Many jeers, some cheers for national anthem singers in Pacquiao-Algieri fight
The singing of the national anthems of both the Philippines and the United States for the Pacquiao-Algieri fight drew negative reactions from social media on Sunday.
A Christian choir composed of pastors from General Santos City, Manny Pacquiao's hometown, sang Lupang Hinirang in deep baritone while Melanie Thornton, formerly of the Pussycat Dolls, gave her rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner.
Many members of the audience, who look forward to the singing of the national anthems before every major boxing fight, were not pleased with both performances. They turned to Twitter to express their disappointment.
Manny Pacquiao is fighting and that's who you get to do the national anthem? That was awful.
— Karla Ann (@karla_ann) November 23, 2014
The girl that sang the US National Anthem at the Pacquiao vs Algieri fight just now was awful ??
— Alexa Schürrle (@WonderLexman) November 23, 2014
Ano ba tong kumanta ng National anthem natin? Palpak. Pati ung sa US palpak din. Naku baka pati c Pacquiao pumalpak din. Wag nman sana! ??
— nes palma (@agnespalma) November 23, 2014
Ano ba tong kumanta ng National anthem natin? Palpak. Pati ung sa US palpak din. Naku baka pati c Pacquiao pumalpak din. Wag nman sana! ??
— nes palma (@agnespalma) November 23, 2014
Algieri got a singer from the #PussycatDolls, #Pacquiao got a bunch of dudes in Barong. LOL. #nationalanthem #PacquiaoAlgieri
— Richard Par (@RichTPar) November 23, 2014
i couldve sang the national anthem for pacquiao wth
— Robin J (@robinxjoie) November 23, 2014
Pacquiao is the league leader in having terrible artists sing the national anthem
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) November 23, 2014
A few others, meanwhile, lauded Pacquiao for choosing pastors to sing the national anthem.
#PacquiaoAlgieri Go Pacquiao!! It's so amazing that our national anthem was sang by the pastors
— ? (@TheGrandeVanity) November 23, 2014
Pacquiao never fails to amuse me.. Group of Pastors singing our national anthem. Good job! #PacAlgieri
— PT Porshieee. ? (@PortiaElijah) November 23, 2014
Only Pacquiao could pull off a whole choir singing the national anthem
— Jas (@jas_ayy) November 23, 2014
Others joked about Pacquiao, who has recorded several songs in the past, singing Lupang Hinirang himself for his own fights.
I'm waiting for the day pacquiao comes out singing the philippine's national anthem himself
— Kayla Memo (@Mikaylamemo) November 23, 2014
Pacquiao should sing the national anthem next time #boxer/singer #filpride
— rein baluyut (@REInaldoBaLuyuT) November 23, 2014
— Marisse Panaligan/JST, GMA News