ANGELES CITY – Controversies triggered by how the Philippine national anthem “Lupang Hinirang” was sung during Manny Pacquiao’s international bouts could inspire more fear than patriotism nationwide.
The law provides that the anthem be sung to its composer Julian Felipe’s marching tempo which is within the range of 100 to 120 metronome in 2/4 beat when played, and in 4.4 beat when sung, noted this city’s Rep. Carmelo Lazatin who now wants the law relaxed.
“If we now have to implement the law strictly on the manner of singing our national anthem, then we should henceforth embark on a massive construction of prisons all over the country. Afterall, the law should exempt no one,” he said in an interview.
Lazatin said unless the law is relaxed, it has the potential of making criminals of the majority of Filipinos. He noted that in the United States, singers are not threatened with imprisonment or fines for improvising on their Star-Spangled Banner anthem.
For singing Lupang Hinirang slow or improvising it even a bit, anyone can land in jail for as long as one year, or be slapped with a P5,000 fine, certainly way above the daily minimum wage, he noted.
Thus, Lazatin, who is seeking reelection to the 15th Congress, is determined to amend Republic Act No. 8491 or the Heraldic Code of the Philippines which provides that “the rendition of the National Anthem, whether played or sung, shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe.”
Lazatin recalled that through his elementary grades, the national anthem had been sung much slower than Felipe’s tempo. “Even these days, I seldom hear the national anthem sung fast enough in schools,” he noted.
Singer Arnel Pineda is the latest to come under fire from the National Historical Institute (NVI) for his improvising on the last parts of the anthem during last Sunday’s opening rites for the Pacquiao-Clottey bout in Texas.
The NHI said that while Pineda’s version of the National Anthem was better than past renditions during Pacquiao’s other bouts, he nevertheless raised the pitch of the song in the last portion.
Earlier, other singers who also sang Lupang Hiniring during Pacquiao’s international matches also came under fire from the NHI, including Charice Pempengco and Martin Nievera. On the other hand, Christian Bautista was criticized for forgetting several lines of the National Anthem during a boxing match in Muntinlupa in 2007.
Also threatened with legal cases for similar violations were Sarah Geronimo and Lani Misalucha.
Lazatin said that some improvisations in the National Anthem could even more inspiring, as in the case of American singers who improvise on their Star Spangled Banner national anthem.
He noted that American singers sing their anthem in versions of pop, blues, jazz and soul without any disrespect for their anthem.
He recalled that the first pop rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner heard by mainstream America was done by Puerto Rican singer Jose Feliciano during the 1968 World Series the Tiger Stadium in Detroit.
“It initially shocked people, but it eventually opened up other forms of improvisations we now hear. Americans were stirred by some of these renditions although there were some reported abuses, that’s why there is a need for guidelines for improvisations,” he said.
“Perhaps, we should also allow improvisations, although to a limited extent,” he said.
Lazatin said that in line with the legislation he intends to push in the next Congress, he would propose the creation of a committee composed of representatives from artists and the NHI to determine guidelines on improvisations “to preserve respect that the National Anthem deserves.”
“When sung, the National Anthem should inspire love of country, not fear of violating the tempo strictly required by present laws,” Lazatin noted.
The law provides that the anthem be sung to its composer Julian Felipe’s marching tempo which is within the range of 100 to 120 metronome in 2/4 beat when played, and in 4.4 beat when sung, noted this city’s Rep. Carmelo Lazatin who now wants the law relaxed.
“If we now have to implement the law strictly on the manner of singing our national anthem, then we should henceforth embark on a massive construction of prisons all over the country. Afterall, the law should exempt no one,” he said in an interview.
Lazatin said unless the law is relaxed, it has the potential of making criminals of the majority of Filipinos. He noted that in the United States, singers are not threatened with imprisonment or fines for improvising on their Star-Spangled Banner anthem.
For singing Lupang Hinirang slow or improvising it even a bit, anyone can land in jail for as long as one year, or be slapped with a P5,000 fine, certainly way above the daily minimum wage, he noted.
Thus, Lazatin, who is seeking reelection to the 15th Congress, is determined to amend Republic Act No. 8491 or the Heraldic Code of the Philippines which provides that “the rendition of the National Anthem, whether played or sung, shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe.”
Lazatin recalled that through his elementary grades, the national anthem had been sung much slower than Felipe’s tempo. “Even these days, I seldom hear the national anthem sung fast enough in schools,” he noted.
Singer Arnel Pineda is the latest to come under fire from the National Historical Institute (NVI) for his improvising on the last parts of the anthem during last Sunday’s opening rites for the Pacquiao-Clottey bout in Texas.
The NHI said that while Pineda’s version of the National Anthem was better than past renditions during Pacquiao’s other bouts, he nevertheless raised the pitch of the song in the last portion.
Earlier, other singers who also sang Lupang Hiniring during Pacquiao’s international matches also came under fire from the NHI, including Charice Pempengco and Martin Nievera. On the other hand, Christian Bautista was criticized for forgetting several lines of the National Anthem during a boxing match in Muntinlupa in 2007.
Also threatened with legal cases for similar violations were Sarah Geronimo and Lani Misalucha.
Lazatin said that some improvisations in the National Anthem could even more inspiring, as in the case of American singers who improvise on their Star Spangled Banner national anthem.
He noted that American singers sing their anthem in versions of pop, blues, jazz and soul without any disrespect for their anthem.
He recalled that the first pop rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner heard by mainstream America was done by Puerto Rican singer Jose Feliciano during the 1968 World Series the Tiger Stadium in Detroit.
“It initially shocked people, but it eventually opened up other forms of improvisations we now hear. Americans were stirred by some of these renditions although there were some reported abuses, that’s why there is a need for guidelines for improvisations,” he said.
“Perhaps, we should also allow improvisations, although to a limited extent,” he said.
Lazatin said that in line with the legislation he intends to push in the next Congress, he would propose the creation of a committee composed of representatives from artists and the NHI to determine guidelines on improvisations “to preserve respect that the National Anthem deserves.”
“When sung, the National Anthem should inspire love of country, not fear of violating the tempo strictly required by present laws,” Lazatin noted.
