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Ethics, Politics, and Society
in China and the Philippines:
Comparative Impressions
Kaisheng LI
AS A CHINESE WHO LIVED in the Philippines for several months, I
would like to make some brief comparative impressions on Philippine and
Chinese societies, and on the dispositions and personalities of the Chinese
and Filipinos. I was a visiting scholar at the Asian Center, University of the
Philippines Diliman. In between field work, reading, and writing, I had the
opportunity to travel around the country, visiting, apart from Metro Manila,
Baguio, Boracay, Davao, and Negros, among other cities.
On Family
As neighbors living together in East Asia, the Chinese and the
Filipinos share a few similarities. Both cherish family, especially children.
For the Chinese, having more means more luck, while Filipinos see them
as God’s blessing. In fact, families rather than individuals have been the
basic units of the two societies and of many social customs. Norms emerge
and evolve because of the family. Among these values include solidarity,
fraternity and cooperation in families or between relatives. Others are
negative, such as cronyism, corruption and backdoor deals in society and
politics.
On Political T
Political Trr aditions
Both Chinese and Filipinos traditionally respect their superiors and
obey authority. But because of a two-thousand-year tradition of centralized
rule, the Chinese feel less antipathy towards an authoritarian polity. One
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result is the overstretching of state authority into social life, which contributes
to the prevalence of materialism and pragmatism. This social philosophy
shapes the political values of the Chinese; they judge a political system
according to its achievements on, say, promoting safety and social well-being.
In contrast, under the influence of Christianity and American values,
Filipinos are less materialistic and have more admiration for freedom and
democracy. Thus, although Filipinos do not hide their resentment of the
defects of Philippine democracy, many would not like to go back to the
Marcos era. Also, until recently, the Philippine economy for several years
lagged behind many Asian countries, but the democratic regime that managed
the economy largely did not meet a large substantial challenge.
On P opulation Management
Population
Seeing the disadvantages of overpopulation, the Chinese government
has enforced the strict one-child policy from the late 1970s. After more than
30 years, population growth has been checked, but China is also beset by
the new challenge of an aging society. In the Philippines by contrast, under
fierce objection from the Catholic Church, the government has never
successfully carried out any policy of population control. Currently, over
100 million people live in a 300,000-square-kilometer archipelago.
On Hospitality
Chinese and Filipinos value hospitality, but showcase it in somewhat
different ways. Chinese tend to treat guests with an overflowing sense of
etiquette, effusive words, and nice dinners. When the Chinese take their
guests to a restaurant, they order so much food that there will inevitably
be leftovers, much of which may be wasted. In some cases, this kind of
hospitality may seem ostentatious, even hypocritical. In contrast, Filipino
hospitality is simpler. In a banquet to celebrate a wedding, for instance,
Filipinos just treat their guests to a buffet dinner; and the guests can move
around and talk to each other freely rather than sit on a roundtable, a
practice favored by the Chinese.
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164 K. LI
On R eligion
Religion
Another important distinction lies in religion. In traditional China,
Confucianism provides moral values and underpins social norms.
Although Buddhism and Taoism are influential as well, their practice is,
to some extent, geared towards secular ends. For example, many Chinese
pray for safety, luck, and even fortune in Buddhist temples. In Taoist
practice, more attention is paid to how to preserve and extend life rather
than to seek spiritual eternity. In the Philippines, many are devout
Catholics. Churches are crowded on Sundays; some even make the sign
of the cross when they pass by a church. I think Catholicism gives
Filipinos better social morals. Unlike the Chinese, Filipinos voluntarily
queue when taking the train; and there are few incidents of cutting in
line.
On Money and Daily Expenses
Always abstemious, the Chinese like to save money for health and
education and to purchase apartments or houses for their families.
Filipinos in contrast would rather spend more on food, clothes, and
entertainment, among other commodities. These different attitudes on
money and consumption precipitate different economic effects. For
example, in the Philippines, the main driver of GDP growth is
consumption, while investment has raised GDP in China. The Chinese
have spent so much money on houses that the real estate industry has
hijacked the economy. Of course, the related consumer demands on
infrastructure, steel, cement, furniture and electrical appliances, etc., have
also boosted Chinese manufacturing. At any rate, the corresponding result
of Filipino spending habits pertains to the building of more and more
shopping malls and restaurants, including fast-food chains like Jollibee.
The service industry, rather than manufacturing, is more prosperous in
the Philippines.
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Philosoph
Philosophyy of Lif
Lifee
As for their philosophy of life, Filipinos believe more in naturalism
and have a live-and-let-live-attitude. This thinking is a little similar to that
of Taoism in China. Actually, a book, Filipino Philosophy Today by
Florentino Timbreza, extensively quotes the aphorisms of Lao Tzu, the
founder of Taoism. But in China, besides Taoism, Confucianism has been
the dominant philosophy for thousands of years, while it is Buddhism that
has a deep influence on the daily life of ordinary people. Thus, you may
find a more complicated philosophy of life among the Chinese. They
may show more eagerness to achieve success and obtain wealth. In contrast,
many Filipinos can enjoy life just by meeting their basic needs. In addition,
the Chinese like to literally change their environment just to satisfy their
desires. The extreme disadvantage of this mentality is the massive
environmental pollution that results from the disruption of ecological
equilibrium amidst China’s economic boom. Filipinos prefer maintaining
the original ecology. For example, in the University of the Philippines
Diliman, there are fewer man-made green areas, unlike in Chinese
universities, where artificial greenery abounds.
To generalize, the people and society in China are mostly dominated
by an ethos of pragmatic entrepreneurialism which has contributed to the
huge success of China’s economy and an all-pervading low interest in its
politics. In contrast, Filipinos are less materialistic, more engaged in the
lasting pursuit of personal happiness, and have more interest in political
affairs. In the recent presidential election in 2016, over 80 percent of
electorate came to the poll station to vote for their favored candidates.
Both Chinese and Filipinos have benefited from and at the same time
have been hampered by their respective ethos. At any rate, these dispositions
complement each other and may be a bridge for mutual learning. If the
Chinese were to reduce their excessive pragmatism, they may improve
their political and social life. In contrast, Filipinos may benefit from
personal wealth and overall economic development, which will, I believe,
lay down a solid foundation for democracy and freedom.
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