Hindi Ito Marites: Music and diplomacy

All the pomp and pageantry that surround gatherings of world leaders isn’t just icing on the cake. Given the complexities of international relations, the so-called soft aspects of geopolitics are just as crucial as the hard talks that happen behind closed doors. If you’re about to negotiate a nuclear deal or, say, a sovereignty dispute, wouldn’t you want your interlocutor to have had a good drink or two before sitting down at the table?

Now, music is a Filipino specialty. In the Philippines, it’s wine and dine and song. Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, former Chinese president Jiang Zemin, former US secretary of state Madeleine Albright — they have all experienced musical diplomacy while on a visit to the Philippines. Rappler editor-at-large Marites Vitug has the stories. – Rappler.com

Presenter, writer: Marites Vitug
Producer: JC Gotinga
Videographer: Errol Almario
Video editors: Jaene Zaplan, Jen Agbuya
Graphics artists: Raphael Reyes, Nico Villarete
Supervising producer: Beth Frondoso