Filipino artists band together to send message of peace to China
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has a new message for China amid its continued maritime dispute with the country: “FU”.
This message however does not mean any profanity, but instead is a call for “peace, love, unity and respect.”
An independent group of artists from the United States and the Philippines have banded together and called themselves “The Filipinos Unite” (FU) movement with the aim of using music to call for Filipinos all over the world to unite against China’s bullying of the Philippines.
Vonz Santos, chairman of FU, said Tuesday that their movement has several goals, among them are “to inspire the Filipinos around the world to wake up and come together, to show the world that there is another way to deal with conflict so peace can be attained, and to remind the Filipinos around the world about the strength and dignity that belongs to every Filipino.”
“We have to do something as responsible citizens and Filipinos. I’ve marched and held rallies, I’ve been in front of the UN [and yet] the situation continues to get worse,” he said in a press conference.
Santos was referring to the recent incursions of Chinese ships into Philippine territorial waters. China claims the entire West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) as its own including Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag Shoal or Scarborough Shoal) and Ayungin Shoal.
Recently, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) started the arbitration process between the Philippines and China despite Beijing’s pronouncements that it would not cooperate.
In line with this, the group has released a song entitled “Change the World” which will be formally launched Wednesday noon during a US Pinoys for Good Governance (USPGG) rally in front of the Chinese Embassy in Makati.
Among the Filipino artists who contributed to this song are Billy Crawford, Jay-R, Kris Lawrence, Julianne, SinoSiKat frontwoman Kat Agarrao, Jamir of Slapshock, and Teddy Corpuz of Rocksteddy.
Loida Nicolas Lewis, chairperson of the USPGG and former national chairwoman of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (2002-2006), said in a video message shown during the press conference that “China our big neighbor, is becoming a big bully, they want to claim the oil that belongs to the Philippines.”
“Let us sing, let us use our voices to fight this aggression because in the end we are all one. Filipinos all over the world and Filipinos in the Philippines, let us unite, stand up and sing,” she said.
Singer and model Roxee B called on every Filipino artist to join FU’s cause.
“It should not be about war, it’s not about violence, it’s not about negativity, it’s all about love, peace, respect, and unity, and we are calling on all the Filipinos all over the world to unite, to spread the love, spread the news, and to rise up, that’s what we’re about,” she said.
“We challenge our artists to join us and inspire Filipinos to unite and call for peace. We ask governments of all nations to act with love and for people to take a stand and change the world for the better. And if our message is not heard, then we’ll sing it out loud,” she said.
This is just the beginning, we are here because we want to call out all the Filipino artists out there, it is time to lead the way,” she added.
FU has a plan to release more songs and to encourage more Filipino artists to join them. They are also looking to visit other countries, including Japan, to spread their songs and influence everyone to call for peace and not conflict.
More information about the FU movement can be found at https://filipinosunite.com/.
