The chief of the Heraldry Section of the NHI is set to file a complaint against Pineda at the Department of Justice for violating the Section 37 of Republic Act 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code which is all about the proper singing of the national anthem; he sang it too slow and with high pitch at the end.  Anyone who violated and found guilty by the court will be fined from P5,000 – P20,000 or will be jailed for a one year. (Watch Arnel Pineda Singing the National Anthem Video here)

Arnel Pineda was interviewed days before the fight and said that he will sing and be faithful to what is being stated by the law in order not to follow with previous incidents that involved similar problems during Pacquiao’s fights.  Asked about the latest issue he is involved with, he said that he just sang from the heart, and the spontaneous outpour of emotion and pride cannot simply be dampened while singing the national anthem in front of millions of viewers.  He will leave the issue to his lawyer.

Until now though, there is no one who got punished under this law.

The Renegade Blogger’s View:  This is not something new of an issue.  For me, I think there should also be some room for personal expression and art in the way of the singing of national anthem without really disrespecting it.  As what the Heraldry Section of the NHI said, if people do not want to follow it or needs an updating in consideration of the present needs, sentiments and consciousness, then ratify the law.  Singing the national anthem should not be always as stiff as like fighting in a bloody war which is the very context when the national anthem was composed by Julian Felipe.  Well, so far no one got punished.

What do you think of this latest hullabaloo of the Arnel to be sued by the NHI for his way of singing of the national anthem?

Arnel Pineda Will Be Sued by NHI for Erroneously Singing the National Anthem is a copyrighted article from Showbiz Renegade