Karaoke diplomacy hits the right notes

NEW DELHI, India — Move over Jessica Sanchez, Sofronio Vasquez, Apl de Ap, Lea Salonga, Martin Nievera, and our National Artists for Music. The world has seen nothing, that is until the Philippine delegation lent their voices to connect with Filipinos in India.

Belting out the desire of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to connect with Filipinos worldwide under the “Bagong Pilipinas,” members of his delegation belted out classic OPM to give Pinoys here a little bit of “home” and take them back to the “good ol’ days.”

Among those who passionately sang their hearts out were Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan.

But it was Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro who stood out. The Palace Press Officer wowed the audience with her rendition of Hotdog’s “Bongga ka Day,” ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” and some of VST and Company’s greatest hits.

Not to be outdone, and to everyone’s surprise, Philippine Ambassador to India Josel Ignacio performed a duet with Attaché Alisa Arabo, singing Jefferson Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us” before segueing into Jose Mari Chan’s “Please Be Careful with My Heart.”

Ignacio proved to be a diplomat first and a musician second.

In his remarks, President Marcos said he was surprised by Ignacio’s performance, noting that he went beyond the scope of his duties in India but this was just as important as formal diplomacy.

“This is the only time I’ve seen an ambassador who sings,” Marcos teased. “That’s karaoke diplomacy,” he added.

With these performances, Filipinos living in India who married Indians and started families got a peek of life back home and were reminded that home is just around the corner — through a microphone.