Palace: Nothing wrong with ‘Iisang Dagat’ music video

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The controversial music video highlighting the China-Philippines partnership in the fight against the coronavirus is covered by constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech, according to a Palace official.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque found nothing wrong with the video “Iisang Dagat” produced by the Chinese Embassy in Manila despite criticisms from some groups, saying foreigners also enjoy the right to freedom of expression.

“Sa ating Saligang Batas naman lahat tayo mayroon tayong karapatan na malayang pananalita. Ang isang video na kasama mga awitin ay kabahagi ‘yan ng karapatang malayang pananalita,” Roque said in an interview with DZBB Sunday.

“Sabi ng ating Korte Suprema, lahat ng karapatan sa ating Bill of Rights ay binibigay din natin sa mga dayuhan na naninirahan dito,” he added.

Roque further said that there was no need for the embassy to consult the Palace about its music video.

The Chinese embassy recently released a music video featuring the cooperation and support between China and the Philippines in addressing the threat posed by the new coronavirus disease.

The song was written by Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and performed by Chinese diplomat Xia Wenxin, Camarines Sur Vice Governor Imelda Papin, Filipino-Chinese singer Jhonvid Bangayan, and Chinese actor Yubin.

The embassy, in a post on Twitter, said the music video is “dedicated to those who contributed to our fight against the epidemic from both countries, especially the China Medical Expert Team to the Philippines.”

“China and the Philippines have been supporting and helping each other during the challenge of COVID-19, demonstrating a new era partnership of mutual support during trying times and the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind advocated by President Xi,” the embassy tweeted.

“Just as the lyric goes, as friendly neighbors across the sea, China and the Philippines will continue to join hands and make every effort to overcome the COVID-19 at the earliest,” it added.

The music video, which runs for four and a half minutes, however has drawn criticisms online amid the country’s lingering dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea.

Huang said the embassy prepared the song “depicting the kind of cooperation and mutual support between China and the Philippines in our fight against the epidemic.”

“I hope you enjoy it,” the ambassador said during a radio program hosted by Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar last Friday.

Andanar, for his part, extended the government’s gratitude to China for extending medical assistance to the Philippines amid the pandemic.

He also said the country has “so much” to learn from China’s experience in handling the health emergency.

“Thank you so much Mr. Ambassador. We indeed appreciate your generosity, the generosity of the People’s Republic of China and we will also be learning more from your experiences especially in the reintegration in the opening up of the economy once more so there’s so much to learn from Wuhan and from Hubei Province,” he said.

After the interview with the Chinese diplomat, Andanar played the song made by the Chinese embassy on government radio. (Genalyn Kabiling)

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