Bayang Magiliw

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another week of work for ordinary mortals like me. And yup, we’re 19 days away to the Centennial celebration. The Pontifical Mass which we fondly refer to as the Centennial Mass will be held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral on April 10, 2010 at 10:00 am. Other events slated are the Calbayog Clergy Concert, the Clergy Sports Fest, the CKC Orchestra Concert and the Centennial Awards. More details in my forthcoming columns.

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And what’s with today’s title, you might want to ask. I know that the title of the national anthem is "Lupang Hinirang". It (I mean today’s title) is my way of getting your attention. So what about the national anthem? Needless to mention about the brouhaha over the way Arnel Pineda belted it out in the latest Pacquiao fight. So Arnel has apologized. And then comes Christian Bautista saying something like every artist has the freedom to feely express himself, blah, blah, blah. Well, considering our (read: us, Filipinos) super, very short memory span, let it be put on record that Christian omitted something like two lines from the national anthem when he sang it in one event called a boxing match. In other words I guess he should be the last person to give any suggestion or comment on the issue on the national anthem, the NHI and whoever the artist-flavor-of-the-season is.

Is it really about artistic freedom? I think I found the answer from a fellow blogger (www.heavenpurgatoryandhell.blogspot.com) And here’s what I got from him and I do not disagree with him:

“What gets me is that while our artists claim "vocal liberties" at song renditions, the national anthem IS NOT some hot number that needs a vocal rendition or a make-over. It is a song that talks about the nation's pride. It is to be sung in a manner befit that of respect and dignity. Which is also why I can't get over the fact that these tone deaf fans are there to defend the artists rather than the song! It is not how melodramatic the song is sung, or how much heart is put into it, or how well we showcase the Filipino talent, but how the song should be sung because it is, after all, the Philippine National Anthem.”

“Once in a blue moon, we showcase to the world the Philippine National Anthem.”

“And sing with pride we must, even if it is a rowdy boxing match of a national boxing icon in the likes of Manny Pacquiao. Every time we raise that flag, we must rise to the occasion of respecting it, even if our government officials do not.”

“As a nation, we owe it to ourselves to make the statement that we are Filipinos.”

“And that we intend to make the world realize that there is one version, and one voice, and one tune to singing the Philippine National Anthem.”

“And this is our pride. It's all we have left.”

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In town last Thursday were former Senate President Frank Drilon and Congressman Neric Acosta. They met with the Calbayog media after arriving from Catarman.

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PGMA was in Calbayog last Friday. Well, at the Calbayog airport to be exact; and for a few minutes at least. She took the chopper at the airport en route to San Jose de Buan. As per OPS report, the President braved the stormy rains, to inaugurate several Kalayaan Barangay Program (KBP) projects consisting of two units of two-classroom schoolbuildings, two healthcare centers, and the barangay street lighting system. The KBP projects with the total cost of P4.7 million were funded by the President’s Social Fund. She also ordered the provincial government to immediately implement the road pavement project on the Lokiloan-San Jose De Buan provincial road.

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Belated birthday greetings to Archbishop Jose Palma. He turned a year older last Friday.

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This is it for now. Have a nice week everyone! Ciao!