PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION FOR CHINESE STUDIES (PACS)

ACADEMIC/SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES

            Amidst the continuing pandemic in 2021, the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies (PACS) conducted several academic and scholarly activities in order to fulfill its mission of deepening knowledge about China and Chinese among Filipinos for the main purpose of promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between the Philippines and China. Like in the previous years, most of its activities are posted on PACS website, www.pacs.ph.  Among the highlights of its major academic and scholarly activities in 2021, are the following:

A. Lunar New Year General Assembly 2021

PACS started its major activity in 2021 with the holding of the traditional Lunar New Year General Assembly on 13 February featuring a conversation of PACS members with His Excellency Ambassador Jose Santiago “Chito” Santa Romana. It was during this assembly when PACS launched Volume 14 of the Chinese Studies Journal produced to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the formal establishment of Philippines-China relations.  Entitled Philippines-China Relations at 45 During the Covid-19 Pandemic: New Directions, Recent Developments, and Continuing Concerns, this issue contains eight chapters written by established and rising scholars covering historical and contemporary issues on the Chinese in the Philippines, Philippines-China relations, and geopolitical issues affecting the Philippines and China.  Edited by Rommel C. Banlaoi, this volume contains papers presented during the Carlos Chan Lecture Series on Philippines-China Relations organized by PACS and the Benito Lim Memorial Lecture Series co-organized by PACS with the Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran and the Filipino Chinese Friendship Association.

B. PACS Events/Webinar Series

In 2021, PACS organized 10 major events covering geopolitical, economic, social, and cultural issues affecting the Philippines and China.   These events featuring well-known scholars in the Philippines and abroad were the following:

  • Should the Philippines Worry About China’s New Coast Guard Law (27 March)

    • Speakers: Melissa Loja, Theresa Caiño and Yan Yan

  • China’s BRI in Africa: Lessons for the Philippines (17 April)

    • Speakers: Alessandra Lopez, Wang Duanyong and Robin Michael Garcia

  • Perspectives on China-South Asia Relations (29 May)

    • Speakers: Don McLain Gill and  Swaran Singh

  • Discussion on Asian Security with the Taiwan Center for Security Studies (16 July)

    • Speaker: Liu Fu-kuo

  • Celebrating Diversity: Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Identity (23 July)

    • Speaker: Dr. Richard Chu

  • China’s Relationship with the Korean Peninsula (10 July)

    • Speakers: Michelle Palumbarit and Jaewoo Choo

  • China-Japan Relations: Cooperation and Competition (14 August)

    • Speakers: Lucio Blanco Pitlo III and Yoichiro Sato

  • Distinguished Fellow Lecture on “My 50-Year China Journey in 30 Objects (18 August)

    • Speaker: Jaime FlorCruz

  • Cross-Strait Relations: Areas of Convergence and Divergence (4 September)

    • Speakers: Dr. Liu Fu-kuo and Mignonne Man-jung Chan

  • China-EU Relations: Shifting Relationship Status (16 October)

    • Speakers: Wang Yiwei and Rafael De Bustamante

  • Current and Future Status of US-China Relations (13 November)

    • Speakers: Ralph Cossa and Zhu Feng

Aside from PACS Webinar Series, the association has entered a new territory to engage the wider public by launching the PACS Podcast called Perspectives.

C. Life Skill Motivational Seminar on the South China Sea

To conduct Life Skills Motivation Seminar (LSMS) program for college scholars, the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI) co-organized with PACS  a virtual forum on “The South China Sea: From a Flashpoint of Conflict to a Sea of Cooperation” on 18 July 2021.  Resource speakers were Former PACS President Philippine Ambassador to China, H.E. Chito Santa Romana and current PACS President, Dr. Rommel Banlaoi.  Dr. Theresa Carino and Ms. Teresita Ang See, both former PACS Presidents, served as main reactors.  All speakers talked about the prospects for cooperation in the South China Sea despite ongoing conflicts.

D. China and the Chinese, Terrorism, and Missionaries: Problematizing Christianity in Philippine History through Various Lenses

To commemorate the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, PACS organized a panel during the 2021 Philippine Studies National Conference hosted by the Philippine Studies Association on 26-27 August 2021.   The PACS panel examines different settings, agents, and motivations across a vast expanse of time. Teresita Ang See begins with the early Spanish colonial period and departs from the usual “directionality” of studies by exploring the part that the Chinese in the Philippines played in advancing Christianity to China and knowledge of China and the Chinese to Europe. Rommel Banlaoi, by looking further into the colonial period, unpacks the Tausug Muslim’s practice of parang sabil as a form of resistance to Catholicism and investigates whether this was the early mooring of suicide terrorism in contemporary Philippines. Jely Galang delves into the late 19th century amid the various transitions in the archipelago and the region and interrogates the little-known plan of the Dominicans in the Philippines to facilitate child migration from China to the colony. Finally, Fr. Aristotle Dy and Gilbert Son examine the Neo-Catechumenal Way (NCW), which started in the Philippines in 1975, as an approach of witnessing through quiet and humble lives.

E. China-ASEAN Think-Tank Dialogue on Ocean Governance and Maritime Cooperation in the South China Sea

PACS participated and co-organized the China-ASEAN Think-Tank Dialogue on Ocean Governance and Maritime Cooperation in the South China Sea held on 26-27 August 2021.  The China-Southeast Asia Research Center on the South China Sea (CSARC), the National Institute for South China Sea Studies (NISCSS) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS Indonesia) hosted the said Dialogue, which showcased lectures by prominent scholars in China and Southeast Asia covering South China Sea issues.

F. Philippines-China Think-Tank Dialogue on Ocean Governance and Maritime Cooperation in the South China Sea

To promote mutual and understanding and pursue bilateral cooperation in the South China Sea, PACS and the NISCSS conducted the Philippines-China Think-Tank Dialogue on Ocean Governance and Maritime Cooperation in the South China Sea on 28 August 2021.  Well-known Chinese and Filipino scholars and intellectuals covering the various aspects of the South China Sea Disputes presented their current studies during the dialogue.

G. Moon Festival General Assembly 2021

PACS traditionally holds its Annual General Assembly during the Moon Festival, also known in China as Mid-Autumn Festival. This is celebrated not only by people in Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong but also by Chinese overseas around the world, including foreign nationalities with Chinese ancestry like the Tsinoy or Chinese Filipinos.  On 25 September 2021, PACS held its Moon Festival and General Assembly 2021 with a new activity called “Kumustahan” where members had fruitful and interactive conversations on their experiences during the pandemic.  Ambassador Chito Santa Roman updated PACS members on the current state of Philippines-China relations while PACS Board Member and Founding President,  Dr. Theresa Carino,  delivered a talk on the continuing relevance of PACS as a professional association.  Dr. Tan Cho Chiong, PACS board member, delivered a lecture on wellness and self-care during the pandemic using traditional Chinese and Filipino medicines.  PACS Honorary Fellow, Dr. Wilfrido Villacorta,  also shared his reflection on the vital role of PACS to promote friendly relations between the Philippines and China.

H. International Conferences

PACS also presented lectures and delivered papers in the following major international conferences:

  • Boa Forum for Asia Annual Conference held organized by the Hainan Province, China on 21 April 2021

  • International Conference on Turbulence in the South China Sea and the U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific (SFIP) organized by Taiwan Center for Security Studies and the Synergia Foundation on 22 April 2021

  • Global Concave 2021 organized by the Nepal Institute for International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE) on 27 June 2021

  • International Conference on Law and Politics in the South China Sea organized by the National Institute for South China Studies and the China-Southeast Asia Research Center on the South China Sea on 12 July 2021

  • Beijing Xiangshan Forum Special Webinar organized by China Association for Military Studies on 28 July 2021

  • International Virtual Workshop on Maritime Cooperation and Development Between China and Southeast Asia organized by the Institute of China Studies, University of Malaya on 10 September 2021

  • Beijing Xiangshan Forum Annual Conference organized by China Association for Military Studies on 25-26 October 2021

  • New Inclusive Asia Dialogue 2021 with a theme “Geopolitical and Security Implications of AUKUS on ASEAN” held virtually on 26 October 2021.

  • Shanghai Forum 2021 organized by Fudan University on 29-30 October 2021

  • International Conference in Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations organized by Jinan University, China on 6-7 November 2021

  • International Conference of the Philippine International Studies Association (PHISO) held on 6-7 November 2021

  • International Symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance organized by the National Institute for South China Studies and the China-Southeast Asia Research Center on the South China Sea on 9-10 November 2021

  • Sanya Public Security Forum 2021 organized by Hainan CGE Peace and Development Foundation held on 12 November 2021

  • International Workshop on Maritime Cooperation and Policy organized by Xiamen University on 20 November 2021

  • International Webinar on the New Challenges in the South China Sea organized by Taiwan Center for Security Studies held on 26 November 2021

  • Regional workshop on Effects of Covid on the Chinese Diaspora in the Asia-Pacific and other themes on Chinese Overseas organized byk the International Society for the Study of Chinese Overseas (ISSCO) on 4 December 2021

  • Online workshop on “Rising China and New Chinese Migrants in Southeast Asia” organized by ISEAS- Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore on 7-8 December 2020

  • China’s Vaccine Diplomacy in the Philippines and Thailand”, webinar organized by the Regional Social and Cultural Studies Programme of the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies Yusof Ishak Institute of Singapore on 16 December 2021.

PACS RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM

PACS pushed its boundaries in 2021 by offering research grants to MA and PhD students, young scholars and rising experts conducting research and studies on China, Chinese in the Philippines and the various aspects of Philippines-China relations.  The PACS Research Committee is currently administering the financial grants drawn from the kind donation of Mr. Carlos Chan of Liwayway Corporation. Dr. Jely A. Galang, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of History of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, is the first recipient of the Senior Research Fellowship Grant for his project titled “Labor, Ethnicity and State Control: Chinese Polistas in the Philippines, 1867-1898”.

PACS PUBLICATIONS: THE CHINESE STUDIES JOURNAL AND VIEWPOINTS

PACS pursued a major innovation in knowledge production in 2021 by making the Chinese Studies Journal (CSJ) a peer-reviewed journal starting volume 15.  This aims to level up the quality of Philippine scholarships and academic studies on China, the Chinese in the Philippines, and Philippines-China relations.    The peer-reviewed journal, with Dr. Tina Clemente as the Editor, has its own website at https://www.chinesestudiesjournal.org/volumes.  Previous volumes of CSJ from 1-14 can still be downloaded free of charge at PACS official website, https://www.pacs.ph/publications/.

PACS continues to publish in 2021 analyses and commentaries of experts on current issues on China, the Chinese in the Philippines and Philippines-China relations.  PACS published a total of 9 commentaries in 2021, which can be read at https://www.pacs.ph/viewpoints/.

INSTITUTIONAL/ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORKING ACTIVITIES

As part of its organizational development and association strengthening, PACS hired an accounting firm to help the Board prepare the organization’s financial and annual reports to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as part of its juridical obligations.  Per SEC requirements, PACS is updating its General Information Sheet.  PACS is pursuing some changes in its membership system by adding a student membership for undergraduate students while raising the quality of its lifetime membership.

PACS is also hiring a full-time Administrative Officer who will help the board manage the internal and external needs of the association.  The Administrative Officer is also expected to have a working knowledge of office management tools to ensure the organization’s administrative activities are run smoothly on a daily and long-term basis. The Administrative Officer also acts as the research liaison officer for providing administrative support and managing research-related tasks that require an end-to-end delivery of various research outputs. The Special Projects Officer is also expected to have a working knowledge of research and project management tools to ensure the organization’s research programs and outputs are achieved in a timely manner. The role may involve working across a variety of research-related projects, including PACS Research Grants Program and/or Chinese Studies Journal.

Aside from PACS website, the association has also created social media accounts in Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Youtube.  PACS is now becoming increasingly visible in social media not only for social networking purposes but also for raising public awareness and deepening knowledge on Chinese Studies in the Philippines.

PACS also works very closely with likeminded organizations like the Association for the Philippine China Understanding (APCU), Filipino Chinese Business Club (FCBC), Filipino-Chinese Friendship Association, Confucius Institute, the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc (FFCCCII), Bahay Tsinoy, Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran, Inc., Philippine Studies Association, and Philippine International Studies Association, to name some.   As discussed earlier, PACS is also actively involved in Think Tank Dialogue process with Chinese counterparts.  In 2021, PACS held a think-tank dialogue with National Institute for South China Sea Studies and the China-Southeast Asian Research Center on the South China (CSARC) in order to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea.    PACS is also involved in various scholarly activities of the International Society for the Study of Chinese Overseas (ISSCO) and the World Association for Chinese Studies (WACS). In 2021, three PACS permanent members namely, Ms. Teresita Ang See, Prof. Jaime FlorCruz and Dr. Rommel Banlaoi received the Award for the Promotion of Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) offered by the Association for Philippines-China Understanding (APCU) and the Chinese Embassy in Manila.

In 2022, PACS will celebrate its 35th Founding Anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, PACS will organize a series of events called PACS@35 to be launched during the PACS General Assembly coinciding with the Lunar New Year in February 2022.   It will also be during this event that PACS will officially launch its peer-reviewed Chinese Studies Journal.