- She was recently bashed online for singing the controversial song
- Her daughter, Maffi Papin Carrion, also defended her from bashers
OPM singer and incumbent vice governor of Camarines Sur Imelda Papin explained why she sang the controversial song “Iisang Dagat.”
The singer was recently bashed online for taking part in the music video as many believe this is an insult for the country. The song gained controversy as its lyrics was related to China’s aggressive sovereignty claim over the West Philippine Sea.
Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian wrote the lyrics for “Iisang Dagat“.
In her interview on the program Dobol A sa Dobol B last April 27,I melda explained that the song was about unity as the world battles a pandemic.
“Maganda naman yung lyrics. It’s all about tulungan sa panahong ito, pagkakaisa sa pagtulong, ganyan, parang sabay-sabay, hawak-kamay para sa magandang kinabukasan. Yun ang mga lyrics.
“It’s all about ano, e, pagmamahalan sa isa’t isa dahil ito raw ay intended sa panahon na ito ngayon, sa paglaban sa ating kinahaharap na problema, na kalaban na di natin nakikita, which is COVID-19.”
The music video immediately gained dislikes and criticisms after it was released on YouTube last April 24. Many believed that this was China’s propaganda after the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest for the former’s vilation of the international law and Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.
But the female singer cleared that she was unaware about this.
“Hindi ako aware doon kasi noong in-offer sa akin, noong pinadala sa akin noong araw na ‘yon, ni-record ko the following day kaagad.
“Kasi, ang gusto nila ay ihabol doon sa [Chinese] medical team, sa mga doctors na pumunta rito, parang regalo nila. Yun ang pinaka-main purpose doon, na ireregalo, ihahabol yung song na ‘yon.”
If she had known it sooner, Imelda said, “Siyempre, mag-iisip ako ng dalawang beses. Pero ang pasok kasi sa akin, it’s all about dito sa COVID-19, na dapat magkatulungan.
“Walang malisya at all! Maganda ang intensiyon ko kasi ang advocacy ko, di ba, is pagkakaisa. In politics, lahat, puro pagkakaisa.”
“Siyempre, nagbibigay ako ng inspirasyon sa pamamagitan ng boses ko.
“So sabi ko, kung ako ay isa sa impluwensiya na makapagbigay naman ng inspirasyon sa mga frontliner, ng lakas ng loob, bakit hindi? Doon ako naka-focus.
“To be honest, hindi ko alam kung iyon ay propaganda nila. Dahil sa akin, good intention yung sa akin. Ang naiisip ko lang naman ay yung word na magtulungan tayong lahat sa panahon ngayon.”
According to her, “Iisang Dagat” was just misinterpreted by the bashers.
“Alam n’yo po, gusto kong ipaalam doon po sa interpretasyon na hindi naman sang-ayon doon sa letra at sa intensiyon na maganda, na pagkakaisa, pagmamahalan…
“Sana maintindihan po ninyo ang aking intensiyon dahil ever since naman po ang Imelda Papin ay nagbibigay po ng karangalan sa bawat PIlipino.
“Nagpupunta ako sa ibang bansa, dinadala ko ang ibang bansa. Itinataas ko naman ang pangalan ng ating bansa sa pamamagitan ng musika.”
Imelda said she is just ignoring the negative comments and implied that she has good intentions for singing the song.
“Hindi ko na binabasa ‘yon, e. Pinaparating na lang sa akin yung mga nababasa ng follower ko, ganyan-ganyan. They know naman ang intention ko and I’m honest about it.”
She also reacted to people who called her a “traitor” to the country. She said, “Hindi naman pwedeng magtraydor ang Imelda Papin sa bansang Pilipinas. Hello!
“Mali naman siguro yung word na yun dahil, sabi ko nga, ever since nagbibigay naman ako ng karangalan at magandang imahe sa ating bansa.
“Nagkataon lang na ako ang pinili, inalok sa akin, pinakiusapan. Hindi ako nagpresenta, hindi ako binayaran. Ang intensiyon nila ay sabay-sabay sa pagpuksa nito para matapos na itong COVID-19, bumalik na sa normal na buhay.
“Yung akin, parang magandang maging instrumento rin ako para magbigay ng inspirasyon sa pamamagitan ng boses ko.”
Imelda expressed her patriotism for the country. “Siyempre, Pilipino ako, ang aking katapatan ay nasa aking bansa. Dito ako pinanganak, tunay akong Pilipino, hanggang sa huli mananatili akong Pilipino. Siyempre, kapag naaapi ang ating bansa, makikipaglaban ako, di ba?”
Imelda’s daughter, Noble Queen of the Universe-International Maffi Papin Carrion also defended the singer from the criticisms saying that Iisang Dagat’s message was unity.
She wrote on Twitter, “I cannot be more disgusted by Filipinos reacting to a song by my Mom based on unity which is the only intention of my Mom! This is for COVID. Nothing more nothing less!”
“The Filipinos that are violently reacting to my Moms Imelda Papin song breaks my heart! This is about healing! “she wrote.
“Yes all of you evil bashers !! Thank you ! Keep going ! Imelda Papin !” Maffi said in an another post.
In the midst of COVID-19 outbreak, China is using its medical aid and assistance to other nations to “leverage” its continuous aggression in the West Philippine Sea. This was according to analyst Jay Batongbacal, director of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea.
He also described the February incident between the Philippine Navy and a Chinese warship as “an hostile act, an act of aggression” that “has caused major diplomatic fallout” and is “equivalent to pointing a gun.”
