WATCH: Lea Salonga reacts to proposed national anthem lyrics change
MANILA, Philippines — Internationally-acclaimed Filipino singer-actress and “Pinoy pride” Lea Salonga does not agree on the proposed change of lyrics of the Philippines’ national anthem.
“I do not ever want those lyrics, to be watered down in any way because they spur on the greatest of our heroes in every field, to give all of themselves in the name of this country,” Lea said during the press conference for her sold-out 40th anniversary concert at the PICC Plenary Hall on October 19 to 20.
The actress-singer also said she loves the “Lupang Hinirang” as it embodies the spirit of the revolution in the era when it is written.
“It’s not just any song; that’s the national anthem. I love the anthem at it is. I love the spirit and the context. I told my friend, context is everything, the time period in which is written, the spirit of rebellion, in a revolution that went into the writings of this,” she explained.
“It’s so beautiful. I mean, I offer changing tempo once in a while depending on occasion, that it doesn’t always be a march, but I do get it. That’s just an opinion. Those things can absolutely be fudged without changing the meaning of the song,” she added.
Lea took note that the last two lines of the national anthem need not to be taken literally as they only mean “you must give yourself fully for your country, for the motherland.”
“But yeah, there were arguments as regard to, especially, the last two lines. It’s like the calling of your country that is to ask you to give all of yourself. The words ‘ang mamatay ng dahil sa ‘yo’ isn’t really always taken literally,” Lea said.
As an international artist who gives pride to the country, Lea said she makes it a point to be the best because she carries the country’s flag.
“For me, if you’re an artist, you carry your flag wherever you go and represent your country in the best way you can because when you’re in the public eye, you’ll be constantly be a reflection of however many millions of countrymen that you are representing. It’s like you are their informal ambassador.” — Video by Kat Leandicho
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