“Faith in Xiamen” by Faith Bautista
By FAITH BAUTISTA, Filipino, Attaché of the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen since July 2019.
Faith and Philippine Consul General in Xiamen at Jichuan Gate
I am a diplomat. And with postings in Vienna, Brussels and Berlin, I considered myself “Eurocentric”.
Coming to Xiamen was a difficult choice. But this is my last foreign posting and I wanted to be where my siblings could easily visit me. Also, I was so curious about China – and why I heard so many negative things about it.
Faith at work. At CIF IT 2021 with Beijing PE Ambassador Sta. Romana who passed away recently.
With much prodding from the then Philippine Consul General in Xiamen and from former assignees, I chose Xiamen over Berne. Still, when people heard that I would proceed to Xiamen for a foreign posting, they quipped, “Why China?”.
But China (Xiamen) it is. I flew in with my family, armed only with “nihao” and “xiexie ni” from months of learning Mandarin.
Landing at Xiamen Gaoji International Airport, I told myself “Ah, this looks like Europe”. I saw order and efficiency. The tall buildings were impressive. Transportation was efficient. The big parks were attractive.
I was told that Consulate people who have children settled in Shangli area, near the Manila Xiamen International School (MXIS). Aided by an English-speaking real estate agent and our solicitous local hires, we found an apartment near the sea and close to the mountains. Wow!
Xiamen, of course, became my home ground. With the Philippines being Guest Country of Honor of the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) for two consecutive years, the sprawling Xiamen International Convention and Exhibition Center became my playground (although still confused between XICEC Hotel and Seaside Hotel). In between works were walks by the seaside and culinary outings.
Xiamen is my home away from home. Shopping malls SM and Robinson’s made sure that I still get the “Malling feel” which I am so used to when we were in the Philippines. Bench (Philippine retail brand) is in Xiamen. There is a Filipino doctor in Guanren community for our medical concerns. I hob-nob with Filipino professionals and Chinese with businesses in the Philippines.
Tests before the cataract surgery
Xiamen gave me my two intraocular lens (IOL) after the removal of my cataracts at the Xiamen Opthalmology Center. There was a series of consultations and cross-referencing using ultra-modern machines from all parts of the world. Thanks to Nurse Qu Yu Hui, I need not worry about communicating in “zhong wen”. The operations were swift and efficient. Dr. Zhang had the hands of an angel, and finished the operations before I could end my prayers.
Faith in Gulangyu
A visit to Xiamen, as they say, would be incomplete without a visit to the Island of Gulangyu. This pedestrian-only UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, with its breath-taking sea vistas, tree-shaded winding streets, high elevations, and a medley of architecture including magnificent mansions of rich Filipino-Chinese, captivates.
Being the Political and Economic Officer of the Consulate presented me with the chance to visit areas under our jurisdiction. My first big engagement outside of Xiamen, the “Familiarization Tour of West Fujian and Ganzhou” sponsored by the Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office in September 2019, took me on a “Red Tour”. The tour was not only informative. The places we’ve visited were breath-taking. I loved seeing the Star of Ruijin by day and the Jichuan Gate at night. The story of the “Red Well” was a lesson in leadership.
Faith at the Cat Street in Xiamen
The Mazu Island in Putian is my favorite. I believe that Mazu (known in the Philippines as Ma Cho) called me to Xiamen. I have already met the sea goddess while still in the Philippines. On a visit to Our Lady of Caysasay Church in Taal, Batangas, I found her inside that Church. I was later told that in La Union and Taal, some folks believed that Our Lady of Caysasay and Mazu/Ma Cho are one and the same. And in certain parts of the year, the two images are brought together so their people can venerate together.
Jiangxi is unforgettable, not only because it is home to the famous Oishi (Shanghaojia) brand which made goods in China since 1984, but also because of Mt. Lushan – majestic, tall, spectacular with lakes, cliffs and waterfalls – perfect setting to imagine a Buddhist Monk in meditation.
But the real charm of China (Fujian and Jiangxi) which leaves a lasting imprint in one’s heart is its people. Hardworking to a fault, the Chinese people are loving, kind and sincere. I understand the importance of “guanxi”. I appreciate long dinners and “ganbei”. I am surprised to find drivers and managers eating at one table. I am amazed at the refusal of tips even when service is good.
Faith with Chinese businessmen
I salute the men and women in Fujian and Jiangxi who toil each day to nourish the relationship between China and the Philippines. The Filipino expatriates, the overseas Chinese with businesses in the Philippines, the Chinoys (Filipinos of Chinese origins) expertly navigating Chinese and Philippine systems and even the ones who have never been but yearns to visit my country.
Most of all, I am genuinely thankful of my go-to friends who are always around to lend a helping hand. Take Baolian – our Chinese former employee, who, after retirement, still regularly pops up at the Consulate to check on all of us. A medicine to buy, a visit to the Bank, Chinese food she’d like us to taste, a delivery to be picked up, or simply to accompany us to unfamiliar places we’d like to go – all done in the name of friendship and love.
I still miss Europe (my eldest lives there) and cherish the memories made and friendships gained. But far from being Eurocentric now, I have become a Chinese-believer. And I will, one step at a time, continue to nurture the relationship between our two great nations.
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