Fil-Am, pastors hit perfect note

HOLLYWOOD—An angelic Filipino-American singer plus a group of pastors will sing the country’s national anthem on fight night in Las Vegas.

Gail Banawis, young, tall and alluring, will join the World Chorale Choir in their rendition of “Lupang Hinirang” on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The 19-year-old Banawis is a personal choice of Manny Pacquiao, who had asked her to fly to Los Angeles and find out whether she and the pastors could perform together.

Banawis, a 5-foot-7 voice pathology freshman at Brooklyn College who hails from the Bronx in New York, is also a part-time ramp model.

She has walked the runway for international designers like Renee Salud, Edgar Madamba and Richard Papa. She also performed at the KAS New York Fashion Show in February.

Banawis will join a long list of celebrated Filipino artists who have performed in Pacquiao’s major fights, including fellow Fil-Am Jessica Sanchez, Charice, Sarah Geronimo, Regine Velasquez, Kirby Asunto, Kyla, Karylle, Ciara Sotto, Geneva Cruz, Jennifer Bautista and Nicole Angela Judalena, as well as Martin Nievera and Ariel Pineda.