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

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

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

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

 

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”.

Many users complained that Duterte’s incorrect intonation and accent made it difficult for her to be understood and risked offending listeners, as the meanings of certain words in Chinese can vary greatly depending on the tones used.

Some argued that she could’ve just spoken in English.

Written by Charles Teves

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