MANILA, Philippines - Arnel Pineda, the Filipino frontman of rock band Journey, apologized Tuesday to the National Historical Institute (NHI) for singing the Philippine national anthem incorrectly during the March 13 bout between Pinoy boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and Ghanaian challenger Joshua Clottey.

"I apologize for my dissatisfactory performance dun sa fight ni Pacquiao and Clottey sa Dallas, Texas, according to their standards. What can I do? I'm just doing my job... but then again hindi ako sorry kasi artistic freedom ko yon. It doesn't make me less of a Filipino dahil sa nabago ang pagkakanta," Pineda said in an abs-cbnNEWS.com interview.

Pineda said that he really did his best to represent the country while singing the anthem. The NHI earlier said it is looking into the possibility of filing a complaint against him.

"Ano ba ang bago?  'Yong traditional na pagkanta ng 'Lupang Hinirang' ang gusto nilang marinig. On my part, I'm just doing my artistic freedom. I was there as Filipino representing Pacquiao and the Philippines. 'Yun ang importante," Pineda added.

On Monday, Teddy Atienza, chief of NHI’s Heraldry Section, told abs-cbnNEWS.com that the board was not pleased when it heard Pineda’s version of “Lupang Hinirang” during the Pacquiao-Clottey fight in the United States.

Atienza lamented that Pineda sang the anthem slowly instead of of its original march tempo. He also scored the singer for belting out the last 2 words of “Lupang Hinirang” and being out of tune.

He said this was a clear violation of Republic Act (RA) 8491. RA 8491 prescribes that any person who will violate its provisions may be punished by a fine of at least P20,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year.

Pineda, meanwhile, admitted that he went off-pitch near the end of the song because he could no longer hear himself sing.
 
"Alam ko naman na nag-flat ako kasi ang parte na yon na nagsimula ng magsigawan ang tao. Wala akong ear monitor. Hindi ko na marinig ang sarili ko noong pumapasok ako doon sa line na 'lupa ng araw ng luwalhati't pagsinta.' Sumisigaw na sila, highlight ng melody ng kanta 'yon sa unti-unti hindi ko naririnig," he said.

Aside from his performance, Pineda is also being criticized for wearing a cowboy-inspired polo instead of the traditional Barong Tagalog.

In the interview, the crooner cleared that what he wore during the Pacman-Clottey bout was a modern Barong Tagalog made by Filipino fashion designer Ariel Agasang.

"Barong 'yon. 'Yon ang modern barong gawa ni Filipino designer na si Ariel Agasang na siya ding gumawa ng damit para kay Piolo Pascual," he said.
 
Martin defends Arnel

Pineda was not the first singer to be reprimanded by the NHI for singing the anthem wrong. Other singers who have been reprimanded by the NHI are balladeer Jennifer Bautista, Christian Bautista, international singing sensation Charice and Concert King Martin Nievera.

In an interview with ABS-CBN's morning show "Umagang Kay Ganda," Nievera said Pineda performed very well during the Pacquiao-Clottey fight.

"Well unang-una ginawa niya yon from the heart. Obviously binago din ang ending. For me, I see nothing wrong with that dahil hindi naman ako kasama sa NHI. For me, I think Arnel did a very good job," he said.

Nievera also said that as a rocker, Pineda should be given some leeway if he went off-pitch during the song.

"Well siguro si Arnel pinili niya 'yong isang key na masyadong mataas ang umpisa. Pero feeling ko lang dahil siyempre lead singer ng Journey, rock and roll yan, ang mga rockers kasama sa boses nila 'yan na may konting basag o kanting paos o konting crack sa voice so parang poetic license yon para sa isang rock singer katulad ni Arnel," Nievera said.
 
Nievera also shared that singing live in front of thousands of screaming fans could cause any singer to hit some bad notes.

"Kasama din 'yon na may konting nerves at konting excitement din. Siyempre, maraming pride 'yon na tumatakbo sa utak at puso niya. May pride din. Kasama din yun sa 51,000 screaming fans," Nievera said.

While saying that Pineda had nothing to apologize for, Nievera did advise the Journey frontman to get a lawyer who will help him write a letter of apology to the NHI.

"Unang-una I know pretty much kung ano ang mangyayari ngayon. Hahanapan nila ng apology. Ssana hindi darating doon but he has to talk to some lawyers to help him write a nice letter  of apology para walang sama ng loob for both sides," he said.

He added: "But personally if you will ask me I think Arnel has nothing to apologize for. He sang like a Journey singer, like a Filipino that we are proud to watch and I'm very proud of him."

For Pineda, he also agreed with Nievera that his performance was a reflection of his work as a rock singer.

"I did my best and I think that's good enough for me. Siyempre being brought up as a rock and roll singer, 'yun ang influence ko," he said. Reyma Buan-Deveza, abs-cbnNEWS.com