Post Pacquiao - Clottey Fight: Poor Arnel Pineda

Arnel Pineda, frontman of legendary American rock bank Journey, just wanted to deliver a heartfelt rendition of the Philippine National Anthem and all he got for his trouble is a threat of lawsuit from the National Historical Institute (NHI) over his incorrect singing of "Lupang Hinirang."

Oh well, on the bright side Arnel joins the growing list of local singers who have been criticized by the NHI because they sung the the national anthem wrong. Arnel actually is in good company considering he joins Martin Nieverra, Christian Bautista (who fucking forgot a few lines of the anthem), Charice Pempengo, Sarah Geronimo, Lani Misalucha, Kayla and more.

The anthem is sung on a two-fourths beat and 100 metronomes and should last 53 seconds. Pineda’s version was 89 seconds long. Fuck that! I enjoyed hearing him sing the national anthem and I felt the pride in his voice while singing it. That's all that matters to me.

It must really be a slow day everyday at NHI. The only time we hear about NHI is when Manny Pacquiao has a fight.



The law that provides in detail how the anthem must be sung and the penalty for singing it too long is dated and basically useless. Being anal about the correct way to sing the anthem doesn't equal patriotism and national pride, I'm just saying.

Good luck to Arnel against the NHI lawsuit. An apology is all it would take, I think, with the promise to sing it correctly next time. But, you know, how can you apologize for singing with your heart out? Many times I think this country and the people running it are focusing too much on the mundane.

I wish some reporter type asked the NHI their comment on the Star Spangled Banner being sung by three Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders in peplum and midrift. Wasn't that fun? Their singing I mean. They were in perfect harmony and pretty to look at.

I almost wish someone here (cough Marlene Aguilar cough) would be brave enough to sing Lupang Hinirang in a deconstructed baro't saya. I'm almost positive all those dinosaurs at NHI will fall down on their collective asses.