Lara Maigue to sing Lupang Hinirang for SONA 2023

Classical opera singer Lara Maigue will lead the singing of the national anthem during President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, GMA Integrated News' Tina Panganiban-Perez tweeted on Friday, quoting House of Representatives Secretary-General Reginald Velasco.

In a radio interview, Velasco said they had seen several of Maigue's viral videos on YouTube.

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco tells GMA Integrated News that Lara Maigue will sing the National Anthem during the SONA. @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking

— Tina PanganibanPerez (@tinapperez) July 21, 2023

According to her YouTube channel, Maigue is a Filipino soprano and songwriter who has won several awards, including 2017 Aliw Awards for Best Classical Performer and the 2018 Aliw Awards for Best Female Crossover Performer.

A graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Music, major in voice, Maigue also bagged the Best Jazz Recording trophy at the 2019 Awit (Sing) Awards.

In a radio interview on Friday morning, Velasco said former President Joseph Estrada might not be able to attend Marcos’ SONA on Monday.

“Nag-confirm siya (Estrada) pero may balita kaming mahihirapan siyang makarating,” Velasco said.

(He has confirmed to us but there are reports that he might not come.)

So far, former President Rodrigo Duterte and former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have confirmed their attendance on Monday.

On Monday, Presidential son and Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro" Marcos estimated his father's SONA will last an hour and twenty five minutes long. —Hana Bordey/KBK/LA, GMA Integrated News