WE ARE finally getting an opportunity to learn from Filipinos who tell the real story of China-Philippines relation through their successful work, careers, enterprises and stay China, thanks to a new book published last year by the Philippine Embassy in Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The book collated the experience of 50 successful Filipinos, artists, media workers, entrepreneurs and in many other fields who narrated their success stories in China.
It is a most welcome publication and a very significant contribution to help counter the constant black propaganda of Admiral Tarrie-a-lie, expired-chief justice Antonio Carpio and “Bigo” Teodoro.
In an interview with the Philippine Star, Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz explained the Filipino traits of openness, perseverance and fortitude helped them succeed in China in their respective fields of endeavor.
We featured parts of the interview on our radio/podcast “PH-China Talks” and quote some meaningful lines from Ambassador FlorCruz.
Amb. Jimmie, as we call him, explained, “Not made in China, but ‘made it in China’’’ means being successful in China. His comment refers to the 50 ordinary Filipinos doing extraordinary deeds in their respective jobs and locations, from engineers to teaches, students, musicians.
He missed mentioning media, fine arts and business where I personally know a few in the book.
The blog “Tsina sa Aking Mata” of Rhio Zabal, one of the featured successful Filipinos in China and the author, summarizes the book: What does it really mean to “make it” in China?
A teaching job that was supposed to last one year.
A singer who became a baker.
A scientist tackling mountain hazards.
A teacher shaping Chinese students.
A cricket team that started with domestic workers.
An entrepreneur who built a business from scratch.
And a Filipino who quit his job, followed his heart to China — and turned “Arnis” into a bridge between two cultures.
These are not stories you will find in trade figures or diplomatic communiqués.
They are stories of risk, reinvention, resilience, love and unexpected success.
I wrote about the Filipinos behind the statistics — the people who crossed borders without leaving their identity behind.
50 stories. One bigger story: how ordinary Filipinos are helping build the Philippines-China relationship, one encounter at a time. (Read: Made It in China: The Filipino Stories You Won’t See in the Statistics).
Dozens of Filipino workers blog on social media. I follow them to get a constant sense of our OFWs’ conditions in China. Our radio/podcast features some of the blogs regularly.
I take note of one particular “Teacher Hope” who is a Filipina who narrates how she is enjoying her teaching career in modern China and bringing her parents for a visit.
China also helped make all the Filipino successes possible, we must keep that in mind and appreciate.
With hundreds of thousands of Filipinos in China living and working there over the past seven decades we have not heard a single complaint of disrespect or maltreatment of Filipinos by the Chinese nor by the Chinese authorities.
Filipinos and the Philippines will continue to prosper together as the Asian Century rises. Let us not allow obstructionists to get in the way.