THE PHILIPPINES can actually benefit from China’s rise in the global economic arena.

Such is part of the research work of Confucius Institute Director Ellen Palanca who was given the Jose P. Rizal Awards for Excellence in education for being involved and active in developing Chinese Studies.

Formal recognition took place at the Kaisa-Angelo King Heritage Center on June 19.

The Jose P. Rizal Awards for Excellence is given to Chinese-Filipinos who have contributed to the development of the country through excellent performances in their respective fields of expertise.

Impact of China

Also an Economics Professor, Palanca’s interests mainly center on China’s economy and its impact, and trade and commerce among the Chinese in Southeast Asia.

Her recent research suggests that China’s economic rise is a blessing in disguise and does not in any case jeopardize the potential growth of the Philippines. “[The Chinese economy] is a very important area of research since China is playing an important role in the global economy and whatever happens to China’s economy will also affect the Philippines,” she said.

According to her, the country has benefitted a lot even with the limited products traded between the Philippines and China. She said that as of now, information technology products are the bulk of Philippine exports to China.

“[We] are benefitting from China, we’re having a rather big surplus in our trade with China, but our trade is not diversified,” she said.

She believes that the country should invest in other products. Businessmen, manufacturers, and producers of the country will be put at an advantage as more jobs will be generated.

Chinese Studies Director Clark Alejandrino cited from the said research that China has a consumer market for canned goods. He said that countries like Malaysia have already started exporting such goods to China.

“Her research showed that the Philippines can actually take advantage of the situation when it comes to trade…not only is it nice for us to know this, but it’s also something the government should know,” he said

Shifting to Eastern neighbors

Margaux Cua (AB Eco ‘03), former thesis advisee of Palanca, said, “For exporters who lost their clients from the Europe crisis or [the United States’], China’s growing demand [for goods] can manage to absorb the goods not taken by Europe and US.”

“Now that most investors are veering away from [Europe] and US, most are coming to Asia, and somehow the Philippines has gotten some share of these investments. I think China has a lot to do with this,” she said.

Palanca also said that the country gets aid and loans from China, and even though there were controversies along the way, the Philippines must work on making these things beneficial.

She desires that the country in general undergo a paradigm shift when it comes to international trade.

“We’ve always been very Western-oriented. We only look at the West,” Palanca said.

Educator and colleague

Cua recalled Palanca’s passion for China and economics, “She had a lot of books about China in her office. The book that she lent us was a collection of readings about the Chinese economy.”

Alejandrino said that Palanca made significant contributions to the Chinese Department of Ateneo.

“She [Palanca has always been] eager to go forward and make further developments in the Chinese Studies Program,” he said. “She knows who has talent and who is very capable.”

Palanca used to be a director of the Chinese Studies Program.