Cayabyab: I Warned Martin About Anthem Style (Cebu Daily News)
First Posted 12:10:00 05/07/2009
VIGAN CITY — If only Martin Nievera listened to the advice of maestro Ryan Cayabyab, he would not be embroiled in national controversy.
The renowned musician said here that he warned Nievera not to change the melody of the National Anthem at the opening of Sunday's Pacquiao-Hatton bout in Las Vegas.
"Martin, papatayin ka ng tao. Huwag mong papalitan yung huling part kasi delikado ka. (Martin, you will be crucified for that. Don't change the last part or you'll be in trouble)," Cayabyab recalled telling Nievera.
Cayabyab was in Vigan City on Tuesday as judge in the Ilocandia Singing Idol upon invitation of Ilocos Sur Board Member Zuriel Zaragoza who put up the provincewide singing contest.
He said Nievera sent him a copy of his nontraditional rendition of the Lupang Hinirang five days before the fight.
Cayabyab, who's fondly called by his friends and singers as Mr C, said that the country's concert king first confided to him about his plan to jazz up the national anthem during ASAP, ABS-CBN's Sunday noontime variety show.
He urged Nievera to sing Lupang Hinirang the regular way because other Filipinos would join him in singing.
Nievera, however, told Cayabyab that he would push through with his plan because he's "doing it for the country."
Still, Cayabyab insisted that he should not change the last part.
He said Nievera delivered "a very good performance" but lamented that the rendition violated the Flag and Heraldic Code (Republic Act. No. 8491).
He said he reminded Nievera that he would be fined P5,000 if he changed the melody.
Cayabyab said he would be open to join the debate on how the National Anthem be sung.
"As a musician, I will stick to the original because that is how the composer meant it to be," he said. /Inquirer
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