Filipinos make their mark in China
09/01/2011
MANILA, Philippines - In a country with over a billion people, the 10,000-strong Filipino community in China might not seem like much. But Filipinos living and working in the world's second largest economy are proving their contributions are much more than their numbers suggest.
President Benigno Aquino's on-going state visit to China is putting the spotlight on the Filipino community.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, there are about 10,000 Filipinos working in various industries such as manufacturing, media, entertainment, hospitality, medical services, creative services, engineering and teaching in China.
"Many of the Filipinos' success stories have carved important imprints in the Chinese people's appreciation of the talents and industry of the Filipinos," the DFA said in a statement.
Four Filipino English teachers were recognized as "outstanding foreign experts" by provincial governments in northeast China last year. The awards are given by the Chinese government in appreciation for foreigners' contributions to China's economic and social development.
Frederick Lomibao, who has taught in a private school in Liaoning Province's Yingkou City for 6 years, was given the award in 2010. Ma. Socorro Rodriguez, Arnel Genzola and Lileth Mesias Reyes, who all teach English in higher education institutions, were also given the awards by the Jilin Provincial government in 2010.
Educators Roman and Mildred Go founded the Manila Xiamen International School (MXIS) in 1993, the first international school in the province of Fujian.
The Philippine Embassy in Beijing said there are some 400 Filipinos working as English teachers in northeast China, and an estimated 2,000 in the whole of China.
Journalists 'write' China's story
Jaime Florcruz, Chito Santaromana and Eric Baculinao have been working for international media agencies in China since the 1980s. In the 1970s, they spent their youth in the Chinese communes after they were banned from returning to Manila during Martial Law after a study tour of China
Florcruz, CNN Bureau Chief in Beijing, said: "We have the role of interface between China and the world. It is the role of understanding the perplexing maze of China. It's knowing where China is coming from and why they do things the way they do. "
Santaromana recently retired as bureau chief of ABC News, while Baculinao heads the NBC bureau in Beijing.
There are other Filipino journalists employed in English language media companies such as Reuters, China Daily, CCTV-9, Global Times and China Radio International.
Pinoys in the corporate world
Pinoys in the corporate world
Filipino executives and engineers are also working in many multinational companies in China. For instance, Flour Daniel employs 20 Filipino engineers for its projects in Inner Mongolia.
Marcos Torres, an architect and associate director at KRA International, was one of only 8 expatriates in Beijing who were selected to carry the Olympic torch during the Beijing Olympics in 2008. It was the first time since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics that a Filipino carried the torch.
Lara Tiam and Arlene Bantoto were named People's Choice Human Resource Director and Marketing Director of the Year by the Women in Business Network in Beijing last year. Tiam is the country human resource director of Intel China, while Bantoto is in charge of Nestle's Mother and Young Child business in China.
Judith Los Banos, who runs the PR and marketing operation of Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, was recognized as Marketing and Communications Director of the Year by the 3rd Annual Women in Business Leadership Awards.
Filipinos are also well-known for their musicality, so it is not surprising to find Filipino singers, dancers and performers around China. For instance, staff from the embassy visited Urumqi in Xinjiang province, and found 8 Filipino musicians working for in-house bands in hotels.
Many Filipinos may already be aware that national hero Jose Rizal's descendants were Chinese immigrants from Fujian, where his statue can be found.
However, not many may know that one of China's most beloved revolutionary heroes Gen. Ye Fei was born in Quezon and raised in the Philippines by his Filipino mother and Chinese immigrant father.
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