A Filipino vlogger based in the UAE and a K-pop idol trainee recently released a song honoring frontliners, noting that the entire proceeds from views will go straight to help the health workers in the Philippines.
Luis Miguel Divina, famously known as EL on YouTube, and South Korean YouTuber Jessica Lee launched their collaborative song “One Day” to honor the health workers battling at the front lines of the fight against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In an exclusive interview with The Filipino Times, Divina stressed that one hundred percent of the ad revenue that they will get from the views on YouTube will be used to fund 100 meals to 100 workers at the Philippine General Hospital and Navotas City Hospital.
He added that if the song gets more than the expected income, the excess revenue will go straight to Project Suit Up, a campaign dedicated to providing 200 Personal Protective Equipment for the health workers in Metro Manila.
“One of the stories I’ve heard is that working in the hospital nowadays is ‘overwhelming’ and ‘exhausting.’ Being in such an environment really affects the wellbeing of a person. Hopefully, the simple act of providing someone’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner would brighten up that person’s day,” Divina told The Filipino Times.
Divina has been living in the UAE since 2007, but went back to the Philippines to finish his undergraduate studies. After he graduated, he returned to the UAE in 2019 and decided to expand his YouTube network.
Now, Divina’s ‘EL’s Planet’ channel has garnered a massive following—with over 80,000 subscribers in just one year. He added that now more than ever, influencers have a role to play in terms of helping in the fight against the disease.
The famous YouTuber said that they have a moral responsibility to make an impact on the community and the ones facing the pandemic.
“With lockdowns and quarantines happening around the world, digital media is more powerful than ever. The simple act of encouraging people to stay at home, wearing a mask, or helping our frontliners through streaming may seem small but I do believe that these have very big impacts once you see the bigger picture,” added Divina.
He added that he wrote ‘One Day’ at the dawn of the outbreak in the UAE in a bid to help, albeit in a small way.
The song, Divina said, is a way for him and other people to help without shelling out money. All it needs are enough views for it to earn the amount needed to put the goal into fruition.
“It felt a bit sad that it seemed like as much as we would want to help, we couldn’t due to the circumstances we were in. I came up with an idea of releasing a song I wrote through YouTube and use it as a means for people to be able to help out without spending any money,” he said.
He also mentioned that he was able to lock down a partnership with Jessica Lee after he pitched the song and discussed his goal to help the frontliners back in the Philippines.
Divina expressed his gratitude for the frontliners who are risking their lives just to save others,’ noting that it is not easy to be in their shoes, and that the song is the least he could do to help them.
“You are loved, you are essential, and you are all being kept in our prayers. Thank you for being you. Stay strong! One day, we’ll get through this because of all of your hard work,” he said.
Here is the video of the song ‘One Day’
