Pastors will sing the Philippine National Anthem
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 21 Nov 2014
MACAO ? For the first time, not a professional music artist but a choir composed mostly of pastors from different religious groups will sing the Philippine National Anthem atop the ring before the scheduled title defense by Manny Pacquiao of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight crown.
Pacquiao confirmed this Thursday evening in an interview shortly after holding a two-hour bible service inside his suite at The Venetian Hotel, Macao.
?Nine of them will sing our National Anthem. Out of that number, six are pastors. They have been conducting practice since we arrived in Macao last Monday,? Pacquiao told PhilBoxing.com.
Pacquiao identified the pastors as Antonio Torres, Boy Buan, Bong Quintos, Federico Gloria, Rexcel Neri and Jess Bascuna.
The three others ? Boyet Layog, Gerry Girado and Cris Aguilar ? are not pastors but they have been active in the religious music ministry.
The world?s lone eight-division boxing champion bared that Top Rank big boss Bob Arum was already informed about.
?There?s no problem. My promoter was already informed that a group of pastors will do the singing of the Philippine National Anthem before the fight,? Pacquiao said.
Gloria claimed that it was Pacquiao who asked them to sing the Philippine National Anthem.
?No less than Cong. Manny Pacquiao who requested us to sing our National Anthem before the fight. Who are we to turn down his request?? Gloria said.
Gloria considered it a big challenge and a great opportunity for them to perform before a huge crowd here and around the world.
?The fight is live on pay-per-view, so, we will try our very best to sing the Philippine National Anthem correctly,? Gloria said.
Torres was feeling excited at the mere thought of performing before a global stage.
?It?s God?s will and we?re happy about it. We will just do our job,? Torres said.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Aquiles Z. Zonio.
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