Pacquiao: Martin Nievera’s rendition inspired me
IBO junior welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao has appealed to all detractors of Martin Nievera to give the singer a break.
“The People’s Champ” said that he liked Nievera’s rendition of the Philippine National Anthem, which was sung before Pacquiao took on Ricky Hatton in the “Battle of East and West.”
“Walang bahid ng pangangamba ang kanyang pagsasa-bigkas ng mga titik ng kanta at na-inspire ako na lumaban muli para sa watawat at para sa bayan,” he said in his May 18 “Kumbinasyon” column on PhilBoxing.com.
The world’s No.1 pound-for-pound fighter also believes that it was not Nievera’s intention to change the tone of the “Lupang Hinirang.”
"Alam kong wala sa kaniyang intensiyon na bastusin ang tono ng pambansang awit," Pacquiao said.
The Concert King was scorned by critics, fans and the National Historical Institute (NHI) for his upbeat rendition of “Lupang Hinirang.”
The NHI said Nievera sang the first part of the national anthem too slowly and belted out the last part.
The provincial board of Cebu, meantime, passed a resolution condemning Nievera's version. According to the board, Nievera violated Republic Act (RA) 8491, or the 1998 Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, by “murdering” the national anthem.
US anthem versions
Manny lamented that in the United States, singers crooned their versions of the “Star-Spangled Banner” but there have been no cases or complaints regarding their renditions.
“Hindi ko ubos maisip na tayong mga Pilipino ay mag-aaway sa napakamaliit na isyu at may mga ilan pang gustong parusahan si Martin sa kanyang ginawa,” he said.
Pacquiao even wrote that if Martin will be punished, then the other belters who sang the national anthem, especially those who were out of tune, must also be reprimanded.
He even recounted that other singers have done their own version of the national anthem. “Ngayon lang pinag-initan ang ganitong isyu,” he commented.
“Marami tayong mga dapat pagka-abalahan pa at ang pag-uubos ng oras para sa mga ganitong bagay ay talaga namang nakakamangha at nakakainis kung minsan.
Blown up issue
Meanwhile, Manny also said that other people were just blowing up the issue. “Nabalitaan kong maraming gusto na namang sumakay at maging sikat sa pamamagitan ng pag-atake kay Martin.”
He related that Martin became his close friend after he sang at his birthday party in Los Angeles in 2008.
Manny said he promised Martin that he will sing the national anthem in his next fight even if other people were saying that getting a male singer is unlucky.
“Hindi naman po ako naniniwala dun, sa malas o swerte, e. Tayo ang gumagawa ng ating kapalaran lalo na sa ibabaw ng ring,” he noted.
“Na-impress po ako sa makabagbag-damdaming pag-awit ni Martin kahit na alam kong minsan ay medyo 'slang' ang kanyang pagkanta,” added Manny.



due diligence reply
ang batas, reactive..tulad ng traffic light..nandyan ang pula..kung di mu pinansin at pasayaw sayaw ka pang tumawid sa kalsada..kasi maganda ang sayaw mo at pagtitinginan ka nang madlatapos heto..nasagasa-an..patay..sisihin mo ang ang traffic pulis na dapat pag-sabihan ka at isaisa sa tumatawid na wag tatawid pag may pulang light..
bakit sa ibang bansa..ang pinoy..sumusunod naman sa batas nila..ano takot sila..kasi sa pinas..pwede makalusot ka kasi mayaman ka o sikat.wow good luck
lupang hinirang
to martin
Me mga bagay na pwede mong baguhin..for the sake of art..
yung naka maria clara sa panahon ni Rizal.. nakabikini na ngayon sa panahon ni Pacquiao..parang ganoon
kaya tinuturo sa school ang tamang pagkanta..kasi me batas dyan..seguro di ka nag-aral sa pilipinas kaya di mo alam ang tama
to pacquaiao
di lang masabi na maganda sa dinig mo ..tama sa na sa lahat..
kung sa tonong bahay kubo ko kinanta.. at taos-puso kong tama..di ko binastos...makapilipnio naman angdating.. tama ba
mag congressman ka muna ..tapos palitan ang tuno sa gusto mo..
meantime sumonod ka sa batas
kitam si Lt. Gadian..nagresign na sa AFP..di pa daw tama ang pagresign kasi me tamang batas sa resignation sa AAFP..kitam
sa pinas ang kaso walang pakialam ang merkano kung palitan nila ang tono
sa maliit na bagay ang nanggaling ang malaki.. alam mo yan .. galing ka rin sa wala
Proper Diligence
I am not really familiar with the particular law regarding the proper rendition of our "Lupang Hinirang". But I think instead of blaming Martin for singing it beautifully with all his heart, with all his pride and a head held high, the blame should fall on the particular government office who has the mandate to safeguard or make sure that anything like this should not happen.
The reason for this is that, instead of performing ‘due diligence’ by screening properly performers such as Martin, they were just sitting their butt and waiting for something like this to happen.
It’s like; we are blaming Martin Nievera because we failed to do our job in properly screening the version that Martin was supposed to use on the Pacquiao-Hatton fight.
I bet that no one from that particular office did ever suggest of made the effort to do what was necessary and here they are right now…..pointing fingers.
Having said that, I think either they should be investigated if they are worth the tax’s payers money or have all of them sacked for their part in disgracing the National Anthem.
Martin Nievera
Manny Pacquiao is absolutely correct. Ang intindihin na lang ninyo eh kung paano masosolve ang corruptions sa mga government officials natin. Why are you making it a big issue? If you have personal "inis" ke Martin eh di wag na lang kayong bumili ng album niya period. Ang hirap sa iba diyan gustong magpalapad ng papel and just to say anything para makilala. Okay, pati ang mga sintunado na singers na previously sang the National Anthem eh kasuhan ninyo to be fair with everybody. I don't see anything wrong sa pagkanta ni Martin okay? I am not a Martin Nievera fan but I don't see anything wrong while he was singing the National Anthem. Just stop this bullshit and go on with your life people.