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Song suggestions for the SEAG closing ceremonies

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo was wrong when he said that there is no song that embodies the whole Philippines.

“Tama si Mayor Sara. We need to have a song that will reflect not only Manila but the entire Philippines. Wala pa eh,” he told reporters when asked about complaint of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio of the use of the song, “Manila, Manila” by the Hotdog band in the opening ceremonies of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games last Saturday.

For the information of Panelo there is a long list of Original Pilipino Music that embraces the Filipino people.Right off, there’s Yoyoy Villame’s playful “Philippine Geography”.

It starts with, “Philippines has a great history;According to our geography” and he proceeded enumerating Philippine provinces and major cities.

And Davao, of course. is mentioned when the song as part of “Land of Promise:”

Now let’s go to the land of promise

The land of Mindanao

Bukidnon, Zamboanga, Misamis

Mambajao, Butuan, Agusan, Surigao

Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Ozamis

And the three provinces of Davao

Davao Sur, Oriental, del Norte

Cotabato, Lanao, Sulu, Tawi Tawi

Maybe director Floy Quintos would consider this for the closing ceremonies on Dec. 11 at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.Vto address the presidential daughter’s issue?

Singer Leah Navarro suggested her song “Isang Mundo, Isang Awit.”

In a tweet, she said: “LOL. Pardon the self-promotion, but they could’ve used my song, ‘Isang Mundo, Isang Awit’ instead. Je t’aime, te amo, I love you, Watashiwa anata-o aishtemasu, Ich liebe dich, iniibig kita, Gua ai di, Paano mang sabihin, ang mundo’y turuan natin, Tanging lunas ang pagibig.”

But it’s farfetched that the organizers will consider it because Navarro’s political color is blazing yellow.

Besides there is no dearth of songs that represents The Filipino from supporters of President Duterte. In fact, Dennis Garcia of the Hotdog Band is a Duterte believer.Although “Manila, Manila” was a hit song in the 70’s when Duterte was not yet a national political figure.

Dennis, who co-wrote “Manila” with his late brother, Rene, wrote on his Facebook page, “Rene and I created ‘Manila’ not thinking of ourselves as Tagalogs, Bisayans, or Ilokanos but as Filipinos missing the Philippines.”

Panelo might like to suggest the theme song of Willie Revillame’s show, Wowowee.

Sa luzon, sa visayas, at sa mindanao

Saan man sulok ng mundo

Makakasama nyo

Magbibigay saya sa bawat isa

At maghahatid ng kakaibang ligaya

Or the noontime show Eat Bulaga where Duterte ally, Senate President Tito Sotto, was one of the original performers:

Eat Bulaga!

Sina Tito, Vic, and Joey

Barkada’y dumarami

Silang lahat ay nagbibigay

Ligaya sa ating buhay!

Buong bansa ay nagkakaisa

Sa tuwa’t saya na aming dala

Isang libo’t, isang tuwa!

Buong bansa… Eat Bulaga!

Do you have better songs in mind?