Embarking on a New Lunar Chinese Year in Philippines-China relations, the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies (PACS) convened its annual General Assembly last February 4, 2023, at the Confucius Institute at Ateneo de Manila University’s Salcedo Campus.
The assembly commenced with a short prayer and cordial greeting to all attendees, led by PACS Board Member Ms Joahnna Esquivias. After a brief introduction, PACS President, Fr. Aristotle Dy, SJ, began his President’s Report by providing members with an account of the organisation’s development, highlighting the milestone achievements and hallmarks of the current and previous Boards of Directors and Advisers as well as the trajectory and projects of the organisation that are set to commence in 2023, such as the peer-reviewed Chinese Studies Journal Volume 16.
He invited Ms Melodina Sy Cruz and Ms Latasha Q. Carreon, 2022-2023 recipients of The Ambassador Chito Sta Romana Memorial Thesis/ Dissertation Grant, to join him and give the members a brief description of their research projects. The Treasurer’s Report by Mr Michael Guzman followed, where he provided an overview of the organization’s financial standing.
Following the reports, Philippine Ambassador to China, Jaime FlorCruz, shared his outlook on the trajectories of Philippines-China relations under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Ambassador FlorCruz shared that the current administration will continuously chart an independent foreign policy that foregrounds the national interest and security of the Philippines while at the same time promoting a strong and multifaceted relationship in the region, further positing the tenet of “friend to all, and enemy to none” foreign policy.
Cognizant of his newly appointed role, Ambassador FlorCruz ended his speech with two poetic sentences by Lu Xun, “Fierce-browed, I coolly defy a thousand pointing fingers. Head Bowed, like a willing ox, I serve the children.”
Apart from the committee reports and the Ambassador’s speech, the organization also celebrated the Lunar New Year by arranging an art workshop for members to experience Chinese calligraphy and paper lantern making.
The event drew 40 attendees on-site. For more information about the event and upcoming webinars by PACS, please visit https://www.pacs.ph/upcoming-events/.
Report by Michael Dave’s E. Almocera and Cristine Angela D. Detera
