Charice Pempengco to sing RP national anthem in Manny Pacquiao's upcoming bout

CEBU, Philippines - For most Filipinos, one of the highly-anticipated, if not most controversial, sidelights during each and every fight of boxing hero Manny Pacquiao is the rendition of the Philippine national anthem—and who gets to be given the privilege of doing it.

In Pacquiao’s forthcoming showdown with Joshua Clottey on March 13 at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas, singing teen sensation Charice Pempengco has been chosen to interpret Lupang Hinirang.

Fans have long been clamoring for the country’s international artists like Charice, Arnel Pineda and Lea Salonga to sing the National Anthem in one of Manny Pacquiao’s bouts.

It was initially reported that R&B Prince Jay-R would be the one singing the national anthem. Jay-R is a talent with GMA-7, the exclusive media partner of Manny’s fights. But Jay-R confirmed in a report that came out in the Philippine Entertainment Portal that Manny had picked Charice over him.

The 16-year-old Charice, the YouTube discovery who’s making a career in the US after being invited to top American shows such as Oprah and Ellen DeGeneres, is known as a “birit” singer. Will she stay faithful to the song’s prescribed version and marching tempo? Or will she let loose her belter chops and risk the ire of the likes of the National Historical Institute and many other Filipinos who are big on tradition?

It will be remembered that the singer who stirred the biggest controversy for his rendition in a Manny Pacquiao fight was Martin Nievera. He sang the opening lines dramatically and slowly like a ballad and then repeated the lines in his signature romantic crooner style. He then changed the notes and the pitch of the final lines—belting out high notes. For such delivery, Nievera was practically crucified in the media, cyberspace, and even in the industry where he belongs. 

How Charice will fare remains to be seen—but it will surely delight her many fans who have been clamoring for her to sing the national anthem in one of Pacman’s highly-rated fights.

Meanwhile, Charice is currently gearing up for the music video release of her first international carrier single “Pyramid” in the US.