ISANG DI-MALILIMUTANG karanasan para kina Maria Aragon at Thia Megia ang mag-perform sa harap ng libu-libong tao during the opening ceremony of the World Boxing Organization Welterweight Championship match between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez last November 12 (Sunday, November 13, in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nasaksihan ng buong mundo ang pagkanta ni Maria ng Lupang Hinirang at ni Thia ng Star-Spangled Banner na national anthem ng Amerika.
Isa itong malaking karangalan para sa ating mga Pinoy dahil muli nating pinatunayan sa world arena ang ating angking ga-ling sa lara-ngan ng pagkanta. Sina Maria at Thia ay parehong may lahing Pinoy. Maria is a Fil-Canadian YouTube sensation who rose to fame when she did a cover version of Lady Gaga’s hit song Born This Way. Her video eventually caught the pop superstar’s attention at ‘di naglaon ay inimbitahan pa siya ni Lady Gaga na mag-perform kasama niya sa kanyang concert which was part of her 2011 Monster Ball Tour.
Meanwhile, Filipino-American Thia was a contestant of American Idol season 10. Ipina-nganak siya sa Hayward, California. Ang kanyang mga magulang ay tubong-Angeles, Pampanga who emigrated to the United States in 1968 and changed their surname from Mejia to Megia.
Maria was wearing a pink terno during her performance. It was reported that before she left for Las Vegas, nagpunta pa si Maria sa National Historical Institute (NHI) to make sure that she follows the national anthem’s original lyrics and march tempo. Nagbunga naman ang lahat ng kanyang pagsisikap dahil she was praised by the NHI for her good performance of the National Anthem. Ayon sa report ng abs-cbnNEWS.com, sinabi ni Mr. Teddy Atienza, chief of NHI’s Heraldry Section na, “Maganda ‘yung pagkakanta. Tama. Ang posture niya tama. Ang kanang kamay sa dibdib at pati ‘yung suot niya Filipiniana.”
Si Thia naman ay naging trending topic sa Twitter after she performed on the Pacquiao-Marquez trilogy bout. Sa kanyang official Twitter account ay sinulat ni Thia, “I had such an amazing night. Being in that ring was another dream come true, it was a beautiful experience <3 Thank you so much mi lovies!(:.”
Maging si Bianca Gonzalez na isang aktibong blogger ay pinuri rin si Thia sa kanyang tweet. “Filipino-American singer Thia Megia also trending worldwide! fight hasn’t even started yet and #pinoypride is overflowing! #pacman,”
Kaibigan, usap tayo muli!
Points of Boy
by Boy Abunda
