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Chinese Embassy’s ‘Iisang Dagat’ Draws Flak Online, Gets More Than 150k ‘Dislikes’ on YouTube

Chinese Embassy’s ‘Iisang Dagat’ Draws Flak Online, Gets More Than 150k ‘Dislikes’ on YouTube

Apr 27, 2020   •   Kyzia Maramara

The Chinese Embassy last Friday released a music video entitled “Iisang Dagat” as a tribute for the Philippine and Chinese front liners in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. The song was written by the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and was performed by Filipino and Chinese singers. Once the Chinese Embassy tweeted to promote the video, angry and irked Filipinos expressed their dismay online.

The video drew flak over the weekend and it was criticized with posts from livid netizens not buying the tribute. But why would Filipinos be angry at such a “friendly” and seemingly “harmless” gesture?

 

It does not reflect the sentiments of Filipinos

Filipinos are convinced that it’s obviously propaganda carefully crafted by China. After all, the clips feature Chinese diplomats and the Chinese medical expert team providing aid for Filipinos. Towards the end, top Philippine government officials such as Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque, and even President Rodrigo Duterte were all shown thanking China for their help amid tough times.

The video does make it seem as if the two countries are friends supporting each other, but this is not the sentiment of most Filipino citizens. The title itself would grate at anyone’s nerves. The implication of “Iisang Dagat” or “One Sea” leaves a bitter taste in one’s mouth after so many incidents involving Chinese and Filipinos in the middle of the said sea.

 

“Iisang Dagat” is using the current pandemic as a mask

What is propaganda again? According to the internet, it’s defined as “information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.” What better time to strike than when the entire world is focusing on a global pandemic that originated from you-know-where?

 

The matter of the West Philippine Sea

Perhaps what’s even more offending than the video itself is the fact that it was entitled “Iisang Dagat” which simply tosses aside the fact that China has been trying to subtly (or blatantly) claim the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as theirs. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China’s imaginary nine-dash line that claims part of the WPS is invalid. That part of the waters belongs to the Philippines. There is no “Iisang Dagat.”

 

Was China ever really a friend?


Let the headlines speak for itself. Friends don’t fish in waters that aren’t theirs and proceed to harass the fishermen who own it. Friends don’t ram their vessels into fishermen’s boats in the middle of the night and leave them for dead.

 

This is the chance for the opposing parties in the Philippines to unite


Before you were a “DDS” or a “Dilawan,” you’re a Filipino first and that means defending the country should be your priority. After all, a divided nation is doomed for a bitter end, don’t you think?

 

We’re glad to see Filipinos aren’t falling for it


If there’s anything that could be said about Filipinos it’s that we’re a friendly bunch but we can also see right through people’s intentions.

 

The call for #ChExitPH


The video currently has 500k views with 2k likes and 146k dislikes. Clearly, a message is being sent across: nobody agrees with the video and nobody is going to fall for the trap. A quick scroll through the comments section shows that even Hong Kongers, Malaysians, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese likewise strongly disapprove of the propaganda. Calls for #ChexitPH (a combination of China and Exit) could also be seen on Twitter over the weekend.

 

The Philippines is a sovereign state


If you forget that the Philippines is a sovereign state meaning we are an independent nation. We aren’t under another country and we will never be in another country. If Filipinos somehow forget that, refresh your mind with the “Lupang Hinirang” and maybe meditate on the second stanza’s last lines.

 

What do you think of the music video?


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Kyzia spends most of her time capturing the world around her through photos, paragraphs, and playlists. She is constantly on the hunt for the perfect chocolate chip cookie, and a great paperback thriller to pair with it.

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