What should patriotism sound like?

Lupang Hinirang should only be sung by patriots not idiots. No singer/performer is higher than national heritage. Lea Salonga sung it well, but Martin thinks he is in concert. He was already advised by Mr. Cayabyab yet he still went with his bad rendition. Do you think children in schools and Filipinos can sing that high notes? It was authored so anyone can sing it.

Patriotism is having concern for your fellow citizens and that concern should come before your own wants.

I read the article that Pacquiao insisted on coming home despite the request that he should stay another week in the US for health reasons. The DOH has exerted a lot of effort to make sure that the "swine flu" does not enter the Philippines and all it will take to throw those efforts out the window would be the whim of a person I thought to be a hero, who brought glory to the country. That is not patriotism to me. He is risking the health of thousands of people just so he can satisfy his whims. It's selfishness and it's such a shame that it had to come from one who was so revered and supported by many.

It's a shame if anybody would still think that such an act deserves a hero's welcome because it is the exact opposite of patriotism.

Many in showbiz try to sing the Lupang Hinirang similar to how americans sing the Star Spangled Banner. They try to interpret it their own way and use the occasion to show-off their singing prowess.

Though it does not make them less of a Filipino, but just the same and out of respect for our history, they should sing it as how it was meant to be sung. They should keep in mind that singing the national anthem is not a personal concert.

Martin and the others should take their cue from Lea Salonga. She was the only singer who sang the Lupang Hinirang correctly.

I dream of a time when in one of Pacquiao's fight, the person chosen to sing the Lupang Hinirang would begin with these words: "Tumayo po tayong lahat at sabay sabay nating awitin ang Pambansang Awit ng Pilipinas..."

Seeing the event, martin sang lupang hinirang with all emotions. every note and words are relayed with the best capability that he can express the song. was there notes left unheard, i don't know, all i know is that martin's interpretation is one that i like. One that can make every filipino sing that song in the best manner that he can. it is a good song and a good interpratation. let's leave it that way.

With Martin as a good precedent, every school kid is free to sing the National Anthem in any manner he or she wants. Law or no law, who cares; this is how our country operates.

As citizen, a law abiding citizen, ignorance of the law excuses no one. Most of us if not all have seen Lupang Hinirang have been sung the worst ever during Donaire & Viloria fight night. This should have served a warning to both authorities and Martin or who ever will sing the National Anthem in the future.

Well then if Lupang Hinirang that symbolizes filipino unity can be sang in whatever arrangement we find pleasing, same as true with our National Flag. I am not saying we should have different versions our flag but atleast respect the rules and guidelines set for our flag and anthem.

Pacland(http://mannypacquiao.ph) already discussed concerns about how Martin will sing Nat Anthem. A lot of them dislikes Martin due to his gender and Filipino language proficiency.

In fairness to Martin, others who sung in national and global tv should be persecuted as well. If they cant charge them all then what's the fuss against Martin.

Maybe its time to chance some rules so that we wont keep violating the existing one.

i heard martin's version and i should say it's one of the worst versions i've heard...

but i do agree that nobody should change the original marching tune...sing it according to its oríginal pace....

but these guys who have sung it, i believe they don't care about patriotism...err, they probably didn't heard about it yet...it's purely business...

mahirap ano po?,...parang yung mga naririnig natin kapag me-ibang-pag-kanta o ini-iba ang mga tono ( me nag-rarap pa nga,) sa mga 'pabasa',...at tutuo makapagmumuni ka...siguro e... ipag-dasal natin talaga at sa sarili e itanong 'bakit kaya nangyayari ang mga ito? ' at syempre lalawig pa at dadami ang ating mga maiisip at dahilan kung bakit? yun nga lang ang sagot e...'tayo na rin o mula sa atin na rin tiyak manggagaling.' Ang isang maganda e ngayon e ito ay napag-uusapan at tama panahon na ipaliwanag,tulad ng nangyayari.
E kung kantahin naman kaya sa inglis?...me tanong din kaya? o paano po ito? me sinasabi na po baga ang batas? 'nag-aaral po lamang!

I think that the National Historical Institute has better things to do. I think it is important to note that evaluating an artist's rendition of the national anthem in a Pacquiao bout has become a pattern.

As far as I am concerned, they are just wasting their time looking for things to complain about. I think it would greatly help them if they re-assess their agency's performance. Since this kind of incident has happened repeatedly, they should have shown foresight by coaching an artist prior to his or her performance.

If people fail to memorize the lyrics and the melody of the national anthem, it is to our embarrassment as a nation, and it is to the failure of the National Historical Institute as an agency.

For those who continue to criticize Martin and the other artists, if you can't do a better job I think it's best to keep your mouth shut.

Why didn't they get the little girl with the big voice to sing, instead of the old 'has been'....

its is not a question whether martin was sincere or not, it is how he followed the rule being specific the republic act protecting our national anthem's uniformity to be performed. please don't compare gradeschool children with that self-proclaimed concert king. children opt to make mistakes that's why they should be guided by older people. stating that we should just change some of our laws just so that it appeal the very few that lambast it is i think, a reasoning of a stupid man. martin nievera is a singer, it is his responsibility not just to entertain people but become a model especially "lupang hinirang" is not just an ordinary song, it's one of our country's identity as nation. martin is a great singer? hell yeah, like i love listening to a guy who pitches his voice as if his foot was stomped with a metal chair.

Mr. Nievera said he wanted to "do it for the country". Why then, did he have to break the law?

The truth of the matter is, he was the wrong person for the job. He may have Filipino blood, but he is an American citizen who has not learned the Filipino language FOR THE LONGEST TIME.

The NHI should not charge him. Instead, the NHI should prosecute the one who assigned him to sing.

I don't understand what the big fuss is about. If people want to "really" sing it right, then they should sing it in Spanish, because the original lyrics were in Spanish.

the question is, can GMA sing it correctly according to what is required by law? Let her sing so we would know how patriotic she is.

What difference does it make anyway?

If all corrupt government officials will die if a citizen sings the national anthem correctly, then we have a reason to condemn those who sing it according to their own interpretation.

is this about how martin sang the song, or is it about martin himself? i can't help but wonder why some criticisms seem to be aimed more at the person than at the singer.

ang hirap kasi sa mga kumakanta nyan, masyado nilang ginagawang "fancy" ang kanta... pwede namang simpleng kanta lang tapos kung talagang maganda boses mo at nasa puso mo kinakanta mo, e lilitaw ang tunay mong galing at ganda ng musika... di na dapat maging mapalabok pa.

Next time, just let the 50 or so tongressman and officials sing the national anthem (ala Vienna boys choir), para hindi sila totally useless.

music is expression.. EXPRESSION.. Got that?

we are not trying to judge the person here or how he interprets the song. it is not a question of patriotism. martin and all the others may have sung it in different ways, they all have diff interpretations. i agree.

but the law is the law. the Lupang Hinirang was indeed written to unite the nation. if we were all taught by our teachers according to their interpretation then why is it called a NATIONAL anthem?

the NHI is just doing its job. i know it does not condemn martin or any of the artists that may have sung it incorrectly in the past. that pacman fight was one of the greatest and the NHI probably took advantage of that hype to make a point...that the next time you sing the tune...sing it properly.

wrong timing lan si martin.

I hope next time the National Historical Institute will take the lead in ensuring that this thing will not happen again. Whenever a big event like this occur, they should remind whoever will sing the National Anthem that they should sing it as it was written. "It is written so it shall be sung"

I have nothing personal against martin or the other artists who underwhelmed us with their versions of the Lupang Hinirang..I wish they could hear how Lea Salonga sings it though, so they'll be guided the next time they get a shot at singing it..

As an elementary school teacher,I always see to it that each and everyone of my student sing Lupang Hinirang as it should be. In this way,patriotism is inculcated in their young minds at the very early stage. I was so disgusted the way Martin sang it. It is such a shame since he claims he is a Filipino. Perhaps next time,prospective singer should undergo formal training under Mr.Cayabyab before their actual performance.

I don't care about Martin's inability to speak fluent Filipino despite his many years in showbiz. And I don't care that Christian Bautista forgot the words or that Geneva Cruz sang off-key.

The issue at hand is that Martin didn't follow the law. It's a very simple law yet he CHOOSE not to follow it. If we can not abide by the simplest things, what more when it comes to the bigger, more complicated laws?

NHI was right in calling him out for that. Being Concert King isn't a justifiable excuse from the law.

Okay okay so he sang it differently. What's the fuss he didn't murder the song. It's okay for people to call his attention to the way it should be sung because of a law. Unless there is another law to unmake or ammend the first law. Which if we were to argue point in case the would be endless debates. All I can say to those who want to pursue this kind of thinking may very well do so because it is there right...after they go out and get a life...please.

Martin sang it the way he wanted it as an artist. The words were well expressed and the tune was no different from the way we learned it in school except for the high pitch on the last phrase "ang mamatay nang dahil sa Iyo". Let us respect him for that. The issue is not about Martin and not the way he sung the national anthem. Issue is, was he able to sign it from the heart just like every Filipino is expected. I say, he did and I admire him for that. Let's leave him alone and stop being overzealous Filipinos.

Martin What every Pilipino wanted u was respect! nothing else.

sing the anthem as it should be sung. not your version.

the singing of our national anthem everytime manny fought in the U.S. makes us proud with our heart and head held up high. but the way different artists rendering it in their own interpretation made me ask why is that even in singing our nat'l anthem we could not do it the proper way. to think that the artist didn't even care when it was pointed it to him and he's alibi was so lame it made me puke.

lucky manny pacquio won, otherwise they will blame Martin.
One can not sing and one can not fight.

Given the inclinations of some 'Filipino' artists to mimic the American style no matter what, Martin's way was not a surprise to me at all. But past is past. Lessons should be learned from this snafu. Pinoys all over are already very tired of imitators. They want their very own original stuff fly and float for all good reasons. Next time around, those responsible folks should make sure that the right thing is done. Why not let Manny himself whoop it up before he whoop his opponent down? :)

Respect and reverence. Above all that is what the law (the Flag and Heraldic Code or RA 8491) mandates each and every Filipino when singing the National Anthem! With it comes fervor and patriotism. The national anthem, when it was composed by Julian Felipe and the lyrics wrote by Rafael Palma, was an embodiment of the patriotism and fighting spirit of a people and a nation who yearned for freedom. What freedom we have today we owe to our forebears. The likes of Martin Nievera, who could not even speak straight tagalog, have no right singing for the country when they don't know their place in history!!!

Drop it. It was the best rendition of an artist in all of Manny's fight.Martin sung the Lupang Hinirang with pride and meaning!

The Philippine National Anthem is a symbol of our culture, heritage,history and also our future. you deviate its original version and you loss our identity and our symbol...MARTIN, theres no need to apologize bacause youre an AMERICAN by culture and soul not a FILIPINO by heart.
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Martin theres no need to apologize. The harm is done.

well, kung nagkamali yung tao eh nagkamali na. tigilan na ang sisihan. kung ayaw nyang mag-apologize, so what? siguro sa puso at isip niya ay hindi naman niya binastos ang pambansang awit kundi binigyan lang niya ng artistic interpretation bilang isang music artist. so what the heck he should apologize for? sana mas pag-tuunan natin ng atensyon ay yung mga bagay na may kabuluhan at hindi yung mga maliit na pagkakamali na hindi naman intensyon manginsulto ng pambansang awit. bakit hindi yung pagkakamali ng pamilyang marcos ang inyong balik-balikan. yung ang nagpahirap sa sambayanan di ba? pero nakabalik pa rin sila sa pinas at may mga posisyon pa ulit sa pamahalaan dahil binoto ulit ng bobong sambayanan.

utang na loob. napaka-simple lang naman nito. ayon sa batas mali si Martin (basa Director Ambeth Ocampo).

at lalong di naman rason na porke’t kinilabutan tayo at napuno ang dibdib natin sa pagmamahal sa bayan nung inaawit ang Lupang Hinirang e magiging tama na si Martin.

at syempre maraming problema ang bayan na walang kinalaman sa maling pag-awit ni Martin.

at pang-wakas, kahit mali si Martin dito ay talaga namang napakalinaw na may talent ang lolo mo.

bow.

Ang tagal ng tapos yung laban ni Pacquiao pero mas matibay pa rin yung issue tungkol kay Martin Nievera.

Ang masasabi ko lang hindi natin pwedeng sabihin na walang patriotism ang isang tao kung hindi niya nakanta ng tama yung "Lupang hinirang". Yun lang ba ang basehan para masabi nating may patriotism ang isang tao?

Ang issue kasi dito ay there is a law about our National Anthem and Mr. Martin Nievera disregard the law. Even Mr. Ryan Cayabyab requested Mr. Nievera that he must not change the tune of singing the National Anthem but Mr. Nievera insisted and sing his own rendition of Lupang hinirang.

One more thing, have you read an article about a UP professor saying that Mr. Nievera did not commit any crime while singing the National Anthem because it is out of the jurisdiction of the Philippines while he sings the Lupang Hinirang? My opinion is, the law regarding our National Anthem has a "Loop Hole" or the people who is following the law is not totally aware or familiar with the winding road of our own law.

Let us learn from this mistakes to prevent future problems and misunderstandings. So for those who will sing the Lupang Hinirang in the next fight of Pacquaio, let us hope that they follow the right tune if they don't want to be criticize.

During the SOP in GMA 7, Pacquiao even joked around that he will be the one who will sing the National Anthem and at the same time he will fight inside the ring. It is a 2-in-1 combo.

Well, in my opinion Martin did not do anything wrong in singing the national anthem. He is an artist and he can do what ever he wants to, in terms of singing his own rendition of our national anthem. I believe that no matter how you sing a national anthem that will not disgrace your culture, it is the way you interpreted it. No one can tell you otherwise, it is not that sacred like the words of God. People said that he disrespected our nation, but I say that those public officials who went to the boxing fight was the ones who are disrespectful. They should be the one to scrutinized, not a singer who just did his job the way he knows how.

pag ang isang sintunado ang kumanta ng pambasang awit, nasa tama ba ang tuno nito? hindi!!! ke martsa o ano pa man, mali pa rin ang dating. ngayon... kailangan bang tuyain o kulungin ang sintunado na ito?

kung ipinahayag ni martin ang kanyang interpretation ng pambansang awit na ala-R&B ang dating, may pagkakamali siya sa mata ng national historical institute. sa mata naman ng mga artists ay okay lang. walang pinag-iba sa mga UP student na tumatakbo ng nakahubo sa oblation run na isang halimbawa ng freedom of expression. sa iba mali, sa iba tama. hindi ko alam kung ano ang acceptable na logic behind freedom of expression ng mga pilipino. meron bang tama o mali dito o pare-parehong mali?. sa palagay ko, ang dahilan ng hindi natin pag-asenso ay dahil na rin sa sobrang talino nating mga pilipino. sa totoo lang kulang tayo sa pansin at ito ang number one nating problema. maraming pinoy ang gustong pumapel sa issue big or small, magpaputi ng balat kay calayan or vicky belo, malagay sa billboard, mag-artista, tumakbo sa pulitika, at ibagsak ang sisi sa amerika sa kahit anong problema na tayo rin naman ang may kagagawan.

naniniwala po ako na ang pagkanta ng pambansang awit ay hindi nagiging tama o mali dahil lamang sa tono. eh kung sintunaka ka talaga?? pno na??

kung ano po ang nakagisnan na nating tono ay parang yun na ang tama. di po ba kaya nga natin ito inaawit ay para ipahayag ang ating "patriotism"? "nationalism"?

mas masasabi ko pong mali ang pag awit nito dahil memorize mo lang ang lyrics at tono. at anuman ang tono mo everytime na inaawit mo ito ng MULA SA PUSO dahil alam mo ang ibig sabihin ng kanta and your expressing it, sa tingin ko yan po ang tamang pag awit ng pambang awit!

so in fairness to mr martin nievera, hes a good singer/performer and i hope he's singing it or have sung it from his heart because he is a FILIPINO.

salamat po.

at mabuhay tayong mga pinoy! Pagpalain nawa ng PANGINOON and Pilipinas at bawat Pilipino!

Paminsan-minsan na nga lang kinakanta ang ating pambansang awit na audience ang buong mundo, mali-mali pa.

Mas mabuti pa siguro kung bata ang kumanta nun na kahit sintunado eh trying hard namang tumbukin ang tamang tono.

Sa tingin ko pino-promote lang ng mga artista na yan ang kanilang sarili. Nakaka-inis. Sana sa susunod kantahin na nila ng tama, para sa mga Pilipino lalo na sa mga batang nakikinig..

it was, no doubt, a beautiful rendition. it was also, as said by martin himself, sang "from the heart".
singing it well or badly does not at all depict one's level or degree of patriotism. all pinoys love their country as equally as martin does whether we sing as well or not.
if at a part of the anthem a note is too high for one then he may sound screaming or his voice may crack or, as many do, prefer to keep quiet and wait for the next phrase with a lower note. now that doesn't violate any law would it ?
but martin had all the capabilities to sing the song as written and as prescribed by law. and he was given advise by no less than ryan cayabyab. yet, he made a choice.
he therefore violated a law. and he has apologized.
but that's a minor offense compared to the millions stolen in contracts, kotong in the highway, kotong in a government agency, haoshiao in government...........
let's put a closure to this issue of martin.
i'm listening now to martin's "kahit isang saglit". very sad song but very beautiful.

Martin sucks BIGTIME.... stop singing the our National Anthem like it's some kind of jingle..Patriotism? Martin dont have it..and does not care..you can see and hear it by the way he sang..plain and simple..enuf said..

Hindi kayang obligahin si Martin na itama iyung tono. E Amercano yan eh. Ano magagawa natin. So walang kaso. Duon na lang siya sa US at iyung pambansang awit nila kantahin niya. Ang problema lang unknown siya duon. At magagaling lang ang pinakakanta ng Star Spangled Banner tulad ni Charize. Dual citizen ba siya? E di i-cancel niya iyung isa para hindi na siya makasuhan. Solve. Iba naman ang pag-usapan.

Kung ako naman po ang tatanungin, wala pong tama at mali sa pagkanta ng ating pambansang awit. dalawang bagay lang naman po yan. ang bagay na atin ginagawa at bagay na hindi natin ginagawa (it's either we do or we don't do). Kung sa tingin nung mga "purist" sa atin na hindi dapat ginagawa ni martin yun, hindi ibig sabihin na tama sila. Basta nga ba galing sa puso ang pagkanta.

totoo, maraming tao ang gusto pumapapel sa isang isyu para mapansin. Unang una, sa patriotism. tayo din ang dapat na sumuporta sa sariling produkto, eh mismo mga officiales pati artista, puro branded na imported na hindi kaya ng normal na pilipino bilin. kahit cguro sumakay ng dyip. hindi kakayanin. pati tama din na maraming nagmamarunong na matalino, puro maliit na isyu, ang papatulan tapos papansinin. ayaw unahin yong mga malalaking problema tulad ng corruption, droga, atbp. tayo napapagod sa pagtratrabaho tapos wala pa rin tayo maramdaman kahit konting kaginhawaan.. maraming pilipino ang hypocrito at critico pero walang gumagawa ng resolution..

Tama ang kasabihan na, ang ating national athen should be sing by patriots not idiots like Martin Nievera who tried to change the melody and tune in an american way, dapat hindi siya ang kumanta nito, puede ng Si Lito Atienza mas maganda pa ang boses niya kaysa americanized Martin nievera, hindi pilipinonized, taas noo kahit kanino.

I think for me Patriotism was not affected by just amending some tune of national anthem. the real patriotism for me is being a good citizen, not stealing public funds and I don't think our politician's has got patriotism anymore and they've wouldn't remember the real meaning "Panatang Makabayan" as we recited this oath monday to friday in the school but look what happen to our country. full of corrupt and liar goverment official.
To those who committed mistake on national anthem they are only human and they didn't meant to do it in purpose. they are much better than who steal goverment funds.

I wrote a piece on a side issue to this. Please check out "Martin Nievera (and other...uhm, World-Class Filipino talents)" @ http://lupitnicabring.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/martin-nievera-and-otheruhm-world-class-filipino-talents/
(Apologies for the plug! Just saving comment space here. =)

Dear, I think you meant "1980s", not "1908s".

Anyway, why do people make such a huge issue out of it? Does not singing the national anthem to the tune of a march more sinful than not knowing the lyrics of the song?