Open it up

The National Historial Institute's act to punish Martin Nievera because of a decent and astounding performance of Lupang Hinirang during the Pacquiao-Hatton match last Sunday, isn't fair and is one that people should take a look into, closely.

According to Section 37, Chapter 2 of the law - the national anthem should be played or sung in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of its composer Julian Felipe. If this is the case, then we all have,like Nievera violated the law for the longest time now, since we are not singing this anthem on it's original alegro. This is a march tune, if I could still remember my history class. Why do we sing this song in a middle tempo then? We should all then be fined and imprisoned for one year for singing the anthem incorrectly.

To start with, I am not a fan of Martin Nievera but his rendition last Sunday, reminded me how great and talented Filipinos are. First, we have Pacman as the current pound for pound king of boxing,which is internationally recognized. Second, we have one of the best vocalists in the person of Mr. Nievera. Lastly, the fresh version of the Philippine National Anthem, tells everyone how great artists and songwriters we are to have written should great melody for an anthem which is at par or better yet far more enticing than America's Star Spangled Banner.

I thought all the traditionalists are dead. Or we should kill them and their idea that the song is “untouchable.” Hello!!! It's year 2009, we should welcome changes, especially if this wouldn't hurt us in the process. I think this law should be revisited and ammended.

We should all learn from Mariah Carey's version of Star Spangled Banner. It's heartfelt, it's very Mariah because she placed a twist in it. She whistled all through the top (check it out below). Lupang Hinirang then, should be open to version that would highlight it's richness and sould, like what we heard last Sunday and like what other Americans do with their anthem.

Martin did it his own way, expressing his love through this song. He deserves a standing ovation and a round of applause, not a castigation.