PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION FOR CHINESE STUDIES

Accomplishment Report for Year 2019

 

LECTURE SERIES AND ACADEMIC EXCHANGES

  1. Launching of the Carlos Chan Lecture Series on Philippines-China Relations

On 9 February 2019, PACS launched the Carlos Chan Lecture Series (CCLS) on Philippines-China relations in honor of Mr. Carlos Chan, Chairman Emeritus of the Liwayway Marketing Corporation.   The launching of the said lecture series coincided with the PACS General Assembly (GA) and in celebration of Spring Festival and the Chinese New Year in 2019. These back-to-back events were held at Sports Center Function Room, Xavier School, Greenhills, and San Juan City. The launching of CCLS featured the following inaugural lectures:

  • “Shared History, Shared Heritage, Shared Destiny: Discovering New Narratives on Philippines-China Relations” by Teresita Ang See

  • Song, Ming and other Chinese Sources on Philippines-China Relations” by Carmelea Ang See

 

2. 2nd Carlos Chan Lecture Series on Philippines-China Relations

On 9 April 2019, PACS held the 2nd CCLS at the Chinese Studies Program, Ateneo de Manila University, and Quezon City. The 2nd CCLS showcased the following lectures:

  • Filpino Migration to China: New Trends in Philippines-China Relations by Sidney Bata

  • Current Chinese Migration to the Philippines: Security Challenges and Law Enforcement Concerns in Philippines-China Relations by Rommel C. Banlaoi

3. Launching of Benito Lim Memorial Lecture Series on Chinese Studies

In cooperation with Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran (KAISA) and Filipino-Chinese Friendship Association, PACS co-organized the launching of the Benito Lim Memorial Lecture Series on Chinese Studies on 11 May 2019 at Philippine Cultural College, Quezon City.   PACS supported the holding of this lecture series in honor of Prof. Benito Lim, an outstanding educator, a social activist, an exemplary researcher and resource person on various topics on China and Chinese issues. Prof. Lim was one of the key movers behind the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China and the mass naturalization of Tsinoys through administrative means.  The launching of this lecture series kicked off with the following presentations:

  • The Ties that Bind: Philippines-China Relations through Centuries by Teresita Ang See

  • The Indigenization and Localization of Chinese foods in the Philippines by Carmelea Ang See

4. 2nd Benito Lim Memorial Lecture Series on Chinese Studies

PACS co-organized the holding of the 2nd Benito Lim Memorial Lecture Series at the Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran (KAISA) auditorium on 13 July 2019. The event started with a special screening of the Cinemalaya documentary movie, “Honor: Legacy of Jose Abad Santos”, and then followed by the following lectures:

·      Current Chinese Migration to the Philippines: Government Safety Measures and Security Arrangements by Rommel C. Banlaoi

·      40 Years of China-watching from the Eyes of a Filipino by Aileen Baviera

5. 3rd Carlos Chan Lecture Series on Philippines-China Relations

PACS held the 3rd Carlos Chan Lecture Series on 18 July 2019 at the Aguinaldo Conference Room of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Officers’ Club in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. The event focused on the issue of maritime militias in the South China Sea and law enforcement cooperation between the Philippines and China. It specifically discussed the following topics:

  • The Rise of Chinese Maritime Militias by Ivy Ganadillo

  • Philippines-China Law Enforcement Cooperation: Achievements and Challenges by Lucio Pitlo III

6. Philippines-China Think Tank and Media Dialogue on Belt and Road Initiative

 PACS participated and chaired some sessions of the Philippines-China Think Tank and Media Dialogue on Belt and Road Initiative held on 26 July 2019 at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel, Manila. Experts, scholars and media practitioners from Chin and the Philippines attended the said event with former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the guest of honor and speaker. The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and the Chinese Embassy in Manila were the main organizers of the said event.

7. Lecture on the Philippines, China and World Order

PACS delegation attended the lecture of Martin Jacques on “The Philippines, China, and World Order” held at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel on 10 September 2019. Aileen Baviera, former PACS President, served as one of the reactors to the lecture of Jacques.

8. 3RD Benito Lim Memorial Lecture Series on Chinese Studies

PACS co-organized the holding of the 3rd Benito Lim Memorial Lecture Series on Chinese Studies at Chiang Kai Shek College on 13 September 2019. It covered the following lectures:

  • Ancient Chinese Medicine in Modern Practice by Tan Cho Chiong

  • Syncretism as Identity: Catholicism and Chinese Religion in the Philippines by Aristotle Dy

9. Exchange with Hainan China’s Academics

     In cooperation with the Chinese Studies Program and Confucius Institute of Ateneo de Manila University, PACS hosted the visit of academics from Hainan, China on 23 September 2019. Filipino and Chinese academics exchanged views on China’s Belt and Road Initiative, US-China Trade War, and Philippines-China relations.

10. 4th Carlos Chan Lecture Series

The 4th lecture of Carlos Chan Lecture Series was held in Ateneo De Manila University, in partnership with ADMU’s Chinese Studies Program and the Department of Political Science, on 1 October 2019. Ambassador Wilfrido Villacorta, former Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the ASEAN, delivered a lecture on “Understanding China’s International Behavior”. Dr. Robin Garcia gave a response and provided also his insights on the topic.

11. Forum on China and World Order

Delegation from the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies (PACS) participated in the international conference, “Changing the World Order: China’s Long Term Strategy” organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation at the Fairmount Hotel, Makati on 18-19 November 2019.

Dr. Aileen Baviera, former PACS President, and Dr. Rommel Banlaoi, the current PACS President, delivered their talks in a panel, “The Philippine Perspective” along with former Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court, Antonio Carpio. Dr. Baviera discussed China’s intentions in promoting stronger bilateral ties with the Philippines while Dr. Banlaoi examined the benefits and costs of the Philippines’ friendly ties with China. Justice Carpio, on the other hand, presented his paper on constructive approaches to the South China Dispute. Other PACS board members who attended conference were Dr. Ellen Palanca, Dr. Theresa Carino, Dr. Tan Cho Choing, and Ms. Teresita Ang See.

 

PACS Representations to INTERNATIONAL Conferences

 In 2019, PACS attended and/or presented papers in the following international conferences;

  • Boao Forum for Asia, Hainan China, 29-30 March 2019

  • Conference on Asian Civilization Dialogue, Beijing, China, 15-16 March 2019.

  • International Workshop on China-ASEAN Non-Traditional Security Cooperation, Singapore, 25-26 April 2019

  • 18th Asia Security Summit: The Shangri-la Dialogue, Singapore, 31 May to 2 June 2019

  • New Inclusive Asia Dialogue, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 14-15 August 2019

  • 3rd World Conference on Chinese Studies, Germany and France, 24-27 August 2019

  • 9th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, 20-22 October 2019

  • 10th International Conference of the International Society for the Study of Chinese Overseas, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China, 9-10 November 2019

  • 5th Program of the China-ASEAN Academy on Ocean Law and Governance, Haikou, Hainan, China, 11-20 November 2019

  • China-ASEAN Workshop on Regional Cooperation for Marine Environmental Protection in the South China Sea, Bali, Indonesia, 29-30 November 2019

  • International Conference on China’s BRI and US Indo-Pacific Strategy, Taipei, Taiwan, 5-6 December 2019

 

INSTITUTIONAL/ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

  1. Board Meetings

            For 2019, PACS held a total of six board meetings where members discussed the implementation of plans and programs of the association for the year:

  • 9 February 2019

  • 23 March 2019

  • 11 May 2019

  • 21 September 2019

  • 23 October 2019

  • 21 December 2019

 2. General Assemblies

 For  2019, PACS held two General Assemblies: 1) Spring Festival and Chinese New Year General Assembly on 9 February 2019; and, 2) Mid-Autumn Festival General Assembly on 21 September 2019.

3. Official Website and Social Media Accounts

In 2019, PACS upgraded its official website http://www.pacs-phcn.org. The new official website contains all PACS publications for free downloads. It continues to showcase past and upcoming activities of the association. PACS also maintains Facebook and Twitter accounts to promote its scholarly activities.

PACS JOURNAL

 PACS published the 12th volume of the PACS’ Chinese Studies Journal launched on 21 September 2019 at Xavier School, San Juan City during the PACS General Assembly. With a title, “Philippines-China Relations: Geopolitics, Economics and Counterterrorism”, the journal contains ten scholarly papers presented in three PACS conferences. The launching of the journal also featured the special lectures of Dr. Kenneth Guest of the City University of New York and Dr. Jely Galang of the University of the Philippines Diliman.