“Darkness cannot drive only darkness; only Light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only Love can do that.” – Martin Luther King Jr (1963)

22 June 2021–As a response to hate crimes against Asians in the United States, the Asia Society has launched a campaign around the song, “You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught” from the musical South Pacific composed by Rodgers and Hammerstein in the 1950’s. The original lyrics reflected on bigotry, and how it takes root in people; how hate is not a natural instinct, but something that is actively taught and enabled – and how it must also therefore be actively rooted out.

Asia Society leaders thought, what if the song were recast from a perspective of positivity and hope? With the help of Tony award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang, Asia Society Hong Kong, secured permission to tweak the lyrics and made a version with HK based artists.

This inspired Asia Society’s Philippine Center to produce a rendition of the song with renowned Filipino artists singing as one to “Stop All Hate. Share Love,” taking cue from the initiative of Asia Society Hong Kong Center, and in line with a global Asia Society campaign to #StopAsianHate. 

“We are so grateful to this dream team for so generously giving their time and talent to support the campaign,” said Doris Magsaysay Ho, Chairperson of Asia Society Philippines. 

The Filipino artists are world class performers, Apl.de.Ap, Cris Villonco, Daniel Padilla, Gary Valenciano, Jaya, Jed Madela, Lea Salonga, Martin Nievera, Moira Dela Torre, Sam Concepcion. Mon Faustino provided musical and vocal arrangement, with Miguel Miñana as Concept and Production Head, and Gina Tabuena Godinez as Associate Producer.

Broadcasters and hosts Korina Sanchez and Karen Davila preface the music video with messages to the Filipino and Asian American communities.

The video can be viewed on Asia Society Philippines’ Youtube and Facebook pages and will also be distributed across the Asia Society global network with subtitles in Hindi, French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Chinese.  

The production team included Vocal Supervisor, Lindie Achacoso; Sound Editor, Paolo Ordoño; Video Editor, Nickle John Lim; Music Production Consultant, Angeli Valenciano; with Project Management and Execution by ThemeWorks Events. 

Asia Society has other campaigns to address racism in America and elsewhere. Under the theme of “Asian Americans Building America,” for example, Asia Society President Kevin Rudd interviews and features successful Asian Americans. Asia Society New York has an ongoing Triennial that celebrates Asian art and culture.  The Asia Society Philippines Center has also partnered with CANVAS, Art Fair Philippines 2021, Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation and Manila House to promote #StopAsianHate around the artwork donated by celebrated visual artist Elmer Borlongan.  

Stop Asian Hate Digital Campaign (in partnership with CANVAS)

Join Asia Society Philippines, Elmer Borlongan, Canvas, Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, Manila House, and Art Fair Philippines in taking a stand against racism and discrimination. And win a signed limited edition rubbercut print from Elmer Borlongan.

To join:

1. Download a scalable image of Elmer Borlongan’s “Stop Asian Hate” file.
2. Print out the image on a piece or on several pieces of paper, and display it in a public place where others can see it. It can be on a bulletin board, on a wall, or best of all, outside your homes where more people pass by.
3. Be creative! You can post several copies side by side. Or you can try to print them out by sections to create a bigger, more visually impactful image.
4. Take a picture of what you did, and share it on Instagram with the hashtag #StopAsianHate and #EqualityPH. Please make sure that your profiles are set to public.
5. Tag and follow @canvasph.art, @asiasocietyph and @emongsky.
6. All participants of this campaign who fulfill the above requirements by 5pm on 30 June 2021 will be entered into a raffle. One lucky participant who shall be picked at random will receive a signed limited edition “Stop Asian Hate” rubbercut print from Elmer Borlongan. The lucky winner will be announced on or before 4 July 2021.
7. This opportunity is open to all persons of all nationalities. However, we will ship the prize for free only to a Philippine address. Should the winner reside in a foreign country, he/she will have to provide a local address to which we can ship, or else arrange at his or her risk and cost for shipping anywhere else.

To download the artwork and for more info visit tumbatumba.ph