A Christmas fellowship was held with the previous and current board members of PACS with several past presidents present on 14 December 2022. It is the first face-to-face Christmas fellowship of PACS since the pandemic.

Two guests from China joined the fellowship, Dr Li Yuanxin (Nanjing University of Science and Technology) and Dr Yan Yan (National Institute for South China Sea Studies).

It was also an opportunity to update everyone on the current and future undertakings of PACS and its individual members.

First, a China Studies program is in the process of being set up at New Era University with former PACS president Rommel Banlaoi taking the lead.

Second, board member Lucio Pitlo III will begin his year-long fellowship at the National Chengchi University in Taiwan in January 2023.

Third, Volume 2 of Chinese Studies Journal, the official publication of PACS and a peer-reviewed journal, will be officially released before the end of this month and is available for free online.

Lastly, research grants in honour of the late Ambassador Chito Sta Romana have already been established at the University of the Philippines Asian Center. The first two grantees will be awarded this month.