to file a test case. I will be filing it in my district, in my personal capacity as a citizen,” he said.

“I want to establish jurisprudence, if the law would (still) be applicable if (a violation) is done outside the Philippines. Baka mamaya niyan, maging rap na o jazz iyung national anthem. – Perseus Echeminada