Artistic freedom pushed in singing PH national anthem

The Manila Bulletin | May 20, 2021

A House official wanted to give artists the discretion in interpreting and singing the Philippines’ national
anthem.

House Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez on Thursday,
May 20, urged his colleagues to relax the proposed law prescribing a definite tempo for singing the
“Lupang Hinirang”.

The House Committee on Basic Education was tackling the substitute bill containing proposals to revise
the Republic Act No. 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.

Rodriguez particularly took exception to the bill’s provision specifying that the Lupang Hinirang must be
sung in accordance with the arrangement and composition of its composer Julian Felipe, which is in 2/4
beat. The anthem was originally composed as a marching song.

“There are requirements, [which] to me, [are] not understood by people,” the House leader said,
mistakenly calling the national anthem “Bayang Magiliw” during the hearing.

“You know, there are criminal sanctions if you don’t follow these…How can we, first, be able to really
have this observed and secondly, which people do not really understand,” the legal expert pointed out.

Instead, Rodriguez proposed to his colleagues to just mandate that the national anthem be “sung with
utmost respect”, and give artists the leeway in interpreting it, like in the United States.

He cited the performers who deviated from Julian Felipe’s arrangement while singing the Philippine
national anthem during the fights of boxer-turned-politician Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao.

“All I’m saying is that, why don’t we just put there that it should be ‘sung with utmost respect’. We know
already what is not respectful, like if you will sing it with not the proper lyrics. Or number two, you will
sing it in rap,” Rodriguez said.

“People like it when it is played it by our artists and we follow our artist, and we give pride to our song.
That is my point, Mr Chairman. We cannot be canalized into these beats,” he went on.

“It should allow some freedom of expression of the singer, in how he feels, she feels, about our national
anthem,” he appealed.

Deputy speaker and SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella
Quimbo backed Rodriguez’ proposal, saying singers should be allowed the leeway as long as it is sung
with utmost respect.

Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo

 If the rendition is too artistic, people cannot sing with the rendition

Other House members, however, opposed any changes to the national anthem.

“If we respect our history, how it was made, it should remain like that,” said Lanao del Norte Rep.
Abdullah Dimaporo.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts also said that the current arrangement and melody of
the Lupang Hinirang must be kept, and that freedom of expression “cannot be absolutely applied”.

“This is a national anthem, not music for performing before a passive audience. It is not for showing off
or exhibition of musical skills and artistry by a so-called ‘artist’ who might like to dazzle and awe his or
her audience with technical wizardry. Everybody is a participant in the singing or playing of a national
anthem,” the NCCA said in its position paper, read by Sorsogon 1st District Rep. Evelina Escudero before
House basic education panel.

“Singing the national anthem is a communal activity. The people must be able to sing together with the
lead singer and not be cowed into silence by a musician eager to impress with his or her prowess, who
makes the interpretation so complicated and unconventional preventing the people from joining the
singing,” the agency further explained.

“As a rule, the simpler the arrangement, the better so everybody can join in the singing of the anthem,”
the NCCA pointed out.

In the end, the House committee agreed to retain the 2/4 beat of the Philippine national anthem in
approving the unnumbered substitute bill.