After almost 8 years since music legend James Taylor cancelled a scheduled concert in the Philippines, he’s back as a friend to Filipinos and to Bongbong Marcos and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos.  

The cancelled concert was a political statement about former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, specifically over alleged extra-judicial killings.  But “tokhang” is no more and so Taylor treated fans with much nostalgia in a concert in Manila, with no less than the First Couple in attendance.  

They say music and politics don’t mix, but history tells us that music has always played a huge role in protests against terror, injustice and violations of human rights.

It could also constitute an endorsement, subtle or not.