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Agence France-Presse

Philippine police deployed Katy Perry pop songs to disperse protesters at an Asia-Pacific leaders' summit on Thursday, enraging some demonstrators but amusing others.
Hundreds of left-wing protesters rallied outside a venue where US President Barack Obama and other leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group were meeting.
The rally edged towards violence when protesters tried to break through lines of police, who were carrying riot shields and wooden batons, to reach the summit venue.
READ MORE: Katy Perry courts controversy with sunflower outfit and Taiwan flag at Taipei concert
Police responded by firing water cannons and scuffled with protesters who were chanting: “Junk APEC”.
Then police pulled out their secret weapon: pop princess Katy Perry on giant loudspeakers.

Filipinos in general love music and it has a calming effect for everyone. This goes well with our maximum tolerance policy during protests

Manila police spokeswoman
Perry's hit song Roar was played at full volume, the top of a demonstration disco playlist aimed at distracting the protesters and drowning out their chants.
Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's duet Islands in the stream, David Guetta's Sexy bitch and the Bee Gee's How deep is your love were among the other songs deployed against the protesters.
To add a street bass beat, some of the police tapped their batons against their shields in time with the music.
“It's ridiculous,” leftist member of parliament Carlos Isagani Zarate said, as the protesters retreated to soul classic My Girl.
Many other protesters also expressed anger at authorities trying to suppress their message of opposition to globalisation and free trade policies championed by APEC.
“We just want to make our voices heard,” 64-year-old mango farmer Candelario Rusasena said.
But others could not hide their amusement.
READ MORE: Six degrees of separation from Katy Perry
“That was a rude and desperate move,” 54-year-old rice farmer Redo Pena said as he broke into a toothless grin.
Metro Manila police spokeswoman chief inspector Kimberly Gonzales said the music was aimed at deescalating tensions.
“Filipinos in general love music and it has a calming effect for everyone. This goes well with our maximum tolerance policy during protests,” Gonzales said.
The Philippines has a famous music culture, with karaoke one of the most popular forms of entertainment across all sectors of society.
It is not uncommon for tourists to encounter taxi drivers, supermarket cashiers and airport security staff spontaneously breaking out into song.
READ MORE: Katy Perry in Macau: A look at the life and career of the reigning queen of pop
Filipino musicians are also a staple of hotel and cruise ship bands around the world.
And prisoners at the main jail in Cebu, the Philippines' biggest city, have become an internet sensation by posting videos on Youtube of them dancing to Michael Jackson's Thriller.

Police spokeswoman Gonzales said using music at protests was not an unusual tactic, and there was no intent to trivialise Thursday's rally.
“We understand the seriousness of the issues. We don't mean to insult people,” she said.
The protests occurred as Philippine President Benigno Aquino was welcoming Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders for the summit's second and final day.
The protesters said they opposed APEC's free trade agenda because it favoured big corporations and neglected the poor.
“Aquino should protect his people, globalisation has caused the prices of our goods to go down. We barely break even,” 47-year-old rice farmer Nida Floresca said.
“We don't even have irrigation to water our crops. Aquino should think of us first.”
Floresca came with several neighbours from their farming town in La Union around 300 kilometres north of Manila. They marched in sandals and straw hats.
One police officer estimated the crowd of protesters at about 2,000, although there were no official numbers given.
More than 20,000 police and soldiers were deployed this week to ensure security during the APEC summit.
Philippine authorities said they had already been planning the nation's biggest ever security operation for the meeting, which was ratcheted up even higher after last week's deadly terrorist attacks in Paris.


Power pop: Philippine police deploy Katy Perry to quell Apec protesters

epa05031946 Filipino activists clash with riot police during a protest rally near the venue of the on-going Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila, Philippines, 19 November 2015. Some 1,000 protesters clashed with police who used water cannons and batons to stop them from marching to a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders in the Philippines. The demonstrators fought back, hitting police officers with their placards and wooden sticks while pushing to try to get through the security barricade. The clash occurred about 1.2 kilometres away from the convention centre where Philippine President Benigno Aquino welcomed leaders for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. EPA/FRANCIS R. MALASIG

Members of the indigenous Lumad tribe from the southern Philippines perform a traditional dance to express their protest against the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit taking place in Manila on November 19, 2015. Asia-Pacific leaders are wrapping up two-days of talks in Manila that have been overshadowed by an arm-wrestle for regional influence between the United States and China. AFP PHOTO / JOSEPH AGCAOILI

Indigenous Lumad people clash with riot police during a protest against the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila.

Filipino activists clash with riot police during a protest rally the on-going Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Manila. Photo: AP

Fit for a president: The hotel owned by one of Manila’s richest men that is home to Xi Jinping during Apec summit

epa05031219 Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives for a welcome dinner during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the capital city of Manila, Philippines, 18 November 2015. Leaders from 21 countries and self-governing territories are gathering in Manila for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The meeting's official agenda is focused on trade, business and economic issues but terrorism, South China Sea disputes and climate change are also set to be in focus. EPA/EDGAR SU / POOL

President Xi Jinping is staying in the Century Park Hotel in Manila. Photo: EPA, SCMP Pictures

The Century Park Hotel in Manila is rolling out the red carpet for Xi Jinping. Photo: Andrea Chen.

'I’m just … serving as a matchmaker here...' Obama helps Jack Ma and Philippine entrepreneur Aisa Mijeno find common ground at Apec summit 

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and Alibaba CEO Jack Ma participate in a panel discussion at the APEC CEO Summit in Manila, Philippines, November 18, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

US President Barack Obama poses with the chairman of e-commerce giant Alibaba, Jack Ma (L), and entrepreneur Aisa Mijeno (R) as they take part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO summit in Manila on November 18, 2015. Asia-Pacific leaders are meeting in Manila for a summit meant to forge trade unity but with the spotlight instead on a tense contest for territory in the South China Sea. AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB

US President Barack Obama and Alibaba CEO Jack Ma take part in a panel discussion at the APEC CEO Summit in Manila. Photo: Reuters

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Power pop: Philippine police deploy Katy Perry to quell Apec protesters

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