MANILA, Philippines ? Zyrene Parsad?s efforts paid off as the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) approved her rendition of the “Lupang Hinirang” as sung right before the Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito bout last Nov. 14 in Dallas, Texas.
?Maganda yung pagkaka-kanta niya, talagang na-deliver nya kung ano yung dapat. Maliban sa, siguro, kinapos lang sa paghinga [sa bandang huli]. Nag-pause siya ng kaunti. Siguro kinapos ng paghinga or ninerbyos [siya],? NHCP?s Heraldry Section Head Teddy Atienza told GMA-7 in a taped interview aired on Nov. 15.
Atienza added that among all the past singers of the “Lupang Hinirang” at Pacquiao fights, only Zyrene followed the rule of placing the right hand on the left side of the chest as soon as the first note of the national anthem plays.
?When I was in the ring, I was really nervous. But when I’m singing it [already], I wasn’t because hawak-hawak ko yung rosary,? Zyrene admitted after the match.
Other singers who had sung at Pacquiao matches were almost always under fire for rendering the anthem incorrectly. Despite NHCP?s constant reminders to sing the song in march tempo, singers give the song a whole new spin when entering the ring. NHCP said that some even go off-key at some point in the song.
Needless to say, the performance of the national anthem at said bouts were almost as highly anticipated as the fights themselves.
Among the performers who received backlash for singing the “Lupang Hinirang” incorrectly were Sarah Geronimo, Geneva Cruz, Martin Nievera, Arnel Pineda, La Diva, and Christian Bautista, who was infamous for forgetting lines of the national anthem.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao?s 8th world title win impressed not only Filipinos all over the world but also Hollywood celebrities. They made use of their Twitter accounts in expressing their support for the Pacman.
Socialite and heiress Paris Hilton tweeted, ?Retweet if you love Pacquiao! Who watched the fight??. Her sister Nicky also showed support for Manny, saying ?You’re the man #Pacquiao!?
Black Eyed Peas member Will.i.am expressed his awe, ?I don’t think any other fighter in history has fought 8 weight classes like pacman…we just watched david beat golliath.?
?American Idol? Season 7 winner David Cook also tweeted, ?Manny Pacquiao is incredible. Just incredible.?
?heard Manny did work tonight. I think it’s time we got the Money Mayweather fight we have all been waiting for. #EPICBATTLE? young singing sensation Justin Bieber likewise posted.
Other celebrities who tweeted their support were Nicole Richie, and Jeremy Piven who even went to Texas and took a picture with the man himself before the fight.
The Pacquiao-Margarito fight also ruled the Twitterverse when ?Pacquiao,? ?Pacquiao-Margarito,? ?Mayweather,? ?Margarito,? ?Filipino pride? and ?congrats Manny? made it to the trending topics list.
