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China radio's Pinoy language service seeks to promote friendship, understanding
BEIJING, China — Under the shadow of a growing tension between the Philippines and China over territorial dispute, some Chinese and Filipinos in Beijing still hold on to a stubborn belief that friendship and understanding between the two countries could flourish through intercultural communication.
Jade Xian, director of China Radio International-Filipino Service, and the three Filipinos at CRI share the same advocacy.
The Filipino Service studio inside the China Radio International's headquarters in Beijing. Xianne Arcangel
Despite her being a pure Chinese, Xian possesses a proficiency in the Filipino language that can rival that of native speakers.
Part of Xian’s duty is to ensure that CRI staff members' Filipino translation of news articles from Chinese media sources is accurate and grammatically correct.
But more than checking scripts and supervising programs, Xian says it’s her responsibility to make the state-run radio's Filipino service a tool to promote goodwill between Manila and Beijing.
“Layunin naming maisulong ang pagkakaibigan at pag-uunawaan ng Pilipinas at Tsina. Gusto naming ma-improve ang intercultural communication sa pagitan ng dalawang bansa,” she told GMA News Online.
Established in 1965, the CRI Filipino Service has been broadcasting news and feature programs in Filipino via shortwave radio. It is the only radio station outside the Philippines whose broadcasts in Filipino language are heard worldwide.
Three Filipinos, one of them an ex-seminarian, anchor several newscasts and feature programs, including "Mga Pinoy sa Tsina," "Pelikulang Tsino Nood Tayo," "Balita at Usap-usapan" and "Dito Lang Iyan sa Tsina."
They work closely with a staff of 10 Chinese, who assist in producing the programs and translate news items written in Mandarin to Filipino.
Xian and the entire Chinese staff graduated with a degree in Philippine Studies from Beijing University.
Fostering good relations
Part of Xian’s duty is to ensure that CRI staff members' Filipino translation of news articles from Chinese media sources is accurate and grammatically correct.
But more than checking scripts and supervising programs, Xian says it’s her responsibility to make the state-run radio's Filipino service a tool to promote goodwill between Manila and Beijing.
“Layunin naming maisulong ang pagkakaibigan at pag-uunawaan ng Pilipinas at Tsina. Gusto naming ma-improve ang intercultural communication sa pagitan ng dalawang bansa,” she told GMA News Online.
Established in 1965, the CRI Filipino Service has been broadcasting news and feature programs in Filipino via shortwave radio. It is the only radio station outside the Philippines whose broadcasts in Filipino language are heard worldwide.
Three Filipinos, one of them an ex-seminarian, anchor several newscasts and feature programs, including "Mga Pinoy sa Tsina," "Pelikulang Tsino Nood Tayo," "Balita at Usap-usapan" and "Dito Lang Iyan sa Tsina."
They work closely with a staff of 10 Chinese, who assist in producing the programs and translate news items written in Mandarin to Filipino.
Xian and the entire Chinese staff graduated with a degree in Philippine Studies from Beijing University.
Fostering good relations
Jade Xian (second front left) and the staff members of China Radio International's Filipino Service. Xianne Arcangel
The CRI Filipino Service also broadcast reports on Chinese government’s stand on key issues, including the territorial dispute in the South China Sea, portions of it Manila claims as part of the West Philippine Sea.
Broadcasting news produced by the Chinese media with the Filipino audience in mind can be challenging, Xian admits.
“We source our news from Chinese media networks. Dahil doon, minsan may pagkakaiba sa pagbabalita kumpara sa kung anong naibabalita sa Pilipinas,” she said.
Xian hopes CRI Filipino Service is able to accomplish its mission of fostering good relations among citizens of the two countries.
“[Sa] tagal nang pagbo-broadcast ng CRI Filipino Service, lagi naming layunin ang maging tulay ang radyo para sa patuloy na pagkakaunawaan ng Pilipinas at Tsina,” she said.
Social media presence
In keeping up with the times, the station created a website featuring the multimedia materials gathered by its staff members from their coverage, news articles, blogs and lessons for speaking Mandarin.
Since 2011, the CRI Filipino Service has maintained a Facebook page and Twitter account to update its growing Filipino audience, even though both social media sites are banned in China.
The station is among the three Southeast Asian-language radio services under CRI – the others being Malay and Indonesian – that are active on the two popular social networking sites.
“Ginagamit namin ang social media para mas ma-promote pa namin ang aming mga programa sa mga listeners, lalo na dahil mahilig ang mga Filipino na mag-access ng Facebook,” Xian said.
After super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit central Philippines last November, social media proved useful for the station’s fundraising effort for the typhoon's victims.
Interest in the charity bazaar it organized for Yolanda victims got a boost after being promoted on Facebook, Twitter and Sina Weibo, China’s Twitter-like service.
The proceeds gathered from the charity bazaar and the sale of dictionaries were donated to Gawad Kalinga for the provision of psychosocial support for the Yolanda victims.
Featuring the Philippines in China
Despite the small size of its staff, CRI's Filipino Service covers events featuring the Philippines and its people, wherever they may be in China.
Last April, its team covered the visit of National Commission for Culture and the Arts chairman Felipe de Leon Jr. to China as part of the activities for the 2014 ASEAN-China Cultural Exchange Year.
It also reported on the Philippine Investment Forum held earlier this year in Beijing, which was organized by the Philippine Embassy to encourage Chinese businessmen to invest in the Philippines.
“Madalas naming kino-cover ang pagbisita ng Filipino officials dito sa China. Kung nasaan sila, nandoon din kami. Gumagawa kami ng mga report sa parehong Chinese at Filipino tungkol [sa na-cover namin],” Xian said.
Aside from covering visits of Filipino dignitaries, the CRI Filipino Service also devotes airtime promoting Filipino talents touring China.
Among the groups it has featured were the Kalumon Performing Arts Ensemble from Davao and the Loboc Children’s Choir, which visited China on separate occasions last year.
“Hindi man kami nakakapag-ulat ng balita kasing-bilis ng pag-uulat [ng media] sa Pilipinas, gusto naming mabigyan ng atensyon ang husay ng mga Pilipino dito sa Tsina,” Xian said. — LBG, GMA News
Broadcasting news produced by the Chinese media with the Filipino audience in mind can be challenging, Xian admits.
“We source our news from Chinese media networks. Dahil doon, minsan may pagkakaiba sa pagbabalita kumpara sa kung anong naibabalita sa Pilipinas,” she said.
Xian hopes CRI Filipino Service is able to accomplish its mission of fostering good relations among citizens of the two countries.
“[Sa] tagal nang pagbo-broadcast ng CRI Filipino Service, lagi naming layunin ang maging tulay ang radyo para sa patuloy na pagkakaunawaan ng Pilipinas at Tsina,” she said.
Social media presence
In keeping up with the times, the station created a website featuring the multimedia materials gathered by its staff members from their coverage, news articles, blogs and lessons for speaking Mandarin.
Since 2011, the CRI Filipino Service has maintained a Facebook page and Twitter account to update its growing Filipino audience, even though both social media sites are banned in China.
The station is among the three Southeast Asian-language radio services under CRI – the others being Malay and Indonesian – that are active on the two popular social networking sites.
“Ginagamit namin ang social media para mas ma-promote pa namin ang aming mga programa sa mga listeners, lalo na dahil mahilig ang mga Filipino na mag-access ng Facebook,” Xian said.
After super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit central Philippines last November, social media proved useful for the station’s fundraising effort for the typhoon's victims.
Interest in the charity bazaar it organized for Yolanda victims got a boost after being promoted on Facebook, Twitter and Sina Weibo, China’s Twitter-like service.
The proceeds gathered from the charity bazaar and the sale of dictionaries were donated to Gawad Kalinga for the provision of psychosocial support for the Yolanda victims.
Featuring the Philippines in China
Despite the small size of its staff, CRI's Filipino Service covers events featuring the Philippines and its people, wherever they may be in China.
Last April, its team covered the visit of National Commission for Culture and the Arts chairman Felipe de Leon Jr. to China as part of the activities for the 2014 ASEAN-China Cultural Exchange Year.
It also reported on the Philippine Investment Forum held earlier this year in Beijing, which was organized by the Philippine Embassy to encourage Chinese businessmen to invest in the Philippines.
“Madalas naming kino-cover ang pagbisita ng Filipino officials dito sa China. Kung nasaan sila, nandoon din kami. Gumagawa kami ng mga report sa parehong Chinese at Filipino tungkol [sa na-cover namin],” Xian said.
Aside from covering visits of Filipino dignitaries, the CRI Filipino Service also devotes airtime promoting Filipino talents touring China.
Among the groups it has featured were the Kalumon Performing Arts Ensemble from Davao and the Loboc Children’s Choir, which visited China on separate occasions last year.
“Hindi man kami nakakapag-ulat ng balita kasing-bilis ng pag-uulat [ng media] sa Pilipinas, gusto naming mabigyan ng atensyon ang husay ng mga Pilipino dito sa Tsina,” Xian said. — LBG, GMA News
