Title card of the Iisang Dagat music video
A China-produced music video showcasing the efforts of China in helping the Philippines fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which originated in Wuhan, China, was overwhelmingly met by negative and angry comments in various social media platforms where it was posted.
The supposedly feel-good song, “Iisang Dagat,” was produced by the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, Chinatown TV, and Guizhou Xinpan Media Company.
The song featured–now coined on social media by angry netizens as the country’s ‘traitor’– Camarines Sur Vice Governor Imelda Papin, Chinese diplomat Xia Wenxin, Chinese-Filipino singer Jhonvid Bangayan, and Chinese actor Yubin (from the TV series “The Untamed”) performing the song with Chinese and Filipino lyrics.
The caption of the video posted by the Chinese Embassy Manila Facebook page stated, “China and the Philippines have been supporting and helping each other during the challenge of COVID-19 outbreak, 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 the Chinese President H.E. Xi Jinping.
This original music video “Iisang Dagat” is dedicated to those who contributed to the country’s fight against the epidemic from both countries, especially the China Medical Expert Team to the Philippines.”
As of 8 p.m. on Saturday (April 25), the music video on the YouTube channel of Chinatown TV garnered a record amount of dislikes at over 65,000 unsatisfied viewers. There were almost 400 likes.
“Twitterverse” was turned into a battlefield of fuming Filipinos expressing their hate against China. “Iisang Dagat” is one of the hottest topics on Twitter with overflowing anti-China tweets.
Why the song is bad:
1. They used the covid-19 to mask this propaganda.
2. There is no “one sea” or iisang dagat. West Philippines Sea is OURS and China has no business saying it’s for everyone. Not after they point their guns and warships at our vessels and fishermen— #OUSTDUTERTE⁷ | nsfr (@yiIingtan) April 25, 2020
The Chinese Embassy’s “Iisang Dagat” song is nothing but an insult to the Filipino people especially the fisherfolk. China is a traitor and will never be our friend. No friend steals from you while you are still battling a pandemic. #StandWithFisherfolk #AtinAngPinas #ChinaLayas pic.twitter.com/izgm5qEM7t
— Mangingisda #OustDuterte (@MangingisdaSays) April 25, 2020
The Audacity of china to create a music video about the west philippine sea digusts me, “Iisang Dagat” your ass! It was never been yours and it will never be! Imelda Papin disgusts me, pathetic. China is faking it, it’s their strategy to be in Power. Maka sapot!
— LAUREN METAWIN ???? (@thelauren_cc) April 25, 2020
the nerve of china to create a music video entitled “iisang dagat” when they’ve been exploiting our sea for a long time. the west philippine sea is OURS and it will always be.
and to the filipino singer who was featured in the song, you are a traitor to your own country. SHAME.
— ᜐ᜔ᜑᜒᜎ (@sfj_malaran) April 25, 2020
The music video was uploaded a few days after the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest against China’s creation of two new districts to control islands in the South China Sea, including the southern portion of the Philippine territory.
In a separate report, the government also confirmed that a Chinese warship aimed its gun at a Philippine Navy corvette during an encounter. (RJ Espartinez)