Sara Duterte questions playing of ‘Manila’ at SEA Games opening

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio here questioned the playing of the Hotdog song “Manila” during the entry of the Philippine contingent to the opening rites of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, indirectly chiding those who designed the program for not being “inclusive.”

“Di po (ba) Philippine flag ang dala? Why would you play the song, ‘Manila’?” asked the mayor on her Instagram post, alluding to the oft-repeated complaints of those in the provinces that Manila does not represent the whole country.

[Weren’t they carrying the Philippine flag? Why would you play the song “Manila”?]

“Di po excuse ang upbeat [and] danceable song [for playing it]. Kami ang nag imbento ng budot,” the mayor said, referring again to the upbeat dance moves that originated from Davao.

[There’s no excuse for playing the song just because it’s upbeat and danceable. We invented the budot.]

“We should be inclusive when we want to encourage our countrymen to cheer,” said the mayor.

“I am a Filipino but I don’t have a drop of Tagalog blood in me,” she added, describing herself as pure Vismin — that is, from Visayas and Mindanao — by birth and Ilocano by marriage.

/atm