Senatorial candidate Salvador Panelo won’t stop singing one of megastar Sharon Cuneta’s popular songs since it has a special place in his heart.
Panelo, in a Facebook post, explained he actually sings the Filipino classic “Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas” as tribute to his son Carlo who had Down Syndrome. He intends to use it now to boost the campaign for children with special needs.
The former chief legal counsel also informed megastar that he actually got Viva Records’ consent to continue singing the song.
‘Don’t mess with a classic!’ Sharon Cuneta says Panelo not authorized to sing ‘Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas’ in campaign event
Panelo made the comment after getting slammed by the megastar for using her song at a campaign event. Sharon, in an Instagram post, claimed Panelo did not have authority to sing the song and should “not mess with a classic.” She unleashed the stinging rebuke after reading a CNN tweet about Panelo singing the song when he joined vice presidential bet Sara Duterte Carpio at a campaign stopover in Quezon City.
“I’m sorry she feels that way. It’s one of my favorite songs because it reminds me of the great lengths I took to care for my late son, Carlo who had Down Syndrome. I honor him each time I sing the song,” Panelo wrote on Facebook.
When he sang Sharon’s song, he clarified that he merely tried to entertain the crowd, not profit from the song or win votes.
“I also thought I was paying homage to the composer, the late Willy Cruz and of course, to Ms. Sharon Cuneta, by singing it. I wasn’t profiting from it, and certainly not trying to get elected by singing it,” he said.
“I was just trying to entertain the people who took time out of their busy lives to see and listen to us. I don’t understand what’s so offensive about that,” he said.
Panelo said he already reached out to Viva Records, the copyright owner, and got “permission to sing the song.”
Despite Sharon’s objection, Panelo will continue to perform the song to raise public awareness on the welfare of children with special needs. One of his platforms is to pursue bills that will benefit these special kids.
“I will continue to sing it, and will now use it to raise awareness for the plight of children with special needs,” he said. “As the song goes: ‘Kahit ilang awit ay aking aawatin, hanggang ang himig ko’y maging himig mo na rin,'” he said.
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