A Journey in China; Culture in Experience

The desire of the youth to explore the world is one of the drivers to which they try to “spread their wings and fly,” to learn and to know about themselves. Adventure comes to their minds and so, the opportunity to have it can even transform their lives as well as on how they view the things around them.

Being a Filipino student for some years in China provided a chance to interact with Chinese students, as well as foreigners studying in China. Coming from a rural area in the Philippines, one can be surprised with the rapid change in the communities in China as well as the development of infrastructure in the rural places of China. One tends to ask the question on how they developed so rapidly. It was just around three decades ago that they started to open up to the world.

I found the answer by discovering it every day of my life in China. Experiences of bonding, togetherness and friendship cannot be missed especially with the Chinese people. During my first time in China, I never expected to have many friends and I was pessimistic about their behavior. But such was going to change in the everyday experiences I had. My Chinese friends are kind to invite me for a meal, for a tea as well as for discussions and so I find their passion to interact with different people whether Chinese or foreigner. I felt home mainly because I find similarities on the values of daily life, as well as practices of the Chinese people and Filipinos.

For example, the value of hospitality. Filipinos are known for being hospitable to their guests and for what I witnessed I can also say that so are the Chinese people. The Chinese people also take into importance the courtesy given to guests. They let their guests eat first before them. Not only that, they asked you to hang out even if they are busy. They ask you to accompany them in some of their travels especially when visiting places in China. Chinese people love to learn their history and tell this to other people. Through this, the values and good practices of the Chinese people are transmitted not only to the hands but also to the minds and ideas. The value of hospitality is one of the things that strengthen and open up the bonds between strangers and leads to friendship. This value of hospitality is nothing new to both peoples. Such value can be traced in the ancient times when there was trade between the ancient Philippines and Imperial China. When the Filipinos visited China, they were treated well. The exchange of gifts between them showed the goodwill which is essential in the conduct of friendship and peace. This fostered friendship and developed people-to-people relationship which can be helpful in resolving transnational issues.

Lessons of this value are no other than the enhancement of people to people relationship. The Chinese people have this strong bond between them and they helped each other in the development of China especially during the opening up. The first investors were overseas Chinese and they we’re offered in return with good policies with the establishment of Special Economic Zones. Business-wise, Chinese business people interconnect with one another and if needed help one another. They tend to help their companion stand on its own and so in return is expected to do the same. The Filipinos on the other hand have the same with bayanihan where one helps the other when needed and so is also been helped when it needed it. The challenge however is that the practice among Filipinos is starting to deteriorate and so even up to the level of national policy it doesn’t reflect these values which might be one of the keys for sustainable development.

Also, Chinese people tend to set aside their differences and explore other areas for mutual development. And so with this, little by little, the differences are resolved in the aspects of where there are mutual understandings. They don’t confront the issue as it is especially if it is broad but rather, try to deal with other areas which may be related to the issue. This is also not strange to Filipinos. The indigenous practices of Filipinos show that during times of conflict, parties involve try to resolve the matter peacefully by having a kind of community meeting. Not only that, they keep their best to be always friends. A good example of this was the practice of the “blood compact.” And so, one key with the success of China’s opening up was the ability to interact with the rest of the world as well as being active in dialogues especially in the economic field.

Another value that is common to Asian nations is the respect to elders. Both Chinese and Filipino people respect their elders. This cultural value is strongly observed among the Chinese people as well as among Filipinos especially when they greet and talked to them. What makes it unique among the Chinese is that it is also observed in the conduct of policy and order. There is consistency in policy where even with the change of officials, there is a consistent development of policy and so not to jeopardize time and development. The Chinese practice of respect to elders is translated into respect to authority and order. This is the manifestation of strong Confucian values in contemporary times. This is what the Filipinos might need to ponder into. The practice is needed to be integrated not only in a community but also in decision making. A society cannot depend only in laws but also with the cultural values passed on.

Culture is a very important factor which has to be consider for development. It is sometimes been undermined which on the other hand has to be reflected upon. Culture is in the experience of people in their everyday lives in every society. It is the legacy of those who had live before us; it is no other than us.

The author graduated Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in Saint Louis University in Baguio City. From 2015 to 2017, he studied at the International School of Jinan University in Guangzhou, China and obtained his Master’s Degree in China Studies.