Limlingan: National Pride

DURING Sunday’s big event, particularly on the singing of the National Anthem, I was saddened for the second time suffocating my excitement for a boxing match.

The Lupang Hinirang was again adulterated and desecrated when Allan Pineda, the vocal artist who gained worldwide fame, delivered his rendition. Millions of Filipinos perhaps failed to have a grasp on the idea that we are loosing our sense of history and value for our past.

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Everyone watching whether on pay-per-view or on delayed telecast must have been so eager to see the “Pambansang Kamao” throw punches on Joshua Clottey. The latter is the contender and is a black coming from Ghana.

While we often express Manny Pacquiao as our Pambansang Kamao, we likewise tend to forget that “Lupang Hinirang” is our Pambansang Awit. The latter is official, the former colloquial.

When I was young, I hear my fellow tots then saying, “magbayang magiling tana”. Perhaps due to our being kapampangans that we inadvertently misquote “magiliw” to “magiling” among other words.

One time I heard also in the same school where I was, “magbayang magiliw tana”. The “bayang magiliw” becoming an activity rather than a described noun.

Another group of young students, when asked: “what is our national anthem?”. They simply replied “bayang magiliw”.

Our patriots would be all mad if they were only alive. They would cry heavens for our evident lack of patriotism even in simple reverence to our national anthem or flag. Our national anthem was composed not for adulteration but for our sense of identity and pride. It deserves great respect and honor.

If our “pambansang kamao” is a national pride and a symbol of glory in the world of boxing, it is just proper that we take pride too and give honor and respect to our Lupang Hinirang. Altering the lyrics, the music and the tone is an act of desecrating our national identity. Worse, the boxing match was watched worldwide and that includes the opening program wherein the anthem was sung.

This is not the first time the Lupang Hinirang was unjustifiably modified. Martin Nievera’s rendition attracted condemnations and disgusts, also on a boxing bout of Pacquiao. Nievera’s apology failed to dampen the burning ire of those who have observed his singing. While he aired a public apology, nothing has been done that could have stopped or avoided a repetition of the same mistake.

After the Pacquiao versus Clottey fight, I am quite sure that challengers won’t stop challenging the WBO title holder. It’s not only the fighters who suffer blows but also our national identity.

Republic Act 8491 prescribes our national anthem, our national flag and seal. Along line are the regulations, prohibitions and restrictions on the usage, display and directions on how to show respect and deference. I am with the hope that the singing of the national anthem in such desecrating manner, more so in an international event such as a Pacquiao match be rectified. Government authorities should come up with stricter rules that will remind every Filipino of our duty and responsibility in honoring the flag and the national anthem.

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Speaking of the Pacquiao-Clottey bout, many Filipinos were disappointed rather bored on what has transpired in the ring. While many were amused that it’s the “pambansang kamao” who is fighting, they find it evident that there was no match. Personally, I saw the main event as a show rather than a fight. Clottey was tough enough to endure the end of the rounds, although he was branded as the Secretary of Defense.

Clottey’s defensive stance was unmatched. All he did actually all throughout the fight was defend his face from Pacquiao’s wrecking punches. We can count with the fingers in our hands the punches he threw in to our boxing bet.

I was neither satisfied nor amused with the fight. Aside from the no knockouts, Clottey seemed to have gone up the ring just to be the walking punching bag of Pacquiao. It’s quite apparent that he was merely there to provide entertainment but not to be a matched opponent to Manny.

While time stood still last Sunday, commercials and even political infomercials were likewise unstoppable as the left and right punches of Pacquiao. It’s great opportunity anyway to “ride on” with the popularity of a world-renowned, multi-millionaire pugilist. The airtime of the fight is as priceless as gold. Maximizing TV appearances in between rounds can never be equaled.

Pacquiao is boxing. Boxing is entertainment. Entertainment is money. Pacquiao is money.

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Advance Happy Birthday to Pampanga Vice-Governor Joseller “Yeng” M. Guiao on Friday, March 19. Good health, good life is all I wish for you boss.