Bayang Barrios to sing national anthem in Duterte’s first SONA

MANILA, Philippines – Musician Bayang Barrios has been tasked with singing the Philippine National Anthem at President Rodrigo Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25. (LOOK: Batasan prepares for SONA 2016)

This was confirmed in a text message to Rappler from Tim Adaza, House of Representatives (HOR) Deputy Secretary General and a member of the SONA task force. According to him, the musician will be rehearsing before the weekend of July 23 to 24.

The SONA task force headed by Marilyn Barua-Yap, the HoR Secretary General, was previously reported to have reached out to Bayang to sing at the SONA.

Bayang Barrios, whose real name is Junelie Otero Barrios, is a Manobo singer who hails from Agusan del Sur, Mindanao. (READ: Bayang Barrios’ new album celebrates freedom)

As detailed on her website, Bayang is a prolific musician who debuted as a solo singer with her 1997 debut album, Bayang Makulay. She was previously associated with Filipino music icon Joey Ayala’s band, Bagong Lumad.

She has performed for songs featured in GMA Network’s Encantadia saga, where she can be heard chanting in the iconic theme tune in the original 2005 series, Etheria, and lately, the 2016 reboot.

Bayang was also associated with senator and former presidential candidate Grace Poe. 

She sang “Bagong Umaga (New Morning),” which was the campaign song of the late Fernando Poe, Jr “FPJ,” when he ran for president in 2004. Poe Jr is the adoptive father of Grace Poe had also used the song in her campaign this 2016.

Bayang has also appeared in Grace Poe’s sorties during the 2016 elections’ campaign period. – with reports from Mara Cepeda/Rappler.com