Amidst Geopolitical Tensions, Filipino and Chinese Schools Forge “People-to-People” Bonds Through Historic Educational Pacts in Chongqing
In a significant demonstration of grassroots diplomacy, two major Philippine schools established strategic partnerships with leading Chinese secondary schools in Chongqing this week. The signings, championed by the Philippine diplomatic corps, were explicitly framed as an enduring “people-to-people” bond that transcends current governmental disagreements.
The core event saw Xavier School of the Philippines partner with Chongqing Bashu Secondary School, and Guangqi School link with Chongqing Bao Middle School through Memorandums of Strategic Cooperation. The Philippine Ambassador to China, His Excellency Jaime “Jimmy” A. Florcruz, presided over the ceremonies and symbolically kicked off a friendly sports match between students, underscoring the collaborative spirit.
The most potent message came from Joseph Haw, President of Xavier School. He directly acknowledged the strained geopolitical climate while asserting a deeper, more permanent connection. “We know that there are areas that our governments may not mutually agree upon these days,” Haw stated. “But our partnership today highlights that amidst the drama of geopolitics and foreign policies, there is a deeper bond that connects us all. The people-to-people friendships that have flourished over time.”
This sentiment was reinforced by the Philippine Consul General in Chongqing, Ivan Frank M. Olea, who noted, “His [the Ambassador’s] presence reflects the importance that the Philippine embassy and the Philippine consulates in China place on meaningful collaboration and the promotion of mutual understanding.”
The agreements pave the way for concrete academic and cultural exchanges. Li Xiaoke, Principal of Chongqing Bashu Secondary School, extended an open invitation: “If you want to have your further education in China in the future, I think we can help you.”
Ambassador Florcruz encouraged the visiting Filipino youth to see the experience as a gateway to understanding China’s vastness. “Chongqing is one of the places that we need to learn, and I’m glad you are ahead of the curve among Filipino youth to be able to discover Chongqing, discover China,” he said, describing the country’s geography as “like a continent.”
The event, documented in a video produced by Rhio Zablan and shared by Consul General Olea, occurs against a backdrop of ongoing diplomatic friction between Manila and Beijing, primarily concerning maritime sovereignty. By investing in educational and youth-oriented exchanges, both institutions and diplomats are building a channel of communication and goodwill independent of state-level disputes.
This strategic school-level cooperation, endorsed by top Philippine diplomats, is a deliberate effort to solidify nongovernmental, cultural ties between the Philippines and China, emphasizing that mutual understanding and friendship at the citizen level are viewed as a crucial and resilient foundation for the bilateral relationship.#
