Music video cheers China-PH team-up vs COVID-19

‘IISANG DAGAT (ONE SEA)’ Pop singer and Camarines Sur Vice Gov. Imelda Papin is among the leading personalities from China and the Philippines featured in a music video released by the Chinese Embassy on Friday to highlight Beijing’s assistance to Manila in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. —VIDEOGRAB FROM CHINESE EMBASSY WEBSITE

“Ikaw at ako’y nasa iisang dagat, ang iyong pagmamahal aking kasama. Ang iyong kamay ay di ko bibitawan. Maaliwalas na kinabukasan, ating masisilayan. (You and I are in the same sea, your love keeps me company. I won’t let go of your hand. We have a bright future ahead).’’

It sounds like a love song—both not about sweethearts but about two countries finding a reason to celebrate and remain optimistic amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The song is from the music video titled “Iisang Dagat (One Sea)’’ produced by the Chinese Embassy in Manila and dedicated to those fighting the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) contagion in China and the Philippines.

Released on Friday on the embassy’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, the video is dedicated to “those who contributed to our fight against the epidemic from both countries, especially by the China Medical Expert Team” that flew to Manila to offer advice to the Department of Health earlier this month.

Ambassador’s lyrics

Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian wrote the lyrics, the embassy said.

Lasting just over four minutes, the video featured singer and Camarines Sur Vice Gov. Imelda Papin performing the song along with Chinese diplomat Xia Wenxin, Chinese-Filipino singer Jhonvid Bangayan and Chinese actor Yubin (from the TV series “The Untamed.’’)

“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!’’ the Chinese embassy said in a statement.

The video was released in the same week Department of Foreign Affairs lodged fresh diplomatic protests against China over a Feb.17 encounter between a Chinese warship and a Philippine Navy corvette, and Beijing’s declaration that parts of Philippine-claimed territory belong to Hainan province—the latest episodes in the maritime dispute between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea.