When the national anthem or Philippine Hymn was sung on the occasion of the fight of Pacman vs. Hitman by a famous singer, the section chief of Heraldry Office of the National Historical Institute was saying something to the effect that its legal department is studying the possibility of perhaps sanctioning Martin Nievera for violation of Republic Act 8492, otherwise known as the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.
Apparently, this stems from the rather intentional change Martin Nievera did in the rendition of the “Lupang Hinirang” which departs from the requisite of Section 37 of such law which stipulates that its rendition ought to be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe. Still, however, it seems always violated in that other earlier artists such as Sarah Geronimo, Kyla, Lani Misalucha and Bituin Escalante have likewise sang the hymn rather incorrectly.
Thus, Martin appears to come 5th in the violator’s chart.
Clearly, from the point of view of the National Historical Institute, since the law was kind of intentionally violated in the case of Martin Nievera according to NHI’s section chief, then it is possible that fines, penalties or sanctions maybe imposed, perhaps a little more serious than a mere reprimand given that Martin sang in quite away from its time signature and its prescribed key.
But the point at bottom is on whether NHI should even undertake to sort of “punish” a famous singer who, by his presence alone, lent pride and prestige to the sporting event that resulted in giving even greater glory to RP when Manny Pacquiao were announced as the winner in this much-awaited boxing bout.
It bears watching how singer Martin will be held to account on an act that may not have been intentionally committed by the singer himself.
From where I stand, maybe culture cannot evolve with a law that is built like an un-crushable mountain that will not drift to the sea.
Besides, are we not to suppose that there must have been an earlier approval of NHI for anyone from the Philippines who will sing the national anthem in an international sporting event and with such approval, nothing ought to be the matter on how nicely or un-nicely it may turn out to have been sung?
Indeed, the law stands even beyond its borders. This means that anywhere the Philippine Hymn is being sang, it must be sung in a prescribed tune and is not at all subject to any creative or artist’s interpretation. But what really happens if one has tended to have violated the prescribed time signature and key?
It is hard enough to just assign anybody of lesser stature to sing the national anthem however much correctly it may be done. We have observed that on the part of Hatton, it was Tom Jones who sang their own national hymn and another possibly famous singer for the US National Anthem. I thought we played a good part of the role with Martin Nievera doing the honors.
How then will this little glitch come to pass?
Will the National Historical Institute not fail to similarly sanction the individual who hoisted the Philippine flag upside down? Will it strongly sanction the one with the Philippine flag with texts over it? Will it sanction those in the Philippine crowd who did not place their right palm over their left chest while the hymn is being sung?
There might just be much ado about nothing at all – just maybe. On hindsight, it might be more rational to spare Martin the whip.
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The anthem is not in the song, nor the way you sing it. You may sing
it in the best possible way. Yet, you are corrupt to the core. Depriving you fellow citizens their life of dignity snd self respect.
Reprimand Martin Nievera? Yeah sure! Where will they file the case? Nevada?
hay naku, walang katapusang kagunggongan ng pilipinas.
if it’s not one thing, it’s another.
They will always find ways to nail people…
It’s common for Filipinos in America to not sing the Lupang Hinirang according to the law to the dismay of Philippine embassy or consular official. So far no case or even a reprimand coming from them.
Another case of form obscuring substance, Primer.
Hey there should even be a rap version of the national anthem..
What’s important is what it evokes.
The law itself is out pf step with the times.
I will be my last devalued peso that many of our politicins, including those who spent public money, paying up to 600 dollars plus the plane and hotel accommodations to not just see the fight and likely bet on the side DON’T the anthem much less sing it with conviction.
They are the ones deserving censure.
HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA! Nothing will happen on this case! NOTHING! N-O-T-H-I-N-G!!!! Can’t you people learn at all? CAN’T YOU PEOPLE LEARN AT ALL?????
So there will be invistigation. We’re not done yet with ZTE, MERALCO bribery, Glorietta Bombing, Mayor Isfanjani pocketing of ransom money, Nicole V Smith, HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!
MUCH MORE the charging of ALL IDIOT PEKENG-PERYODISTAS FOR NOT BEING CHARGED OF VIOLATING the privacy of Nicole!!!!!
HA!HA!HA! PAGKATAPOS HETO NAMAN?????? HA!HA! HA!
This is so entertaining!!!!! HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!
Those people who are running to serve the country must be sick in the head!!!! HA!HA!HA!HA!
FRANKLY, DUDES, I don’t sing our natonal anthem. Kasi, nakakadiri, e! Wat is da yus op singging if wi ar karapt?
HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!
Da pipol tsardying Martin shud mast nat be sinners bekaws dey kast da pirst ston!!!!!
HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!
Guys! Guys! Guys! Nakakahiya naman …. it’s like pekeng-peryodistas fightihng for the rights yet they trample the very same rights dey espaws …. HA!HAHA!HA!HA!
EXTREME GUNG-GONGNESS!!!! HA!AH!HA!HA!HA! VERY AMUSING!!! VERY ENTERTAINING!!!!! KEEP ME LAUGHING OLD FOLKS!!!! HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!
the law is hard but it’s the law. philippine law applies to a filipino citizen wherever he goes. as far as the las vegas spectators and pay-per-view audience, who were not filipinos, were concerned, they couldn’t care less if it was nievera or bentong who sang the anthem.
Here comes the law again. Where are the law advocates on bungled Senate invistigation? Where are the law advocates on privacy violation of Nicole? … where are the law advocates on many others that got conveniently burried?
HA!HA!HA!HA! There’s no law here. This is a democratic country where we can choose when to follow the law and when not to!!!
I REPEAT THERE IS NO LAW! NADA! ZILCH! ZERO! HA!HA!HA!HA!HA! HOW OBLIVIOUS CAN YOU GIT!!!!! HA!HA!HA!
robinson’s place is not in nevada…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUOffMJWfcw
If this happened before the Pacquiao-Hatton fight then why only make noise now?
it’s as if the nhi can monitor all occasions…
mgm grand emits louder noise than robinson’s place, you know.
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anyway, nhi’s atienza said he didn’t know that it was already sung here before the fight (when he was interviewed on national radio monday afternoon, the hosts were the ones who alerted him of the youtube video.). he said he learned of martin’s intention to sing our national anthem differently only in print media published last saturday.
i guess not only did atienza wait for pacquiao’s fight but he was also keenly awaiting martin’s performance.
—–
is anything’s the matter with singing? yes (as i heard atienza saying it on national radio).
Filipinos in the gathering are expected to proudly sing along with the one who is leading…how can they join perfectly if sung differently by the one who led them?
well, here’s hoping all the “mambabatas” present at the mgm grand sang fervorly with martin with their right palms on top of their left chests. martin’s invoking ignorance of the law now…i’m not sure the “mambabatas” will be easily forgiven if they also did the same.
With earlier instances that the hymn was sung inconsistent with prescribed time signature or key, the law may turn out to be a barking dog that does not bite.
If our Bayang Magiliw is sung b eat or two. Sue! If our Bayang Magiliw is sung off key! Charge! If Bayang Magiliw is sung without our eyes closed and right palm in our chest! Jail you go! If some social columnists criticize OFWs fake perfume! Go into tizzy! If Desperate Houseives made fun of our nursing school! Go into frenzy!!!!
If corrupt officials steals billions! Nothing doing! Relax lang! it will go away and enjoy another day …
SMALL THINGS IRE FLIPS! BIG THINGS? RELAX LANG ….
HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA! Politiccians are a joke! they know what i’m ranting about … they don’t want to serve the country … they want to serve themselves HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!
absolutely correct, primer- a barking dog that does not bite.
hindi kaya gusto lang magpasikat ni ambeth ocampo?
many artists did it wrong. why act only now?
baka fan siya ni jomari. :D
WE hAVE LAWS that is toothless…. it’s only there for show … HA!HA!HA!HA! Who implements the law? It’s not the president … it’s people on the ground andd we blame it on the president!!! HA!HA!HA!HA!H! WHAT KIND OF LOGIC THAT IS ….
I’ve been ranting so many many many times that ‘WHAT GOOD IS A PRESIDENT IF 99.99% OF FLIPS ARE IGNORANT AND CORRUPT”
HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!
The National Anthem has to be sung in public according to what the law provides (and this should be in the National Language). You may sing the rap version in the shower in Hiligaynon, Bisaya, Ilocano for all we care and Ambeth Ocampo won’t have a case against you. Now who is in his/her right mind to sing the National Anthem in the shower? Your manner of singing is protected speech yes!
As usual some FilAms, and educated elite in FV don’t get it. You may argue on what the law provides but you don’t get the historical context why we have these laws. Again lack of national identity here.
As for Renato Pacifico, try to visit Puerto Rico before you spew out inanities. This separate nation and unincorporated territory of the USA has the same problem. Someone tried to pop-ularize La Borinquena and all hell broke loose.
You see Puerto Ricans have the same neocolonial angst as Filipinos. The only thing they have over us citizens of Filipinas is that they all have US passports (by virtue of the same Congressman Jones that gave us the 1916 law)! Unfortunately the Congress can easily strip them of these passports if it ever so decides. So the Puerto Rican situation is somewhat analogous to what FilAms face. So after 9/11 they flew the Puerto Rican flag. During the Iraq war they raised the Stars and Stripes.
Thus the national identity of Puerto Ricans is screwed up. And this another reason why I don’t believe in dual citizenship.
‘As usual some FilAms, and educated elite in FV don’t get it.You may argue on what the law provides but you don’t get the historical context why we have these laws. Again lack of national identity here.’
Why is Martin being reprimanded when Pacquiao’s robe is like the flag and the mouthpiece has the flag? What will happen to Pacquiao when he goes home?
Ano ba itong Renato Pacifico nakawala yata sa mental.
I’m not sure if he’s aware that he contradicts most of what he blogs so you’re better off not paying attention to his
details. Certain policy does not apply to some characters I guess. Either that, it’s what one of those one might call a necessary evil to get things going… to what direction I’m not so sure.
Republic Act 8491
it’s a good thing martin introduced his version of the anthem at robinson’s place manila on april 28, 2009. the 50 or so “nationalists,” i would like to believe, were able to accompany martin in the singing…with fervor…and, of course, with the corresponding salute…
bencard is right. the law is might be harsh but it is the law.
but beyond the legalese, we must examine the value of this law. forchrissake, julian felipes version is in a fast, marshall pace thats hard to sing in the first place! its hard for ordinary people to sing the anthem according to the original tune.
but more than that, i wonder why a democratic society would force a standard way of displaying nationalism for its citizens.
indeed, i wonder why the state needs to FORCE people to be nationalistic.
Focus on the manner of singing was highlighted. How about this one…
For what purpose was the preview at Robinson’s Place Manila done?
(Emphasis mine.)
Martin’s pre-fight boastful promotion of his performance was even on print media (written by Joaquin Henson) last Saturday.