MALACAÑANG on Sunday said a music video released by the Chinese embassy in the Philippines about the fight of Manila and Beijing against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is part of one’s right to free expression, which is guaranteed by the Constitution, regardless of nationality.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, however, said he has yet to see the music video for the song titled “Iisang Dagat.”
He said Chinese embassy officials do no need to get permission from the Philippine government in producing such pieces which is part of their right to free expression.
He said a music video is part of that right to free speech. He added the Supreme Court said all rights under the Bill of Rights are also accorded to foreigners living in the Philippines
The video titled “Iisang Dagat” was released by the embassy online last Friday. The embassy said it is “dedicated to those who contributed to our fight against the epidemic from both countries, especially the China Medical Expert Team to the Philippines.”
“Iisang Dagat” was written by Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian. It was sung in a of mix Mandarin and Filipino by Camarines Sur Vice Gov. Imelda Papin, Filipino-Chinese Singer Jhonvid Bangayan, Chinese actor Yubin, and Chinese diplomat Xia Wenxin.
The music video, which has Filipino subtitles, is a tribute to frontliners involved in the campaign against COVID-19. It features clips on disinfection operations, distribution of food packs and medical equipment, meetings of officials from both countries, and donations and medical experts sent by China to the Philippines.
The video clip, which opened and ended with boats sailing in the oceans, also featured clips of interviews of Philippine officials like Foreign Affairs Teodoro Locsin Jr., Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, and National Task Force on COVID-19 implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., and a part of President Duterte’s public address about COVID-19.
Andanar said the Presidential Communications Operations Office had nothing to do with the music video and deferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Duterte has been under criticism for his friendship with China which has aggressively been asserting its claim over the South China Sea. China is claiming the whole South China Sea while the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam claim parts of the sea.
China has refused to recognize a 2016 ruling of the Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration favoring the Philippines and nullifying China’s extensive claim to the South China Sea. Last February, a Chinese ship pointed a radar gun at a Philippine Navy ship at a Philippine-claimed area in the South China Sea.
