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MANILA, Philippines – Crude red letters appear on a blue and white background, spelling the words “Wow China” as a voice reads the phrase to the tune of a Chinese pipe playing.
These are the opening credits of a radio program broadcast on Radyo Pilipinas, administered by the government, in collaboration with China Radio International.
The program, which has been running since 2018, sparked a new public backlash on Monday, May 11, after internet users called the program for broadcasting what appeared to be “pro-China propaganda” amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Many Internet users also criticized its timing, pointing to the irony that the program gained traction after the government ordered a cease and desist order from ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ largest media network.
As of Monday afternoon, Wow China featured in the Philippines’ top trends on Twitter, landing in seventh place with 6,442 tweets.
Wow China – Tweets curated by rapplerdotcom
You probably saw tweets and posts about the show on your schedules, but while this may be the first time you’ve seen it, the show has been around for two years. Here is what you need to know about the program.
What is it about? Wow china It stands out as a light “cultural program” that focuses on the tradition, culture, and history of China and the Philippines, as well as the differences and similarities between the two countries.
“It can be used in the United States, siksik in information, kilalanin natin ang kga kapatıd nating Chinese for more magandana pakikitungo and pagkikiibigan. Wow China!“Says his opening speech.
(Light conversation full of information, let’s meet our Chinese brothers and sisters for better relationships and friendship. Wow China!)
The show has videos on social media dating back to September 2019, while one of its hosts, Ernest Wang, posted the show celebrating its first anniversary in April 2019.
Past programs have touched on traditions such as All Saints ‘Day and All Saints’ Day in the Philippines, while part of the program also offered Mandarin lessons in collaboration with the Confucius Institute at the University of the Philippines.
The program is run by the Philippine Broadcasting Service under the Office of Presidential Communications Operations (PCOO) and the state-run China Radio International (CRI).
As in the Philippines, CRI radio shows can also be heard on seasons in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Kenya and Sri Lanka, among other countries.
CRI also maintains websites and broadcasts programs in various languages, including Filipino.
Fruit of government agreements: The show is a continuation of the partnership, which was signed by PCOO and CRI in a signed memorandum of agreement. February 2017.
At that time, CRI also signed separate memoranda of understanding with 3 state-owned media groups: PTV, Radyo ng Bayan and the Philippine News Agency.
The agreement involved conducting training sessions and sharing content, as well as helping each other in gathering information and setting up interviews for urgent events in the Philippines and China.
According to the 2017 MOA, PCOO also agreed to assist CRI in its attempt to create its first Philippine office.
While Wow china started playing in 2018, Filipino CRI Online He said that CRI has been broadcasting its half-hour Filipino language program “Filipino Serbian” since October 30, 1965. – Rappler.com
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