Netizens ask why VP Sara Duterte didn’t deliver a Chinese New Year message in Mandarin

Netizens decided to make fun of Vice President Sara Duterte after she delivered a message to the Filipino-Chinese community on Chinese New Year.

On January 25, the Twitter page of the Chinese Embassy-Manila uploaded Duterte’s message.

“Philippine Vice President Sara Vicenta Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio also extended her heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for the Chinese New Year. In the new year, she looks forward to having closer bilateral ties between the Philippines and China,” said the caption.

Despite the “heartfelt” message, netizens still criticized the vice president, with some saying she’s on China’s “payroll”.

https://twitter.com/PilipinasGKNB/status/1618524182412918784?s=20&t=6x6TpcGKApPbzw4jb1voTg

Others sarcastically asked why she didn’t speak Mandarin when she delivered her speech.

https://twitter.com/pauloMDtweets/status/1618038914681536513?s=20&t=6x6TpcGKApPbzw4jb1voTg

Walang mandarin version? Charring 🤣🤣 https://t.co/Txnbntb2UV

— Silencer (@_anotherjunior) January 26, 2023

https://twitter.com/manueljerome_/status/1618077136572809216?s=20&t=6x6TpcGKApPbzw4jb1voTg

Chinese version qingggg https://t.co/TDylyZUxzN

— ally; ia (@EX0DINARY) January 24, 2023

Chinese version please https://t.co/U79Frxp1cW

— Kuya Will (@AltKuyaWill) January 24, 2023

Just asking, what year is it now sa Chinese calendar? We always say Chinese NY, but what year? We celebrate 2023, but what year are you celebrating apart from saying it’s the year of the rabbit?? https://t.co/z0d6NxSWfS

— LoloJ (@jaypeereyes2) January 24, 2023

It can be remembered that Duterte spoke in Mandarin when she addressed the country ahead of the 73rd founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China last year.

Duterte was the first Philippine top official to deliver the majority of a message in Mandarin.

She thanked China for helping the Philippines economy recover from the pandemic and called the nation a “generous neighbor”.