Longer anthem version hits sour note in Series CD mix-up cleared up on Wednesday

Series Notebook

BANGOR – Reflecting the international flavor of the Senior League World Series, fans have been treated to recordings of the national anthems of competing teams before each game.

On Wednesday, one fan of the Asia Pacific champs headed to the press box to ask a simple question that tourney organizers (luckily) weren’t around to hear.

“Who’s in charge of playing the national anthems?” Rogie Arellano asked.

Arellano, who hand-delivered the compact disc to tourney officials before the World Series began, didn’t really have a complaint. But it seems that the song marked “Lupang Hinirang” – the Philippines’ national anthem – actually contained a prelude that isn’t played very often.

“The one that’s being played is a long version [of the anthem],” Arellano said. “If you notice, it starts out slow and then the actual national anthem is played with a faster beat.”

Arellano, who hadn’t listened to the CD before turning it over to officials at an organizational eeting, checked the disc on Wednesday and found that the third song, marked simply “Lupang Hinirang,” was actually the long version.

The 11th song on the CD was the preferred “Lupang Hinirang (Reprise),” and didn’t include the slow prelude.

Arellano said the Manila team had reacted well to the playing of the nontraditional version, but he admitted they seemed a bit confused.

“They’re not used to hearing that, so every time they’re out there standing, they look at me and say, ‘What are they playing,” Arellano said.

For the record, public address announcer Bob Beatham also doubles as a disc jockey when the national anthems are played. And before the Curacao-Manila game, he gladly played the shorter, peppier version of “Lupang Hinirang.”