La Diva Singing the Philippine National Anthem

Just read about this issue. Im obviously not updated with current events. hahaha

Anyhoo, I saw this from The Professional Hecklers Blog in his Personal Post dated November 18, 2009.

Personal
Ito ay isang panawagan sa National Historical Institute na patuloy sa pagpapaunlak ng panayam sa media kaugnay ng anila’y maling pag-awit ng La Diva sa Lupang Hinirang noong laban ni Manny Pacquiao. If the ladies violated the law, then sanction them according to the written rules and regulations ng NHI. Dakdak kayo nang dakdak noon pa mang Pacquiao-Hatton fight, pero wala naman kayong ginagawang aksyon. Nasaan na si Martin Nievera? Naparusahan ba? If there’s a law, then impose the freakin’ law. Hindi ‘yung putak kayo nang putak, wala naman kayong kongkretong aksyong ginagawa laban sa mga “nagkamali.” Punyeta!

I have to agree with the Heckler. If it was wrong for La diva to sing the National Anthem this way then they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But my question is, what about the other people who made a mistake in singing the song such as Martin Nievera and Christian Bautista? If they were pertaining to the "birit" part or the part where the ladies hit high notes that were not in the original melody, then Sarah Geronimo should be persecuted as well seeing as she did the same thing when she sang the National Anthem.

For those of you who do not know the style of the arrangement sang by La Diva, it is a type of chorale arrangement more commonly known as SSA or Soprano-Soprano-Alto. Please dont tell me that I need to elaborate on this. I listened to the recording of the song during the fight over and over again, and I noticed that they even incorporated parts of the original chorale version, which is recognized in the country. I was a choir master/conductor in the past so I know how to distinguish this even if i play it by ear.

If the NHI is actually planning to take Legal Action on this, they need to be reminded that it was not only La Diva who sang the song wrong (according to them), other singers should be prosecuted as well. Well? Besides, isn't the point of singing the National Anthem, feeling the spirit of patriotism and feeling the passion for our country? La Diva did not sing the song in RnB or Pop, or Rock. They sang it so passionately and I do not see whats wrong with that.

Here is the La Diva version of the Lupang Hinirang.

Here is the NHI's response to the La Diva version of the Lupang Hinirang.