MANILA, Philippines?Martin Nievera refuses to accept as unlawful the way he sang the Philippine National Anthem during the Pacquiao-Hatton fight last week.

Dr. Ambeth Ocampo, chair of the National Historical Institute, criticized the singer?s rendition on Monday, the day after the Las Vegas bout, citing a law that specified the manner in which ?Lupang Hinirang? should be sung.

?No one told me about the so-called laws ... I didn?t get the memo,? Martin said in a statement sent to media on Friday. ?Others before me [had] sung their [own] versions [too].?

Ocampo did point out that many artists continued to modify the tune ?despite repeated reminders.?

But Nievera said he was apologizing to ?people afraid of progress and change ... lawmakers and ... whomever took offense to my interpretation of probably the most beautiful song I have ever come across.?

Nievera said Pacquiao offered him the gig three months ago and that he ?accepted wholeheartedly.?

In the picture

In various reports, Nievera was quoted as saying he consulted knowledgeable people about his performance, including musician Ryan Cayabyab.

Cayabyab sent us this statement defending Nievera, with a three-paragraph prelude that explains what ?Mr. C? referred to as a ?rejoinder??in light of accounts quoting him on the issue and coming across as being critical of the performer:

?Part of the interview I gave [that was played up in the reports] was weak on my defense of Martin?s freedom to express himself,? Cayabyab stated. ?Only the ?I warned you? part [has been] emphasized. I cited two important parameters in that interview?the legal and the artistic.?

The interview was held in Vigan, where Cayabyab was judging a singing contest at the time Ocampo?s complaint was published.

Mr. C?s defense of Nievera:

?Give Martin a break! Even after I cautioned him not to alter the notes, and even when he went on to express it the way he wanted, I texted him after his performance to say, ?Awesome!? I never imagined this issue [would] reach fever pitch. Deep in my heart I felt, as an artist and a proud Filipino, what Martin was feeling as he sang ?Lupang Hinirang,? until the end part, of course. That wasn?t comfortable at all.

?Nevertheless, Martin sang it with much fervor. If this paves the way for a national debate on the issue and a review of that particular law, then I can only thank Martin for providing the spark by the risk he took. He has done his part as an artist by pushing standards to the edge and seeking out other ways to express himself. True art is never comfortable. If anyone intends to bring him to court, then they should nail everyone else who had sung or re-arranged the National Anthem in ?their own way? and the list could be quite long. It includes a national artist.?