GOVPH

Chinese students meet young “Pepe”

20 December 2024, BEIJING – Before he was Jose Rizal, the Philippine national hero, he was Pepe, the boy from Calamba.

Chinese students were introduced to young Pepe, and learned about his childhood adventures during the recent iteration of the cultural program “Ni Hao Philippines” held on 20 December 2024 at the Philippine Embassy in Beijing.

“Jose Rizal is a symbol of friendship between the Philippines and China. His Chinese roots show how people from different places can work together,” Third Secretary and Vice Consul Diane Merce B. Bartolome told the Chinese students during her presentation titled “Young Pepe: The Childhood Adventures of Rizal.”

Bartolome also discussed Rizal’s literary works for children such as “Ang Pagong at Ang Matsing" (The Turtle and the Monkey) and "Sa Aking Mga Kabata" (To My Fellow Youth).

First photo: The childhood adventures of Dr. Jose Rizal is the theme of Ni Hao Philippines program on 20 December 2024; Second photo: Cultural Officer Shaomei Z. Ong interacts with a Chinese student during question-and-answer portion of the program. 

Vice Consul Bartolome introduces Philippine national hero Dr. Jose Rizal to the Chinese students at the “Ni Hao Philippines” program

Ni Hao Philippines is a flagship cultural program of the Embassy, wherein Chinese students visit the Embassy and experience aspects of Philippine culture through presentations, games, and various activities.

Ambassador Jaime A. FlorCruz, Philippine Ambassador to China, highlighted the importance of introducing the young Jose Rizal to Chinese students, especially as the Philippines commemorates Rizal’s martyrdom on every 30th of December. 

“We want to show that even great men and women come from humble beginnings,” the Ambassador said.

The visit offered students an immersive experience through various interactive activities. The visiting students enjoyed doing the DIY paper craft bobblehead of Dr. Jose Rizal. 

First photo: Visiting Chinese students get ready to make their DIY paper craft Jose Rizal bobblehead; Second photo: Visiting students and Embassy personnel pose for a photo with Jensen Moreno’s Jose Rizal painting as the background.

The participating students, aged 6 to 12 years old, were accompanied by their teachers and staff from YOOFU Youth International Cultural Education, who co-organized the visit. 

THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN MONGOLIA EMPOWERED THROUGH FINANCIAL EDUCATION

17 November 2024, ULAANBAATAR—The growing community of Filipinos in Mongolia gathered to attend a financial education seminar hosted by the Philippine Embassy in Beijing.

With 72 Filipinos in attendance, Deputy Chief of Mission Arnel G. Talisayon led the participants through a series of discussions and practical workshops on topics such as entrepreneurship, marketing and advertising, and financial freedom and planning. He emphasized the importance of the community working towards financial security for themselves even as they secure their families back home—a common challenge for overseas Filipino workers.

The Filipino community was actively engaged throughout the program, having opportunities to draw up hypothetical business plans, to try their hand in creating their own brands, and to learn about various methods to save and invest in preparation for retirement.

The Philippine Embassy also maximized the platform to extend free consular services and guidance to the participants that required them. END.

Disaster preparedness–and turon–feature in ASEAN-China event

     (Photo courtesy: ASEAN-China GBA and the ASEAN-China Centre)

13 November 2024, Shenzhen – Noting that the Philippines and Southern China share similar challenges in addressing the impact of typhoons, the Philippine Embassy in Beijing encouraged private sector collaboration on disaster preparedness during the 2024 ASEAN-China Greater Bay Area Economic Cooperation Forum, held in the Guangdong Province of China.

The Forum included a weeklong Food and Cultural Week, which for the Philippines featured its beloved turon or deep-fried banana, to celebrate the partnership between China and the ten member-states of ASEAN.

Mr. Arnel G. Talisayon, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Philippine Embassy, highlighted the country’s efforts to develop more climate- and disaster-resilient technologies and provide STI-based services for early warning, disaster preparedness, and mitigation.

He also encouraged companies to invest in sectors such as renewable energy, green metal processing, electric vehicle battery and assembly, and agriculture, among others.

“The Philippines has crafted new laws to increase incentives for foreign investors… and continues to enhance ease of doing business by streamlining government processes and making transactions accessible online,” he said, adding that the Philippines is rich in green metals–important raw materials in the manufacture of advanced IT equipment–and emphasizing the steady growth of the country’s IT infrastructure.

Recognizing the importance of the Greater Bay Area in advancing regional cooperation on science, technology, innovation and digital economy, Mr. Talisayon reaffirmed the country’s intent to maximize the opportunities of the ASEAN-China FTA.

The Forum, which attracted hundreds of participants including business leaders, chambers of commerce, thinktanks, and government officials from ASEAN and China, was held with the support of the ASEAN-China Center. Its partner, the Qianhai International Cooperation Center, sponsored the ASEAN Food and Cultural Week as part of the event, allowing locals to get a taste of famous snacks from each ASEAN member-country.(30)