Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Pacquiao's pick Zyrene vows to sing anthem in 55 seconds

When international boxing champ Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and Mexican boxer Antonio Margarito slug it out in Dallas, Texas on November 13, a new face in the music industry will be taking centerstage to render the national anthem.

Interviewed on Mornings@ANC, rising talent Zyrene Parsad, who was personally handpicked by the Pacman to sing "Lupang Hinirang" during the bout, admits she welcomes the opportunity, but is also having sleepless nights over the prospect of singing in such a prominent setting as the international boxing arena.

"I was invited to his [Pacquiao's] Investors' Night at the New World Hotel in Saranggani, He called me after a week and said, 'Ikaw ang kakanta ng Lupang Hinirang sa fight ko.' I wanted to hug him and say `Thank you so much,' because this is such a big break for me," recalls Zyrene, who broke into the music scene after winning 3rd place in the singing search "Are You the Next Big Star?"

No stranger to the music stage, Zyrene admits she received the news with mixed emotions.

"I'm excited, I'm nervous, I'm having sleepless nights. Before I go to bed, I pray then I sing the 'Lupang Hinirang' in my mind, and when I wake-up, I sing the 'Lupang Hinirang'," Zyrene says, adding she sings the anthem every chance she gets.

It's Zyrene's way of getting the hymn into her system, following the controversies over the various renditions of the song at international boxing matches, and a clear sign she is serious about singing it right.

"When we learned that I was chosen by our Pacman, my mom and my dad told me to visit the National Historical Commission of the Philippines so you can ask advise on how you're going to sing the Philippine National Anthem. I also went to Senator Chiz Escudero because I think he passed the bill on how to sing the Philippine National anthem right. And then last week, I went to Mr. C [Ryan Cayabyab] to ask for some advice."

"I keep on praying and memorizing the lines. In school, we didn't have a subject on how to do it right, but what I do now is, I read every line and feel it from the heart. That's Mr. C's advise: to sing it from the heart and everything's going to follow."

Zyrene is scheduled to leave on October 29 for Texas, where the fight will be held on November 13 (Nov. 14 in Manila).

Come fight night, boxing fans can expect a traditional rendition of the national anthem from Zyrene.

"I'm going to sing it in 55 seconds. I'm going to sing it right, not on my own interpretation, because I respect the composer of the song."

The assurance comes after several singers came under fire for rendering their own interpretation of "Lupang Hinirang."

Zyrene adds she will be wearing a red Filipiniana gown decked with Swarovski crystals, designed by Pepsi Herrera, to the event.

Grateful for her biggest break yet, Zyrene's newly launched self-titled album, which features 13 tracks, is now out in the market.