ZYRENE PARSAD feels overjoyed that Manny Pacquiao personally chose him to sing “Lupang Hinirang” in his bout with Antonio Margarito in Texas on November 13. “I met him when I sang sa Sarangggani Investors Night at New World Hotel,” she says. “I was surprised when he called me later to say akong kakanta ng national anthem sa next fight niya. I thanked him as this is really such a big break for me. But I’m now so tense kasi first time ko to sing in such a big venue na isang international boxing arena and to be seen pa all over the world. I train every day. My parents advised me to ask advice from the National Historical Institute on how to sing it properly, kasi di ba naging controversial yung renditions ng ibang singers? I also asked Mr. Ryan Cayabyab for advice and all their inputs, pinagsama ko to make sure hindi ako mapapahiya. Mr. C told me to sing it from the heart and that’s what I’ll do dahil I see to it every line I sing will come from my heart.”
We first interviewed Zyrene when she joined GMA-7’s “Are You the Next Big Star”, where she was second runnerup to Frencheska Farr. Even then, she told us that even if she lost, she’d still pursue her showbiz career as she really loves to sing. She’s now under Viva Entertainment and has just released her self-titled debut album with 13 songs. The carrier single is her cover of Fra Lippo Lippi’s “Later”. Other good cuts are “Emotions”, “Zoom”, and “Let’s Wait Awhile”. In this aspect, she bested Frencheska, who might be the winner but has yet to have her own album up to now.
