I celebrated my 40th birthday in Beijing in 2010. At the Great Wall of China to be exact. I have not been back since then until now.
I am writing this in my dorm room at the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO), also known as the Training Center of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China. Yes, I am back to school. Sort of.
This came about because I told Chinese Consul General Zhao Xiuzhen over dinner on the eve of my 54th birthday the story of how I celebrated my milestone birthday in Beijing and I am curious to find out how it has changed in the last 14 years.
I also shared with ConGen Zhao that I am involved in developing Davao City’s innovation and startup ecosystem as well as in promoting our city’s history, culture and arts.
So when a 14-day seminar on development assistance under the Global Development Initiative Project came up this October at AIBO in Beijing, ConGen Zhao thought it might be a good opportunity for me to revisit China and learn about its innovation initiatives.
To make it even better, my bestie and favorite collaborator, former executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Oscar “Oca” Casaysay, got the same invitation, too. And it will coincide with his birthday on October 23rd. So another Great Wall of China birthday celebration!
We are on day 10 of our full-packed seminar. We have lectures, field visits, interactions, and travels to areas outside Beijing to see for ourselves how China is transforming and why it is now the second largest economy in the world, next to the United States.
Before we left Davao (yes, we have direct flights to China from Davao), some of our well-meaning friends expressed concern that we might “get recruited” by the Chinese government. Recruited for what, we are not really sure, since we are kind of too old to be recruited for anything at this point.
Other friends who have been invited to similar visits to China advised us to identify ourselves as coming from Davao, not the Philippines. Probably to distinguish ourselves from other Filipinos who hold strong anti-Chinese sentiments.
These pieces of advice made us a bit anxious. However, we did not experience any tension at all when we got to China. Not because I look more Chinese than the Chinese (haha), but because the Chinese people do not think of visitors as threats or potential criminals. They are actually warm and welcoming to all.
To be honest, I felt more threatened by our own immigration agents coming home to my own country than by Chinese agents who were respectful and helpful even if I did not speak their language and I was carrying a Philippine passport.
It turned out the Chinese did not think Filipinos are their enemies. In fact, they do not think about us as much as we think about them.
Oca and I talked about this and reflected on why we got more negative reactions to our visiting China from fellow Filipinos than from the Chinese themselves.
Then we realized it is because we Filipinos are bombarded with negative narratives about China (and about the Philippines, too, actually) on a daily basis from mainstream media and social media platforms while the Chinese get mostly positive narratives about themselves and what they are contributing to the world.
I guess when you feel good about yourself, you tend to be more productive and less preoccupied with what others think about you. Healthy self-esteem is key.
Yes, China blocking Facebook and Google seems to be working for them. And not being able to access these platforms while here has been good for me, too.
Sometimes it is good to cut yourself off from the noise so you can reflect more deeply and form your own thoughts, away from agitators and influencers.
Negative narratives tend to divide and distract us. Instead of finding solutions to our problems, we get caught up in finding fault and placing blame. We use up all our energy defending ourselves and the “rightness” of our position.
It becomes us versus them. My country or your country. My religion or your religion. My way or no way. There must be a better way of living than that, right?
Being in China now reconnected me with Confucian philosophy, which was one of my favorite subjects in college.
Confucius was a prominent philosopher in ancient China during the tumultuous period of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. His teachings emerged as a response to social chaos and the decline of moral values. He established a philosophical system centered on the principles of morality, social relationships, and justice. Confucian teachings promoted social harmony and collective well-being in a fractured society.
Education forms a cornerstone of Confucian thought regarding peace. Through learning, individuals develop the moral character needed to contribute positively to society. Educated citizens who think critically and practice ethical behavior are better equipped to resolve conflicts peacefully. Thus, knowledge is vital in nurturing a peaceful community.
For Confucius, knowledge promotes moral character, which in turn cultivates peaceful interactions among people. Educated individuals have the capacity to engage in critical thinking and reflection. This enables them to address conflicts through dialogue rather than violence. Educated citizens decrease divisions and promote understanding.
Why am I bringing up Confucius and the importance of education? Because the public discourse in our country on the tension between China and the Philippines has not been helping us find solutions. It is not helping us make informed decisions. It has only made us anxious and fearful and not trust each other.
We need to be better educated about the historical context of our conflict to be able to find common ground and a mutually beneficial solution. We need to cut through the noise, reflect, and come up with creative and innovative ways to resolve our conflict.
We start by treating each other with mutual respect. Enough with the bashing and more with the learning, listening, and being open to working things out in a nonviolent manner.
