Hindi Ito Marites: Music and diplomacy

Wining and dining goes a long way in international relations, but throw in a duet and you just might achieve magic

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