New Delhi, India – Rising from the ranks of Jessica Sanchez, Sofronio Vasquez, Apl.de.Ap, Lea Salonga, Martin Nievera, Basil Valdez, Ryan Cayabyab, and the rest of the country’s National Artists for Music, the world has seen and heard only little — until the Philippine delegation lent their voices to reach out to Filipinos in India.

Echoing the desire of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to connect more with Filipinos worldwide under the “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign, Philippine officials belted out classic Filipino OPM to give overseas Pinoys a little bit of “home” and a brief return to the “good ol’ days.” The Filipino community in India may be small, but it remains a proud cultural force abroad.

Among the officials 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 from the Philippine delegation.

The Palace press officer wowed the crowd with her renditions of Hotdog’s Bongga Ka ’Day, ABBA’s Dancing Queen, and some of VST & Company’s greatest hits.

Adding to the night’s highlights was a surprise performance from Philippine Ambassador to India Josel Ignacio, who showed he is a diplomat first and a musician second. Ignacio sang a duet with attaché Alisa Arabo, performing Starship’s Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us and Jose Mari Chan’s Please Be Careful With My Heart.

In his remarks, President Marcos admitted he was surprised by Ignacio’s performance, which went beyond his formal duties in India.

“Dito lang ako nakakita ng ambassador na kumakanta,” Marcos teased.
“Ano ’yan — karaoke diplomacy,” he added.

Marcos noted that this form of cultural expression is just as important as formal diplomacy.

With these performances, Filipinos who have started families in India and embraced the lives of their spouses were given a brief glimpse of home—reminded that they’re not missing anything, and that home can always be found through a song and a microphone.